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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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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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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Ayutthaya man guns down neighbour in decade-long feud
An Ayutthaya man shot and killed his neighbour today, June 16, after a heated argument reportedly stemming from a long-standing dispute that had lasted over 10 years. The incident occurred outside an electrical appliance repair shop in Uthai district. Police were alerted to a shooting following a violent altercation and arrived at the scene with hospital staff and rescue workers.…
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Thai actor slammed over pregnancy scandal and unprotected sex
An entertainment agency terminated its contract with a Thai actor after he was accused of engaging in unprotected sex with multiple women and forcing a pregnant woman into having an abortion. He allegedly told the woman that he refused to use condoms because “it wastes plastic.” The allegations came to light after a user on X (formerly Twitter) publicly exposed…
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Cambodia among 36 nations facing possible US entry ban
Cambodia is among 36 nations that may face full or partial entry bans into the United States as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration crackdown. The US government is currently reviewing countries over concerns related to passport security, visa overstays, and cooperation in deportation procedures. According to an internal State Department cable obtained by Reuters, US President Donald Trump’s administration…
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Phuket garden blast injures two, teens suspected of planting bomb
In Ratsada, Phuket, a homemade explosive disguised as a large garland detonated in a residential garden last Friday afternoon, June 13, causing minor injuries to two individuals. Police are currently searching for a group of teenagers suspected of planting the device. The incident was reported to the Phuket police at approximately 5.35pm. Officers from the Phuket City Police, along with…
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PM Paetongtarn hits back at Cambodian border ultimatum
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has vowed not to bow to pressure or misinformation following Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen’s 24-hour ultimatum demanding Thailand fully reopen all border checkpoints. Speaking after a two-hour meeting reviewing last weekend’s Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) session, Paetongtarn described the talks as a success. She said both nations agreed on the discussion framework, consistent with…
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Foreign man caught on viral video kissing Naga statue in Phuket
A foreign man went viral on Thai social media after locals witnessed him making a wish and kissing a Naga statue in Phuket. Photos and videos of the incident were widely shared online. The Phuket Times Facebook page posted images and a video of the man today, June 16, with a caption reading, “Kissing a Naga statue. He’s so into…
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Thai ice cream vendor arrested after shooting rival over selling spot
Police arrested a Thai ice cream vendor for shooting a rival while she was riding her motorcycle in Prachin Buri province on Saturday, June 14. Officers from Kabin Buri Police Station reported that the victim, a 47 year old woman named Phattanarin, was shot near the Sam Thahan Intersection in Kabin Buri district at around 8.30pm. She sustained a gunshot…
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Chinese scam suspect caught red-handed at ATM in Pattaya
A 29 year old Chinese man, suspected of being part of a major transnational call centre scam, was arrested outside a 7-Eleven in Pattaya yesterday, June 15, while withdrawing almost a million baht from an ATM. Officers from the Pattaya City Police Station and the Chon Buri Transnational Crime Suppression Unit apprehended the man, identified as Zhu Jiagen, while he…
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Thailand and US to begin trade tariff talks
Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan has announced that Thailand and the United States are currently in talks, set to initiate technical-level discussions regarding the US tariff regime. Both countries have been actively preparing for these discussions, with the Thai Cabinet approving a negotiation framework last on June 10. On June 7, the US expressed its willingness to engage in talks, a…
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Cheating couple caught by their spouses at Surin love hotel
A Thai man joined forces with the legal partner of his wife’s secret affair to catch their cheating partners red-handed at a love hotel in the Isaan province of Surin on Saturday, June 14. Officers from Mueang Surin Police Station were called to intervene in an altercation at a love hotel in the Khwao Sinarin district on Saturday afternoon. Upon arrival, they…
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King cobra devours snake in Thai plantation, alarming workers
A large king cobra was discovered devouring a rat snake at the base of a rubber tree in a plantation in Songkhla province, causing alarm among plantation workers. This incident took place at 65 year old Timao’s residence, number 29, in village 7 of Ban Samong, Plak Nu subdistrict, Nathawi district. The workers, too frightened to continue their work, promptly…
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Tourist fined 5,000 baht after jeep stuck on beach in Phuket
A 22 year old tourist faced a fine after his jeep got stuck in the sand at Layi Beach in Kamala, Phuket, much to the ire of locals and online users. The incident, which occurred on June 14, was captured in a video shared by officials, showing Kamala police officers assisting in freeing the Phuket-registered white jeep. The footage prompted…
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