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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 long-term expats in Thailand say insurance is worth every baht
Thailand’s warm weather, low cost of living, and good healthcare attract many long-term expats, including retirees and remote workers. Life here feels easy and affordable, but medical costs can be high if something goes wrong. Private hospitals are popular because...
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Temple tension: RTA threatens shutdown over border clashes
A sacred tourist site on the Thai-Cambodian border is fast becoming a powder keg — and the Thai military is ready to shut it down if things get out of hand. Commander of Thailand’s 2nd Army Region Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang issued a stern warning about managing tourism at the historic Ta Muen Thom Temple in Surin province’s Phanom Dong…
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Thai caretaker denies killing bedridden patient despite grim search history
A Thai caretaker denied murdering and robbing a bedridden woman she looked after, despite suspicious Internet search history revealing various methods of killing and a bloodstain found on her motorcycle. The victim, 53 year old Sriprai, was discovered dead at her home in Ban Pong district on July 17. Her caretaker, 64 year old Nittaya, was the first to find her…
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Thai officials face scrutiny over foreign worker corruption claims
An investigation into corruption involving Cambodian, Myanmar, and Laotian workers was lodged yesterday, July 21, at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Chaeng Watthana Road. Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Network Foundation, accompanied by Yoswarit Chooklom, known as Jeng Dokjik, submitted a letter and evidence to Major Yutthana Praedam, Director General of the DSI, where Arunsee Wichawut, head of…
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Tourist tragedies rock Phuket and Krabi amid wild weather
Thailand’s popular southern beach provinces turned deadly over the weekend as wild weather claimed the lives of two Chinese tourists in separate incidents in Phuket and Krabi. A relaxing beach holiday ended in horror on Sunday, July 20, when 53 year old Wang Yang was killed after a massive tree branch collapsed on her during a violent thunderstorm at Koh…
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Bangkok rolls out 5 new EV shuttle routes to beat traffic
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is revving up its clean transport game with the launch of five new electric shuttle routes under its BMA Feeder initiative, starting August 1. The move aims to slash traffic congestion and air pollution while helping commuters connect more easily to the city’s rail network. “This expansion is a key step in improving first- and…
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Cwm-back kid: Welshman flies home after coma drama in Thailand
A Welsh holidaymaker left fighting for his life in a Thai hospital has finally flown home after spending six weeks in a coma and racking up thousands in medical bills without insurance. Ashton Jones, from Cwmbran, jetted off to Bangkok on May 30 with a mate for a lads’ getaway but just five days in, his family were hit with…
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Phuket woman runs from Grab rider after fake cash promise
A Grab motorcycle rider in Phuket shared a bizarre experience with the online community, claiming that his female passenger unexpectedly ran away from him to avoid paying the fare. The app-based motorcycle taxi rider recounted the incident to the Phuket Times yesterday, July 21, along with a video of the passenger running away. The page published the post with a…
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Businesswoman loses 7 million baht in construction bid fraud
A businesswoman from Lampang sought assistance from Thanakrit Jit-Areerat, the secretary to the public health minister, after losing over 7 million baht in a fraud case related to a construction bid in the southern border provinces. The complaint, filed at the Lampang Provincial Police Station, has seen no progress despite attempts to report it to various officials. The victims, referred…
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Fatal shooting at Uttaradit warehouse linked to property dispute
Lieutenant Natthaphong Phrommidech, Deputy Inspector of Investigation at Lap Lae Police Station, yesterday received reports of a fatal shooting. The incident at 3pm yesterday, July 21, occurred at a warehouse in Moo 4, Chai Chumphon subdistrict, Lap Lae district, Uttaradit province. Upon receiving the alert, Police Colonel Charoen Daengrueng, Superintendent of Lap Lae Police Station, Police Colonel Sophon Changloi from…
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Thailand targets 2.8 trillion baht tourism revenue in 2026
Thailand is chasing a high-stakes travel comeback — and it’s banking on quality over quantity to get there. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled its bold vision for 2026: raking in a staggering 2.8 trillion baht in tourism revenue and breaking into the world’s top 10 countries for tourism income. It’s an ambitious leap — a 5% boost from…
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Education Minister’s jeans stir controversy over teacher dress code
Education Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat ignited an online debate after wearing jeans during an official school visit in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The incident raised questions about why female teachers are not permitted to wear jeans to school, despite the minister’s casual attire. Narumon and other officials from the Ministry of Education visited schools in Nakhon Si Thammarat…
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Man arrested after targeting coin-operated car washes in Bangkok
Metropolitan police apprehended a 41 year old man after he allegedly broke into coin-operated car wash machines twice. Facing unemployment and financial difficulties, the suspect, Pongpan admitted to committing these crimes. The arrest took place on July 18 at a rented room in Din Daeng district, Bangkok. On July 2, around 5pm, the victim received a report from a relative that…
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Border bombshell: Thailand blames Cambodia for landmine attack
A deadly landmine blast near the Thai-Cambodian border has reignited a fiery diplomatic row, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of planting fresh anti-personnel mines in violation of international law. Three Thai soldiers were critically injured last week by a Russian-made PMN-2 landmine in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province. One soldier lost his foot. Two more mines were found just metres…
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Stranded boat captain rescued after 4 hours in Krabi sea
A Thai boat captain escaped with his life after his delivery boat capsized during a thunderstorm and he floated in the sea for four hours near Koh Mai Phai and Koh Phi Phi in the southern province of Krabi. The Krabi Provincial Port Security Control Centre was alerted on the afternoon of Sunday, July 20, that a hotel on Koh…
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Thailand Video News | Wipha wallop: landslide fears as storm lashes Thailand, Japanese man, 62, busted for street dancing in bikini cosplay
Thailand faces severe weather warnings from Tropical Storm Wipha while tackling social and legal challenges—from child protection efforts and a major building collapse investigation to viral local stories and fast-track immigration services. Meanwhile, a clever cashier dog in Ang Thong is brightening spirits amid serious news across the country. Paws and pay: Pooch turns cashier in Ang Thong diner A…
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Thai restaurants on the brink as costs soar and diners vanish
Thailand’s once-vibrant restaurant scene is in hot water — and not just in the kitchen. A toxic mix of soaring costs, shrinking foot traffic, and underwhelming tourism has left the Thai food industry on the verge of collapse. Many eateries are bleeding cash, with daily revenue dropping by more than 50%, according to the Thai Restaurant Association. “Restaurant owners are…
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Thaksin to attend secretive coalition dinner sparking influence row
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be dining with ruling coalition MPs today, reigniting speculation over his behind-the-scenes influence in Thai politics. Chief Government Whip Wisut Chainaroon confirmed the meeting, calling it a rare but much-needed gathering to strengthen unity before Parliament reconvenes. “This isn’t unusual,” said Wisut, a list MP from the Pheu Thai Party. “Since this government took…
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Bangkok delivery rider caught with Trump-themed ecstasy pills
Police in Chok Chai apprehended a 35 year old delivery rider at a checkpoint on Lat Phrao Road, Bangkok, on July 21. He was found in possession of 59 ecstasy pills, which bore the likeness of former US President Donald Trump. The arrest of the suspect, Ekarin, also known as Diao, was part of a routine traffic and crime suppression…
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Thai transwoman brutally assaulted and raped by obsessed attacker
A Thai transwoman in Chiang Mai is seeking justice after being brutally assaulted and raped by a man with whom she had previously had a one-night stand and rejected his romantic advances. The transgender victim, Bell, sought help from the Emmy Volunteer Team after being unable to escape her attacker. Bell told the team she nearly lost her life during…
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Ex-Thai beauty queen accuses MP of shady 120k baht transfer
A beauty queen-turned-entrepreneur has sparked political fireworks by accusing a ruling party MP of pocketing a dodgy cash transfer, and she’s brought receipts. Netdao Watchainanwong, better known as Madame Cher, filed a formal complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), claiming that Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) MP Sutham Jaritngam unlawfully accepted 120,000 baht from her bank account. Netdao, a former…
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Two workers electrocuted at Pathum Thani dam site in Thailand
Two construction workers died after an electric shock incident at a dam site in Pathum Thani, Thailand. Emergency services found the unconscious workers after their colleagues had already pulled them from the water and left the scene. Despite efforts to resuscitate, both workers died. Yesterday, July 21, at 6.30pm, Police Lieutenant Wassukanya Achipan, a deputy inspector at Pak Khlong Rangsit…
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Gale warning! Phuket reels as freak storm rocks island (video)
Phuket was left battered and on edge after a violent tropical storm tore across the island, killing one and injuring another, with officials warning the danger isn’t over yet. Governor Sophon Suwannarat urged residents, tourists and boat operators to stay on high alert after the Sunday downpour unleashed chaos across all three districts, Mueang, Thalang and Kathu, smashing into 17…
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Indian man arrested for trying to smuggle cannabis from Thailand to Cambodia
Police yesterday, July 21, arrested an Indian national in the central province of Chanthaburi for the illegal possession and attempted smuggling of nearly 20 kilogrammes of cannabis flowers. Officials from Chanthaburi Immigration, along with police officers, were patrolling Ban Laem Market in Pong Nam Ron district when they noticed a suspicious-looking Indian man. He reportedly behaved nervously upon encountering the…
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Myanmar national caught smuggling cigarettes worth 2 million baht
A 20 year old Myanmar national was apprehended for smuggling illicit cigarettes, valued at over 2 million baht, via natural routes along the Sangkhla Buri border. The shipment was destined for the Ban Phra Chedi Sam Ong Market. Yesterday, July 21, Police Major General Atsadawut Panyaraoon, commander of the 9th Infantry Division and head of the Surasi Task Force, along…
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Stars, stripes and tourist gripes as Trump hikes visa fee kick off
Tourists, locals, and ex-pats in Thailand are being warned to brace for a wallet-busting new visa fee, after Donald Trump slapped a stinging US$250 charge on would-be visitors, just in time to cash in on the flood of sports fans heading to America. The controversial visa integrity fee has sparked outrage, with critics accusing the US president of using global…
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Fire erupts on 6th floor of Bangkok building, cause under investigation
A fire broke out in a building on Sukhumvit 71 Road in Bangkok early this morning, July 22. Fortunately, no fatalities or injuries were reported. Officers from Khlong Ton Police Station were alerted to the fire at 4.59am and rushed to the scene with a team of firefighters. The blaze erupted on the sixth floor of a building named Yang…
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Senator faces 10 years jail for using false professor title
A Thai senator could be booted from Parliament and jailed for up to 10 years after being caught falsely claiming the title of Professor during her campaign. The Election Commission (EC) has ruled that 45 year old Keskamol Pleansamai, a physician-turned-politician, wrongfully used the academic title in her Senate election application last year, a violation that could land her in…
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Phuket drug dealer caught with his pills down
A suspected drug dealer was arrested in his boxers during a pre-dawn police raid in Phuket, with officers uncovering a massive stash of more than 3,500 meth pills tucked away in his house. The bust happened in the early hours of yesterday morning, July 21, in Thepkrasattri, Thalang district, as part of a targeted crackdown under the island’s tough new anti-drugs…
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Curry con! Food delivery driver spices up with bogus food order
A slick scammer posing as a food delivery rider cooked up a brazen heist at a humble curry stall in Pattaya, vanishing with a bag of cash after placing a fake order for nearly 30 meals. The early-morning con unfolded at 5.06am yesterday, July 21, when 30 year old Anirut Thiamtha was manning his family’s Chef Basil Curry Rice Shop…
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Paws and pay: Pooch turns cashier in Ang Thong diner (video)
A five year old dog in the central province of Ang Thong has become an Internet sensation for his unexpected skills as a cashier, helping his owner, who runs a restaurant, collect payments from customers. The male dog, Cocoa, is beloved by locals who dine at the restaurant in Sam Ko district, Ang Thong. Cocoa always stands beside diners, waiting…
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