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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 How much travel insurance should cost you in Thailand (By trip length)
When planning a trip to Thailand, travel insurance is a smart investment that can save you from unexpected costs. Whether it’s medical expenses, lost luggage, or trip cancellations, the right coverage can provide peace of mind and financial protection against...
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DSI digs deeper into deadly ‘pancake’ Bangkok building collapse
Investigators are piling pressure on firms behind the deadly State Audit Office building collapse, as the case takes a darker turn with forgery claims, phantom contractors, and a “pancake” tragedy that’s left dozens dead and scores missing. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is ramping up its probe into the catastrophic collapse of the State Audit Office building in Chatuchak,…
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Weather alert: April showers to batter Bangkok and beyond
Brace yourselves, Thailand, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has sounded the alarm for today, as severe weather is set to ravage 40 provinces across the nation, including the bustling capital of Bangkok. Expect intense thunderstorms, howling winds, and the shocking possibility of lightning strikes. Southern Thailand is in the line of fire, with a whopping 70% of the region bracing…
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Phuket’s buffalo orange gets GI push to juice up global fame
The beautiful resort island of Phuket is hoping its native fruit, the Garcinia or som khwai (buffalo orange), will peel into prestige as a Geographical Indication (GI) product, adding some serious juice to the province’s agricultural and food industries. In a recent workshop led by deputy governor Suwit Pansa-ngiam, local producers were schooled on the ins and outs of GI…
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Limited-time deal: Save 20% on Cigna’s expat health plans forever
Starting a new life abroad is exciting—new culture, new lifestyle, and new chances to grow. But living far from home also means taking steps to protect your health in unfamiliar surroundings. Without the right coverage, even small health issues can turn into major stress. To help expats feel more secure, Cigna is now offering a special deal. New customers who…
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Man stabbed during Songkran celebration in Nakhon Phanom
A 20 year old man was stabbed in the back during a Songkran celebration in Nakhon Phanom on April 14, after being chased by a group of unknown assailants. The incident occurred around 8pm in Mueang district. The victim, identified only as Vach, had been celebrating the last night of Songkran with around 10 friends at a riverside concert venue…
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Khao Yai landslide injures 2 Filipinas, waterfall trail closed
Two female tourists from the Philippines were injured after part of a cliff near Haew Narok Waterfall in Khao Yai National Park collapsed today, April 16, prompting an immediate closure of the area for safety inspections. The incident occurred near a high cliff section by the bridge walkway leading down to the popular Haew Narok Waterfall. Large volumes of soil…
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Thailand records 171 road deaths in 5 days of Songkran
Thailand’s Road Safety Centre reported 171 deaths and 1,208 injuries from 1,216 road accidents during the first five days of the 7 Dangerous Days Songkran safety campaign. Data released yesterday, April 15, shows that speeding, drink-driving, and poor visibility remain the top causes of accidents. Motorcycles were involved in over 85% of crashes. Just yesterday alone, 214 accidents were recorded,…
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Pattaya nightclub security apologise over brawl with foreign tourists
Two Pattaya nightclub security guards have apologised for their role in an altercation with foreign tourists that went viral online, sparking public backlash and prompting an official police investigation. The brawl, which reportedly unfolded inside a nightlife venue, before spilling outside onto Soi 6 and was widely circulated on social media, showed the guards involved in a physical confrontation with…
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Down but not out: 2 year old boy trapped in Trang pit rescued
A toddler in Trang gave rescuers the fright of their lives after plunging into a deep, narrow pit next to a well, with the nail-biting rescue operation lasting several hours. The dramatic ordeal unfolded today, April 16 in Moo 1, Wang Maprang Nuea subdistrict, Wang Wiset district, when residents raised the alarm after hearing cries from beneath the ground. The…
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PM Paetongtarn named Young Global Leader 2025
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been named one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders (YGL) for 2025, crediting her as one of the top changemakers under 40 on the global stage. Government advisor Jirayu Huangsap confirmed the honour today, April 16, noting that the 38 year old PM is among 114 individuals selected worldwide for their leadership and…
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Meatball mayhem: Pattaya vendor slices ex’s ear in street bust-up
A fiery feud turned bloody in the early hours of this morning when a Pattaya meatball vendor slashed her ex-husband’s ear during a jealous booze-fuelled bust-up, right in front of her food stall. It all kicked off at 2.36am, today, April 16, when emergency crews and police were scrambled to Soi Kor Pai after reports of a stabbing outside a…
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Bangkok handshake: PM duo set to strengthen Thai-Anwar ties
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will welcome Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Bangkok tomorrow, April 17, for talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations and boosting regional cooperation between the two Southeast Asian nations. The visit marks a continuation of diplomatic dialogue between the two leaders, who first met during Paetongtarn’s official visit to Kuala Lumpur on December 16. They also…
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Another arrest in 16 billion baht healthcare fraud case
This morning, a woman involved in the 16 billion baht medical fraud case linked to Thon Buri Healthcare Group founder Doctor Boon Vanasin was taken into custody. Police identified the suspect as an investment broker who had previously left Thailand but returned. Media reports later identified her as 39 year old Kotchaporn Suwannakut. Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong interrogated the suspect…
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Songkran festival turns sour as woman drenched by teens (video)
A young woman was left frustrated during the Songkran festival after being unexpectedly drenched with water by a group of teenagers, causing her to be knocked off balance. The water’s suspicious yellowish hue further added to her concern. Celebrated annually, the Songkran festival is eagerly awaited by many for its water festivities. However, participants are reminded to prioritise safety, as…
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Protecting your bets: password hygiene and account management
Online betting continues to grow in Thailand. With more people using mobile apps, protecting personal accounts becomes essential. Most users store payment information, history, and login data on their phones. If this data gets exposed, the consequences can be serious. Strong password practices play a big role in securing betting accounts. Many users now use multiple platforms to place bets,…
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Traffic toll: Thailand ranks 4th in global road accident fatalities
A recent report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Statista highlights Thailand as one of the countries with the highest road accident fatality rates globally. The country records a death rate of 25.4 per 100,000 people annually, significantly surpassing the global average. According to data from Statista, Thailand’s roads are alarmingly dangerous for users, placing the country among the…
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Nakhon Ratchasima waste crisis worsens as military halts disposal
In Nakhon Ratchasima, 34 local administrative organisations face a growing waste crisis, as the military orders halt waste disposal due to excessive accumulation. The rubbish disposal facility in Mueang district has been overwhelmed, with the Second Army Area prohibiting waste dumping in the temporary 50-rai landfill in Zone C from April 11. The backlog has reached over 334,863 tonnes, surpassing…
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Cops hunt suspects in Songkran shooting at Nakhon Sawan temple
Police are actively pursuing two people involved in a shooting at a Songkran festival at a well-known temple in Nakhon Sawan, resulting in three injuries, with one person critically wounded after bullets were lodged in eight places on their body. The incident occurred on Monday, April 14, at Wat Krok Phra Nuea, Krok Phra district. Initial investigations revealed that the…
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Thailand boosts green industry with World Bank project
Efforts are underway to enhance carbon data management in Thailand’s industry to boost investment in the Map Ta Phut sandbox, a collaborative project between the World Bank and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT). This initiative aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and support factory operators in Rayong’s Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in transitioning to businesses based on…
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Shooting in Sisaket leaves one dead, suspect in custody
A shooting incident in Sisaket has left one man dead and another critically injured. The violent event occurred at a community pavilion in Ban Khon, Mueang district, Sisaket province, when a group of young men opened fire. The assailant has since surrendered to the police. The incident transpired just after midnight yesterday, April 15. Yailak Jantho, the village headman of…
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Songkran 2025 boosts Thai tourism revenue by 26.5 billion baht
Thailand’s tourism and sports minister, Suwong Thienthong, announced that the Songkran festival in 2025 generated an estimated revenue of 26.5 billion baht, marking an 8% increase from the previous year. The festival attracted approximately 470,000 foreign tourists, a 6.5% rise from last year, with visitors hailing from Malaysia, China, India, Russia, Taiwan, Europe, and South Korea. Social media buzz surrounding…
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Pattaya locals question drink-driving checks during Songkran
As Pattaya soldiers on with its Songkran celebrations, locals are raising doubts about the effectiveness of alcohol checkpoints in curbing drunk driving and road accidents. Local police have ramped up road safety measures during the annual 7 Dangerous Days campaign, including more checkpoints and alcohol breath tests. But residents are sceptical. Popular sentiment is the same, locals claim regulating drink…
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Pickup truck crash in Ayutthaya claims one life, injures four
A pickup truck returning from Songkran celebrations lost control and veered off the road, plunging into an irrigation canal. The accident resulted in one fatality and four injuries. A survivor expressed uncertainty about the cause of the accident. Today, April 16, Police Lieutenant Colonel Damrongsak Saeng-ngen of Bang Ban Police Station reported that at 11pm yesterday, April 15, a pickup…
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Soaked: Flash floods fury leaves Phuket in deep water
Phuket woke up underwater yesterday as torrential overnight downpours triggered flash floods, swamped roads and sparked fresh fears of landslides, turning paradise into panic. Parts of of the popular holiday resort resembled rivers rather than roads yesterday morning, April 15, after relentless rain pummelled the island overnight, flooding key areas and prompting landslide warnings across southern Thailand. Among the hardest-hit…
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Foreigner in Thailand learns lesson after cultural disrespect (video)
An unruly foreign man in Thailand faced severe consequences after disrespecting Thai culture and assaulting a woman in a bar. The incident, captured in a TikTok video by user @bagpaope, showed the unamed man mocking Thai boxing and provoking a bar security guard, on Soi 6 in Pattaya, ending in a physical altercation. The footage yesterday, April 15, depicted the foreign…
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Foreign man criticized for bad behaviour at Songkran party (video)
A TikTok user shared a video of an incident involving a foreign man displaying inappropriate behaviour during the Songkran festival in Thailand. The man is accused of deliberately splashing water on women’s faces and chests during the Thai New Year celebration, then smiling with satisfaction. He allegedly also spat at people and threw ice yesterday, April 15. In the video,…
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Thai and mighty! Thailand leapfrogs Malaysia in global rankings
Thailand may have outpaced Malaysia in a key global competitiveness ranking for the first time in a decade but experts warn the shine may not last as structural issues, budget cuts, and a lack of long-term vision continue to hold the kingdom back. Thailand has climbed to second place in Southeast Asia in the IMD World Competitiveness Centre’s global rankings,…
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Thailand sees 10.7 million tourists, 510 billion baht in revenue
Thailand has seen approximately 10.7 million international tourists arriving this year, with over 666,000 visiting during the Songkran festival alone, as reported by the government yesterday, April 15. Tourism-related revenue from these visitors has exceeded 510 billion baht. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong shared yesterday that the figures demonstrate the success of the government’s Maha Songkran World Water Festival…
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70 year old woman told to leave concert due to leg pain (video)
A 70 year old woman attended a Lamyai Haithongkham concert at Sanam Luang but was unexpectedly asked to leave by security after requesting a brief sit down due to leg pain. A young woman intervened to assist her. The incident, yesterday, April 15, captured by TikTok user @mamprapa, led to numerous discussions online. In the shared video, the elderly woman,…
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Furious foreigner floored by water gun in Pattaya Songkran bust-up
A Pattaya Songkran party took a dark turn when a furious foreigner with a fresh tattoo got soaked against his will, only to be blasted in the face with a water gun during a heated bust-up, landing him in hospital and police on the hunt for the culprits. The Songkran celebration on Pattaya’s infamous Soi 6 descended into chaos last…
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