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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Pregnant cow rescued after getting stuck in mud for a week
When a food delivery rider took a break from his work, he never expected to become a hero, but that’s exactly what happened when he heard the cries of a pregnant cow stuck in a dried-up pond for a week. Working together with the Bang Kaew Rescue Team, Thawathepmontri “Off” Theerawong spent three hours rescuing the animal and leading her…
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New Executive Assistant Manager appointed at Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort
Press Release Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort has announced the appointment of Benoit Mouclier as Executive Assistant Manager. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Benoit was the Director of Sales & Marketing of the resort. A highly skilled hospitality professional with previous work experience in China and Hong Kong, Mr. Benoit has worked at a variety of Marriott…
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Bomb discovered under resident’s car in southern Thailand
A potentially deadly attack was narrowly averted in southern Thailand on Saturday night after a young woman discovered a bomb attached to her aunt’s car while searching for a missing pet. The improvised explosive device was later safely disposed of by experts, but authorities are still investigating the motive behind the plot. Enaz Haji Taye, the owner of the Bangkok-registered…
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Thai AirAsia flight diverts to Chiang Mai Airport to escape hail storm
Thai AirAsia flight FD9122 from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok to Nan province in northern Thailand diverted to Chiang Mai Airport yesterday after getting caught in a hail storm. After taking off from Bangkok at 5.25pm, the aircraft began experiencing turbulence upon almost reaching Nan Nakhon Airport, where it was scheduled to land at 6.45pm. A passenger told Matichon that…
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Police rescue Thai woman held captive by Korean boyfriend
A harrowing tale is emerging of a Thai woman held captive by an abusive Korean boyfriend in Pattaya. The woman has now been rescued by police and rescue teams after the man allegedly attacked and detained her. The incident was reported to Banglamung Police at around 5pm yesterday at a condo in Naklua. Police raced to the scene to investigate. They…
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US govt reassure finanical world there’ll be no banking crisis after SVB collapse
The US government moved to reassure the financial world there is no new banking crisis on the horizon after telling customers of the failed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) that their deposits will be guaranteed. The US government did insist, however, that there will be no taxpayer-funded bailout for the lender. The announcement was made jointly by the US Treasury Department,…
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Two foreign kayakers rescued from Phuket sea
The search for two missing foreign tourists who disappeared after renting kayaks from a hotel on Coconut Island in Phuket, southern Thailand, on Friday has been called off. It turns out they were rescued by the captain of a yacht later that day. At 6pm yesterday, officers at Mueang Phuket Police Station, Tourist Police, Phuket Marine Police, and Koh Kaeo…
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Tuk Tuk driver caught stealing Swedish tourist’s phone
A tuk tuk taxi driver was arrested on Saturday in Patong for stealing an iPhone 14 Pro Max from a Swedish tourist in Patong. According to the Patong Police, Merdzana Pepic reported to the police station that she might have forgotten her mobile phone in a Tuk Tuk taxi. She had taken the tuk tuk taxi earlier in the morning,…
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Burmese man stabs 4 Thais after being rejected by woman in Koh Pha Ngan
A Burmese man in Koh Pha Ngan was arrested yesterday evening after he used scissors to stab a Thai woman who rejected him and three of her friends. The Burmese man, 31 year old Aung Htwe Naing, stabbed 29 year old Sukanya in a laundry shop in Koh Pha Ngan, where they worked at 2.30pm on Saturday, March 11. Aung…
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That’s neat, more Indochinese tiger feet spotted in western Thailand sanctuary
Khao Namphu Nature and Wildlife Education Centre chief Seree Makboon reckons the release of cattle in Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary has led to a significant increase in the Indochinese tiger population. This is the first time in over 30 years that the sanctuary has seen a notable rise in tiger numbers in the sanctuary, located in Kanchanaburi in western Thailand.…
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Foreign tourist dies on Doi Inthanon in northern Thailand
A foreign tourist lost consciousness and died at a car park on Doi Inthanon mountain in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, yesterday afternoon. The male tourist – name and nationality unknown – travelled to the mountain as part of a tour group, reports ThaiRath. He was estimated to be between 50 and 60 years old. The tour guide took the…
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Be like James Bond, drive the latest Aston Martin for only 25 million baht (video)
Aston Martin is acknowledged as an iconic global brand synonymous with style, luxury, performance, exclusivity and James Bond, and if you have a few bob to spare then the latest model is yours for about 25 million baht. The latest Aston Martin, the DBX707, not only fuses the latest technology, time-honoured craftsmanship and graceful styling, but it is also the world’s…
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Videos released from NZ pilot hostage in Papua
Three new videos have been released featuring a New Zealand pilot taken hostage by separatists in Indonesia’s Papua region. They call for the United Nations to mediate in the conflict in the resource-rich region. Philip Mehrtens, who works for the domestic Susi Air service, was abducted by the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) last month after landing…
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Crowds flock to pink trumpet tree festival in central Thailand
Yesterday, crowds in central Thailand’s central province of Nakhon Pathom flocked to an annual festival celebrating pink trumpet trees. Thousands of visitors gathered at the annual Chompoo Pantip Blossom Festival. The festival began on Friday and will continue until March 16. The chompoo pantip trees, also known as pink trumpet trees, have become the star attraction at Kasetsart University’s Kamphaeng…
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Thai officials look to food trucks to draw tourists
Thai officials are looking to food trucks to draw tourists. The Department of Business Development (DBD) in Thailand is exploring the potential of food trucks as a new tourist attraction in the country. According to Thosapone Dansuputra, the director-general of DBD, food trucks could serve as “destinations” that will not only stimulate the economy but also raise awareness of Thai…
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Mount Merapi volcano eruption in Indonesia
Mount Merapi, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, erupted again yesterday, spewing volcanic ash up to 7 kilometres. Details of the eruption were reported by the country’s Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Centre (BPPTKG). The eruption occurred around 12.12pm local time and a lava flow of 1.5 kilometres was observed. For the past several months, the volcano situated on…
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Coral Rehabilitation for Divers Volunteers protects reefs
A new Coral Rehabilitation for a Divers Volunteers training program in Phuket has attracted several foreign divers interested in the restoration project. The course aims to provide participants with knowledge of how to operate procedures in coral rehabilitation following academic principles. The program, created by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has…
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2 Phuket restaurants busted with protected marine life
In Phuket, two floating restaurants have been busted possessing protected marine life in violation of environmental laws. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) inspected floating restaurants in Phuket on Friday to check whether they had protected marine life and found a stash. Social media posts shared the findings online. The DMCR inspection found that both restaurants had ornamental…
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Chinese tourists bring Thai school uniform trend to famous spots in Phuket
Chinese tourists have now brought the new trend of dressing up in Thai school uniforms to famous spots in downtown Phuket. These hotspots include Museum Phuket, ThaiRath reported yesterday. The museum is a well known landmark with its clock standing high above the main building. Chinese tourists also enjoyed taking photos of themselves dressed in Thai school uniforms at Chiang Mai…
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Pattaya mayor attends Thailand tourism event in Germany
Thailand continues to make its mark as a tourism destination across the globe. Pattaya’s mayor this week visited Germany to attend a Thailand tourism event. Mayor Poramase Ngampiches visited Berlin to attend the ‘Discover Thailand, Journey to Happiness.’ The tourism stimulus expo was set to run from March 9 to 11, Pattaya News reported. The event aimed to attract high-spending…
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Do your part: sign up as a Phuket Tourist Police volunteer
For all the armchair activists and online commenters saying the police should take more action, now is your chance to help. The Phuket Tourist Police are looking for a few good men and women. They have announced that they are seeking foreign volunteers to assist with law enforcement on the island. But don’t delay – the last day to submit…
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Ghibli Park bars men from takes sexy pics with statues
It’s ok to love statues, but it’s not ok to LOVE statues. Visitors to Japan’s Ghibli Park will be prohibited from taking inappropriate photos with statues of characters from beloved animated films. The restriction comes after photos of men pretending to sexually assault young female characters were posted on Twitter last month. The photographs in question depicted a visitor capturing…
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Bank of Thailand announces new biometric scans for mobile banking
The Bank of Thailand announced new measures to protect consumers from cyber risks in mobile banking transactions. Biometric scans, such as facial scans, will be required for high-value transactions, including digital money transfers of over 50,000 baht per transaction, transfers over 200,000 baht per day, and credit transfer amounts of over 50,000 baht per transaction. Banks must adopt these measures…
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Loei festival next week features international masks
The northeastern province of Loei is set to host an international mask festival from March 17 to 19. The festival will showcase the cultural attractions of the province that borders Laos. Organisers hope to show visitors the charming atmosphere and vibrant colours of Loei at the three-day event. Naga courtyard will host the opening ceremony on March 17 at 6pm.…
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Bullets found on plane cause evacuation in Korea
A few stray bullets are enough to ruin an entire flight. Yesterday a Korean Air plane was evacuated after two live bullets were discovered on board. The incident took place at Incheon International Airport in South Korea. The plane was bound for Manila and had 230 passengers on board at the time. The discovery of the bullets resulted in the…
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Body spotted off Phuket believed to be missing Romanian diver
Nearly two months after the search for the Romanian diver who went missing at sea off Phuket ended, officials believe that his body has been found. A body was spotted floating off Phuket’s Koh Kaew island yesterday, The Phuket News reported. At 12.30pm, an unnamed boat captain told Chalong Police that he found a legless body in the water some…
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Sattahip resort ordered to close for land encroachment
A lesson that never seems to be learned time and time again in Thailand: if you’re breaking the law, maybe don’t advertise it on social media. A luxury resort in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri has been ordered to close due to land encroachment after recently posted advertisements on social media for sea-view rooms. Star Over Sea received the…
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Family of British man in coma needs help to bring him home from Thailand
A British man’s family is appealing for help to bring him home from Thailand, where he is fighting for his life following a terrible motorbike crash. The man, 32 year old Jay Bridgehouse from Stockport, travelled to Thailand for a chance to ‘chase his dreams’ and look for work, Manchester Evening News reported. But tragedy struck when a pickup truck ploughed…
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Singaporean man attacked by Chinese businessman in Bangkok
A Singaporean man sought help from a well-known lawyer after Thai police ignored an attack by a Chinese businessman in Bangkok six months ago. The Singaporean alleges police are ignoring the assault because the Chinese man has financial and political influence. The Singaporean man named Tony urged the Thai lawyer, Ronnarong Kaewphet, to help him follow up on the assault…
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Annual report finds Thai prisons well below international standards
An annual report has found that Thai prisons in 2022 were well below international standards. The no-governmental organisation, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Union for Civil Liberty released the report yesterday, according to Prachatai English. The report findings show that the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak led to authorities making little progress in implementing lessons learned…
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