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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Thailand unveils new traffic ticket formats from August 4
The Royal Gazette has published an announcement from the Royal Thai Police (RTP) detailing the new formats for traffic tickets, effective August 4. The updated designs, intended to align with administrative fine orders, include three formats as part of its 2025 implementation. The Royal Gazette published the Royal Thai Police’s announcement regarding the new traffic ticket designs. This follows a…
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Bangkok man nabbed for selling bank accounts in fraud case
An arrest in Bangkok has uncovered a man selling bank accounts for criminal activities, leading to millions in losses. In an operation led by the Metropolitan Police Division 3, a 25 year old man, Surayut Kungseng, was arrested for selling his bank accounts for 3,000 baht each. These accounts were later used in fraudulent activities that caused financial damage exceeding…
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Pattaya police crack down on illegal sidecar vendors
In a surprise late-night operation, Pattaya police are cleaning up the beachfront road, taking action against illegal sidecar vendors blocking traffic. Pattaya police officers launched a crackdown on illegal sidecar vendors along the city’s beachfront road at 11.30pm yesterday, August 1. The operation, led by Deputy Superintendent of Investigation, Police Lieutenant Colonel Arut Saphanont, and traffic inspector Pol. Lt. Col.…
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Thaksin pushes for high EV tax to protect Thailand’s car industry
Could the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) be putting Thailand’s homegrown auto industry at risk? Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra thinks so, and he’s pushing for drastic tax changes to protect local manufacturers from foreign competition. Thaksin has called for a high excise tax to be imposed on imported EVs that contain minimal local content, in a bid to protect Thailand’s…
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Phayao lottery vendor helps friend win 12 million baht prize
In a heartwarming tale of fortune and friendship, a lottery vendor in Phayao province witnessed an extraordinary event when a close friend won the top prize in the national lottery. Yesterday, August 1 at 5pm, 44 year old lottery vendor Yaowanut reported the astonishing news to Police Lieutenant Colonel Sonthaya Pathawi of Mueang Phayao District Police Station—her customer had won…
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Pattaya launches eco-tourism project to boost marine life
In an exciting step towards eco-tourism, Pattaya has launched a groundbreaking project to restore marine life and teach the public how to nurture aquatic species. On Thursday, July 31, Pattaya began a new eco-tourism initiative to raise public awareness about the breeding and care of aquatic species. Part of the Nature Restoration for Eco-Tourism Promotion programme for 2025, this project…
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Etihad’s A321LR brings luxury to Phuket flights
Etihad Airways has just upped the ante in luxury air travel, launching its first commercial flight of the all-new A321LR to Phuket. Etihad Airways has officially launched its all-new A321LR, marking a new chapter in luxury short and medium-haul flights. Flight EY414, which departed from Zayed International Airport yesterday, August 1, heralded the arrival of the aircraft designed to provide…
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Love triangle turns deadly in Bangkok minibus shooting
A bitter love triangle turned deadly in Bangkok, leaving one man dead and another on the run. At around 2am today, August 2, a tragic shooting occurred outside an apartment on Rama 2 Road, leaving 38 year old minibus driver Anucha dead after being shot multiple times. The suspect, 36 year old Sira—also a minibus driver—is currently on the run.…
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Phuket’s Srisoonthorn Road upgrade gains massive public backing
A major road upgrade is on the horizon in Phuket, and locals couldn’t be more excited. With a 420 million baht budget, the plan to revamp Srisoonthorn Road is gaining traction, promising smoother, safer travel for everyone. Srisoonthorn Road, one of Phuket’s most important routes, is set to undergo a much-anticipated upgrade, following strong public support at a recent hearing.…
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Thailand deluge: Nan province hit by worst flood in 40 years
A province in northern Thailand has been left reeling from catastrophic floods, but in the darkest hours, help came from unexpected places. Volunteers braved rising waters to save lives, leaving one woman grateful for the anonymous heroes who rescued her. On July 23, Diane Francheska Ruiz, a Filipina English teacher in Nan province, noticed something was off. While she couldn’t…
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Chiang Rai MP booted over budget scandal
In a major political shake-up, the first deputy House speaker and MP for Chiang Rai, was disqualified by the Constitutional Court. Found guilty of misusing public funds to influence budget decisions for personal gain, Pichet Chuamuangphan is now barred from holding office for 10 years and faces a by-election. Yesterday, August 1, the Constitutional Court delivered a bombshell ruling, disqualifying…
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South Korean tourist assaulted in Pattaya robbery gone wrong
A brutal assault on a South Korean tourist outside a Pattaya nightclub has left police probing whether it was a botched robbery or something darker. At 4.06am yesteday, August 1, Police Lieutenant Colonel Alis Phuangwai, Deputy Chief of Pattaya City Police Station, received an urgent call about a violent incident in a parking lot near an entertainment venue on Soi…
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Why copy trading is the ultimate power move for first-time investors
Stepping into the realm of investing is both exciting and intimidating simultaneously. There’s way too much sub-par advice floating around, too many strategies, and too much jargon related to money that daunts even the most eager newcomer. But at the heart of all this complexity lies a deceptively straightforward way out—copy trading. With newbies particularly, it is more than a…
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British woman in Thailand raves over epic English roast fix (video)
Homesickness hits hard—especially when it’s Sunday and there’s no roast in sight. But one British expat in Thailand just struck gold. TikTok content creator Julia, who shares her overseas adventures under the handle @awaywithjuliaa, recently went viral after posting a mouth-watering food hunt video that has UK expats and travel lovers drooling. In her latest upload, Julia sets off on…
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Thai woman dies after crashing SUV into parked truck in Pattaya
A Thai woman died after crashing her SUV into a parked 18-wheel truck on Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya in the early hours of today, August 1. The Sawang Borriboon Dhammasatan Rescue Foundation was alerted to the fatal accident at 1.36am and rushed to the scene, along with officers from Bang Lamung Police Station. Upon arrival, rescuers found a black BMW X1…
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Vietnam eyes Phuket for tourism and trade boost
In a high-profile diplomatic visit yesterday, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat welcomed Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung to Phuket Provincial Hall for a courtesy meeting aimed at strengthening tourism ties, economic collaboration, and potential sister-city agreements. Held yesterday, July 31 at 2.30pm in the Governor’s Reception Room, the gathering was a show of mutual interest in deepening cultural and…
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Bangkok rush hour relief as SRT trials new train route
Bangkok’s long-suffering commuters are finally getting a break—at least during rush hour. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has launched a pilot extension of suburban train routes in a bid to ease congestion and improve public transport during peak hours. Starting today, August 1, suburban train numbers 355 and 356 will operate on an extended route from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong…
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Thailand shows its side of border conflict to foreign ambassadors
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) led military attachés from 23 countries, along with other foreign ambassadors and representatives, on a visit to Thailand’s border provinces to present evidence that the Cambodian military targeted residential areas and Thai civilians. On Tuesday, July 29, the Cambodian military invited ambassadors from 13 countries to the disputed border area between Thailand and Cambodia. During…
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Bank of Thailand may cut rates amid US tariff concerns
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) may reduce interest rates multiple times by the end of this year to bolster the economy if US tariffs on Thai goods prove uncompetitive compared to regional counterparts. Head of research for the banking and financial sector at Kasikorn Research Centre, Kanjana Chockpisansin, indicated that the think tank anticipates at least one additional rate cut…
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Petrol station owner left stranded after deadly cross-border attack
An owner of a petrol station in the Isaan province of Si Saket, where a deadly attack occurred on July 24, stated that she has yet to receive any assistance from government officials. The Cambodian military reportedly attacked the Ban Phue PTT petrol station in Kantaralak district, resulting in the deaths of 12 innocent Thai civilians. Initially, officials discovered seven…
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Graveyard curse on Hun Sen sparks Thai lottery frenzy (video)
A Thai social media influencer sparked controversy after leading a graveyard curse ceremony in Chon Buri—complete with pizza, fried chicken, and fiery accusations against top Cambodian officials. Yesterday, July 31 at 8pm, 32 year old influencer Lapatsarada Rakangthong, and lottery tipster Phirada Tanachotinda, also known as Mae Nam Nueng, conducted the bizarre ritual at the Trikunnatham Foundation cemetery in Nong…
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Truck slams into cars in Phuket underpass horror
Terrified drivers in Phuket watched chaos unfold in seconds after a semi-trailer truck ploughed into multiple vehicles inside the Darasamut Underpass this morning, leaving three people injured, including a young girl. The collision, which occurred at 10.44am today, August 1, near Central Festival Phuket, sparked immediate panic as rescue teams scrambled to the scene. Police and emergency responders from the…
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2 Cambodian POWs with mental issues and injuries returned home
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) transferred two Cambodian soldiers, detained as prisoners of war (POWs) following a clash in the Sam Tae area of Si Sa Ket province, back to Cambodia today, August 1. Sixteen others remain in custody for further questioning. The Cambodian soldiers reportedly attacked Thai officers in Sam Tae on July 29. Thai troops retaliated, dismantling a…
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Furious Pattaya locals slam 4-year roadworks nightmare
Pattaya residents are fuming as a drainage and road construction project drags into its fourth year with no end in sight—leaving behind a trail of muddy roads, stray dogs, blocked access, and mounting frustration. Locals living near Thepprasit Soi 7 and 9, extending to Jomtien Second Road, say they’ve had enough. What was promised as essential infrastructure improvement has become,…
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Dad killed in Uthai Thani crash seeking missing daughter
A frantic father’s desperate search for his missing teenage daughter ended in heartbreak late yesterday, after he and his companion died when their pickup truck crashed into a utility pole in Uthai Thani province. Police in Lan Sak district received a distressing report at around 10.30pm yesterday, July 31, that a white Toyota pickup truck had flipped onto its roof…
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Thai journalists deny fake news and suspend ties with Cambodian media
The Thai Journalists Association (TJA), the Society for Online News Providers (SONP), and the National Union of Journalists Thailand (NUJT) denied allegations of spreading fake news made by Cambodian media. The organisations also announced the suspension of their media partnership with Cambodia until border tensions subside. The Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) yesterday, July 31, issued a statement accusing Thai…
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Ice cream raid: Cambodian sellers busted in Udon Thani
An illegal ice cream empire run by Cambodian migrants melted away yesterday after a dramatic raid in Udon Thani uncovered a secret stash of freezers and sidecar motorcycles. The suspects, who were hoping for a sweet escape from poverty, now face deportation. The raid took place at 1.40pm yesterday, July 31, in the Don Udom community, after District Chief Chawit…
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Ang Thong locals seek lottery luck from ancient Buddha statue
Forget scratch cards and lucky coins—Ang Thong residents have discovered a far more sacred way to seek fortune. The town is gripped by lottery fever as hundreds flock to Wat Thong Luean to seek blessings from Luang Por Daeng, an ancient Buddha statue believed to be over 700 years old and famed for granting miraculous good luck. The revered sandstone…
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Pattaya dazzles tourists with flashy new Walking Street sign
Pattaya’s famed nightlife hotspot, Walking Street, is set to shine even brighter, thanks to a brand-new, eye-popping 3D LED sign currently under construction at the street’s entrance. The vivid, high-tech signage, part of the city’s ongoing beautification efforts, promises to become the ultimate selfie spot for tourists flocking to the notorious party district. Even though work on the towering structure…
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Thai hospital denies blocking Cambodian patients amid border clashes
Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani denied rejecting Cambodian patients amid heightened border tensions, following the circulation of an official document with unclear wording on Thai social media yesterday, July 31. Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital, located near the border, were among the institutions affected during recent clashes. Several hospitals in the area sustained damage and were temporarily closed, leading…
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