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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Phuket drug raids intensify, over 40 arrests made in crackdown
Phuket’s intensified drug raids continue under the national No Drugs, No Dealers policy, with several arrests made and drugs seized across the island. Efforts spearheaded by local authorities aim to eliminate drugs from every village within three months. The campaign, led by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and Provincial Police Commander Sinlert Sukhum, involves collaboration between police, administrative officers, and defence…
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Saudi tourist found dead after Bang Tao Beach disappearance
A 22 year old Saudi tourist, Dhaher Suhayb Mohammed S, who went missing while swimming at Bang Tao Beach on July 26, was found dead near Layan Beach in Cherng Talay today, July 28. Lifeguards discovered his body early in the morning near the southern end of Sirinat National Park, wearing only swimming trunks. Cherng Talay Police, along with rescue…
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Nongprue police arrest drug dealer in undercover sting operation
In a coordinated operation on July 27, 2025, led by Banglamung District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon, a 24 year old drug dealer, Thanawat Suksamai, known as Two, was arrested in Nongprue, Chon Buri. The sting operation took place in a rented room in Soi Khao Talo 8, where Thanawat was found with 37.3 grams of ketamine, 0.6 grams of crystal methamphetamine,…
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Thai officials to attend ASEAN peace talks in Kuala Lumpur
The Thai Government has been officially invited by Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia and current ASEAN Chair, to join a consultation focused on regional peace efforts. This meeting is planned for today, July 28, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Kuala Lumpur, with the Thai delegation departing from the Royal Thai Air Force Base at 10.30am. The meeting…
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Chiang Rai declares red alert amid severe flooding crisis (video)
Emergency measures have been initiated in Chiang Rai as a red-level alert has been declared due to severe flooding in the north of Thailand. Officials have issued warnings for four high-risk areas in Mueang Chiang Rai district, urging immediate evacuation to safer locations. At approximately 7.30am on July 28, a Facebook page, Rak Chiang Tung, shared a video showing the…
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AEROTHAI ensures Thai flights unaffected by border tension
Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI) is set to fully support military operations while maintaining normal commercial flight operations, despite tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border. Surachai Nuprom, acting director of AEROTHAI, confirmed the organisation’s preparedness following Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit’s directive to closely monitor and report on the border situation. AEROTHAI is actively managing the situation after a Notice to Airmen…
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Thai officials repatriate bodies of Cambodian soldiers after clashes
Thai officials have repatriated the bodies of 12 Cambodian soldiers who died in clashes at Phu Makua. The handover took place at 4.30pm yesterday, July 27, at the permanent border crossing at Chong Sa-ngam, in Phrai Phatthana subdistrict, Phu Sing district, Sisaket province. The remains will be returned to Cambodia for religious rites in their homeland. This action aligns with…
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Man drowns in Samut Prakan canal despite rescue attempt
A man drowned while attempting to swim across a canal in Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli district. Despite waving for help before submerging, rescue divers only found his body hours later after a traditional ritual was performed. The incident was reported to the Phra Nakhon Radio Centre at 1pm yesterday, July 27, when witnesses saw the man disappear in the Suvarnabhumi…
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Body of missing swimmer found at Nai Thon Beach
The body of a 23 year old man, Nianus Salae, has been discovered near the rocks at Nai Thon Beach after he was swept away by waves while swimming. Rescue workers have taken the body for forensic examination before it is returned to his family for religious rites. Nianus, who worked in Phuket but hailed from Pattani province, was swimming…
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Thai police arrest suspected Cambodian spy near Surin border
Thai police have apprehended another suspected Cambodian spy near the Thai-Cambodian border in Surin province. Evidence of photographing and recording coordinates of Thai strategic military sites was discovered. The incident occurred in Phanom Dong Rak district today, July 27. According to a Facebook post by Prat Sam Si, local police arrested the suspect while he was allegedly attempting to gather…
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Phuket police arrest 43 in anti-drug raids across 26 sites
Phuket law enforcement agencies have apprehended 43 people following a series of coordinated raids across 26 sites on the island over the past week. These actions are part of the ongoing NO Drugs NO Dealers campaign aimed at eradicating drug-related activities in the province. Between July 22 and July 25, police arrested 24 people for serious drug offences and 19…
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Thailand seeks slot waiver amid drop in Chinese tourists
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is in discussions with Chinese officials to obtain a one-year slot waiver in response to decreased Chinese tourist arrivals. ACM Manat Chavanaprayoon, the CAAT director-general, stated that temporary relief from airport slot usage requirements is being sought due to the ongoing weak demand from Chinese travellers. Once Thailand’s primary source market, Chinese tourist…
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Rail services to Ban Khlong Luek halted amid border tensions
Rail services connecting Aranyaprathet and Ban Khlong Luek border station on the eastern line have been halted indefinitely due to border tensions, as announced by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). This information was shared yesterday, July 26. The SRT’s public relations office issued a notice on Facebook at 3.25pm, expressing regret for any inconvenience caused by the service suspension.…
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Thailand faces drought risk by 2026 amid ongoing flooding concerns
As Typhoon Vipa diminishes, flooding in parts of northern Thailand is slowly subsiding, but experts warn of potential challenges, including flash floods, water shortages, and the risk of a drought crisis by 2026. The Hydro-Informatics Institute (HII) forecasts a 4 to 9% reduction in rainfall across Thailand during August and September. These shifts are linked to broader climate change patterns,…
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Phuket invests 50 million baht in underpass lighting upgrades
The Phuket Highways Office has announced plans to enhance visibility in the Darasamut Underpass with the installation of new lighting. The underpass has been identified by police as the most accident-prone on the island, with three to four accidents occurring monthly. Police Lieutenant Colonel Wutthiwat Liangboonjinda, Deputy Superintendent of Traffic at Wichit Police Station, located approximately 1 kilometre from the…
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Escalating Thailand-Cambodia conflict prompts mass evacuation
A total of 113 people have fled from Sa Kaeo province to Prachin Buri province due to ongoing clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. This exodus, which includes 142 people in total, comes amidst escalating tensions in Surin and along the northeastern border, with the conflict now spreading to eastern regions like Sa Kaeo and Trat. Nadee district chief Somchai Putthasena…
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Artillery fire damages homes in Ubon Ratchathani, causes alarm
Yesterday, July 26, homes in Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani province suffered damage following artillery fire from Cambodian military forces. The shells impacted several houses, with local officials subsequently visiting the affected areas to assess the destruction. One of the damaged homes belonged to a village security officer, who remains in shock over the incident as his entire house…
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Bangkok police arrest two men in 434kg meth bust
Two men were arrested in connection with trafficking a large quantity of crystal methamphetamine, approximately 426 kilogrammes, from a residence in Soi Nuanchan, Bangkok. The suspects, identified as 39 year old Sunthorn, a motorcycle mechanic, and 31 year old Rattikorn with a history in drug trafficking, were apprehended on July 24 at around 6am. The arrest was part of the…
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Thailand launches 24-hour cyber unit amid Cambodia border tensions
Thai officials have established a 24-hour monitoring unit to address potential cyberattacks and online misconduct related to the conflict on the Thai-Cambodian border. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society revealed evidence of hackers attempting distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on Thai government websites, according to Prasert Jantararuangtong yesterday, July 26. In collaboration with the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the…
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Fire at Bangchak Oil Refinery contained after explosion
A fire broke out at the Bangchak Oil Refinery in Sriracha, Chon Buri, yesterday, July 26, at roughly 12.30pm. This incident led to a loud explosion and sent thick smoke into the sky, surprising nearby residents. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries or fatalities. Police at Laem Chabang were quickly informed and coordinated efforts with over 10 fire trucks…
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Topless woman rescued on Pattaya street in distress drama
Pattaya officials sprang into action after a woman in visible mental distress was spotted wandering shirtless down a busy Jomtien street. The unsettling scene unfolded on Bun Kanchana Soi 2, where concerned residents alerted authorities after noticing the woman behaving erratically without a top on. Responding with speed and sensitivity, officers from the Jomtien municipal enforcement unit located the woman…
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Border blitz: Thai forces smash enemy assaults in fierce clashes
Thai troops are holding the line in a brutal border battle, smashing enemy forces in a series of explosive clashes near key temples and hill positions along the Thai-Cambodian frontier. According to the 2nd Army Area’s Operations Centre, clashes intensified in multiple zones today, July 26, with enemy forces launching coordinated infantry and artillery attacks across Surin, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani,…
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Baby monkey boom delights visitors at Chon Buri zoo
Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri has announced the successful birth of five healthy squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus), adding to its troop and bringing the total population of the species at the zoo to 23. Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoy confirmed the good news this week, calling the multiple births a sign of the zoo’s high standards of animal care.…
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Rayong visa scam busted as 34 illegal workers nabbed on site
Tourist cops stormed a construction site in Rayong, unmasking a major visa scam that saw dozens of foreign nationals working illegally in Thailand. In a high-stakes operation led by the Tourist Police Bureau, 34 foreign workers—seven Chinese and 27 from Myanmar—were arrested at a site in the Nikhom Phatthana Industrial Estate. The workers had entered the country on tourist visas…
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Flights scrambled as Thai travellers flee Cambodia chaos
Thai authorities are urging travellers to brace for flight chaos as escalating border tensions with Cambodia spark a rush home. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has advised all passengers flying between Thailand and Cambodia to keep a close eye on updates, warning that schedules may change without notice due to the deteriorating situation. Amid reports of increasing demand…
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Thai govt unleashes 87 billion baht to jolt economy
Thailand’s government is throwing billions at the economy in a high-stakes bid to spark recovery before time runs out. With just two months left in the fiscal year, the Budget Bureau has unleashed 87.36 billion baht to fund 148 urgent economic stimulus projects, according to Deputy Finance Permanent Secretary Theerarak Saengsanit. The hefty injection accounts for 75.72% of the 115…
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Bangkok drug bust: 27 arrested in police raid
Police from Wang Thonglang station, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Investigation Unit 4, raided a drug-fuelled party in the Ramkhamhaeng area today. The operation resulted in 27 testing positive for drugs. The raid was commanded by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Police Major General Nopasilp Phulwasawat, Pol. Maj. Gen. Charin Kopatata, Deputy Police Commissioner General Pallop Aermla,…
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Weed stench driving tourists away, claims Phuket MP
A Phuket MP has lit up controversy by claiming that the smell of cannabis on local beaches is driving away big-spending tourists and damaging the island’s reputation. Yesterday, July 25, Chalermpong Saengdee, an MP for Phuket from the People’s Party, issued a fiery statement slamming the lack of cannabis regulation and the government’s “careless” visa-free policy, warning that Thailand’s top…
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Cambodia urges ceasefire in Thailand border standoff
Cambodia has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with Thailand, as tensions have escalated with deadly exchanges for a second day. The dispute, which has involved jets, artillery, tanks, and ground troops, prompted an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting. Phnom Penh’s UN ambassador Chhea Keo emphasised the need for a peaceful resolution following a closed council meeting attended…
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Thailand evacuates 100,000 amid Cambodia border clashes
Over 100,000 civilians have been evacuated from the northeastern provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, and Buriram due to escalating border clashes with Cambodia. Permanent Secretary Unsit Sampuntharat stated that evacuees are now housed in safety at 295 designated sites away from the conflict zones near the border. The evacuations were organised by local leaders, aided by village defence and…
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