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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Bangkok teen fighting for life after violent gang shootout
A teenage boy was critically injured in Bangkok after being shot during a street chase involving armed youths, prompting a police investigation. A violent gang chase in Bangkok early today, September 13, ended in tragedy when a 15 year old boy was shot and left severely injured. The incident, which took place near Indy Market, Dao Khanong, was captured on…
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SCB cuts branches and staff as AI reshapes Thai banking
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is restructuring its retail operations in response to rising household debt and the growing dominance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial sector. Since May, SCB has reorganised its retail segment into a new consumer banking division, covering branches, retail services, and employees. Chief Executive Kris Chantanotoke said the shift reflects customer preferences and the steady…
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Thai Airways axes first class in bold premium revamp
Thai Airways has confirmed that it will retire its first class cabins, a product once hailed as the pinnacle of luxury but now confined to just three Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The decision closes a chapter in the airline’s history, with first class having once graced its flagship Airbus A380s, Boeing 747s and Airbus A340s. These exclusive cabins, occasionally used for…
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Pattaya officials warn after elephant seen strolling outside mall
An elephant was spotted outside a Pattaya shopping mall with its mahout, drawing crowds and prompting city officials to step in over safety concerns. Shoppers at Terminal 21 Pattaya witnessed a highly unusual scene this week when an elephant, guided by its mahout, was seen wandering near the mall selling sugarcane to tourists. The sight drew crowds of curious onlookers…
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Phuket officials clash over Bang Tao building permit dispute
A legal battle has erupted in Phuket as two local administrations clash over who holds the authority to issue building permits in the Bang Tao area. A jurisdictional dispute between two local administrations in Phuket has reached the Administrative Court, as Cherng Talay Municipality and Cherng Talay Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) battle over authority in Bang Tao. The legal case,…
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Housing row settled after Nong Prue home cleared as legal
Officials in Nong Prue inspected a housing project after residents complained a property may have breached building laws, confirming it complied with regulations. At around 2pm yesterday, September 12, deputy mayor Wanchai Saenngam led a team of municipal engineering officers to inspect a property in the Rattanakorn 15 project following anonymous reports that a house was being built taller than…
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Decomposed body of elderly woman found in Chiang Mai river
Locals in Chiang Mai discovered the body of an elderly woman floating in the Ping River, prompting police to launch an investigation into her death. Police in Chiang Mai’s Doi Tao district are investigating the discovery of a decomposed body, believed to be that of an elderly woman, found floating in the Ping River. The grim discovery was made yesterday,…
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Quake jolts Sumatra as tremors reach into northern Thailand
Thailand’s Earthquake Observation Division reported a 3.6-magnitude earthquake in northern Sumatra this morning, with light tremors also detected in parts of northern Thailand. Fortunately, no damage or injuries have been reported. The quake struck at 4.27am local time today, September 13, centred in Indonesia’s northern Sumatra region at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located about 367 kilometres…
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Bangkok bomb scare defused after vest turns out to be weights
A man wearing a suspicious vest sparked a bomb scare in a Bangkok district, prompting a police response before it was revealed to be workout gear. The incident unfolded yesterday morning, September 12, after a concerned citizen reported a man wearing a tactical-looking vest filled with items that resembled explosives. The tip-off prompted a swift response from the Bang Bon…
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Thai Democrat Party leader quits over health and party loyalty row
Democrat Party leader Chalermchai Sri-on has stepped down from his position, citing health concerns that he says have affected his ability to lead effectively. In an official letter submitted to the Election Commission (EC)’s political party registrar yesterday, September 12, the 60 year old politician stated that he could no longer carry out his duties at full capacity and feared…
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Indian tourists flee after Pattaya crash leaves 2 women hurt
Two Thai women were left injured in Pattaya after a late-night crash involving a motorcycle and a pair of careless tourists who allegedly fled the scene. A late-night motorcycle collision in Pattaya has left two Thai women hospitalised, after what witnesses claim was a reckless encounter with two foreign tourists. The incident occurred around 3am yesterday, September 12, in front…
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Phuket’s long-awaited boat taxi project finally sets sail
Phuket is moving ahead with plans for a boat taxi service along its west coast, as key officials signed an agreement to improve coastal transport options. Phuket is one step closer to launching its long-discussed boat taxi service along the island’s popular west coast, as key officials gathered to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday, September 12. Atthaphon Charoenchansa,…
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Esports vs traditional sports – what links them and some key differences
Over the past decade, eSports has shifted from niche corners of the internet to the main stage of global entertainment. Many traditional sports continue to hold massive audiences alongside the new era of esports. Put them side by side – the similarities can be surprising, even if the playing fields are very different. There is even the crossover of esports…
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Thai pilots take flight over foreign hires on local routes
Thailand’s Administrative Court is reviewing a legal bid by a pilots’ group to block a government move allowing foreign pilots on domestic flight routes. The Thai Administrative Court is reviewing a request from the Thai Pilots Association to block the Ministry of Labour from allowing foreign pilots to operate domestic flights, according to the Bangkok Post. The petition seeks a…
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Thai motorcyclist dies after dodging sudden lane change by another rider
A Thai woman died in a motorcycle crash in Nonthaburi province yesterday, September 11, after swerving to avoid a sudden lane change by another rider. Officers from Bang Srimueang Police Station were alerted to the accident at around 7.30am outside a petrol station on Ratchaphruek–Nonthaburi Road. At the scene, police and rescue workers found a 20 year old woman, later…
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Thailand urged to tighten rules on cosy inmate detentions
Thailand’s anti-graft body is urging the new Cabinet to review prison detention rules over concerns they could allow inmates to serve sentences at home. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is urging the new Cabinet to instruct the Department of Corrections (DoC) to review its rules on off-site detention, following concerns that current regulations could allow prisoners to serve their sentences…
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Thai man steals gold ring hoping for prison life over freedom
A Thai man confessed that he stole a gold ring in Udon Thani province yesterday, September 11, because he wanted to escape his troubled life and return to prison, where he said life felt easier. Meuang Udon Thani Police Station officers received a report about the theft at a gold shop on the third floor of a shopping mall in…
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Thailand’s casino bill could be revived in 2026 – success hinges on political coalition
The casino legalisation debate is again going on in Thailand. It is stated that, based on an analysis of a recent legal expert, the stuck in the rut Entertainment Complex Bill can be reintroduced already in 2026. The outstanding consideration is whether the ruling Pheu Thai Party is able to end political instability and form a stable coalition government. This…
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British expat reveals retirement costs in Thailand, sparking relocation dreams
A British expat broke down the cost of living for his retirement in Thailand on TikTok, prompting many of his followers to consider relocating to the country. The man, Simon Thatcher, shared the video on his account, @skyhighthaisi, detailing his monthly expenses to show whether living in Thailand is still affordable in 2025. Thatcher explained that he lives under a…
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Man found dead in Phuket dorm after family argument
A man was found dead in a Phuket dormitory bathroom after a family dispute, prompting police and medical teams to investigate the cause of death. Police in Kathu, Phuket, were alerted to the incident at 8.40am yesterday, September 11. Officers from Kathu Police Station, accompanied by a forensic doctor from Vachira Phuket Hospital and Phuket Kusontham Foundation responders, arrived promptly…
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Court demands 3 referendums for new Thai Constitution
Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ruled that any move to draft a new constitution must involve three referendums and cannot include elected charter drafters. The Constitutional Court delivered the ruling following a petition filed by Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, who requested legal clarification on Parliament’s authority to initiate a new constitution and the necessary procedures. The case stems from…
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Thalang cracks down on illegal claw machines in malls
Dozens of claw machines have been shut down across Phuket’s Thalang district in a major crackdown on unlicensed gambling-style games at public venues. Officials from the Thalang District Office inspected shopping malls, convenience stores, and other locations between September 6 and 9. Around 50 unlicensed machines were found and immediately deactivated, including several at the popular Robinson Lifestyle Thalang mall.…
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Hero shopper takes down thief at Bangkok Big C (video)
A quick-thinking Bangkok man has become a local hero after using martial arts to tackle a suspected thief who tried to snatch shopping baskets from two tourists. The incident unfolded on the night of September 1 at a Big C supermarket in Bangkok. As two Chinese women were shopping, a man reportedly grabbed their basket, containing handbags and valuables, and…
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British YouTuber and netizens blast BBC’s Thailand dark side documentary
A British YouTuber and netizens criticised the BBC documentary Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise for allegedly distorting facts and presenting misleading information to viewers. Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise was first aired on BBC iPlayer on September 8. The series aimed to expose the darker aspects of several tourist destinations in Thailand, focusing particularly on Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya.…
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Wild animal zone shut down after fatal lion attack at zoo
National park officials have ordered the closure of a wildlife park’s wild animal zone following a fatal incident involving lions, triggering a full safety and welfare review. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has ordered the immediate suspension of operations in Safari World’s Safari Park area, following a deadly lion attack and a subsequent inspection that…
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Thai businesswoman swindled out of 159 million baht in stock trading scam
A Thai businesswoman lost 159 million baht in an investment scam. She admitted that greed and a desire for higher profits led her to transfer the sum to a scam gang within just three weeks. The victim, identified only as A, urged the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive to follow up on her case after she lodged a complaint with the…
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British man slashed in Pattaya condo by trans escort gang
A British man was injured after being attacked in his Pattaya condo by a group of transgender persons following a dispute over payment for services. Police in Pattaya are on the hunt for a gang of four transgender women accused of slashing a 65 year old British man in his South Pattaya apartment after a dispute over money turned violent.…
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Thailand video news Inside Klong Prem: What Awaits Thaksin Behind Bars, Karon Beach Lifeguards Save Tourist Who Ignored Red Flags
Thailand saw a turbulent week spanning politics, public safety, and lifestyle changes — from Thaksin Shinawatra’s stark new reality inside Klong Prem Prison and Paetongtarn’s push to steady Pheu Thai, to a citywide rabies alert in Bangkok, high-profile tourist incidents in Phuket, and even viral mishaps like a “green curry smoothie.” Meanwhile, Nepal unrest halted a British vlogger’s epic…
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Thaksin starts prison life with Covid quarantine and calm
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has begun serving a prison sentence under Covid quarantine, as officials assess his condition and consider future duties in detention. Now serving a one-year sentence at Klongprem Central Prison following a Supreme Court ruling, the 76 year old veteran politician is being held in a separate ward with other elderly inmates while officials determine his placement.…
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Thai Lion Air eyes new routes despite tourism slowdown
Thai Lion Air is expanding its fleet and launching new routes as it targets high-demand destinations, despite a drop in international tourist arrivals. The budget carrier plans to add at least two Boeing 737 jets to its fleet this year, focusing on high-demand routes such as China and Japan, despite revising its earlier goal of operating 40 aircraft. The adjustment…
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