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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 Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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Multi-vehicle collision near Pathum Thani university leaves one injured
A collision involving multiple vehicles occurred outside a prominent university in Pathum Thani province yesterday, August 27, at approximately 6am. The accident took place near Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Rangsit Centre, in Prachathipat subdistrict, Thanyaburi district. The incident involved a car driven by Patipan, who failed to see a motorised tricycle, resulting in a severe crash. The tricycle, driven…
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Freedom fight: Court clears MP of lese majeste charges
A high-profile MP once at the forefront of Thailand’s protest movement has walked free after the Criminal Court threw out a lese majeste case against him, ruling there was no proof he even touched the post at the centre of the allegations. The Criminal Court yesterday acquitted People’s Party MP Piyarat Chongthep of both lese majeste and computer crime charges…
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Kuwaiti tourists pay 200,000 baht after attacking Phuket lifeguards
Kuwaiti tourists apologised and paid 200,000 baht in compensation to Thai lifeguards after a physical assault over a safety warning at Nai Han Beach on Monday, August 25. A group of foreigners was caught on video attacking two Thai lifeguards at Nai Han Beach in the Rawai sub-district. The confrontation began after one of the lifeguards warned a tourist not…
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Udon Thani man missing after fishing trip at dangerous weir
A search operation was launched following the disappearance of a 59 year old man who went fishing at Huai Suang Luang weir in Mueang district, Udon Thani, yesterday, August 26. Despite warnings from his wife, who stayed home due to the heavy rain, he insisted on fishing. Rescue teams are still searching for him. The incident was reported to Police…
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Foreign man caught using app to attempt car theft in Phuket
A foreign man attempted to steal a Thai woman’s car in Phuket on August 24. He appeared to have unlocked the vehicle via his mobile phone, as captured by CCTV. The car owner shared details of the attempted theft with the Phuket Times Facebook page to warn other motorists. She explained that she parked her vehicle on the roadside near…
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Thailand video news Phuket Issues Over 17,000 Fines to Tourists Driving Without Permits,Monk Caught on CCTV Pilfering Second-Hand Laptop in Nakhon Sawan
Thailand has seen a surge in unusual and high-profile incidents this week, from Phuket cracking down on foreign drivers with over 17,000 fines to border tensions escalating as Thai forces used sound cannons against Cambodian intruders. Other notable stories include a monk caught on CCTV stealing a laptop, a psychiatric patient causing panic with a machete rampage, and…
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Rayong police officer found dead, stress linked to financial woes
A 33 year old police officer was found dead at his residence behind the Nikhom Phatthana Police Station in Rayong province, allegedly due to stress over failing to secure 100,000 baht to settle a car accident claim. The scheduled payment was missed yesterday, August 26, at 3.45pm. Police Lieutenant Jiranawat Nijai, deputy inspector of Nikhom Phatthana Police Station, received the…
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Thailand axes M81 tolls ahead of King’s Cup showdown
Thailand’s M81 motorway is going toll-free for nearly two weeks to get fans pitch-side for the King’s Cup without the pain of fees. The Department of Highways has announced that the M81 motorway, connecting Bang Yai in Nonthaburi to Kanchanaburi, will be toll-free from 3pm on Friday, August 29 to 9am on Wednesday, September 10. The move is part of…
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Chiang Mai goose squad flops in moat cleanup stunt
Chiang Mai’s bold plan to clean its polluted moat with a flock of geese is ruffling feathers. What was meant to be a natural solution to green algae and water pollution has turned into a feathery fiasco, complete with photo-happy tourists, escaped birds, and zero results. Since August 21, Chiang Mai Municipality has been trialling a flock of 10 geese…
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Phra Bat Nampu ex-abbot claims designing Petronas Towers under stolen identity
An ex-abbot of Phra Bat Nampu Temple admitted to stealing the identity of a friend in order to avoid military conscription and work illegally in Malaysia, falsely claiming to be a designer of the Petronas Twin Towers. Officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested the former abbot of Phra Bat Nampu, Kriangkrai “George”…
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Songkhla teacher under fire after alleged assault on pupil (video)
In Songkhla province, a kindergarten student’s guardian has expressed dissatisfaction after a teacher allegedly struck the child’s head, causing him to fall during a sports event. The incident prompted calls for the teacher’s immediate removal. The school principal acknowledged prior warnings about the teacher’s behaviour and announced an investigation. A video shared on Facebook shows a teacher pushing the back…
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Pattaya panic: Visa crackdowns and QR codes shake expat life
Pattaya’s carefree days are fading fast. Last year, the city embraced digital control: cashless payments, visa crackdowns, surveillance tech, and retirees are struggling to keep up. Once a haven for easy living, Pattaya now demands QR codes, clean records, and compliance, leaving old-school expats wondering if they still belong. Some expats argue that Pattaya is the same as ever: just…
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Court countdown: Paetongtarn eyes comeback as ruling looms
A political comeback could be just days away as Thailand’s suspended prime minister prepares to step back into power, if the court gives the green light. Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was confident yesterday that she could resume her duties by Friday, coinciding with a key Constitutional Court ruling on her premiership. During a video conference with Cabinet ministers yesterday,…
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Heavy rains forecast in 39 Thai provinces, including Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for August 27, forecasting heavy rains in 39 provinces, including Bangkok, with 80% of the area expected to experience significant rainfall. Residents are advised to remain vigilant against flash floods and forest run-offs. Due to the monsoon trough passing through Myanmar into a low-pressure area in northern Thailand, coupled with moderate…
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Court rejects plea to block bail for woman who fatally stabs restaurant owner
A woman accused of fatally stabbing a Kamphaeng Phet restaurant owner was released on bail after the victim’s family failed to object. The attack reportedly stemmed from an incident in which the deceased was blamed for not protecting the suspect from a sexual assault. Officers from Khlong Khlung Police Station arrested 32 year old Jaruwan Jaifai for stabbing to death…
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Illegal Pattaya hotel ordered torn down after resident complaints
Pattaya residents have scored a victory after city officials ordered the demolition of parts of a controversial hotel project that locals say has been disrupting their neighbourhood. Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai, Acting Head of Building Control Marut Uthaiwattananon, and engineers from Pattaya City Hall, inspected the Super Villa Village on Soi Chaloem Phrakiat 29 following complaints. Residents said demolition and…
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Thai army blasts sound cannons at Cambodian border clash
Thai security forces have turned to sound cannons to drive back Cambodians accused of storming a Thai border village, in a dramatic escalation of tensions in Sa Kaeo province. Deputy Defence Minister General Natthaphon Nakphanich said the 1st Army Region deployed long-range acoustic devices (LRADs) to prevent dozens of Cambodians from illegally entering Baan Nong Chan in Khok Sung district.…
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Prisoners and soldiers eyed to fix Thailand labour crisis
Thailand’s labour minister has unveiled a drastic plan to plug crippling worker shortages: by deploying prisoners, soldiers, and even youth offenders into the country’s struggling workforce. Labour Minister Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit said urgent action was needed to tackle a labour crisis gripping the agriculture and production sectors. He confirmed he would propose measures to the Cabinet this week to get more…
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Zimbabwean romance scammer escapes arrest from Phuket to Bangkok
Police arrested a Zimbabwean man at an apartment in Bangkok on Thursday, August 21, for operating a romance scam in Phuket and overstaying his visa. Multiple Thai women filed complaints against a Zimbabwean teacher, later identified as 37 year old Valentive Tandier, at Katu Police Station, saying they had been scammed out of valuables while in a relationship with the…
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Greenland mother’s baby seized despite ban on parenting tests
A young Greenlandic mother has been left heartbroken after Danish officials seized her newborn baby just an hour after birth, despite a new law banning the controversial parenting competence tests used to justify the removal. The young mother, 18 year old Ivana Nikoline Brønlund, who was born in Nuuk and has represented Greenland in handball, gave birth to her daughter,…
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Indian cooks busted for illegal work on Phuket luxury boat
A Phuket luxury boat outing turned sour when police swooped on Chalong Pier and arrested three Indian nationals caught illegally working as cooks on board. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) confirmed that officers from the Marine Police Division carried out the sting as part of a crackdown on illegal employment around the pier. The suspects, identified by police only as…
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Psychiatric patient causes chaos with machete rampage
At 9am today, 26 August, Lieutenant Yongyut Payungyat, Deputy Inspector for Crime Prevention at Mueang Ang Thong Police Station, was notified of a man wielding a machete on the side of Khlong Chonprathan Road, Village 7, Pang Ngiu Subdistrict, Mueang District, Ang Thong Province. Police rushed to the scene fully equipped with batons, a stun gun, and protective shields. …
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Thais hooked on AI holidays as 98% trust tech to plan trips
Thais are embracing artificial intelligence like no other, with almost everyone wanting AI to plan their next trip, according to a global survey by Booking.com. The Global AI Sentiment Report, which polled more than 37,000 people across 33 countries, shows Thailand topping the charts for enthusiasm, with 98% of respondents excited about AI and 96% saying they would use it…
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Thai man claims no intent after his dog dies hanging from truck
A Thai man claimed he did not intend to abuse his pet dog after a viral video showed the animal hanging from his pickup truck while travelling on a road in Udon Thani province. A motorist told the Hone Krasae news programme that he spotted a brown dog hanging from the right side of a pickup truck at around 7pm…
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Filipino crewman found hanged on gas tanker off Phuket
Police in Phuket are investigating the death of a Filipino crewman who was found hanged aboard a Singapore-flagged gas tanker anchored off Ao Makham. The body of 28 year old John Bernice Tio Brioso was discovered at around 5pm yesterday, August 25, aboard the Hoegh Gandria, which was moored off Wichit. The vessel’s captain, Nikolic Drasco, immediately alerted Thai police.…
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Thailand eyes 5 million Malaysian tourists amid China competition
Malaysia’s tourist target for this year has been adjusted to 5 million, mirroring the figures from 2024, yet this market might achieve a similar number of arrivals as China, remaining unaffected by the border province conditions. Patsee Permvongsenee, the executive director for the ASEAN, South Asia, and South Pacific region at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), noted optimism for…
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Scottish drug mule with cannabis haul from Thailand dodges jail
A Scottish woman sobbed in court as she avoided jail despite being caught with more than 30 kilogrammes of cannabis stuffed into two suitcases after flying back from Thailand. The woman, 22 year old Kiala Wyles, was promised £10,000 (approximately 450,000 baht) to act as a courier but was intercepted by Border Force officials when she landed at Manchester Airport…
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Ex-abbot and spiritual medium arrested in AIDS donation embezzlement scandal
Police arrested a former abbot of Phra Bat Nampu Temple and a spiritual medium close to him earlier today, August 26, following the donation embezzlement. The ex-abbot, identified as Alongkot, and the spiritual medium, Sakesan “Bee” Subsuebsakun, had been under investigation over allegations of embezzling donations intended for AIDS patients. Both were suspected of misappropriating funds for personal gain. Alongkot…
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Bloody mess: British man slashes neck and wrists at Pattaya hotel
Pattaya police are investigating a shocking incident after a British man slashed his neck and wrists inside a busy hotel, leaving staff scrambling to save his life. Emergency services raced to the scene on Second Road on August 23, following reports that a foreign man was seriously harming himself. Rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation arrived with Pattaya City…
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Man attacks ex-girlfriend, leaps from seventh floor in Samut Prakan
A violent incident occurred in Samut Prakan, where a 24 year old man, Somschai, attacked his ex-girlfriend and her friend with a knife before jumping from the seventh floor of an apartment building. The police received the report at 4.30pm yesterday, August 25, responding promptly alongside emergency services to the scene at a residence in Bang Sao Thong district. Upon…
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