Thailand News
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Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Jackpot! Sisaket couple clears debt with Thai lottery win
A couple from Sisaket province experienced a life-changing event after winning 6 million baht in the latest lottery draw. At their residence in Lin Fa subdistrict, Yang Chum Noi district, family and locals gathered yesterday, May 2, to congratulate 58 year old Lamphong and his 56 year old wife, Kanokwan, who won the first prize in the Thai Government Lottery…
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400 shark fins seized in major smuggling bust at Bangkok airport
Thai Customs seized over 400 shark fins in a major bust. The fins were on their way to China, but thanks to a swift operation, their illegal journey has been stopped. Thailand’s Customs Department, in collaboration with Chinese authorities, successfully intercepted more than 400 shark fins in a significant smuggling operation aimed at curbing illegal wildlife trafficking. The 402 fins,…
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Fatal fall: Polish tourist plunges to his death from Phuket condo
A Polish tourist fell to his death from a fifth-floor condo in Kathu district, Phuket, while his wife witnessed the incident. The 34 year old man, identified as Swalomir, lost his balance after standing up and toppled over the balcony. This was confirmed by his wife, who was present at the time. The incident occurred at 12.13am today, May 3.…
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Pattaya gang attacks security guards over loud music in Jomtien
A violent encounter in Na Jomtien has left two security guards injured after they tried to intervene in a heated dispute between youths. Armed with knives and sticks, a gang of teenagers launched a brutal attack, leaving the guards with destroyed property and serious concerns over the lawlessness in the area. Yesterday, May 2, two security guards from Na Jomtien…
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Patong brawl: Ladyboys wreak havoc again on Soi Bangla (video)
A video of a ladyboy brawl in Patong’s Soi Bangla has gone viral, sparking heated online discussions. Netizens expressed concern over the incident damaging Phuket’s image as a tourist destination. Calls for stricter law enforcement have emerged, while others stress the importance of addressing the behaviour without targeting a community. The โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต Facebook page shared a disturbing video of a…
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Dealers resist arrest in violent drug bust in Pattaya’s Jomtien
A chaotic scene unfolded in Jomtien in Pattaya as police raided a drug operation after reports of a man attacking civilians and claiming his father was a police officer. The arrest quickly turned violent, with one dealer injuring an officer, but both suspects were captured, revealing a major meth operation in the area. Yesterday, May 2 at 4.36pm, Lieutenant Colonel…
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Phuket labour day funds cancer centre amid workers’ struggles
Phuket provincial officials marked National Labour Day 2025 with the event Labourers for the Light on Thursday, raising more than 150,000 baht to support the construction of the province’s first government cancer centre at Vachira Phuket Hospital. The event, which took place at Bang Wad Dam, was presided over by Phuket Vice Governor Suwit Phansengiam and brought together over 900…
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Pattaya driver vanishes after brutal crash, leaving car wrecked
Villagers in Soi 1, South Pattaya, were jolted awake in the middle of the night by the deafening screech of brakes, followed by a loud crash as a car ploughed into an electric pole. Rushing out of their homes to investigate, they were met with a bewildering scene. The sedan, its front end completely wrecked and the bumper lying in…
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Heavy rain lashes 43 provinces, Bangkok braces for floods
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts heavy rain across 43 provinces today, with significant impact expected in the South and 60% of Bangkok. Residents are advised to be cautious of potential flash floods and forest run-off, particularly in areas near water flows or low-lying regions. The forecast for today, May 3, indicates that the South will experience increased rainfall with…
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Thai engineer loses over 8 million baht to call centre scam
A Thai engineer lost more than 8 million baht to call centre scammers after being deceived into speaking with them on the phone for seven consecutive days. The 32 year old victim, Siwat, sought help from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive yesterday, May 1, after going bankrupt and being forced to close his restaurant in the Khlong Sam neighbourhood of…
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Thailand mulls motorcycle cut amid China slowdown, US tariff fears
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is contemplating a reduction in Thailand’s motorcycle manufacturing target, despite an increase in production in the first quarter of this year. The decision arises from a sluggish domestic economy, decreased foreign tourist arrivals, especially from China, and uncertainties linked to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Surapong Paisitpatanapong, vice-chairman of the FTI and spokesperson for…
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Trat Discovery campaign offers island perks and free flight prizes
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in partnership with Bangkok Airways and local tourism operators, has kicked off the Trat Discovery: Island and Beyond campaign – a bold push to supercharge tourism in Thailand’s eastern region with discounts, rewards, and premium travel experiences. Running from May 1 (yesterday) to August 20, the campaign offers exclusive perks for Bangkok Airways passengers…
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Lottery luck heats up Thailand with hot picks for May 2 draw
Fortune hunters, get ready – May’s lottery buzz is here and Thailand’s favourite number whisperers have spoken. With the Thai Government Lottery draw set for today, May 2, lottery hopefuls across the country are once again diving deep into predictions, calendars, and social media gurus to hunt down those elusive lucky numbers. And leading the charge this month? The much-anticipated…
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Phuket scammer busted after conning restaurants for drug cash
A 29 year old con artist in Phuket who posed as a food delivery customer to trick restaurant owners out of their cash has been arrested after weeks on the run. The man, known only by his nickname “Knot,” rode around Phuket on a black M-Slash motorcycle, preying on small eateries with a scam that left at least 10 victims…
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Pattaya wrong-way driver damages car, claims police ties
A Thai man took to social media to seek justice after police failed to arrest a suspect who damaged his car because he did not let him drive against the traffic flow on a Pattaya road. The victim, Nawakorn Thongpha, shared a video of the incident on his Facebook account on April 30, along with a description of the events. The…
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Giant monitor lizard statue draws crowds to Bangkok park
It slinks, it swims, and now it poses — Bangkok’s iconic monitor lizard just got a supersized tribute in the city’s most famous park. Tourists and locals heading to Lumphini Park can now snap selfies with a massive foam monitor lizard statue — a new temporary installation celebrating one of Bangkok’s most misunderstood but iconic residents. Sanon Wangsangboon, Deputy Governor…
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Multiple affairs discovered after woman’s murder in Chon Buri
A Thai man fatally stabbed a woman in a rented house in the Si Racha district of Chon Buri on April 29 before attempting a failed suicide. The suspected motive was jealousy as the woman was reportedly involved in affairs with seven men. The 50 year old Thai man, Sanya, was shocked to discover the lifeless body of his girlfriend, 51…
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Thai police detain Chinese nationals over 2 billion baht land deal
Thai police have detained a group led by Chinese nationals suspected of acquiring land valued at 2 billion baht for a luxury condominium project in Rayong province. The group secured 72 rai of land for a project intended to be managed entirely by Chinese foreigners, from management to construction, as stated by Police Major General Thatphum Jaruprat, chief of the…
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Pattaya’s long-delayed stadium finally back on track
Once dubbed a never-ending construction nightmare, Pattaya’s 20,000-seat stadium is finally rising — and could open early. After years of delays, controversies, and abandoned construction, Pattaya’s Eastern Sports Stadium is finally back in the spotlight — for the right reasons. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet has revealed that the long-stalled project is now around 53% complete and 51 days ahead of schedule.…
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Bangkok overhaul plan could hand governor more power
Should Bangkok be run more like a country than a city? Politicians think so — and big changes could be coming. Yesterday, May 1, at Bangkok City Hall’s Nopparat Room near the Giant Swing, Governor Chadchart Sittipunt welcomed Members of Parliament to discuss sweeping proposals to overhaul the city’s outdated administration system. The meeting brought together top Bangkok executives and…
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Bangkok SAO death toll hits 68 after 5 more bodies found
Five more bodies have been recovered from the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building, bringing the death toll to 68. Suriyachai Rawiwan, director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, reported that the bodies were discovered in Zone D between 10pm on Wednesday, April 30, and 9am yesterday, May 1. The search for the missing continues, with heavy machinery operating…
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Israeli man nabbed for Phuket motorcycle theft after week-long hunt
An Israeli man was finally apprehended on April 30 after stealing a motorcycle from the car park of a hospital in Phuket on April 21 and evading arrest for over a week. The Thai victim, whose identity was not disclosed, filed a complaint at Wichit Police Station on April 24, reporting that his white Honda Click motorcycle was stolen from…
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450kg of crystal meth seized in northeast Thailand chase
A high-speed police chase in Thailand’s northeast ended with a massive drug haul and three traffickers in cuffs. Police in Nong Khai province have arrested three men and seized a staggering 450 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, known as “Ice”, following a dramatic pursuit through Tha Bo district. The suspects, 23 year old Prasobsuk, 28 year old Thongthawat, and 20 year…
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Phuket honours real-life heroes for lifesaving acts
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat has honoured eight everyday heroes with certificates of recognition for their bravery, kindness and unwavering service to others throughout 2024. The awards were presented during a ceremony held at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday, April 28, alongside the 4th meeting of the Phuket Provincial Committee and Department Heads for 2025. Governor Sophon, who presided over the…
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Thai Army denies online ops, says it’s just ‘correcting facts’
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) claims that it does not engage in online military-style information-influencing operations but instead provides factual corrections to misleading social media information. During a House Committee on National Security meeting, the army spokesperson discussed the state’s use of social media. The session included representatives from the Office of Policy and Planning, Internal Security Operations Command, and…
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Pattaya rolls out posh loos to keep tourists cool and comfortable
Pattaya City is taking public convenience to the next level with the launch of high-end mobile toilets equipped with air conditioning, designed to serve residents and tourists, and it’s free of charge. The first of these deluxe loo units is now stationed outside Walking Street, near the South Pattaya Pumping Station. The air-conditioned facility, which caters to both men and…
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Phuket Red Cross pleads for rare blood as tourist demand surges
The Phuket Red Cross (PRBC) and the Blood Bank at Vachira Phuket Hospital are calling on locals to roll up their sleeves this May and donate blood—particularly the rare Rh-negative type. With tourism booming again across Phuket and the surrounding regions, accidents and emergency hospital visits are on the rise—especially among foreign visitors. And that means a higher demand for…
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Australian man dies after falling from staircase at Phuket hotel
An Australian man fell to his death from a staircase at a hotel in Phuket on May 1, allegedly due to intoxication, in full view of his wife. Officers from Patong Police Station and rescuers from the Kusontham Foundation rushed to a hotel on Rat Uthit 200 Years Road in the Kathu district of Phuket after being alerted to an…
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Thunderstorms and strong winds batter Thailand, TMD warns
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, May 2. Thunderstorms and strong winds are forecast across upper Thailand, with Bangkok also affected. Residents are cautioned about the potential dangers of intense weather conditions, particularly in the North, northeast, and central regions. Upper Thailand will experience thunderstorms and strong winds due to easterly and southeasterly winds…
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Thailand’s ONCB busts major Thai-Malaysian drug network
Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has successfully dismantled a transnational drug trafficking operation involving Thai and Malaysian nationals. The operation, carried out in Songkhla, a southern province, led to the arrest of two Thai suspects and the seizure of 261 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (ice). Prin Mekanandha, the ONCB’s Director of Narcotics Law Enforcement, confirmed the operation…
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