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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Beauty pageant stock’s overvaluation concerns
The once-dazzling rally of Miss Grand International Plc (MGI), a beauty pageant organiser, appears to be losing its shimmer as concerns loom large over its increasingly stretched valuation. Since its inception in mid-December at 4.95 baht apiece, the stock catapulted by over 900%, ranking as the second-best performer among new listings in the Asia Pacific region over the past three…
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NBTC urges responsible broadcasting amid violent content
A plea for responsible broadcasting has been made by General Sittichai Makkunchorn, the spokesperson for the Chairperson of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). This appeal comes following public outcry over media exposure of violent content, the most recent instance being the wide circulation of a domestic violence case where a man took his wife’s life. This controversy has…
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Chiang Rai meth bust sees 1.8 million pills confiscated
In a gripping crackdown on drug trafficking, authorities in Chiang Rai province have netted 1.8 million meth pills and assets valued at 10 million baht, with the arrest of 10 suspected couriers in three major drug busts. At a Pukaeng Road checkpoint in Phan district, police officers intercepted a suspicious pickup truck sporting Bangkok licence plates. Their suspicions were well-founded…
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British woman rescued after falling from Koh Samui waterfall
Rescue teams and administrative officers yesterday successfully saved a British woman who fell from the Hin Lad Waterfall on Koh Samui island in the southern province of Surat Thani. The 46 year old British woman, Hema Mantra, sought help from the Koh Samui District Office after slipping and collapsing at the waterfall. She informed officers that she felt pain in…
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Controversial sticker-covered Pai highway sign sparks fury
In Mae Hong Son’s Pai district, the highway sign that reads Welcome to Pai has found itself at the centre of a heated controversy. Adorned with an array of stickers, the sign has divided opinion on whether it’s a quirky tradition or a potential road hazard. The viral photo, widely circulated on social media over the past week, showcases the…
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Thai teen drowns in pond in search for clams with drunk dad
A Thai teenager lost his life while embarking on a clam-hunting expedition with his intoxicated father on Wednesday, February 21, in Soi Mab Song, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Responding swiftly to the distress call, Nong Prue police and rescue teams descended upon the scene, greeted by a sombre assembly of locals clustered around the pond.…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport sorry after train breakdown causes 30-minute delay
Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok issued an apology following a breakdown of the automated people mover (APM) train today, February 23, resulting in passengers being stranded in the underground train station and a 30-minute delay. The driverless APM train operates between the new concourse, Satellite 1 (SAT1), and the main passenger terminal. Today marked the first malfunction since the concourse…
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Thailand captivated by lottery craze as March 1 draw nears (video)
Lottery fever grips Thailand once again as hopefuls seek winning numbers for the March 1 lottery draw. Enthusiasts tirelessly hunt for their lucky numbers, drawing inspiration from various sources including celebrities, social media influencers, and even the Chinese calendar, which remains a popular method for selecting potential winning combinations. On March 1, the anticipation for the Thai Government Lottery draw…
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Disturbing hygiene at Bangkok chicken rice restaurant exposed (video)
A video showing the questionable hygiene practices of a famous chicken rice restaurant on Banthat Thong Road was shared by a customer. The video, which quickly went viral on social media, exposed the staff’s method of cleaning glasses and straws used by patrons by dipping them into a bucket of water before arranging them on a shelf for new customers…
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Bangkok unveils Suk50 Garden in Klong Toey to boost green space
Bangkok’s Klong Toey District has witnessed the transformation of an underutilised space into a vibrant public park, the Suk50 Garden, thanks to a collaboration between the Expressway Authority of Thailand and Ichitan Group. This initiative is part of a larger movement to increase green spaces in the city, contributing to the fight against PM2.5 pollution and fostering community connections. Spanning…
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Thai music venue bans Klear hit song that caused tissue mayhem (video)
A local music venue implemented an unusual policy by banning the performance of the hit song Pha Chet Nha (Handkerchief) by Thai band Klear as the venue’s tissues have been used excessively. Klear bassist Kee Kiyapat shared the surprising rule on social media, tagging Bo Suratnawee of Triumphs Kingdom, which sparked a humorous online debate about fairness and practicality in…
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Thai Airways records recovery with US$782 million profit in 2023
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited witnessed a significant rebound in its earnings following an increase in air travel demand. The airline reported a net profit of 28.1 billion baht (US$782 million) in 2023, a substantial recovery from the 272-million-baht loss experienced in the previous year. This is the second-highest annual net income recorded by the company, surpassed only by…
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Thai transwoman arrested for trying to swindle monk
Police arrested a Thai transwoman for offering a sex service and trying to swindle 20,000 baht from a monk at the Dong Sam Muen Monastery in the northern province of Lamphun. The 33 year old monk, Phra Kru Winai Dhammawat, collaborated with officers from Ban Hong Police Station to setup the 23 year old transwoman, Charnnarong, leading to her arrest…
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Visa-free travel to Thailand for more international tourists
In a bid to revitalise its tourism sector, the Thai government has significantly eased visa restrictions for millions more international tourists. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared that Thai tourism has entered a new era of inclusivity, outlining the remarkable transformations underway. Previously confined to conventional markets like the European Union, the UK, the US, and Australia, visa-exempt travel has now expanded…
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Phuket’s traffic crisis: over 500,000 vehicles clog the island’s roads
The Thai holiday resort of Phuket is grappling with a serious traffic problem. Senate Transportation Commission Chairman, General Yodyut Bunyathikarn, was informed on his recent visit to the island that over half a million vehicles are congesting the roads. Gen. Yodyut’s two-day visit aimed to understand the issues and challenges in implementing transportation and infrastructure projects in Phuket. During a meeting at…
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Pattaya hotel left stunned as guest snatches speaker
A Pattaya hotel manager unveiled some CCTV footage capturing a guest allegedly pilfering a speaker before making a swift getaway last Thursday, February 15. The unnamed guest, who checked in for a two-night stay on February 14, seemingly orchestrated the criminal act alongside two Thai companions. Under the cloak of darkness, they brazenly attempted to swipe a speaker positioned near…
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Riot fallout: 18 ex-inmates face death sentence in Thailand prison riot
Thong Pha Phum Provincial Court in the central province of Kanchanaburi sentenced 18 former Thai inmates to death following the death of two people and six injuries in a riot in the Thong Phra Phum Prison nine years ago. The death penalty was given to 18 of the 26 inmates involved in the riot that occurred on February 22, 2015.…
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Man found dead in Audi at Saraburi petrol station, shocks locals
A 40 year old man was found dead in a luxury car at a petrol station, leaving employees and locals stunned. The man, who appeared well-dressed and unstressed when last seen purchasing coffee, was discovered today, February 23. At a petrol station along Phaholyothin Road on the outskirts of Saraburi town, an Audi with Bangkok plates sat eerily quiet, its…
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Royal Forest Department investigates land appropriation
The Royal Forest Department launched a probe into allegations of land encroachment within the Pang Asok woodlot. The claim comes from Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn, head of the Office of National Parks, who stumbled upon a disturbing sight: a backhoe and tractor clearing swathes of land purportedly for personal gain. Chaiwat asserts that approximately 64 hectares stand despoiled, with a suspicious Sor Por…
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Last member of Bangkok motorcycle theft gang nabbed by police
The arrest of a 21 year old woman, identified only by her nickname Khem, has made headlines as she was apprehended for her involvement in a motorcycle theft gang. The capture took place at a residence in the district of Krathum Baen, Samut Sakhon province, after an extensive investigation led by the authorities. The operation was initiated under the direction…
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Thai foundation advocates green switch for Makha Bucha day
The Tree Planting Foundation is advocating for Thais tomorrow to make a green switch from the traditional practice of burning candles and incense sticks during the imminent Makha Bucha day candle processions. The campaign is aimed at fostering environmentally friendly merit-making customs that contribute to the expansion of green spaces in Thailand. Tawatchai Tositrakul, leading the Tree Planting Foundation, voiced…
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Thailand Video News | Air Japan flight cancellation domino effect, Japanese man accused of uranium trafficking
Stay up to date with the latest news from Thailand, as Alex and Jay bring you the headlines shaping the nation. Exploring a range of stories making waves across the country: Air Japan flight cancellation domino effect, Japanese man accused of uranium trafficking, Kamala beach wastewater problem, American escapes jail time following Trip Advisor review, and misinterpreted Social Media Post. …
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Thai wildfires rage across 10 provinces in northern Thailand
An apocalyptic blaze threatens to engulf vast swathes of the northern Thai landscape, with an estimated 1 million rai (equivalent to 160,000 hectares) poised to succumb to wildfires between February 19 and 25, as revealed by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). The inferno’s ominous reach spans 10 provinces including Tak, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Mae…
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Thai and US navies kickstart mission to salvage sunken HTMS Sukhothai
A joint military exercise between the Thai and US navies initiated a challenging mission yesterday, involving a squad of 49 divers to salvage the sunken HTMS Sukhothai over 19 days. The operation is part of the Cobra Gold military exercise hosted in Prachuap Khiri Khan. Admiral Adoong Pan-iam, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) commander-in-chief, visited the mission base, the US…
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Thailand boosts welfare benefits for elderly, infants, and disabled
Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has taken a momentous step forward to enhance welfare benefits for the elderly, infants, and individuals with disabilities. The sub-committee under the ministry assented to this significant development. According to Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, the proposed scheme would offer a flat rate welfare payment of 1,000 baht…
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Thai boy suffers severe injury to testicles after falling on tree stump
Rescuers in the Isaan province of Udon Thani helped an eight year old Thai boy who suffered a severe injury to his testicles after he tripped and fell on a sharp tree stump. A 47 year old Thai mother reported the accident to the Song Serm Tham Rescue Foundation at 3pm yesterday, February 22. The incident scene was a roadside…
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Delivery rider helps himself to water dispenser in Thai restaurant
A delivery rider sparked an outcry on social media after being captured filling his cup with water from a restaurant’s dispenser without permission. The incident, which quickly became a hot topic online, began when an individual posted an image and message on the LINE Man Rider Thailand Facebook group. The post highlighted a delivery rider who was seen filling up…
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Thailand’s summer sun takes the heat up a notch: Temperatures set to sizzle at 45°c
The summer sun has begun its sizzling reign over Thailand, officially declared by the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD), with temperatures set to soar to a scorching 45°C on some days. Daily averages are predicted to hover around a balmy 36°C. This surge in heat is credited to the blazing rays of sunshine blanketing the nation’s northern reaches, then whisked…
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South Korean man arrested by Thai police for fraud
Chon Buri Immigration Bureau arrested a notorious South Korean fugitive for fraud and a call centre syndicate on Wednesday. Acting swiftly on intelligence shared by foreign counterparts, immigration officers seized 51 year old Oh Suk Yeon in Pattaya for orchestrating a call centre fraud ring that preyed on unsuspecting victims back in South Korea. According to Chon Buri Immigration, this…
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Ex-politician’s son causes deadly accident in Sadao district
A devastating accident unfolded in Tambon Samnak Kham, Sadao district on Wednesday when 35 year old Wissanu Tongsai lost control of his pickup truck and ploughed into a group of students, resulting in two fatalities and 13 injuries. Wissanu, the son of an ex-politician from Samnak Kham Municipal Council, was later charged with reckless driving and illegal drug use. Chanaporn…
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