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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Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...
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Chon Buri man shot by stepfather during drunken dispute
A late-night incident in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district resulted in a 23 year old man being shot in the mouth by his stepfather. The stepfather, 50 year old plumber, Prawet, was heavily intoxicated at the time. The incident took place at a rented room in Nong Prue subdistrict, where Prawet confronted his wife, 54 year old Saiyut, and her…
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Phuket boosts support for autistic and intellectually disabled residents
Phuket City Municipality is set to enhance support for autistic people and those with intellectual disabilities, focusing on equal opportunities and community integration. This initiative aligns with the Leaving No One Behind policy recently developed. Phuket Town mayor, Suphot La-ongphet, revealed that the plan follows the establishment of a comprehensive database identifying residents with autism or intellectual disabilities. “Everyone is…
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VietJet Thailand launches Phuket-Mumbai flights at 1,400 baht
VietJet Thailand has launched its inaugural flight connecting Phuket and Mumbai, expanding its network to India. Pinyot Phiboolsongkram, vice president of commerce and customer relations at VietJet Thailand, announced the new route on August 14, enhancing travel options between Thailand’s popular tourist destination and India’s largest city. The inaugural flight from Phuket to Mumbai was celebrated at Phuket International Airport,…
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Flood alert in Mae Sariang after car swept away by creek
Officials in Mae Sariang district, Mae Hong Son province, have issued a flood alert following an incident where a car was swept away while crossing the Mae Ngae creek in Tha Mae Che, Saohin subdistrict. Today, August 17, locals were able to assist in time, preventing any injuries. Worasak Panthong, the district officer of Mae Sariang, has instructed village heads…
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Man arrested in Pathum Thani for selling ketamine e-cigarette pods
A 22 year old man, Pornpawit Rotkarnjanarak, was apprehended in a condominium in Pathum Thani on August 16. He is accused of distributing illegal substances, specifically e-cigarette pods containing ketamine, and had an outstanding arrest warrant for defamation. The arrest was ordered by Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, with assistance from Police Major General Noppasil Poonasawat and Police Major General Samart…
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Thailand’s major drug bust seizes 900 kg of crystal meth
A major drug bust in Thailand resulted in the seizure of 900 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, valued at 135 million baht, being transported from central Thailand to Narathiwat. Additionally, police confiscated related assets worth 20 million baht. Yesterday, August 16, at the Front Operations Centre of the Royal Thai Police in Yala, Phumtham Wechayachai, the deputy prime minister and acting…
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Prachin Buri teacher wins 18 million baht in lottery
A teacher in Prachin Buri, Pavaris “Kaew” Yusanit, experienced a stroke of luck, winning 18 million baht after her mother-in-law suggested buying lottery tickets online. Despite her newfound wealth, she remains committed to her teaching career. Yesterday, August 16, at 7.45pm, it was reported that the Government Lottery Office announced the winning numbers for the draw, with the first prize…
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Pickup truck crash in Pattaya scatters meatballs on road
In Pattaya, Thailand, a significant accident took place just after midnight on August 16, when a pickup truck lost control on a wet road, flipped over, and struck an electric pole, resulting in injuries to three people. This incident occurred on Sukhumvit Road, en route to Sattahip, near the motorway underpass intersection in Nongprue. The Pattaya Swang Boriboon Rescue Centre…
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Police halt illegal electronic waste transport in Prachin Buri
In Prachin Buri, police apprehended three people on August 15 as they attempted to transport electronic waste to a facility in Chachoengsao province. The detained people included a Thai national, a Chinese national, and a Myanmar national, each driving a pickup truck filled with electronic refuse such as motors, cooling system components, and scrap metal, according to Police Colonel Winyu…
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Thailand urges Cambodia to act on landmines, scam networks
Thailand’s Royal Navy has reported that Cambodia has yet to collaborate on landmine clearance and tackling cross-border scam networks. This conclusion followed a Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting held on Saturday in Trat province. The gathering at Barn Talaephu resort in Khlong Yai district aimed to address border issues affecting the eastern provinces of Trat and Chanthaburi. Vice-Admiral Apichart Sapprasert,…
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Monsoon trough brings heavy rain to 50 Thai provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has announced that a monsoon trough will bring heavy to very heavy rainfall across 50 provinces, significantly affecting three regions including Bangkok, with 80% of the area expected to experience rain. The forecast for August 16 warns of potential flash floods and mountain runoffs due to significant rain accumulation. Residents in provinces such as Phitsanulok,…
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Bangkok–Butterworth rail service to resume in 2025
Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to restore the Bangkok–Butterworth rail link by the end of this year, 2025, in a move set to boost cross-border travel and tourism. The decision was finalised during a joint conference between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Malaysia’s Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) last week. The talks focused on strengthening bilateral railway cooperation…
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Suspended PM Paetongtarn to face court over leaked audio controversy
Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is anticipated to attend the Constitutional Court in person regarding the contentious audio recording involving her and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, as stated by her secretary. Yesterday, August 15, Doctor Prommin Lertsuridej, the PM’s Secretary-General, commented on the court’s decision to summon Paetongtarn, who also holds the position of culture minister, along with National…
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Pattaya cracks down on nightlife drug use with new curfews
Officials in Pattaya, Chon Buri, have rolled out strict new measures to stamp out drug use and illegal activities in entertainment venues. The crackdown comes under the government’s ‘No Drugs No Dealers’ policy. The initiative was launched during a major meeting yesterday, August 15, at the Alcazar Theatre on Pattaya Second Road. Over 2,000 nightlife operators attended the session, which…
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MPs approve 2026 education budget, but some are sceptic
The House of Representatives has given its approval to the Ministry of Education’s budget proposal during the second reading, as discussions on the 2026 fiscal year budget bill proceeded in a special session. The budget allocations received the support of 253 MPs, while 121 opposed and 26 abstained. The second reading involved a detailed section-by-section review, with the Ministry of…
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Karon Municipality ordered to clear Kata Beach chairs in 15 days
The National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) Phuket office has instructed Karon Municipality to remove all beach chairs from Kata Beach within 15 days; failure to comply will result in legal action. The directive was announced by Suwat Saowarat, Director of NACC Phuket, during a meeting with the Karon Mayor and local officials yesterday, August 15. Following the meeting, an inspection took…
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High-speed racing crash on expressway causes hefty pile up
In the early hours of today, August 16, an incident involving high-speed racing led to a collision on the Udon Ratthaya expressway, resulting in damage to approximately ten vehicles. The accident occurred at around 1.30am on the expressway in Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi province. The crash, captured by a dashcam, showed several cars racing, then crashing, leading to a multi-vehicle…
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Thailand accuses Cambodia of breaching Ottawa Convention with landmines
Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa has accused Cambodia of consistently breaching the Ottawa Convention and infringing on Thailand’s sovereignty due to recurring incidents involving anti-personnel landmines. During the 10th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Anning, China, Maris addressed the issue via a video briefing. The session, held at the Foreign Affairs Ministry yesterday, August 15, was attended by 67…
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Pathum Thani police arrest trio with 422kg of crystal meth
Yesterday, August 15, police in Pathum Thani arrested three individuals for possessing nearly 500 kilogrammes of crystal meth. The arrest took place in a three-storey commercial building in Lam Luk Ka district, where the drugs were hidden. Prior investigations by the Sai Mai Police Station revealed that 27 year old Anawin, also known as ‘Win Chon Buri’, was suspected of…
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Thailand allows drone operations from August 16 to 31
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has issued an announcement permitting the operation of unmanned aircraft (drones) from August 16 to 31, between 6am and 6pm. This follows a suspension from July 30 to August 15, requested by national security agencies to mitigate risks near the Thai-Cambodian border. The announcement stated that drones of all types are allowed to…
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People’s Party opposes 2026 budget bill over economic concerns
The People’s Party (PP) has decided to oppose the 2026 fiscal budget bill during its final reading in Parliament yesterday, Friday, August 15, criticising the government’s spending plan for not adequately reflecting the current economic conditions. PP Deputy Leader Sirikanya Tansakul disclosed the party’s decision at around 1pm yesterday in Parliament. She indicated that the PP planned to reject the…
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AirAsia flight lands at Gimpo due to turbulence, not error (update)
AirAsia has refuted claims that one of its flights mistakenly landed at the wrong airport, which initially headed towards Seoul, explaining that the pilot diverted to Gimpo Airport due to turbulence. The budget airline clarified that flight D7506 from Sepang to Incheon initially landed at Gimpo for refuelling because of adverse weather conditions. AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismali stated that…
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Heavy rain alert in Thailand: 80% of regions under threat
The Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecasted intense to very intense rainfall across four regions in Thailand, which includes 48 provinces, with Bangkok experiencing a 70% chance of heavy rain. TMD authorities have issued warnings for potential flash floods and forest run-off today, August 16, due to a monsoon trough influencing the north and northeast, coupled with a strengthening southwest monsoon…
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Thai-born American man dies in accident after being lured by Meta AI chatbot
A 76 year old Thai-born American man died following an accident after being lured to a meeting arranged by a Meta artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot on Facebook, which he believed was a real woman. According to a Reuters report, the incident took place in March this year when Thongbue Wongbandue, who suffered from brain impairment due to paralysis, packed up…
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3 teenagers arrested for burning disabled dog in Lampang temple
Police arrested three Thai teenagers for burning a disabled dog alive in a temple bathroom in the northern province of Lampang. Locals in the Ko Kha district of Lampang reported the cruel act by the 14 year old suspects to the Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) yesterday, August 14. The incident had occurred the previous week in the abandoned bathroom of…
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Udon Thani lottery thief returns stolen tickets and begs for forgiveness
A thief returned 23 out of 51 stolen lottery tickets to a vendor in the Isaan province of Udon Thani and promised to pay for the remaining tickets within three days. The lottery stall owners, 68 year old Boonmee Bootpho and 43 year old Wannaporn Bootpho, lodged a complaint at Nong Wua So Police Station on Tuesday, August 12, after…
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Phuket bar raid uncovers underage trafficking, three arrested
Yesterday, August 14, police raided a well-known bar in Phuket, arresting three individuals for allegedly trafficking underage girls and a transgender teenager. The suspects face serious charges of human trafficking. Police Major General Songklod Krikkritaya, the commander of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD), directed the operation. The arrests took place at a bar located in Mueang district, Phuket province. The…
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Phuket district chief addresses viral altercation over rental motorcycle dispute
A district chief in Phuket clarified details about a physical altercation involving nearly 20 foreigners and two Thai men in a dispute over a rental motorcycle, promising to ensure justice for both parties. Kathu District Chief Akkaraphon Sutthirak, yesterday, August 14, addressed the viral incident between a group of foreigners and two Thai men, one of whom was the owner of…
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Thai man’s calm response to snack theft goes viral on TikTok
A Thai grocery store owner shared a video on TikTok showing her husband watching a Burmese thief stealing snacks from their store in the central province of Pathum Thani, delighting Thai netizens. The store owner, Sumalee Wongintawang, posted the video of her husband on her TikTok account, @su.pananchita995, on Tuesday, August 12, with the caption… “#GoodHusbandIsNewHusband #ThisIsMyHusbandLol”. The caption was…
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Thai soldier allegedly commits suicide after shooting 2 civilians in Surin
A Thai soldier in the Isaan province of Surin allegedly took his own life after shooting two civilians with an M16 rifle last night. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) reported this morning, August 15, that the gunfire broke out near Ban Khuean Kaeo Temple at around 12.45am. Ten shots were initially fired, followed by two more shots nine minutes later.…
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