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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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What do you need before moving from Australia to Thailand?
Moving from Australia to Thailand is a big step that brings exciting new experiences, a rich culture, and often a more affordable way of living. To settle in with less stress, you need to plan ahead. This means sorting out...
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Temu enters Thai market, intensifies e-commerce competition
Temu, China’s e-commerce giant, recently entered the Thai market, stirring up competition across both online and offline sectors in Thailand. The move, according to industry experts, is set to intensify cross-border competition, challenging existing players and local businesses alike. Thailand’s e-marketplace has long been dominated by foreign giants like Lazada (owned by Alibaba), Shopee (under Singapore’s SEA), and China’s TikTok…
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Thailand emerges as AI and health tech innovation hub
Venture capitalists are intensifying their focus on investment opportunities in startups centred around artificial intelligence (AI), transformative digital healthcare, and the burgeoning pink technology sector. According to industry experts, Thailand’s robust healthcare, agriculture, and tourism industries, coupled with local companies’ consistent investment in innovation, position the country as a formidable launchpad for startups. Major firms are propelling innovation by investing…
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Thai transwoman arrested for blackmailing teen to produce porn
Police swooped to arrest a Thai transwoman at her home in Bangkok for blackmailing a 17 year old boy into producing porn. A Thai mother sought help from Thailand’s Internet Crimes Against Children on July 30 after her teenage son became depressed and unable to go to school after being allegedly blackmailed by a ladyboy, later identified as 24 year…
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Pattaya rebranding as family-friendly destination to boost tourism
Pattaya’s tourism operators have put forth a proposal to the tourism minister, aiming to transform the city’s image into a family-friendly destination, distancing it from associations with sex tourism and illegal gambling. The Association of Chon Buri Tourism Federation (ACTF) recently convened with Tourism Minister Sermsak Pongpanit to discuss the initiative. The meeting also included insights from a workshop that…
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Thai transwoman nabbed in 26 million baht scam targeting Japanese nationals
Metropolitan Police Bureau officers arrested a Thai transwoman yesterday after she scammed 73 Japanese nationals over a ten-year period. The total losses amounted to nearly 26 million baht. The 49 year old Thai transwoman, Uthai “Amy” Nantakhan, was arrested yesterday, August 4, at her condominium in the Bangkapi district of Bangkok. Her arrest followed a report from the latest Japanese…
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Kuwaitis face deportation after Pattaya confrontation with Thais
Pattaya City police have initiated a detailed investigation following a violent confrontation between Thai and Kuwaiti nationals on Soi Yensabai this weekend. The Kuwaiti suspects are facing potential deportation after legal proceedings, according to police sources. The investigation is being led by Deputy Commander of Pattaya Police Station, Police Lieutenant Colonel Sirach Nuethes, along with Superintendent of Tourist Police Division…
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Ministry serves up a vote: Help ‘dish’ out Thailand’s best local eats
The Ministry of Culture has called upon the public to vote for Thailand’s best local food in a new initiative aimed at preserving and promoting indigenous cuisine while boosting its economic value. Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol announced yesterday, August 4, that the nation’s culinary heritage is a significant cultural asset that embodies Thai identity. The ministry launched the Thailand Best…
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PPRP’s internal clash: Coalition ‘parties’ divided
The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) faces an internal conflict, highlighting clear divisions within the government coalition partner, according to a political analyst. Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a political science lecturer at the National Institute of Development Administration, identified two factions within the PPRP: one led by party leader Prawit Wongsuwan and another by party secretary-general Thamanat Prompow. Prawit, who has…
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Pilot trainer dies in plane crash, family mourns loss
A grieving mother received the body of her son, a pilot trainer who tragically died in a small plane crash. Although devastated, she expressed immense pride in her son, who passed away doing what he loved. Phudit Supawatnakul, a 33 year old flight instructor, perished when his small aircraft crashed into a house within a golf course in Samut Sakhon.…
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Pygmy killer whales rescued in Phuket mangrove forest (video)
A group of pygmy killer whales stranded in Phuket’s mangrove forest prompted urgent action from marine officials. Five whales were rescued, while one tragically died. Pacharawat Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, shared that reports from Pinsak Suraswadi, Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, came in early yesterday, August 3, about six…
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PM Srettha orders Temu to comply with Thai tax laws
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed the Revenue Department and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) to ensure the new Chinese online retailer Temu adheres to Thai regulations and meets tax obligations. The directive aims to address concerns from local industries about the potential influx of inexpensive Chinese products affecting Thai manufacturers. The introduction of Temu, a Chinese e-commerce…
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Unlicensed beauty doctor arrested in Bangkok hotel raid
Police arrested a woman posing as a beauty doctor at a hotel in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area. She was caught administering fillers and Botox, making up to 40,000 baht per month by arranging appointments through Facebook. Police Major General Witthaya Sriprasertpab, acting on orders from Police Colonel Weerapong Klaiyong, led the arrest of 39 year old Jetiya, seizing five items, including…
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Tourist injured in Chumphon resort balcony collapse
A man sustained serious injuries after the balcony he was on collapsed at a resort in Chumphon, leading to concerns about unlicensed accommodation and unresponsive local police. Only the local tourist police offered effective help. On July 27, Yanisa, a 46 year old woman from Phetchaburi, and her husband, 44 year old Piyapol, along with friends, were staying at a…
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Foreign fortune-teller harasses Thai women for money
A foreign fortune-teller has been making a nuisance of himself, persistently approaching Thai women to offer dubious fortune-telling services in exchange for money. The incidents have been reported around Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat in Bang Si Mueang, Nonthaburi. Panjarat Limthongcharoen, the 30 year old owner of the Kumati smoothie shop, shared her unsettling experience. Yesterday, August 3, while she was…
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Heavy rain warning for 55 Thai provinces including Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for severe rainfall across 55 provinces, particularly affecting the eastern, northern, and northeastern regions, as well as Bangkok. The public has been advised to stay vigilant for potential flash floods and landslides. The TMD forecasts heavy rain due to a moderate southwest monsoon covering the upper Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the upper…
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Multi-vehicle crash in Chiang Rai after truck runs red light
A sand-laden trailer ran a red light, causing a devastating collision involving five vehicles at an intersection. The driver alleged he saw a yellow light and attempted to brake but couldn’t stop in time. At 4pm today, police officers from the Mae Sai Police Station in Chiang Rai, along with rescue teams, responded to a multi-vehicle accident at a red-light…
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Police seize 45,000 bottles in counterfeit cough syrup raid
Police raided a major counterfeit cough syrup factory, seizing over 45,000 bottles valued at more than 50 million baht (US$ 1.4 million). The factory, producing up to 20,000 bottles daily, distributed the fake medication popular among youths seeking intoxication. Police Major General Wittaya Sriprasertphap, along with Deputy Commander Anuwat Raksacharoen and Colonel Weerapong Klaitong from the Consumer Protection Police Division…
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Pattaya cops stop brawl between Kuwaiti tourists & Thai bikers
Pattaya City police intervened to halt a confrontation involving Middle Eastern tourists, primarily from Kuwait, and young Thai men, many of whom were Bolt motorbike taxi app riders, in the early hours of yesterday. Captain Pansan Krongsit received the report at 5am, Saturday, August 3, leading officers to Soi Yen Sabai in Nongprue, where they discovered evidence of a conflict,…
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Gas shop operator killed in Sattahip road accident
A tragic accident on Sukhumvit Road in Sattahip, Chon Buri, resulted in the death of a local gas shop operator on August 2. At 5.50am, Sattahip police officers received a report of a collision between a sedan and a motorcycle with a sidecar. Upon arrival, rescue teams found the body of 58 year old Samniang lying in the middle of…
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Bangkok seizes 1,878 items from Chinese supermarkets
Police in Bangkok seized 1,878 food items from 12 Chinese supermarkets due to non-compliance with Thai language labelling regulations. The Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) led the inspections following numerous public complaints. The inspection, which took place yesterday, revealed that 73 categories of food items lacked the mandatory Thai language labels, raising public…
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Prachin Buri: Three injured in car crash due to broken streetlights
A serious car crash involving a mother and her two daughters occurred on a darkened road in Prachin Buri due to broken streetlights that had been unrepaired for months. The collision with a military vehicle left all three severely injured. Emergency responders from the Sajjaputtadham Foundation were alerted to the accident at 8.30pm yesterday, August 2, and quickly arrived at the…
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Police seize 1.3 million meth pills, arrest gang members in Bangkok
Police seized 1.3 million methamphetamine (meth) pills and 3 kilogrammes of ketamine, arresting two members of the Rong Mueang Gang in Bangkok. The suspects confessed to receiving the drugs from Ban Phaeo district in Samut Sakhon. The Police Patrol and Special Operations Division 191 held a press conference yesterday, August 2 at 3pm to announce the arrests. The suspects, 34…
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Police seize six million crystal meth pills in Pathum Thani bust
Police apprehended a significant drug haul of six million methamphetamine (meth) pills and 365 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) in Pathum Thani after the traffickers stopped for a meal. The operation was led by Kittirat Phanphet, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, and Samran Nuanma, Assistant Commissioner-General. Following a tip-off, police tracked a drug smuggling gang transporting a large…
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Former Thai singer urges peaceful talks amidst fraud claims
Thai singer-turned-businessman Aerk Lederer has responded to accusations from model Lily Nguyen and other fraud victims, urging them to stop making threats and to communicate peacefully. Lederer insists he has never tried to escape and blames the lack of a resolution on their inability to agree. During a recent episode of the popular talk show Noon Krasae, hosted by renowned…
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Government officer drives recklessly in Phetchabun: Sleeping pills
A local government officer caused multiple vehicle accidents while driving what appeared to be a government vehicle in Phetchabun, leading to speculation about his sobriety. The officer claimed drowsiness due to sleeping pills as the reason for his erratic driving. A local news page in Phetchabun posted about a man, seemingly intoxicated, driving a four-door pickup truck marked “For Official…
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Cotti Coffee gains ground in Thailand with affordable menu
Cotti Coffee, a popular Chinese coffee franchise, is making waves in Thailand with its affordable menu starting at just 55 baht. The franchise currently operates eight branches in Bangkok, contributing to the growing presence of Chinese brands in the country. Chinese products are becoming increasingly common in major Thai cities, with a variety of items such as clothing, food, and…
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Sinkhole in Lak Si district disrupts traffic near Ministry of Justice
A sinkhole on Chaeng Watthana Road near the Ministry of Justice in Lak Si district has caused significant traffic disruptions. Temporary steel plates have been placed to cover the affected area, and permanent repairs were scheduled at 10pm last night. The JS100 Radio Facebook page posted images and a report detailing the sinkhole situation yesterday at 5.50pm. The incident occurred…
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Diver’s body found near Samut Prakan estuary
A fishing boat discovered a body wearing diving gear and an oxygen tank floating in the sea near the mouth of the Samut Prakan estuary. Rescue teams coordinated with the marine police, who retrieved the body and brought it ashore. The deceased was identified as Suttana, an employee who had been diving with his colleagues in rough seas. Authorities from…
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Nakhon Pathom petrol station armed robbery suspect at large
A petrol station employee on his first day at work encountered an armed robbery. The incident occurred at an LPG station on Thong Phon Road, Mueang district, Nakhon Pathom. The assailant, armed with a gun, ransacked a cash drawer and fled with 13,000 baht. Police received a report of the robbery at 7.50pm yesterday, August 2. Officers from the Nakhon…
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Thai boy loses father while caring for disabled grandparents
An 11 year old Thai boy has been caring for his bedridden father and disabled grandparents in Ban Nachomphu, Udon Thani province, received the news that his father passed away. Chokanan Rungkul, known as Nong X, who has had to stop attending school to look after his family, faced the tragic loss of his 36 year old father, Suksan Rungkul,…
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