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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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Sponsored Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Bangkok Expo 2032: Student’s bold vision could transform the city
What if Thailand finally hosted a World Expo — and it happened right in the heart of Bangkok? That’s the bold vision behind Bangkok World Expo 2032, the graduation thesis of Thanakrit Kanchanaram, a student from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architecture. His plan transforms Makkasan Station into a cutting-edge exhibition hub, making Bangkok the epicentre of innovation, culture, and urban revival. “Thailand…
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Thai military helicopter makes emergency landing in Ubon Ratchathani
A military helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing while conducting a supply mission to a base in Ubon Ratchathani. No fatalities occurred, with minor injuries reported. Yesterday, June 17, the Royal Thai Army’s Facebook page announced that the Second Army Region confirmed the incident during an operation in the province. The report indicated that yesterday afternoon, the Royal…
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Thailand urged to unlock US$2 billion for green city investment
Thailand could unlock a flood of green investment — up to US$2 billion (approximately 65 billion baht) a year — by transforming its cities into eco-smart powerhouses, a top World Bank official told a major climate forum in Bangkok. Melinda Good, the World Bank’s Country Director for Thailand and Myanmar, delivered the bold message at the Road to Net Zero…
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Family survives Lampang crash as guardrail impales pickup
A family of three survived a serious accident after their pickup truck collided with a guardrail, impaling the vehicle. The incident occurred at approximately 5am today, June 18, in Lampang province. The family, returning home to Lamphun from Bangkok after completing an aluminium glass installation job, was travelling on Phahonyothin Road when the accident occurred near Ban Lampang Klang’s eastern…
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Cargo ship grounding in Mu Koh Surin causes coral reef damage
Efforts are underway to refloat a Myanmar-flagged cargo ship that ran aground on a coral reef in Mu Koh Surin National Park, Phang Nga earlier this month, resulting in notable ecological harm. Kriangkrai Pohcharoen, the national park’s head, reported yesterday, June 17, that teams have been actively working since June 1, when the MV Ayar Linn became stranded on the…
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Thailand diner: ‘Shrimp paste nearly killed me’
A Thai man with a severe allergy says he nearly died at a popular Bangkok restaurant after being served a dish containing shrimp paste, despite clearly warning the staff he was allergic. Yesterday, June 17, Facebook user Chayutpol Sukkaew shared a harrowing account of his near-death experience at the well-known Bangkok eatery. His post, which has since gone viral, urges…
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Paetongtarn admits to phone call with Hun Sen after audio leak
A leaked phone conversation between Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian President Hun Sen surfaced online, allegedly revealing the Thai PM taking a strong stance against her military personnel. The audio recording, which recently circulated on Thai social media, features voices believed to be Paetongtarn, Hun Sen, and an interpreter. In the recording, the alleged Thai PM urges Hun…
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Miss World Opal vows to empower Thai women
Thailand’s newly crowned Miss World lit up Government House this week, promising to use her global spotlight to empower women — and sending a message of strength to the nation’s leader. Suchata “Opal” Chuangsri, the first Thai woman to ever win the Miss World crown in the pageant’s 72-year history, paid a visit to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra yesterday, June…
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Phuket police hit the sand in beach safety crackdown
Phuket police swapped squad cars for surf patrols this week, as officers took to Bang Tao Beach to ramp up safety and stop tourists from drowning during the deadly monsoon season. Yesterday, June 17 at 2pm, senior officers from Cherng Talay Police Station launched a proactive beach campaign in line with safety directives from Provincial Police Region 8 and the…
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Man arrested for child pornography distribution via LINE group in Phitsanulok
A 21 year old man was arrested for distributing child pornography videos via a LINE group in Phitsanulok yesterday, June 17 at 8am. The operation was led by Police Colonel Santi Korkasem, with Police Lieutenant Colonel Woraprach Wuthirak, Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyarach Wessagosol, Police Lieutenant Colonel Marod Khwanmueang, along with Police Captain Yoschanin Prasertsopa and the second operative team. They…
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Fish bone pierces Thai woman’s throat and emerges through her neck
A Thai man in the northern province of Phetchabun issued a warning to food lovers on social media after a sharp fish bone pierced through his wife’s throat. The man, Suriyan Buppa-art, shared pictures of his injured wife and the extracted fish bone on his Facebook account on June 17. He captioned the post… “Warning! She ate fish, and a…
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Police crackdown on illegal street racing with strict penalties
The head of the Traffic Police Image Enhancement Working Group, Police Lieutenant General Nithithorn Jintakanon, highlighted the serious consequences of illegal street racing by youths. The activities not only breach the law but also pose significant safety risks and disturbances to the public. The national police force has reinforced efforts to prevent and penalise such offences. Strict legal action will…
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Man detained after machete attack in Sisaket province
A 39 year old man was detained after allegedly attacking residents with a machete in Khun Han district, Sisaket province. The incident occurred around 12.10pm yesterday, June 17, when local police received reports of a violent attack at Ban Huay, Moo 8, Krawan subdistrict. The attack left Natnicha, a 27 year old bank employee, critically injured with head wounds. She was…
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Thailand SEC cracks down on margin loan misuse
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will initiate a second round of public hearings regarding tighter regulations on margin loans. This comes amid concerns that certain brokerages have allowed margin credit to be utilised for non-investment purposes. Surasak Ritthongpitak, the Assistant Secretary General of the SEC, indicated that forthcoming regulatory amendments will likely prevent securities firms from granting margin loans…
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Frightened Thai man fires at police mistaking raid for threat
A Thai man repeatedly opened fire on a group of police officers during a raid of his neighbour’s home in the southern province of Trang, claiming he was frightened to see so many armed men near his home. Officers from the Drug Suppression and Investigation Divisions of Trang Provincial Police were preparing to raid a house on Na Mueang Phet–Sikao…
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Bangkok police arrest man for abducting, assaulting young girl
Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau officials, including Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and colleagues, ordered the arrest of 21 year old man for allegedly abducting and sexually assaulting a 13 year old girl. The arrest yesterday, June 17, took place outside a condominium in Bang Na, Bangkok, following incidents on August 12 last year. Kongkai reportedly engaged with the young girl…
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Thailand’s 157 billion baht stimulus scramble begins
Time is running out for government agencies to grab their slice of a massive 157 billion baht stimulus budget — and if they don’t move fast, the money disappears for good. Today, June 18, Thailand’s Economic Stimulus Committee will review a long list of proposals from ministries scrambling to secure funding before the clock runs out on September 30. If…
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Baggage claim! Irish drug mule jailed after 22.5m baht stash found
An Irish woman has been jailed in Norway after being caught red-handed smuggling nearly 30 kilogrammes of cannabis, worth an estimated 600,000 euros (22.5 million baht), from Thailand in two bulging suitcases. Other news outlets reported the stash was 41.7 kilos of weed. Jamie Mahon from Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth, was arrested at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport on January 9 this…
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Man arrested for selling e-cigarette pods with anaesthetic in Bangkok
The Metropolitan Police Division 3 recently apprehended a man at a condominium in the Ram Inthra area for allegedly selling modified e-cigarette pods containing anaesthetic substances. Over 500 items, worth approximately 700,000 baht, were seized. Today, June 18, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Bangkok Metropolitan Police Commissioner, along with Police Major General Pallop Aromla, Deputy Commissioner overseeing narcotics, Police Colonel…
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Bangkok workers score 400-baht payday in wage shake-up
Workers in Bangkok are about to get a pay bump — and it’s not just the capital cashing in. From July 1, the minimum daily wage in Bangkok will jump to 400 baht, up from the current 372 baht, according to the national wage committee. The hike will also apply to thousands of hotel and entertainment venue staff across the…
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50 foreigners arrested at illegal entertainment complex in Pattaya
More than 50 police officers raided an illegal entertainment complex in Pattaya, arresting 50 foreigners involved in gambling, call centre scam operation, and prostitution. Officers from Chon Buri Immigration Bureau, Mueang Pattaya Police Station, and Pattaya Administrative Office gathered at 12.30am, yesterday, June 17, to raid the entertainment complex, which was operated in a luxury apartment block known as Holiday,…
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Cambodia crypto firm linked to scams targeting Thais, say cops
A Cambodian crypto company is at the centre of a web of online scams and gambling rackets siphoning money from unsuspecting Thais, according to Thailand’s cyber police. The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) flagged the Huione Group, a digital currency exchange firm based in a Cambodia border zone, as a key player in suspicious fund transfers tied to criminal networks.…
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Drugged-up Pattaya thief steals mum’s motorbike from next door
A trusting mum was left heartbroken after her neighbour stole her beloved motorbike but police cracked the case within hours, exposing a drug-fuelled betrayal just doors away from her home. Sudaphon Sungnoen, from Phitsanulok, woke up early yesterday, June 17, ready to take her child to school, only to find her red-and-black Honda Wave missing from outside her house in…
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Soldier killed by sniper in Yala raises security concerns
An incident in Bannang Sata district, Yala province, resulted in the death of one soldier, identified as 22 year old Pakom Suden. The soldier was shot in the head by a sniper yesterday, June 17, while on patrol in the village of Wang Hin, revealing the involvement of highly trained perpetrators. Pakom succumbed to his injuries at Bannang Sata Hospital.…
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Chinese gang busted in Pattaya over illegal online lending racket
Pattaya cops smashed an illegal online loan syndicate run by Chinese nationals, uncovering a shady operation involving 25 suspects holed up in luxury homes, one of whom had overstayed his visa for over five years. Officers led by Police Major General Thawatkiat Jindakawnnaong yesterday, June 17, stormed two upscale properties in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, executing search warrants…
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Woman survives fall from fourth floor in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
A 30 year old woman fell from a four-storey building in Rattanachai subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. The incident occurred at 4am today, June 18. Police from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Police Station, along with members of the Ayutthaya Ruam Jai Association and Ayutthaya rescue units, arrived at the scene to find the…
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Bangkok bets big on EV buses in 15 billion baht shake-up
Bangkok’s battered diesel buses are finally getting the boot and they’re being replaced with shiny electric ones in a mega-billion baht revamp. The Cabinet has greenlit a 15.35 billion baht plan to lease electric buses for Bangkok under a new seven-year scheme pitched by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA). Instead of sticking with outdated natural gas-powered vehicles, the capital…
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Bust-up! Teen gangs’ turf war ends in crash and clash near Pattaya
A violent street brawl between two rival teen gangs turned a quiet Chon Buri village into a battleground on Monday night, ending with busted bikes, bloodied teens, and a trail of weapons left behind. CCTV footage captured the mayhem in Nong Ket Yai at around 8.51pm on Monday, June 16, showing nearly 20 armed teens, many riding motorcycles, squaring off…
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Tragic hit-and-run kills mother in Chon Buri
A tragic hit-and-run incident occurred when a motorcycle was struck by an unidentified vehicle, leaving a 30 year old convenience store worker dead at the scene. The accident happened on the Bypass Road in front of the Phra Phrom Village in Mueang district, Chon Buri, yesterday, June 17, at 11pm. Officers from Mueang Chon Buri Police Station and rescue personnel from…
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Thai volunteer lawyer found dead in Cambodia with 700,000 baht missing
A Thai volunteer lawyer and moneylender was found dead in a rented room in Oddar Meanchey province in Cambodia, with his personal documents and 700,000 baht in cash reportedly missing. Residents of the apartment building in the Or Smach district of Oddar Meanchey detected a foul smell coming from room number nine on the second floor, prompting the owner to…
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