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 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Missing Taiwanese student allegedly smuggled into Myanmar from Thailand
A female Taiwanese university student who went missing on March 29 is believed to be in Yangon, Myanmar, after flying to Bangkok, according to police in Taiwan. Police believe she fell victim to a human trafficking gang. There is no record of her leaving Thailand. The 20 year old student of Providence University, surnamed Lin, arrived in Yangon on March…
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Pattaya authorities on the prowl for foreign overstayers and criminals (video)
Pattaya authorities are on the prowl for foreign overstayers and criminals. Pattaya Police say that they will continue to perform regular inspections checking tourists’ passports, following a city-wide inspection on Wednesday night. During the inspection, Pattaya Police and immigration officials targeted foreigners overstaying, and those involved in illegal activities. The operation involved about 50 law enforcement officers who inspected nightclubs…
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Chinese man arrested in Chon Buri for overstaying and corruption
Immigration Bureau Division 3 officers arrested a Chinese man in Chon Buri for overstaying his visa by about 800 days and for evading corruption charges in China. The Immigration Bureau recently implemented strict measures to eliminate the influx of foreign criminals who use Thailand as a hiding place. On Wednesday, April 5, the officers in Chon Buri summoned a Chinese…
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Thailand: Don’t leave a lighter in your car during extreme heat
A pickup truck parked in the sun all day burst into flames in Buriram province in northeast Thailand after a lighter exploded on the front seat yesterday. Summer is in full swing in Thailand, with peak “feels like” temperatures shooting up to 50 degrees Celsius yesterday in Bangkok. Every region is sweltering with heat. At 3.30pm, officers at Nang Rong…
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Prominent Thai doctor a suspect in case surrounding Chinese surrogacy gang
A prominent Thai doctor is a suspect in a case surrounding a Chinese surrogacy gang, Nation Thailand reported yesterday. This news comes after police raided a five-storey building in Bangkok’s Silom area on Tuesday, and found that a gang of Chinese and Myanmar nationals were holding two Chinese men for ransom. Police said the two victims were using the building to…
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China finally reveals results of Wuhan wet market Covid-19 investigation
China finally answered calls to reveal and publish an analysis of samples taken from animals at a wet market in Wuhan linked to the outbreak of Covid-19 and guess what? Definitive proof of how the outbreak started still remains inconclusive. The Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market in Wuhan, China has been a key focus in the search for the origin of Covid…
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Early morning raid captures illegal foreign workers at a Pattaya market
An early morning raid at Amon Nakhon fresh market in Pattaya by Chon Buri Immigration officials and Bang Lamung Police Station led to the capture of seven illegal foreign workers. Police reported the surprise raid was conducted at 6am on Wednesday and seven illegal migrants were arrested. Officers searched the market and nearby shops which saw workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam,…
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Tour helicopter crash near Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay kills 5
A helicopter carrying four tourists on a sightseeing trip crashed in the Ha Long Bay area of northeast Vietnam on Wednesday evening. The body of the fifth and final victim of the crash was found this morning. The Bell-505 helicopter took off from Tuan Chau Island at 4.56pm local time and lost contact with air traffic control at 5.15pm, crashing…
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Eruption of violence in Myanmar sends thousands fleeing into Thailand
Thousands of refugees fled across the Moei River from Myanmar into temporary shelters in Tak province, northern Thailand, after a resurgence of violence between Myanmar’s military and rebel groups. KhaoSod reports that as many as 8,000 people have sought refuge in Tak’s Mae Sot and Mae Ramat districts, whereas the Bangkok Post reports that the number is more than 5,000.…
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Woman driver’s reckless reversal on motorway leads to horrific crash with lorry
A six-wheel lorry smashed into the back of a reckless woman driver who reversed over 1 kilometre down a busy motorway in Samut Prakarn because she missed her exit. A rescue service team sent the injured woman to hospital after the incident. The incident occurred yesterday at 6am on the Bang Na-Chon Buri or Burapha Withi Expressway in Samut Prakarn…
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German woman injured after falling at Koh Samui waterfall
A tourist from Germany sustained injuries while visiting Koh Samui, one of Thailand‘s beautiful tropical destinations. The incident occurred when a German woman fell at a waterfall on Koh Samui, Na Mueang 2 Waterfall, and it took rescue teams and officials over 20 minutes to reach her location on foot. The team found the woman, 38 year old Sina Dahmann,…
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PM’s plan to tackle soaring cost of air ticket prices in Thailand
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has taken charge to address the soaring prices of air tickets with a comprehensive five-point plan. The plan comes after Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate informed the ministry of the measures taken and those in the pipeline to address the substantial hikes due to the surge in demand after the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent decision…
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Big Oil Majors production cuts, what this means to airfares
The recent move by the Big Oil Majors to cut production by over one million barrels a day as a “precautionary” measure to stabilize the oil market will have a domino effect on airfares, according to industry experts. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) yesterday announced plans to lower oil production by 1.16 million barrels per day, starting…
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Assets seized and suspects arrested after large-scale online gambling chain uncovered
Last Friday, 63 locations were raided by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to investigate relevant evidence suggesting they were connected to “Inspector Sua.” Ordered by CIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, the raids took place in Chon Buri, Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Pathum Thani, and Chanthaburi. 6 suspects were arrested for their alleged links to Pentor Group, a prominent online gambling…
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Crooked trail of corruption uncovered after cops arrest bent revenue director for soliciting bribes
Royal Thai Police (RTP) yesterday uncovered a crooked trail of corruption worth 7 million baht following the arrest of an alleged bent government revenue director. RTP officers arrested, Pramual Saengkaewsri, a director in the Ratchathewi district of Bangkok on Wednesday in a hotel carpark as part of a police sting. The 57 year old was apprehended for soliciting bribes amounting to 3 million baht from a…
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Thai-lizing industries with AI: The future is machine-made
Thailand is looking toward artificial intelligence (AI) to boost economic growth and the kingdom’s vision to become the globe’s fifth-largest economy by 2027. The government underlines AI as a major tool to boost its economy to automate processes, reduce costs, and increase productivity, all of which can help to increase economic growth. AI can be used to provide more accurate…
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Power struggle: JSCCIB takes on govt to lower electricity prices
Tensions are running high in Thailand as the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has declared war on the government in a bid to bring down the nation’s soaring electricity prices. The committee, comprised of representatives from major business groups, is asking Prime Minister Prayut Chan o cha to reconsider the electricity bill calculation and reduce the…
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Rogue cop with gambling addiction jailed for 50 years for gun theft
A rogue cop with a gambling addiction was sentenced to 270 years in prison for theft and illegal possession of 160 firearms. He will only serve 50 years as allowed under Thai law. Senior sergeant major Chaowarit Phumkajorn, from Pak Kret Police Station in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, was arrested in October in the Isaan province of Nong Khai after reportedly selling…
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Thailand’s billionaire trio makes Forbes’ 2023 list of world’s richest
Forbes yesterday released its annual list of the world’s billionaires, and Thailand has its hands in the till with 28 billionaires, three of whom are ranked in the top 150. The list includes Dhanin Chearavanont, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, and Sarath Ratanavadi, whose net worths range from US$12.3 billion to US$14.9 billion. Despite this achievement, the year 2023 proved challenging for the…
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Surviving a sinister husband and a Thai cliff fall: A Chinese woman’s incredible resilience
A Chinese woman is finally on her feet and on the road to recovery after the trauma of being pushed off a cliff in Thailand in 2019 by a sinister ex-con husband only interested in her wealth. Wang Nan spent the past four years of her life trying to survive her life-threatening ordeal and rebuilding and rehabilitating her life after…
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10-wheelers banned on six roads to reduce Songkran traffic and accidents
In an effort to alleviate traffic congestion and prevent accidents, the use of large vehicles with ten or more wheels has been prohibited on six roads during the Songkran holidays. The national police chief, Damrongsak Kittiprapas, announced his role as head of the traffic police after it was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, reported The Nation. The restricted…
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Agoda reveals top 5 cheapest tourist destinations in Thailand
Khon Kaen – the capital of Isaan – is the cheapest tourist destination in Thailand, offering the most competitive room rates, according to online travel giant Agoda. The average going room rate in Khon Kaen on Agoda’s platform is 1,030 Thai baht (US$30). Joining Khon Kaen in the top five most affordable tourist destinations in Thailand – based on average room…
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Hitchhiker’s gratitude turns into car theft for kindhearted siblings in Udon Thani
Two kindhearted siblings who gave a lift to a hitchhiker yesterday in the Isaan province of Udon Thani saw their trust backfire when he stole their car. The victim, a 29 year old woman named Khanittha, reported the incident at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station after her black Honda BR-V SUS was stolen by the unnamed hitchhiker. Khanittha explained that…
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10 secret hidden bars in Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital, is a city known for its vibrant nightlife and a seemingly endless array of bars and clubs. But for those who crave a unique experience away from the typical tourist hotspots, the city also boasts hidden gems waiting to be discovered. This exclusive guide will unveil 10 secret hidden bars in Bangkok, each with its distinct…
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Thai man holds 9 year old son hostage on overpass and threatens to jump
A stressed Thai man held his nine year old son hostage and threatened to jump off an overpass over the Phetchkasem Road in Nakhon Pathom province in central Thailand yesterday, reports MGROnline. Radio Centre 191 received a report that a stressed man holding his nine year old son hostage might jump off an overpass in front of Ban Nong Hin…
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48 baby sea turtles successfully hatch in Phang Nga
In some uplifting news, 48 baby leatherback sea turtles successfully hatched in Phang Nga‘s Tai Mueang district, The Phuket Express reported yesterday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) confirmed the good news, saying the turtles made their way into the sea. According to the DMCR, 48 of the eggs successfully hatched and the baby turtles were able to…
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Former Lotus Go Fresh employee steals 298,000 baht from supermarket in Isaan
A former Lotus Go Fresh employee turned from gamekeeper to poacher to steal 298,000 baht from the supermarket in the Isaan province Sa Kaeo. A 21 year old Thai man was arrested yesterday in connection with the theft. The robbery took place at a supermarket located on Thetsaban 6 Road in the Mueang district of Sa Kaeo. One of the staff members…
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Korean overstayer in Pattaya fakes abduction to get money for Thai girlfriend
Some people take very desperate measures to get money. A Korean overstayer in Pattaya faked his own abduction to get money for his Thai girlfriend‘s expenses. Unfortunately for him, things didn’t go according to plan. The young man, 24 year old Kim Hyeongil, lied to his parents that he had been kidnapped before he was about to board a flight…
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Thai monk does goal celebration after escaping military conscription (video)
A Buddhist monk ran around the room like a celebrating footballer upon drawing a black card at a military conscription draftee selection event in Nakhon Ratchasima in northeast Thailand on Sunday, meaning that he won’t be required to serve in the military. Cheers erupted from the crowd when a black card was drawn for 24 year old Phra Phuwanai Gayputsa…
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Thailand’s Surat Thani province expects over 90,000 tourists during Songkran
Get ready for a blast of Songkran tourism coming up in Thailand! Thailand’s Surat Thani province is expecting to welcome more than 90,000 tourists during the upcoming Songkran festival period. According to the Surat Thani Governor, Vichawut Jintoe, over 67,000 foreign tourists and 23,000 Thai tourists are expected to visit the southern province from April 13 to 16. Surat Thani…
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