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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German drug dealer busted in Pattaya with cocaine and gun
A major drug dealer has been arrested in Pattaya after a successful sting operation led by local police. The suspect, a 42 year old German man identified as Mike, was caught with over 427 grammes of cocaine and a .380 calibre handgun. His arrest marks the end of a significant operation targeting foreign drug dealers in the area. Police Colonel…
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Narathiwat ex-village head arrested for major drug network involvement
The Crime Suppression Division arrested a 34 year old former village head in Narathiwat province, who is believed to be a key figure in a major drug network. His arrest stemmed from evidence collected after he contacted his subordinate while under police custody to inquire about a drug delivery. Today, June 17, Police Major General Wichaya Sriprasertphap, Police Colonel Anusorn…
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Jealous South Korean assaults Thai girlfriend with gun in Pattaya
A shocking case of jealousy and violence unfolded in Pattaya when a South Korean man locked his Thai girlfriend in a room for nearly 24 hours, threatened her with a gun, and physically assaulted her after suspecting she was involved with another man. The terrifying ordeal ended when police rescued the woman, leading to a dramatic chase and arrest of…
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Trang car shop raided for illegal firearm production
Police officers raided a car repair shop in Trang province, apprehending its owner for illegal firearm production and repair. The operation, yesterday, June 16, led by Police Major General Witthaya Sriprasertphap resulted in the arrest of 45 year old Sompong, along with the seizure of numerous firearms, ammunition, and related equipment. Police received information about a car repair shop in…
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False gambling report: Thai police mistakenly raid board game party
Bumbling police officers raided a house in the central province of Saraburi in an attempt to arrest gamblers, only to discover that the presumed suspects were merely playing a board game. One of the board game players shared CCTV footage of the incident on her TikTok account, @nnannthc, on Sunday, 15 June, with the caption: “Board game was the cause.…
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Lampang man dies from flesh-eating bacteria on tour bus
A 38 year old man from Lampang province died aboard a bus during a trip from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai, with autopsy results now revealing the shocking cause of death—flesh-eating bacteria. The man was found lifeless when the bus arrived at Lampang Bus Terminal yesterday, June 16, his left leg bruised and bleeding. Initial investigations showed no signs of…
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Pomelo vendor loses 300,000 baht to dating app scammer
A 52 year old pomelo vendor has reported being deceived by a 60 year old man, whom she met on a dating app. Over a month-long interaction, they fell in love, married, and invested in a business, leading to substantial financial losses. Suthasinee, who originally sold pomelos, coconuts, and drinks, encountered the alleged fraudster online. After exchanging contact details, Paramee expressed…
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India tragedy: Black box recovered from fatal flight
The recovery of the black box from last week’s deadly Air India crash marks a crucial step in the investigation, potentially revealing vital insights into the cause of the tragic accident. Tragedy struck last Thursday, June 12, as Air India’s London-bound flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing at least 270 people, including most of the passengers. Now, as…
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Foreign couple filmed engaging in sex act on Phuket tuk tuk (video)
A Phuket tuk tuk driver, who had earlier reported inappropriate behaviour by foreign passengers, has once again blown the whistle—this time on a foreign couple caught performing a sex act in the back of his vehicle. The tuk tuk driver shared a video of the incident on his Facebook account, จ้าวนึก เก็ตโฮ่ แล้วแต่มุมมอง, yesterday, June 16, without a caption, as…
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Transport Ministry to launch contractor oversight system in August
The Ministry of Transport plans to introduce a “contractor report card” system in August, aimed at enhancing the oversight and accountability of contractors involved in public infrastructure projects. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that the Ministry of Finance’s Comptroller General Department is working on regulations to evaluate contractor performance. These regulations will be reviewed by the…
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Udon Thani luxury home ransacked and used for drug party
A 50 year old lawyer was left devastated after discovering his luxury two-storey home in Udon Thani had been ransacked and used for a drug party, resulting in damages estimated at 1.5 million baht. The incident occurred yesterday, June 16, with Police Lieutenant Suksan Hasuk, Deputy Inspector at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station, receiving the report and promptly investigating the…
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Fast track to Formula fun: Thailand revs up for F1 bid
Thailand has hit the gas on its high-octane dream of becoming a Formula One (F1) host nation, with a turbocharged 40 billion baht plan to bring the world’s most elite racing series to the Land of Smiles by 2028. Tourism and Sports Minister Surawong Thienthong revealed on today, June 17, that the Cabinet has officially approved the country’s bold bid…
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Visa villains! Nigerian trio nicked in Phuket overstay drama
Phuket Immigration officers busted three Nigerian nationals for overstaying their welcome, one of them by nearly seven months, as part of Thailand’s island-wide crackdown on dodgy foreigners. Acting on high-level orders from national police chiefs, officers from Phuket Immigration rounded up the trio in a targeted sweep aimed at rooting out visa overstayers and criminal elements lurking on the island.…
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Orchard owner electrocuted by high-voltage wire in Chanthaburi
A tragic incident occurred yesterday when a 28 year old orchard owner was electrocuted by a 22,000-volt high-voltage wire while trimming a durian tree in Chanthaburi province. The recovery of his body from the 6-metre-high tree was challenging for rescue teams. Police Colonel Pramote Kongnantha and rescue officials from the Sawang Katanyu Dhammasathan Association investigated the accident yesterday, June 16,…
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Laotian man caught smuggling 672kg of kratom in Nong Khai
Customs officials in Nong Khai have apprehended a Laotian man attempting to smuggle 12 sacks of kratom leaves weighing over 672 kilogrammes. The leaves were concealed in a van, preparing to be taken out of the country. Yesterday, June 16, at the Nong Khai Customs Office, officials led by Wannapa Phutthao, director of the Nong Khai Customs Office, Pakin Tiebkam,…
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Bank of Thailand to name new governor amid challenges
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is set to appoint a new governor as Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput will conclude his term on September 30. The selection process is crucial, as the new governor will navigate Thailand’s economic challenges and influence monetary policy and financial stability. Applications for the position closed on June 4, with seven candidates in the running. The candidates are:…
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Too fit to commit! Brit beauty queen says blokes can’t handle her
A Brit beauty queen says she’s had it with dating because British blokes are too scared to ask her out. Harriotte Lane from Newcastle, has just been crowned Miss Grand United Kingdom and is set to jet off to Bangkok to compete in Miss Grand International in October but says life in the fast lane has left her flying solo.…
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Explosion at Chong Chom border alarms Thai, Cambodian residents
A loud explosion at the Chong Chom border crossing in Surin province yesterday morning sparked panic among both Thai and Cambodian residents. The blast, originating from the Cambodian side of the border, was initially feared to be a result of military conflict but turned out to be an accident involving a Cambodian man operating an excavator. The incident occurred at…
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EC summons Bhumjaithai over Senate collusion
Executives of the Bhumjaithai Party have expressed concerns that the Election Commission’s decision to summon them over alleged collusion in the Senate election may be an attempt to dissolve the party. Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed yesterday, June 16, that he is among the key figures called by the Election Commission (EC) to answer allegations of collusion linked to the…
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Chon Buri villagers celebrate big lottery win with monk’s blessing
A village in Chon Buri celebrated a collective lottery win after a 40 year old woman performed a merit-making ceremony and sought blessing from a local revered monk at Wat Huai Sup, Namatoom subdistrict, Phanat Nikhom district. Supanya drew a lucky number, 206, from a jar. This prompted residents to buy lottery tickets with the number 06, each buying ten…
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Drunk police officer kills woman in fatal crash in southern Thailand
A drunk police officer is facing four charges after crashing his vehicle and killing a 62 year old woman in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat on Sunday, June 15. Officers from Thung Song Police Station were called to arrest the driver of a grey sedan, Police Senior Sergeant Major Wicharn, on Sai Serm Chart Road in the Thung…
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100,000 jellyfish stingers swarm Pattaya Beach in freak invasion
Holidaymakers got more than they bargained for on Pattaya Beach after a tidal wave of jellyfish, over 100,000 of them, was dumped along the sand in a slimy seaside shocker. Stunned tourists and locals yesterday, June 16, looked on as a 3-kilometre stretch of Pattaya Beach, from north to south, was smothered in jellyfish of all shapes and sizes, some…
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Warehouse pair caught with 1,200 meth pills in parcel mix-up
A warehouse manager and her partner, an employee at the same delivery company, were apprehended for allegedly inserting methamphetamine into a parcel. The arrest occurred today, June 17, when Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, alongside senior officers, instructed the Min Buri police investigation team to expand a probe into a drug trafficking network using parcels. This led to the capture…
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Covid cases surge with 70,000+ new infections in Thailand
Over the past week, a significant increase in Covid-19 cases has been observed nationwide, with 76,161 new infections and 40 additional deaths, raising concerns about the ongoing outbreak. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) reported that the data spans from May 24 to June 14, bringing the total number of infections since January 1 to 476,584. Of these new cases,…
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Street patrol cracks down on Pattaya Walking Street sleaze
Cops, immigration, and anti-trafficking teams swooped on Pattaya’s infamous Walking Street in a no-nonsense blitz to stamp out sleaze, snare traffickers, and school nightlife bosses on the law. At 9.36pm, yesterday, June 16, a massive joint task force led by Thailand’s Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) swept through Walking Street, targeting illegal activity and warning venue owners to clean up their…
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Thai king supports troops at Thai-Cambodian border with gifts
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua showed his support for the troops guarding the Cambodian frontier, sending royal gifts and a personal message of encouragement in a rare public expression of concern for their welfare. The morale-boosting gesture took place yesterday, June 16, during a formal ceremony at the Ta Muen Thom Temple outpost in the Chong Bok border…
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Meth-ed up! Panic, pipes and punters in Pattaya drugs den bust
A dodgy den full of drugs, a surprise visit from an eager buyer, and a stashed bag of meth dumped in a panic, Pattaya’s latest narcotics crackdown has left a trail of busted users, fleeing suspects and flustered dealers. Thai police struck hard in two separate raids this week as part of a no-nonsense campaign to clean up Pattaya’s seedy…
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Rain of terror! 31 provinces braced as storms pour in from north
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for 31 provinces, highlighting heavy rainfall, particularly in the north, where 60% of the area is expected to be affected. Residents are advised to stay informed about the impacted areas. Today, June 17, the TMD forecast for the upcoming 24 hours indicates heavy rain in certain parts of north Thailand, while…
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Rampage in Chiang Khan: drunk foreigner arrested with knife and stick
Police yesterday, June 15, arrested an intoxicated foreigner for assaulting locals and damaging their vehicles in a popular tourist destination, Chiang Khan, in the Isaan province of Loei. Residents reported the foreigner’s violent behaviour to Chiang Khan Police Station, stating he had been riding a motorcycle and using a wooden stick to strike passersby and hit vehicles. Motorists also took…
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Unidentified man found hanged in Kamala, Phuket
Police in Phuket are investigating the death of an unidentified man whose body was found hanging from a mangosteen tree beside a small plantation in Kamala yesterday morning, June 15. The body was discovered around 9.30am near the Yai Bua workers’ camp in Moo 5. Officers from Kamala Police Station, along with forensic teams from Vachira Phuket Hospital and rescue…
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