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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Body of Thai hostage killed in Israel-Hamas conflict identified and returned
Israeli officials confirmed that one of the bodies returned by Hamas on Saturday, October 18, is that of a Thai hostage who was abducted and killed last year. Israel’s local media outlet, i24News, reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced yesterday, October 19, that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas the previous night was identified as a…
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American woman wins 3 million baht using AI for lottery numbers
A 45 year old American woman has won a lottery prize worth 3 million baht after using ChatGPT to choose her numbers, enabling her to pay off her mortgage. Today, on October 19, international media reported that Tammy Carvey, from Wyandotte, Michigan, emerged as the fortunate winner of over 2.6 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately 3 million baht) after employing ChatGPT…
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Chinese tourist falls from hotel balcony in Pattaya
In the early hours of today, October 19, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit was alerted to an incident involving a man injured after a fall from a hotel near Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya. The rescue team joined forces with the Pattaya City Police and dispatched a team to the location. Upon arrival, they encountered a Chinese tourist, believed…
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Nakhon Ratchasima landlord seeks tenant after rental mess
A Facebook user recently shared images online to caution landlords about a tenant who left a rental property in a deplorable state. The tenant, a 42 year old woman, rented the house in a housing project in Mueang district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, for approximately one year. The photos reveal a shocking mess of rotting garbage scattered throughout the house, emitting…
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Homeless couple’s indecent act in Pattaya bar causes local concern
A video lasting 37 seconds depicting a homeless couple involved in inappropriate conduct at a beer bar in Pattaya has circulated widely, with the Pattaya incidents causing concern among residents and bystanders. The incident took place at a bar on Soi Buakhao and gained traction on social media, prompting swift intervention from the city’s rapid response team. The video, uploaded…
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Police seize 4.4 million meth pills at Thailand-Myanmar border
Police have confiscated 4.4 million methamphetamine pills and detained two individuals suspected of smuggling the drugs near the border between Chiang Rai and Myanmar. According to officials on Saturday, the suspects 41 year old Sira and 34 year old Seri are residents of Mae Fah Luang district in Chiang Rai province. Authorities revealed that the arrest followed intelligence reports indicating that…
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Phuket pushes for stricter cannabis rules to protect tourism image
Phuket’s authorities are advocating for more stringent cannabis regulations after a rise in incidents involving foreign tourists displaying erratic behaviour has negatively impacted the island’s tourism image. Sarayut Mallum, vice-president of the Phuket Tourism Association, highlighted that many instances of foreign visitors behaving unusually have been linked to excessive cannabis consumption. He noted, ‘Some tourists smoked multiple joints consecutively, resulting…
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Tragic delay: blocked ambulance leads to patient’s death in Krabi
A hospital in Plai Phraya, Krabi, issued a statement addressing an incident where a pickup truck obstructed an ambulance, preventing the transfer of a critically ill patient who later died yesterday, on October 18. The hospital expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased, who suffered from acute myocardial infarction and respiratory failure. The patient was admitted to the…
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Monk killed in pet dispute at Nakhon Pathom temple
A 70 year old man attacked a monk with a knife, leading to the monk’s death at a temple. The incident, believed to be linked to a dispute over pets, occurred at 6.30pm yesterday, on October 18. Police Lieutenant Veeralak Khornchom of Pho Kaew Police Station received a report of the assault on a monk at Wat Om Yai in…
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Taiwanese trio busted at Bangkok airport with rare wildlife
Three Taiwanese nationals were arrested at Don Mueang Airport after officials uncovered a bizarre and cruel attempt to smuggle dozens of protected animals out of Thailand by hiding them under clothing. The suspects, identified as 53 year old Hsu Ching Chung, 40 year old Hong Zhi-Xian, and 36 year old Yang Tsung-Ju, were stopped by police from the Natural Resources…
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Bogus doctor arrested in Pattaya clinic raid after repeat offences
Officers raided an unlicensed clinic in Pattaya after receiving reports of illegal medical services being provided without certified professionals. The operation, carried out yesterday, October 17, by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) Region 2 in coordination with the Chon Buri Provincial Public Health Office (PPO), targeted a well-known clinic on Soi Chaiyapreuk 2 that had previously come under scrutiny. The…
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Thailand rolls out free dialysis as kidney disease cases soar
Thailand’s public health ministry has launched a free dialysis campaign to tackle rising chronic kidney disease cases and promote early prevention nationwide. Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat announced a nationwide campaign to provide free dialysis and promote early screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The campaign aims to raise awareness, expand access to treatment and encourage lifestyle changes to prevent…
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Thailand tourists face 100k fine for toxic sunscreen on reefs
Thailand has warned tourists that using banned sunscreens in marine parks could lead to fines, as officials crack down on products harmful to coral reefs. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has issued a strict warning to tourists: using certain sunscreens in Thailand’s marine parks could see you slapped with a fine of up to 100,000…
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Water woes: Phuket MP calls for urgent fix as crisis worsens
Phuket MP Chalermpong Sangdee has called on the government to urgently tackle the island’s chronic water shortage, warning that the issue could spiral out of control during the upcoming High Season if action isn’t taken immediately. Speaking in Parliament, Chalermpong, who represents Phuket District 2, said water demand has surged due to a booming tourism industry and a population now…
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9 Thais arrested for illegal border crossing from Cambodia
Nine Thai nationals were arrested in Sa Kaeo after illegally crossing the border on foot from Cambodia, where they had worked in an online scam operation. The group, five men and four women, were intercepted by the Burapha Forces and Aranyaprathet Special Task Force during a surveillance operation in Sa Kaeo province. Officers caught them trekking through a sugarcane field…
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Air Canada partners with HotDeals to offer exclusive Air Canada promo codes for travellers
Toronto, ON – Travellers seeking affordable and convenient flights now have an extra reason to plan their next trip, thanks to Air Canada and HotDeals, a popular online coupon platform. By providing verified Air Canada Promo Codes, HotDeals helps passengers save on both domestic and international flights while enjoying the high-quality service Air Canada is known for. Air Canada: A…
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Stoned shopkeeper arrested after knife rampage in Chon Buri
A grocery shop owner in Chon Buri was arrested after allegedly using cannabis and threatening residents with a knife while wearing a belt of ammunition. The bizarre incident unfolded around 9pm on Thursday, October 16, in Soi Thung Klon Tal Man 14, Nong Prue subdistrict. Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon was alerted after panicked residents called in reports of…
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Late-night blaze guts Phuket home in suspected power fault
A fire tore through a two-storey home in Kathu, Phuket, late on Thursday night, causing extensive damage but fortunately no injuries, as three residents managed to escape just in time. The blaze broke out around 11.45pm on Thursday, October 16, at a property in Soi 8, Anuphas Golf Ville, Kathu subdistrict. Police Lieutenant Colonel Natthaya Suphanphong from Kathu Police Station…
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Storm topples giant tree, crushes police cars in Ayutthaya
A powerful storm in Ayutthaya brought down a giant tree onto a police car park, damaging several vehicles and triggering a major emergency response. A fierce storm swept through Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, toppling a massive rain tree over 50 years old onto a police car park, damaging 12 vehicles and sparking chaos in the Wang Noi district. The…
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Drunken Brit torches wife’s designer gear in Pattaya rampage
A 59 year old British man allegedly caused chaos in central Pattaya after a drunken outburst saw him vandalise a beer bar, attempt to assault his Thai brother-in-law, and later set fire to his wife’s luxury clothing. The incident took place at around 6.33pm yesterday, October 17, on Soi Buakhao, where the man, identified only as Ary, was caught on…
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Israeli tourist caught stealing donation envelope in Pattaya
An Israeli tourist was arrested after allegedly stealing a donation envelope from a massage parlour near Pattaya Beach. The incident occurred around 2am yesterday, October 17, at a traditional Thai massage parlour in Soi 5, near Pattaya Beach Road. The suspect, who initially identified himself as Bar Bigger, reportedly gave police and reporters a false name. He is believed to…
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Storm alert: Thundershowers and rough seas hit Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned that southeasterly and easterly winds continue to prevail across Thailand, the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, fuelling widespread thundershowers and the threat of isolated heavy rain, particularly in the South. The northern and central provinces, along with the northeast, are expected to experience scattered thunderstorms. While these are not forecast to…
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Bike taxi rider damages passenger’s phone after secret camera dispute
An app-based motorcycle taxi rider damaged his passenger’s mobile phone after she questioned a camera on his helmet, fearing he was secretly recording her. The female passenger, identified only as Plammy, shared CCTV footage of the incident on her TikTok account, @plammyyaa_, in an attempt to seek compensation. The video was later removed due to community restrictions. Plammy’s story quickly…
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Trat tourism hit by UK travel alert over martial law fears
The tourism industry in Trat province, southeast Thailand, is facing severe financial losses after a UK travel advisory urged against non-essential visits, prompting widespread cancellations. Trat’s once-bustling tourist hotspots are reeling after a UK travel advisory urged citizens to avoid non-essential trips to the eastern Thai province due to ongoing martial law — a move that has sparked widespread cancellations…
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Pakistani man arrested at Bangkok airport for assaulting Phuket transwoman
Police today, October 17, arrested a Pakistani man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for assaulting a Thai transwoman in Phuket and stealing 10,000 baht. The transgender victim, identified only as Barbie, took to social media to share photos of herself with bloodstains on her face and chest in a plea for information about the attacker. She initially identified the suspect as…
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Pattaya’s 24/7 hotline gets 250k calls in service revamp
Pattaya City is stepping up efforts to improve public services and quality of life with its 24-hour Pattaya Contact Centre 1337, a hotline designed to address complaints, share updates, and offer emergency support for both locals and tourists. The city has handled 257,869 calls through the centre in fiscal year 2024 alone, a figure city officials say reflects growing public…
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Thai man deceived by online girlfriend into debt and coerced sex
A Thai man in Maha Sarakham province fell into debt of over 200,000 baht and was forced into sex after being scammed by a woman he met on a dating application. The 25 year old victim sought help from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive, urging the team to pursue the case and bring the female suspect to justice. He said…
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Cargo ship and foreign yacht collide off Phuket coast, no injuries
A cargo boat collided with a foreign yacht in open waters near Phuket during a routine journey, prompting an official investigation into the cause. The incident occurred at approximately 8am today, October 17, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. According to the cargo vessel’s captain, the sailboat appeared to be drifting unusually close, with no one visibly steering. “I sounded…
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Thai temples in Europe hit by wave of foreign break-ins
Thai temples in Europe are being warned to tighten security after several were targeted by foreign thieves who broke in and damaged property and donation boxes. Yesterday, October 16, Phra Ratchawachirasasanawithet, chairman of the Thai Dhammaduta Union in Europe, issued a public warning to all Thai temples abroad following several burglaries in Sweden and the United Kingdom. The union released…
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Thai father joins son in jail after carrying ketamine to police station
A Thai father found himself under arrest after visiting his detained son at a police station in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok with ketamine in his possession. Officers at Rattanathibet Police Station arrested the 35 year old man, identified only as Wuttichai, outside a detention room on the second floor of the station yesterday, October 16, after finding 0.54 grammes of…
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