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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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Guide lines crossed: Pattaya cops nab four for illegal tour guiding
Police in Pattaya apprehended four people for allegedly working illegally as tour guides. The arrest occurred after local police acted on intelligence suggesting foreign nationals were conducting unauthorised guide activities in the area. Police surveillance was conducted at Laem Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya where tourists can get a ferry to the nearby island of Koh Larn, a popular…
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Drunk tourist clashes with Phuket bikers over massage ride
A drunken tourist attacked three Thai app-based motorcycle taxi riders in Phuket, allegedly because he wanted a lift to a massage parlour. However, the riders declined to serve him, citing that they were fully booked. Several news agencies shared a video of the foreign man attacking three Thai men on a footpath yesterday, 5 January. In the video, the foreigner, wearing…
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Deputy PM rolls dice on Thaksin’s bold online gambling bet
Prasert Chantrawongthong, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, has weighed in on ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s bold proposal to legalise online gambling. The 74 year old former prime minister recently sparked controversy by suggesting that bringing online betting into the open could help tackle the widespread social issues associated with the industry. Known to be…
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Shell shock: Coconut factory fire sparks highway pileup
Smoke billowing from a fire at a coconut fibre factory led to a series of rear-end collisions on a major highway, causing a traffic jam stretching several kilometres. Firefighters took over four hours to control the blaze. Yesterday, January 5, police in Prachuap Khiri Khan received reports of a fire at a coconut fibre production facility located along the southbound…
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Locals question legality of luxury camping tents on Jomtien Beach
Camping tents and luxury setups on Jomtien Beach has whipped locals into a frenzy, expressing concerns over its legality. On January 4, residents in Pattaya reported these tent installations along the Jomtien stretch, questioning their compliance with Thai laws and regulations. Upon investigation, it was discovered that several businesses had transformed sections of Jomtien Beach into makeshift camping grounds with…
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Thai university student crashes car, damages 12 electricity poles
A 20 year old university student crashed his car into electricity poles along Kanchanaphisek Road, damaging 12 poles and three cars, due to drowsiness caused by antihistamines, a medicine used to treat allergy symptoms. Officers from Phetchakasem Police Station were alerted to the accident at a curve on Kanchanaphisek Road yesterday, January 5. Upon arrival, officers found a damaged blue…
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Cold front, hot topic: Thailand braces for a temperature tumble
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning about a significant drop in temperature across Thailand due to a cold air mass, leading to cooler weather across various regions. Affected areas include the northern, northeastern, and central parts of the country, with particularly frigid conditions on mountaintops. The TMD reported a northeast monsoon sweeping across the Gulf of Thailand,…
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Young man killed over debt dispute in Sisaket village
A tragic incident unfolded yesterday in the village of Ban Na, Khun Han district, Sisaket province, when a 25 year old man, Natthaphon, was fatally stabbed. This occurred following an altercation over an unsettled debt, leading to a chaotic confrontation and ending in his death. The suspect fled the scene on a motorcycle, prompting a police investigation. The early hours…
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Bangkok fire leaves elderly man injured, son suspected of arson
A devastating fire engulfed a community in the heart of Bangkok, leaving a 73 year old man trapped and injured. Eyewitnesses suspect the homeowner’s son, who was seen watching the blaze, of starting the fire. Police later detained him. The blaze broke out yesterday, January 5, at 8.20pm in a residential area within Soi Bang Khae 14, on Bang Khae-Bang…
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Vow-ndalism: Bride-to-be wrecks fiancé’s home over unpaid dowry
Pa Faek subdistrict in Phon Charoen district, Bueng Kan province, became the centre of a domestic drama when a bride-to-be went on a rampage, demolishing her future husband’s home over an unpaid dowry. The incident unfolded the 22 year old woman, Wanida, was left fuming when her fiancé, 23 year old Wasan, could only muster up 50,000 baht instead of…
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Waste not, want rot: Cops bust illegal e-waste ring in Samut Sakhon
Police uncovered an extensive illegal operation where electronic waste was being unlawfully transported and stored in Samut Sakhon. The discovery is linked to previous activities involving closed factories. Yesterday, January 5, Ekanat Promphan, Minister of Industry, revealed that a team led by Thitiphat Chotedechachainan and Ekaniti Ramyanont, along with local industry officials and the Department of Industrial Works, conducted a…
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Purr-fect comeback: Tiger spotted in Kui Buri after a decade
A significant milestone in wildlife conservation has been achieved at Kui Buri National Park, Prachuap Khiri Khan, as a tiger has been captured on camera returning to the area for the first time in over 10 years. Park officials successfully captured images of the tiger using wildlife camera traps set up near Khao Khan Hok and Khao Sam Chan, close…
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Blue Suzuki Swift’s shocking turn leaves Bangkok in the dark
Bangkok was thrown into chaos yesterday after a blue Suzuki Swift crash led to a major power outage. The scene of destruction unfolded early yesterday morning, as 12 power poles came crashing down like dominoes. The spectacle began at around 8am, January 5, at the notorious Wee Liam bend on Kanchanaphisek Road, right in the heart of the Bang Khae…
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Couple arrested smuggling 24 Myanmar immigrants in 22-wheel truck
Police apprehended a couple driving a 22-wheel truck carrying 24 illegal immigrants from Myanmar, who were attempting to enter Thailand unlawfully. The pair confessed to picking up the immigrants from the roadside near the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Mae Sot. The incident unfolded when officers from the Narasuan Task Force, together with local police, conducted a routine vehicle check at…
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Young man shot dead at Songkhla petrol station, police search for suspects
A 23 year old man was fatally shot in a petrol station, sparking a police manhunt for three suspects. The incident, which involved a confrontation over a mobile phone display, left the victim dead with several gunshot wounds to his body and head. The tragic event occurred at approximately 5.10am today, January 5, in a petrol station located on Kanchanavanich…
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Pattaya nightclub raid finds drug use, breaks curfew
Police in Pattaya conducted a significant raid on a nightclub located on the bustling Walking Street early this morning, January 5. The operation targeted Club Panda, which was operating beyond its legal hours, revealing traces of drug abuse among patrons. At approximately 3.30am, a contingent of 100 police and administrative officials descended upon the club, discovering over 300 patrons, both…
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Foreigner dies in Phuket motorbike crash after losing control
A tragic accident occurred in Phuket yesterday morning, December 4, resulting in the death of a foreign man who lost control of his motorbike and crashed into a guardrail in Kathu. The incident took place on Wichit Songkhram Road, with local police responding to the scene around 7.30am. Upon arrival, Kathu Police and rescue workers found a severely damaged Honda…
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Bang Yai nightclub accused of misusing patron ID card photos
A significant controversy has emerged around a popular nightclub in Bang Yai, Nonthaburi, after reports surfaced about the venue allegedly taking photographs of patrons’ identification cards, sparking concerns over data misuse linked to online gambling invitations. The issue came to light when a prominent social media page revealed that the nightclub was operating until 4am and allegedly distributing customer ID…
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Drunken police officer attacks leader’s son in Uthai Thani party brawl
A drunken altercation at a new year party took a shocking turn when an inebriated police officer assaulted the son of a local administrative leader in Uthai Thani. The incident, which quickly escalated, left several individuals, including the man’s wife and daughter, shaken. A report was lodged today, January 5, by 49 year old Ornuma, an official at the Nong…
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Thailand braces for heavy rain and cold weather warning
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued warnings for 10 provinces in Thailand to prepare for heavy rainfall due to a monsoon. Northern Thailand is experiencing a drop in temperature by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius, along with strong winds. A high-pressure system, accompanied by a relatively strong cold air mass, is currently affecting upper Thailand, the upper southern region,…
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Russian tourist stabbed in Pattaya convenience store incident
A Russian tourist was injured in a stabbing incident that occurred at a convenience store on Jomtien Second Road in Pattaya. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre received the emergency call at 2am yesterday, January 4, detailing the injuries sustained by 39 year old Denis Rumiantsev, who suffered a knife wound to his left leg. The bleeding was severe, prompting…
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Thailand police seize 121 cars linked to illegal gambling network
Police officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) have seized 121 vehicles linked to a significant online gambling network dismantled two years ago. This operation, which took place yesterday, January 4. Officers, equipped with warrants from the Nonthaburi provincial court, conducted searches at a residence and a car showroom in Nonthaburi’s Pak Kret district. Their investigation led to the…
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Thailand abolishes public school uniform hairstyle rules
The Ministry of Education in Thailand has officially abolished the uniform hairstyle regulation for students in public schools. This change allows individual schools to determine their guidelines for student hairstyles as they see fit. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, speaking on behalf of the ministry, stated that the revocation was announced in the Royal Gazette last year. Schools across the country have since…
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Four Thai fishermen still held in Myanmar after mass prisoner release
Four Thai fishing vessel crew members remain detained in Myanmar, despite the release of 151 Thai prisoners. These individuals were apprehended in late November by Myanmar soldiers, accused of trespassing into Myanmar waters. The group of 151 Thai nationals, repatriated yesterday, January 4, via the second Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge in Chiang Rai, were part of a larger amnesty granted by…
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Thai police officers reassigned over Chinese volunteer training probe
Two high-ranking Thai police officers have been reassigned to inactive roles following their involvement in a contentious volunteer police training programme aimed at Chinese nationals. The programme, which charged each participant 38,000 baht (US$1,100), has come under scrutiny, prompting the transfer of the officers to the operations centre of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) as investigations continue. The officers involved…
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Cost to move from the US to Thailand: A complete expat budget guide
Moving to a new country can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when you’re transitioning from the USA to Thailand. You might be dreaming of sandy beaches and bustling markets, but before you pack your bags, it’s crucial to understand the costs involved in this big change. From shipping your belongings to planning your travel and finding accommodations, every detail…
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Thai man finds brother dead in Chai Nat, suspected murder
A shocking discovery unfolded when a man found his brother dead under suspicious circumstances in Chai Nat province, leading him to believe that his brother was murdered. The deceased, 62 year old Sukasem, was found in a single-storey concrete house in Sapphaya district, Chai Nat province. Police were alerted to the scene following reports of a suicide, but evidence at…
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Elderly driver crashes into oil tanker in Lampang, 2 dead
An elderly driver lost control of a pickup truck, crashing into the rear of an oil tanker, resulting in significant damage and the death of two individuals, with two more sustaining injuries. The incident occurred yesterday, January 3 on Phaholyothin Road, in the Mae Kua area, Sop Prap district, Lampang province. Police, as well as the Lampang Rescue Association, the…
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Tourists get intimate on tuk tuk despite driver’s warnings (video)
A video involving tourists engaging in intimate behaviour on a tuk tuk has sparked widespread online criticism. Despite being cautioned by the driver to stop, the tourists continued, leading the driver to let the incident unfold. The incident was shared on social media yesterday, January 3, by a Facebook user named Somnuck Chanagune who posted a 34-second clip with the caption,…
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Meth-high man attacks cleaner at Khon Kaen tutoring centre
A 27 year old man attacked a cleaner with a knife at a tutoring centre in Nong Phai, Khon Kaen, driven by a paranoid belief that she had photographed his secrets. The victim, 43 year old Panicha, suffered a deep wound on the left side of her neck and was given first aid before being rushed to Srinakarin Hospital for…
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