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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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FDA plans new standards for bottled water
The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to propose a draft announcement to the health minister to raise the quality standards of bottled water and ice to international levels. Doctor Surachoke Tangwiwat, Secretary General of the FDA, said the proposal aims to benefit manufacturers, consumers, and the environment. A recent meeting was held to present the draft regulations, which…
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Wild elephants from Thap Lan venture out, sparking concerns
A herd of more than 100 wild elephants from Thap Lan National Park has ventured out of the World Heritage Forest, causing concern among residents about potential crop damage and safety risks. Yesterday, July 6, residents of Wang Ai Pong village near the Naruebodindra Chinda Reservoir, Prachinburi province, reported the elephants foraging near their homes. Local leaders and Thap Lan…
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Naked Russian plunges from Phuket flat in midnight meltdown
A naked Russian man is fighting for his life after a bizarre late-night plunge from a third-floor dormitory in Phuket Town. Maksim was found unconscious and stark naked outside the company dorm on Luang Pho Road after jumping from a balcony in a wild, unexplained episode that left witnesses stunned. Emergency crews from the Kusoldharm Foundation and an ambulance team…
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Thai girl risks brain damage after mistaking cannabis gummies for sweets
A two year old Thai girl in the northern province of Chiang Mai lost consciousness and may suffer long-term brain damage after mistaking cannabis gummies for sweets and eating more than 10 of them on July 2. The girl’s father took to Facebook to warn other parents about the dangers of cannabis gummies after his daughter was hospitalised twice following…
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Arsenic contamination in Mekong River near Thai border
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat issued a warning about the detection of heavy metal contamination in the Mekong River, which is suspected to have originated from poorly regulated mining operations in Myanmar. The situation has been classified as “moderately serious.” Recent water quality assessments conducted by the MRC have revealed elevated levels of arsenic in several locations along the…
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Khon Kaen police seize five million meth pills in major bust
In Khon Kaen, police seized five million methamphetamine pills in a single day. Highway police arrested a woman transporting four million pills, while the Border Patrol Police Region 2 pursued and apprehended another suspect carrying one million pills. Border Patrol Police Region 2, under the direction of their intelligence unit, received information about a significant drug operation. They tracked a…
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Thailand sets out stance on cyberspace laws
Thailand has released its national position on the Application of International Law in Cyberspace, confirming that human rights laws are applicable in cyberspace under international norms, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its Facebook page. The document is a result of national consultations involving several key agencies such as the Office of the Attorney General,…
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Van of pilgrims crashes in Sing Buri, multiple injured
A van carrying pilgrims to make merit in Chai Nat was involved in a collision with a truck, resulting in multiple injuries. The truck driver revealed that a spring in the front wheel broke, leading to the accident yesterday, July 6. Police Lieutenant Sataaporn Butrthaka, an investigator from Mueang Sing Buri Police Station, received a report of the accident involving…
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Thailand claims first-ever victory in FIA Formula 3 history
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, congratulated the country’s first-ever race car driver to win a round of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile Formula 3 Championship (FIA F3). The historic win took place on Saturday, July 5, at the iconic Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom. The currently suspended Paetongtarn, who also serves as Minister of Culture, posted a…
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Ice, ice baby-faced! Teen dealer nicked in Phuket drug bust
Phuket’s drug crisis took another grim turn as cops busted a baby-faced teen dealer and two accomplices in a major meth raid, with over 3,400 pills, a crystal stash and illegal ammo seized in a Thalang sting. Police swooped on a house in Moo 1, Thepkrasattri, on Saturday (July 5), arresting three suspects during a coordinated drugs operation led by…
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Thai officials intercept 16,000 untaxed cigarette packs at border
Thai police successfully intercepted and apprehended two Cambodian nationals attempting to smuggle nearly 16,000 packs of untaxed cigarettes across the Thai-Cambodian border near the Khao Din market yesterday, July 6. The operation involved the 1303rd Ranger Company, the 13th Ranger Regiment, the Khlong Hat Task Force from the Burapha Force, and the Sakaeo excise department. Officials had been alerted by…
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Bhumjaithai dismisses Anutin’s PM ambitions
The Bhumjaithai Party refuted claims by the Pheu Thai Party that its leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, is aiming to become the next prime minister amid political uncertainty following Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s suspension. Boonyathida Somchai, the party’s spokesperson and MP for Ubon Ratchathani stated yesterday, July 6, that Anutin has not shown any ambition or intention to pursue the premiership, despite…
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Elderly fisherman falls into Pattaya car park elevator shaft
An elderly fisherman yesterday morning fell into an automatic car park elevator shaft in Pattaya, suffering serious injuries. The man cited his impaired vision from recent surgery as the reason for not seeing the shaft opening. At 7.06am yesterday, July 6, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit responded to an emergency call at the automatic car park of Bali Hai Pier.…
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Steel structure collapse in Bangkok injures workers at construction site
A steel structure collapsed at a construction site on Soi Nimitmai, Bangkok, last night, resulting in injuries to several workers and triggering a rapid response from emergency services. The collapse occurred around 7.45pm yesterday, July 6, when a substantial steel frame fell onto workers at the site, creating a chaotic scene as some people became trapped beneath the debris. Emergency…
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2 Iranian men arrested for stealing trainers from Phuket shoe shop
Police on Friday arrested two Iranian men for stealing a pair of trainers in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket. Officers from Patong Police Station reviewed CCTV footage from a second-hand shoe shop on Phang Mueang Sai Kor Road, in the Patong sub-district of Kathu District, Phuket, after being alerted to the theft on Thursday, July 3. Two foreign men were…
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Thailand weather: Rainfall alert for 39 provinces, floods possible
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather advisory for today, July 7, warning 39 provinces of severe rainfall affecting 70% of these areas, particularly in northern, northeastern, eastern, and southern Thailand. These regions are expected to experience heavy rain due to a low-pressure area over northern Vietnam and a moderate southwest monsoon affecting maritime regions of the Andaman…
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Doggone disaster as pensioner gets skewered in Pattaya crash
A Thai pensioner was left skewered by her own sidecar after a dog launched a surprise attack, sending her smashing into a wall in Pattaya. Rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rushed to Soi Huay Yai, near Wat Thung Kha School, around 4.30pm, yesterday, July 6 after reports of a motorcycle accident involving an elderly woman. They arrived…
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Samut Sakhon warehouse fire contained after two hours
Firefighting teams successfully contained a fire at a furniture warehouse in Samut Sakhon after more than two hours. The blaze, which broke out at around 8.45pm on July 5, is under investigation for its cause and the extent of the damage. Police in Samut Sakhon received reports of a fire at a company offering storage, weighing services, and docking facilities…
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Black panther delight as it strolls through Kaeng Krachan park
A rare sighting of a black panther was captured by tourists in Kaeng Krachan National Park yesterday, July 5. The animal, known for its elusive nature, appeared relaxed and unafraid as it strolled up the Panoen Thung Mountain road, delighting onlookers and highlighting the pristine condition of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mongkol Chaiphakdee, head of Kaeng Krachan National Park,…
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Cambodia seeks UN intervention over border tensions with Thailand
A letter from Cambodia’s permanent representative to the United Nations has surfaced, revealing a request made on June 16 for the prevention of armed conflict with Thailand to be included in the United Nations General Assembly agenda. The letter, available in the UN database, highlights Cambodia’s approach to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on June 15 to resolve the…
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Teen clash in Ayutthaya leaves one dead, investigation underway
A violent clash between two rival groups of teenagers from the Ban Chang and Huai Chorakhe communities erupted at the Rojana Road intersection in Wang Noi district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. The incident involved firearms and explosives, resulting in the tragic death of a 16 year old named Thankhun, who was shot in the head and later succumbed to…
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Narathiwat unrest: suspicious sedan fire follows explosion
Chaos continues in Narathiwat as a suspicious sedan is set on fire in Rueso district, luring rangers to inspect the scene after a morning explosion. At 8.56pm yesterday, July 5, paramilitary rangers from Company 4608 were alerted by the village head of Moo 5, Bue Cho village, Sao subdistrict, Rueso district, Narathiwat province, about a sedan being set ablaze along…
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Former MP’s electric vehicle catches fire; investigation underway
A former Democrat Party MP’s plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) caught fire, prompting an investigation by police who discovered at least five tyre remnants beneath the vehicle. Officials advise waiting for an official statement from GWM and the police. This incident gained attention when Sirichok Sopha, former Songkhla MP for the Democrat Party, shared his harrowing experience on Facebook. Sirichok…
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Police officer shot dead in Yala while on duty
A police officer was fatally shot while on patrol in Yala province yesterday, July 5. The incident occurred as the officer was exiting a convenience store in the Mueang Krong Pinang district when an unidentified assailant opened fire from across the street. According to a report from the Yala Public Relations Department, the shooting took place at approximately 7.40pm outside…
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Man falls from pylon onto road off Vibhavadi Expressway
A man climbed a pylon along the Vibhavadi Expressway before falling onto the road in the Din Daeng area. Emergency services provided first aid before transporting him to the hospital. The incident occurred at 3.45pm yesterday, July 5, as reported by the Amarin Radio Centre. The event took place near Rajamangala University of Technology East, within the Chakraphong Phuwana area…
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Student dies after consuming kratom juice in Udon Thani dormitory
A 19 year old vocational student was discovered deceased in her dormitory room in Udon Thani yesterday morning, July 5, after reportedly consuming a 1.5-litre bottle of kratom juice before sleeping, according to friends who informed the police. Police, along with rescue and medical teams, responded to a report of a death at the dormitory located in the Khlong Charoen…
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Woman in debt crisis revives after suicide attempt in Chon Buri
In Sattahip district, Chon Buri, a 49 year old woman who had attempted suicide by hanging unexpectedly regained consciousness as rescue workers were preparing to transport her to the hospital yesterday, July 5. Police and rescue personnel were alerted to a suicide attempt at a house in tambon Phlu Taluang around 9am, according to Police Captain Boonsong Yingyong, deputy investigation…
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Former UK Asda manager jailed for smuggling cannabis from Thailand
Louisa De Marco, a 53 year old former Asda manager, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison, half to be served behind bars, for attempting to smuggle over 31 kilogrammes of cannabis into the UK via Manchester Airport. She was offered £10,000 (440,835 baht) for the job, allegedly orchestrated during a trip to Thailand, but pocketed nothing after losing her…
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How old games are still informing the games played around the world
It can be easy to get caught up in the hype for brand-new games and titles that are potentially being released. But there’s a world of history there. People have always played games. That might mean a simple dice roll or a complex strategy board. Games have been around for thousands of years. The styles and settings might have changed,…
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Man stabbed by wife in Pattaya after domestic dispute (video)
In Pattaya, a domestic dispute turned violent when a man was stabbed by his wife following a heated argument, with the entire incident captured on CCTV. The confrontation unfolded at 5pm on Thursday, July 3, in front of a series of rental rooms opposite Soi Kor Pai 10 in South Pattaya. Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Dusadee, an investigator from Pattaya…
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