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 Weekend road trip routes across Thailand [2025]
Weekend road trips in Thailand are a great way to enjoy beautiful scenery, local culture, and quick getaways without much travel time. From winding mountain routes in the north to coastal drives in the south, every journey brings new sights...
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Tragic drowning of young girl in Nakhon Ratchasima pond
Rescue personnel in Nakhon Ratchasima were called to the scene yesterday, August 24, after a six year old girl tragically drowned in a 4-metre-deep pond. The incident occurred in Baan Nong Khai Nam, Mueang district, as three children, two boys and a girl, were playing. The girl slipped into the deep part of the pond, and despite the boys’ attempts…
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2 Lebanese men arrested for drug and illegal clinic on Koh Samui
Police arrested two Lebanese men for illegally operating a clinic and supplying drugs to foreign tourists on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Officers from the Surat Thani Provincial Immigration Bureau, Koh Samui Tourist Police, Bor Phud Police Station, and the Koh Samui Public Health Department raided a restaurant on Lamai Beach in the Maret…
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Bangkok police seize fake Marshall speakers worth 600,000 baht
Yesterday, August 24, police in Bangkok apprehended six people suspected of selling counterfeit Marshall brand speakers and headphones. The operation, led by Police Major General Thantaphum Charuprat and involving collaboration with the Department of Intellectual Property and brand representatives, resulted in the seizure of 206 items valued at over 600,000 baht (US$18,480). The arrested individuals, identified as 45 year old…
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Foreign teacher files rape complaint against Phuket app-based taxi driver
Police are searching for an app-based taxi driver after a foreign teacher filed a rape complaint at Thalang Police Station in Phuket on Saturday, August 23. The 28 year old foreign victim lodged the complaint after being rescued by residents in the area. The Phuket Info Centre Facebook page reported that the victim is an African teacher, although officials have…
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Body of missing Buriram woman found on Phetchaburi roadside
A woman from Buriram was found dead on a roadside in Phetchaburi, three days after disappearing from the home of Doctor Pla. On August 22 at 12.30pm, police at Baan Lat district station were informed of a body discovered on the Ban Lat-Phor Rieang road, village 8, Tha Chang subdistrict, Baan Lat district, Phetchaburi province. Police coordinated with hospital personnel…
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Thailand braces for heavy rain as Typhoon Kajiki approaches
Today, August 25, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for 35 provinces in Thailand, predicting heavy rainfall over 70% of areas, including Bangkok. The influence of Typhoon Kajiki is anticipated to affect several provinces. Over the next 24 hours, Thailand is expected to experience significant rainfall in parts of the upper north, the upper northeast, the east, and…
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Christmas in Liturgical Splendor: Vestments highlighting the joy of the season
Colour and Symbolism: A Symphony of White and Gold The primary colour associated with Christmas vestments is white, often interwoven with gold or silver threads. White symbolises purity, light, joy, and new beginnings – all themes deeply resonant with the birth of Christ. As the “light of the world” (John 8:12), Christ’s arrival banishes the darkness of sin and ushers…
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Pattani man causes alarm with bomb joke on flight
A passenger from Pattani caused alarm on a Don Mueang to Hat Yai flight by mentioning a bomb in the local dialect. The airline has filed a complaint over the incident that occurred at Don Mueang Airport on August 22 at 6.17pm. Police Lieutenant Colonel Tuchai Surasiang, Deputy Inspector at Don Mueang Police Station, received a report regarding a male…
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Officials crack down on drug precursor chemicals at Thai border
Today, August 24, officials, led by Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, the Minister of Justice, conducted an inspection at the Mae Sot Customs House in Tak province. The visit followed a significant seizure of precursor chemicals used in drug production. Those implicated in their import or export will face strict legal action. The delegation included General Niphat Thonglek, Deputy Minister attached…
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Man arrested for smuggling meth in souvenir dolls to Japan
A 29 year old man named Phet has been arrested for smuggling crystal methamphetamine, known as ice, hidden inside souvenir dolls intended for shipment to Japan. The arrest took place at his residence in Mueang district, Phetchabun province, following an investigation by the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau yesterday, August 23, at 4pm. The investigation began on August 18, when police…
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Thai police arrest Myanmar national wanted for theft in Bangkok
Thai immigration officers in Samut Songkhram apprehended a 27 year old Myanmar national, Zen Tun, wanted for theft after fleeing to work in Bangkok. As part of the crime crackdown strategy ordered by Police General Kittirat Phanphet, police were instructed to target criminal activity, including people with outstanding warrants and firearm-related crimes between August 15 to August 24. Police Lieutenant…
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Tragedy as boy drowns on Phi Phi Island trip
An eight year old Chinese tourist tragically drowned while visiting Phi Phi Island with his father. Despite being unable to swim, he was allowed to enter the water without a life jacket. Emergency services responded but were unable to save him. Yesterday, August 23, at 8.39pm, the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation rescue team was notified to collect the body of a…
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Monk arrested in Chanthaburi for call centre fraud in Poipet
Police apprehended a man, previously involved as a mule for a call centre scam in Poipet, who had fled and ordained as a monk. He recounted his ordeal in Cambodia, revealing that non-compliance led to threats of violence, with some people disappearing or being abandoned at the border. Yesterday, August 23, Police Major General Thassaphum Charuprach, commander of the Economic…
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Banglamung raid: Woman arrested for illegal e-cigarettes and drugs
In Banglamung, Chon Buri, on August 21 at 6.30pm, police conducted a raid on a residence located on Soi Thung Klom-Tal Man 29. The operation, led by Deputy Superintendent Police Lieutenant Colonel Thana Wisetchai and Investigation Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Suphat Sutsong, resulted in the arrest of 50 year old Hathaithip “Thai” Rueangkham. Police seized 62 disposable e-cigarettes of the…
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Motorcycle theft in Pattaya: thief rides off with Honda Click
In Pattaya, Thailand, on August 22, a 36 year old food vendor, Thanongsak Khotamang, reported a daring motorcycle theft. He provided CCTV footage of the incident to local media. The theft took place near his food stall on Jomtien Beach. Thanongsak shared that around 7.40am, while setting up his stall, he parked his white Honda Click motorcycle, with the registration plate…
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Cambodia and Thailand collaborate on border landmine clearance
Cambodia has agreed to cooperate with Thailand on landmine clearance along their shared border, following diplomatic pressure from the Thai government, according to Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Russ Jalichandra. Russ informed the media about the government’s response and updated the international community on the situation. He highlighted protests from the government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the military…
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Thailand crackdown on misuse of student visas by foreigners
The Immigration Bureau has enhanced its monitoring of foreign nationals entering Thailand on student visas after uncovering that thousands have obtained these visas without attending the required studies. Police Major General Panthana Nuchanart, the deputy commissioner of the Bureau, reported that investigations revealed many people had entered Thailand claiming educational purposes but did not attend classes. Entering Thailand on a…
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Tropical Storm Kajiki set to bring heavy rain to 55 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued its seventh warning regarding Tropical Storm Kajiki, highlighting 55 provinces expected to be affected by heavy rainfall. The TMD urges the public to be cautious of potential flash floods due to the heavy downpours. Today, August 24, the department forecasted weather conditions for the next 24 hours, indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall…
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South Korean man held in Thailand for laundering crypto into gold
Thai police have detained a 33 year old South Korean man accused of laundering cryptocurrency for call centre gangs by converting it into gold bars, with transactions exceeding 1.6 billion baht over three months. Officers from the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) and the Immigration Bureau captured the suspect, identified as Han, at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday, August 23. Han was…
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Beach alert: Deadly blue dragons invade Phuket shore
Beachgoers in Phuket are being warned to steer clear of venomous blue dragons after the toxic sea slugs washed up on Karon Beach. Local officials sounded the alarm after several sightings of blue dragon sea slugs (Glaucilla sp) were reported following recent rainfall. The creatures, though small and visually striking with their electric-blue appearance, pose a serious health risk to swimmers.…
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Thailand’s retirement lottery launches with new payment options
Why just save for retirement when you can win your way there? Thailand’s new lottery is making it possible. Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul has confirmed that sales for the highly anticipated retirement lottery will kick off in the fourth quarter of this year, offering weekly cash prizes while promoting long-term savings. Paopoom referred to the legal green light already…
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Pattaya police slash crime with AI tech, new plans ahead
AI-powered cameras, tough traffic crackdowns, and a touch of ceremony: Pattaya police are busier than ever. The Police Administration Oversight Committee of Pattaya City Police Station convened for its monthly meeting at the station’s Operations Control Room. The session was chaired by Amporn Kaewsaeng and attended by Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyoo, the station’s superintendent, along with police officers, media representatives,…
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Chiang Rai airport gets 5.7 billion baht mega upgrade
Chiang Rai is set to soar with a massive 5.7-billion-baht terminal upgrade aimed at transforming the northern province into Thailand’s next aviation hub. Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has greenlit a bold expansion plan for Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport, including the construction of a new passenger terminal to support a dramatic increase in air traffic. Announced by…
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Thailand dials up emergency response with smart tech
Getting help in a crisis just got faster, thanks to a high-tech upgrade that puts police one step closer when every second counts. Advanced Info Service (AIS) has teamed up with the Patrol and Special Operations Division (191) and Google to launch Thailand’s first-ever 191 Emergency Location Service (191 ELS), dramatically improving the way emergency calls are handled across the…
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Pattaya locals turn trash into treasure in DIY workshop
Forget the bin, Pattaya residents are turning garbage into gold thanks to a DIY upcycling workshop that’s sweeping the community. Nongprue Municipality, located in East Pattaya, hosted a creative Upcycling Waste workshop under its Happy Health Centre initiative this week, training locals to turn discarded plastic into useful household items. Led by Deputy Mayor Wanchai Saeng-ngam, the event welcomed more…
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Late-night blaze: Inferno torches bikes in Phuket shop fire
Fire ripped through a Phuket motorbike shop in the dead of night, torching more than 10 motorcycles in a dramatic blaze. Kathu Police are investigating the cause of a fire that broke out in the early hours yesterday, August 22, gutting parts of a motorcycle repair shop and destroying multiple vehicles. The alarm was raised at approximately 2am when officers…
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Footbridge collapses in East Thailand, crushes trucks (video)
Motorists on a busy Thai highway had a terrifying near-miss after a massive pedestrian bridge crashed down onto traffic, narrowly avoiding disaster. A 100-tonne concrete pedestrian bridge under construction dramatically collapsed onto two vehicles on Highway No.317 in Chanthaburi last night, August 22, causing severe property damage but no reported injuries. The incident occurred at around 10.20pm near Matai Market…
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Thailand’s lese majeste amnesty talks stall in Parliament
Plans to grant amnesty to lese majeste offenders have hit a political wall, as Parliament hesitates on revising the kingdom’s most controversial law. Thailand’s House Committee on Peace Building confirmed this week that the current conditions for granting amnesty under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, commonly known as the lese majeste law, remain unchanged. On Thursday, August 21, a…
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Lost Chinese gran saved by ID bracelet in Pattaya
An elderly Chinese tourist became stranded and confused in the middle of Pattaya traffic until a tiny bracelet saved the day. Thai police successfully reunited an 80 year old Chinese woman with her family after she was found disoriented and alone on a traffic island in South Pattaya yesterday, August 22. The woman, identified only as Zhang, was discovered around…
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Tourist tragedy: Young American washes up on Phuket beach
Police are probing the death of a 28 year old American tourist whose body was found washed ashore on Patong Beach in Phuket yesterday afternoon. The grim discovery was made near the Coral Beach Bridge at the southern end of the popular tourist hotspot at around 1.30pm yesterday, August 22. Patong Police Chief Police Colonel Chalermchai Hirasawat arrived at the…
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