News
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 Moving with family? Here’s how to cut health costs in Thailand
Relocating to Thailand with your family brings exciting new opportunities, but it also comes with the challenge of managing healthcare costs in a new system. Thailand has both public and private healthcare options, each offering different prices and quality of...
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King cobra nest discovered in Hat Yai rubber plantation
A team of southern herpetologists and rescue workers recently discovered a king cobra’s nest in a rubber plantation in Hat Yai. They plan to incubate the eggs before releasing the hatchlings into the wild. Upon receiving a report from a 49 year old local called Charan Jankaew, residing at house number 59, Ban Nai Si, Moo 4, Thung Tamsao Subdistrict,…
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Pattaya bars raided for operating beyond legal hours, illegal alcohol
Police in Pattaya raided four bars across the city yesterday after receiving complaints about these venues operating beyond legal hours, with some establishments selling alcohol without licences. The raid targeted establishments on Soi Kho Phai, South Pattaya Road, and Pattaya Third Road. Authorities discovered that these venues, one of which was a host bar, continued operations well past the permitted…
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Thai digital skies to light up for OneWeb’s Internet services launch
OneWeb’s broadband Internet services, facilitated by low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, are anticipated to launch in Thailand by the fourth quarter of this year, marking a significant step in expanding digital connectivity across the nation. In a collaborative effort, OneWeb has teamed up with state telecom enterprise National Telecom (NT) to offer these services. NT provides the necessary gateway station…
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Burmese man arrested for fatal grocery store stabbing in Thailand
A 22 year old Burmese man was apprehended for fatally stabbing a grocery store owner in Trang province yesterday after a dispute over money. The Burmese national pretended to buy rice but then demanded money from the shopkeeper, who refused, leading to the fatal stabbing. Enraged by the refusal, he repeatedly stabbed the woman with a knife he carried. Her…
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AoT to create subsidiary for managing small state airports
Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) is considering the establishment of a subsidiary to manage small airports that are currently under the financially troubled Department of Airports. This initiative aligns with the government’s strategy to stabilise state finances. AoT President Kirati Kijmanawat announced today, June 4, that the proposed subsidiary would operate directly under AoT, with the parent company and Vayupak…
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Thai lifeguards nab American phone thief at Kata Beach (video)
Thai lifeguards helped a foreign woman catch an American man who stole her mobile phone while she was swimming at Kata Beach in Phuket. The theft took place at Kata Beach on Saturday, June 1. The foreign woman reportedly left her mobile phone on the beach while she was swimming, giving the American man a chance to steal the phone.…
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Merchant arrested for soliciting minors, claims they only conversed
The Thai authorities apprehended a fertiliser merchant who faces two arrest warrants for allegedly soliciting sexual services from two minors aged 14 and 17 at a hotel. The merchant, identified as 50 year old Sakorn claimed his impotence (erectile dysfunction) meant they only conversed, presenting medical documents as proof. On June 4, police officers led by Police Colonel Booncherd Chanmanee…
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Woman hides 47.9m baht lottery win from ex-husband
A woman from California, in the United States, hit the jackpot by winning a US$1.3 million lottery (47.9 million baht). Eleven days later, she decided to file for divorce from her husband of 25 years. This incident dates back to 1996. Californian Denise Rossi kept her lottery win a secret and abruptly ended her marriage, leaving Thomas shocked and confused.…
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Mysterious nest in air conditioner identified as stingless bees
A social media user recently posted in a Facebook group asking netizens to identify a mysterious nest found in an air conditioner, sparking a flurry of comments. The post read, “What kind of nest is this? Had a technician come to change the air conditioner, and it’s quite big.” Group members quickly identified the nest’s inhabitants as stingless bees, known…
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Major drug bust in Kanchanaburi intercepts 300,000 meth pills
A major drug bust in Kanchanaburi saw security forces intercept a vehicle carrying 300,000 methamphetamine pills hidden in instant noodle boxes. The driver tested positive for drugs and was arrested on multiple charges related to drug trafficking and usage. The arrest occurred at a security checkpoint in Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province, early yesterday. The suspect, 42 year old…
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Cathay Pacific delays new routes for full capacity takeoff
Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong’s flag carrier, will refrain from expanding into new routes until it achieves full capacity by early next year. Despite reaching 80% of its pre-pandemic capacity, Chairman Patrick Healy stated that speeding up the timeline “is not the right thing to do.” Healy revealed to the South China Morning Post that the airline has no immediate…
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Man trampled by elephant while foraging in Nam Nao Park
A 61 year old man tragically lost his life after being trampled by an elephant while foraging for mushrooms in Nam Nao National Park. This incident marks the second fatal elephant attack in the area this year, with the animal believed to be a protective mother startled by the man’s presence. Police investigator Pichet Thonglor, on duty at Nam Nao…
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Elderly man arrested for branded shoe theft at Bangkok temple
A 69 year old man has been arrested for stealing expensive branded shoes from outside a renowned temple in Bangkok. The suspect confessed to selling the stolen shoes at a low price in the second-hand market. On June 4, the Superintendent of Samran Rat Police Station, Police Colonel Thotsaphon Ampaipipatkul alongside the investigation team ordered the arrest of the 69…
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American tourist a suspected suicide victim at Pattaya hotel
An American tourist was discovered dead this morning in a suspected suicide after a fatal fall from the seventh floor of a hotel in Pattaya. Pattaya police received the report at around 6.06am and quickly dispatched officers and rescue workers to the scene. The incident occurred at an unidentified hotel on Soi Thappraya 15, where the deceased, identified as Michael…
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Police uncover illegal hazardous waste sites in five provinces
Royal Thai Police (RTP) are actively unearthing hazardous waste that has been illegally dumped or buried across Ayutthaya, Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phetchabun, and Rayong provinces, as revealed by an assistant police chief. Police Lieutenant General Thatchai Pitaneelabut revealed yesterday that police gathered evidence implicating two companies, Win Process and Aek Uthai, in the illegal burial of industrial waste in…
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Shitty situation: Thai lawyer pours poo on himself after scam
A prominent lawyer in Ratchaburi found himself a victim of a call centre scam, wiping out his entire bank account, angered by the lack of assistance from the bank branch, he staged a protest and poured poo over himself. At 9.30am on June 4, reports surfaced of a well-known attorney staging a protest in front of a local bank after…
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Lack of digital literacy in Thai workforce likely to effect economy
The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) raised concerns over the state of literacy and digital skills among the youth and workforce, citing potential detrimental effects on the economy in the coming years. According to NESDC Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan, recent surveys indicate alarming figures with 64.7% of individuals possessing literacy skills below international standards, while 74.1% exhibit substandard digital…
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Thai woman raped by mother-in-law’s ex-boyfriend and friends
A Thai woman demanded the police to speed up their work after her mother-in-law’s ex-boyfriend and his three friends raped her on May 9 in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The rapists remain at large. The 27 year old victim recounted the violent sexual assault to Channel 7, revealing that she argued with her husband on the morning of…
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British mum’s dengue fever warning after son’s Thai holiday tragedy
A crestfallen British mother urged travellers ahead of the holiday season to be wary of dengue fever after losing her son to the disease while he was on holiday in Thailand. The heartbroken mother, Jayne Toulson-Burke, recalled the last devastating phone call from her son, Bob, just before he died from the disease several years ago. The 59 year old…
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Decomposing body found in Samut Songkhram temple restroom
The decomposing body of a missing man was discovered in a temple restroom in Samut Songkhram after a foul smell caught the attention of passersby. The body was linked to a man who had been missing for about a week. The Deputy Inspector of Bang Khonthi Police Station, Rueangwut Im-em, reported the unsettling discovery. He received the call and went…
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Foreigner unharmed after motorcycle crash with van in Phuket
A foreigner narrowly escaped death without a scratch after crashing his motorcycle on a mountain road in Phuket, sliding down Patong Hill, and colliding with a van. The van driver, Weerapong, shared a video of the accident on his TikTok account, Smith.van, yesterday, June 3. The footage showed Weerapong braking suddenly as the foreigner and his motorcycle lost control on…
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Brewing success: Thai coffee market percolates with growth
The Thai coffee market is experiencing significant growth, driven by evolving consumer lifestyles and increased demand for both domestic consumption and export processing. The Director-General of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, Poonpong Naiyanapakorn underlined Thailand’s potential to process raw coffee into finished coffee products for export, a key value-adding practice. From 2021 to 2023, the Thai coffee market expanded…
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UK warns British tourists to behave in Thailand or face jail time
The United Kingdom Foreign Office issued a travel warning to British tourists heading to Thailand ahead of the summer holidays: “Behave, or end up in jail!” The Foreign Office advised British holidaymakers flying to the Land of Smiles to be cautious of the new visa rules. “From 1 June 2024, British passport holders arriving by air or land can enter…
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Hot flashes in menopausal women: A warning sign for heart and metabolic issues
Hot flashes, those sudden surges of heat and sweat that many women experience during menopause, may be more than just an uncomfortable nuisance. Emerging research suggests that these vasomotor symptoms could be a red flag for more serious health issues, including an increased risk for heart and metabolic problems. At the ongoing ENDO 2024 meeting in Boston, a groundbreaking study…
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Thailand, Malaysia make border demarcation progress
Thailand and Malaysia are making strides in demarcating their shared border, as outlined in the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. The border between Thailand and Malaysia spans 647 kilometres, stretching from Thailand’s Satun province and Malaysia’s Perlis state in the west to Thailand’s Narathiwat province and Malaysia’s Kelantan state in the east. Nathapol Khantahiran, Deputy…
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La Niña weather phenomenon likely to further fuel food inflation
The Commerce Ministry is closely observing the transition from the El Niño to La Niña weather phenomenon, which could impact Thailand’s inflation, especially concerning food items like fresh vegetables and fruit due to their water sensitivity. Director-General of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), Poonpong Naiyanapakorn stated that data from the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) shows that El Niño…
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Swedish man caught stealing 2 motorcycles in Pattaya (video)
Police arrested an injured Swedish man outside a hotel in the Na Jomtien neighbourhood of Pattaya on Sunday after he stole two motorcycles from a taxi driver and a local. Security camera footage from a kratom shop at the crime scene captured the first theft at midnight on June 2. The shop owner shared the video on social media. “Pattaya…
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Bangkok woman contracts rare lung infection from feeding pigeons
A Bangkok woman who regularly fed pigeons unknowingly inhaled fungal spores, leading to a lung infection and requiring surgery to remove a mass. Despite having no symptoms, she was diagnosed with cryptococcal pneumonia, which had formed a cavity in her lung. Manoon Leechawengwong, a respiratory disease specialist, shared the case on Facebook, detailing the woman’s condition. At 52 years old,…
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Dilapidated building in Bangkok listed for 18 million baht
A four-storey dilapidated building in Bangkok has been listed for sale at 18 million baht, causing quite a stir online. Netizens are engaged in lively debates about whether this “fixer-upper” is worth the “price tag shock.” Aood Narongrit, a Facebook user, shared images and details in the group Second-Hand Houses at Good Prices in Bangkok and Surrounding Areas. The post…
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Husband finds wife dead in Chon Buri amid mental health struggles
A tragic discovery unfolded as a husband found his wife dead on her bed, in their Chon Buri home, marking an end to their mental health battle. Police from the Chon Buri Provincial Police Station received a report about the death around 11pm yesterday. Upon arrival, authorities and rescue teams discovered the body of a 44 year old woman, referred to…
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