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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Virtual kidnapping scam targets Chinese student in Thailand
Police rescued a Chinese university student after she fell victim to a virtual kidnapping scam that attempted to extort 3 million Hong Kong dollars, or approximately 12.5 million baht, from her family. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) launched the operation after receiving information from the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), which reported concerns that the Chinese woman, identified…
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Koh Samet tightens security after attempted rape case
Koh Samet tourism operators are moving to tighten security across the island after a man broke into a hotel room and allegedly attempted to rape and murder a female tourist during a group holiday in Rayong on May 30. Sarinthip Thapmongkhonsap, president of the Rayong Tourism Industry Council, said yesterday, June 3, that operators and relevant agencies worked closely with…
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12 suspects held in death of Koh Samui taxi driver deny mafia accusation
Police prosecuted 12 suspects in connection with the fatal assault and shooting of a taxi driver on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province, with the final suspect surrendering to authorities on Monday, June 1. The victim, 31 year old taxi driver Sikarin Promcharoen, was found dead in the driver’s seat of his vehicle on May 24. His car had crashed…
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Bolt Thailand bans driver after Japanese passenger assault
Bolt Thailand has permanently banned a driver from its platform after a Japanese passenger was allegedly assaulted during a ride in the Sukhumvit area, with the company pledging support for the passenger and cooperation with officials. In a statement yesterday, June 4, Bolt said it was deeply sorry for the incident and stressed that violence or inappropriate conduct is not…
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Homeless man removed over public indecency on Pattaya Beach
Police and Pattaya city officials ordered a homeless man to leave South Pattaya Beach yesterday, June 2, after residents and tourists complained that he had repeatedly masturbated in public near the old pier area, causing concerns over public indecency. Reporters visited the area after receiving complaints that the man’s behaviour had become a regular problem and was affecting Pattaya’s tourism…
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Thai caregiver criticised for dancing, drinking while caring for bedridden
A Thai freelance caregiver posted videos of herself drinking alcohol and dancing while caring for patients and elderly people, raising controversy on social media. The case drew public attention after the Facebook page หมอแล็บแพนด้า (Mor Lab Panda) shared screenshots from the videos yesterday, June 2. Channel 7 later reported on the incident and aired clips from the woman’s social media…
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Thailand’s dominant Covid strain not more severe, DDC says
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control confirmed today, June 3, that the Covid-19 NB.1.8.1 variant has remained the country’s dominant strain since mid-2025, but officials have found no evidence that it causes more severe illness than earlier variants. DDC director-general Dr Montien Kanasawat said the Ministry of Public Health continues to monitor Covid-19 and changes in the SARS-CoV-2 virus through the…
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Spanish nationals linked to Krabi pool villa nominee probe
Krabi officials raided a luxury pool villa in Nong Thale subdistrict, Mueang Krabi district, yesterday, June 2, as part of an investigation into suspected nominee shareholding involving foreign business operators. Krabi Governor Angkoon Silatewakul led the operation after officials obtained a Krabi Provincial Court warrant to search the villa, which sits on more than 1 rai of land. Officials said…
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Three Myanmar nationals killed in Tak farm drone explosion
A drone explosion near the Thai-Myanmar border in Tak killed three Myanmar chilli farm workers, including an 11 year old child, and seriously injured two others yesterday, June 2, after an explosive device reportedly crossed from Myanmar into Thailand. Officers from Phop Phra Police Station, soldiers, and security officials inspected a chilli farm near the Thai-Myanmar border in Wale subdistrict,…
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Koh Samet hotel apologises to attempted rape victim but removes statement
A Koh Samet hotel at the centre of allegations involving an attempted rape and attempted murder issued a public apology and acknowledged shortcomings in its security arrangements before later deleting the statement from its Facebook page. The development follows claims made by a Thai woman on June 2 that her friend narrowly escaped an attempted rape and murder during a…
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Thai taxi driver returns over 300,000 baht to Sri Lankan tourists
A Thai taxi driver returned more than 300,000 baht to two Sri Lankan tourists in Bangkok yesterday, June 2, after finding a forgotten bag in his cab and contacting FM91, a traffic and public assistance radio station, to help trace the owners. The driver, 50 year old Pathapee Yamsanor from Samut Prakan, called FM91 at 8.37am after finding a black…
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Phuket airport to launch automated passport gates June 13
Phuket International Airport will open automated outbound passport gates on June 13 to reduce immigration waiting queues after social media complaints about congestion and alleged special paid lane services. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploytalay Laksameesaengchan said today, June 3, that the government had instructed relevant agencies to address congestion at the airport’s immigration checkpoint. The move follows social media posts about…
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Thailand video news | Thai’s react to visa restrictions, Canadian arrested for minor assault
In Thailand video news, Alex covers news stories from across Thailand. The stories include local reactions to the new reduced visa-free stays, then some political news with Thaksin Shinawatra officially receiving a royal pardon. In decidedly unpardonable crime news, we have a couple of creeps in the form of a Canadian teacher assaulting a student and a local man sneaking…
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Thai customs seizes One Piece cards worth 2 million baht
Thai Customs seized 30 boxes of One Piece card game products worth more than 2 million baht at the Sadao border checkpoint in Songkhla on May 31 after officers found the goods near an arrival gate with no owner present. The Customs Department said officers from Sadao Customs House were inspecting and monitoring the checkpoint area for customs offences when…
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Koh Samet hotel condemned after alleged attempted rape, murder of guest
A Thai woman criticised a hotel on Koh Samet in Rayong province over inadequate security measures after her friend allegedly survived attempted rape and attempted murder during a stay on the island. The woman and her husband shared details of the incident on Facebook yesterday, June 2, issuing a warning to travellers about their experience at a hotel near Ao Chor.…
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Japanese tourist left with cut eyebrow after brawl with transwoman in Pattaya
A Japanese tourist suffered a cut eyebrow after a payment dispute with a Thai transgender woman, which resulted in a fight on Pattaya Beach earlier today, June 3. The incident was reported at 12.49am near Pattaya Beach, where residents stepped in to stop the dispute before taking both parties to Pattaya City Police Station. The altercation took place in front of…
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June 3 Thailand forecast predicts heavy rain across South, East
Thailand is expected to experience widespread thunderstorms over the next 24 hours, with heavy to very heavy rain forecast in parts of the East and South, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today, June 3. A moderately strong southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand is driving wetter conditions across the country. Residents in…
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Thai woman punished after her off-road vehicle damages WWII landmark
A Thai woman was fined 10,000 baht after driving an off-road vehicle into a protected World War II bomb crater at a national park in Kanchanaburi province. The incident came to light after the woman shared photographs of her Toyota Land Cruiser on Facebook. The vehicle was shown stuck in mud at a location later identified as a historic bomb…
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Phuket selected as setting for season 13 of Below Deck
Phuket will serve as the main filming location for the 13th season of the American reality television series Below Deck, with production crews expected to spend 40 days filming across the province and the Andaman Sea. The programme follows crew members working aboard luxury superyachts catering to ultra-wealthy guests and has built a large audience in key tourism markets, particularly…
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Thai woman arrested after series of thefts at Bangkok airports
Police arrested a Thai woman at a resort in Sing Buri province after CCTV footage linked her to a series of thefts targeting passengers at two international airports in Bangkok. The investigation began on May 21 when a woman identified as Jiraporn reported a stolen bag to officers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Jiraporn told police she had fallen asleep for…
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Pattaya CCTV catches man climbing fire escape into woman’s flat
CCTV footage in Pattaya has captured a man climbing a fire escape before breaking into a woman’s fourth-floor apartment while she was out, prompting her to vacate the property over safety fears. Prarthana Thongmali, a 22 year old saleswoman from Songkhla province working at a housing project in Pattaya, filed a report with Nong Prue Police Station after the incident,…
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Cabinet asked to back MRTA takeover of Bangkok rail lines
Thailand’s Transport Ministry is seeking Cabinet approval in principle today for a plan to place Bangkok’s electric rail network under a single management body, a move intended to replace the current Bangkok BTS fare structure with a unified 40-baht cap across all lines from January 1, 2027. Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat announced yesterday that the ministry would ask the…
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Bangkok rubbish workers alert police after finding grenade
Police are investigating after an active grenade was found outside a bank in the Bang Khun Non area of Bangkok this morning, June 2. Officers from Bang Khun Non Police Station and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units were called to the scene at roughly 7.30am. Police found an MK 2 grenade mixed with rubbish beside the road. Officers immediately secured the…
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Thai govt seek clarification from Bolt after assault on Japanese man
A Japanese national called for justice, alleging that a Bangkok Bolt driver forced him to leave a vehicle mid-journey before physically assaulting him in the Asok area. The physical assault by the Bolt driver gained attention after the Japanese man shared his account on social media. The post was later translated and republished by the Facebook page Jmoi V+ yesterday, June…
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Thailand video news | Arrests made in Koh Samui Killing, Pattaya Self-Pleasurer
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. The stories include 12 arrests made over suspected ties to the murder of a taxi driver las month in Koh Samui, then, over 50 arrests made in Roi Et as late night street racing continues to be a persistent problem, of course we have…
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Canadian teacher held in Prachuap Kiri Khan for child sex abuse
A former Canadian teacher was arrested in Prachuap Kiri Khan province for sexually assaulting a 15 year old schoolgirl during a private tutoring session at her home in Nakhon Ratchasima. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested the 68 year old Canadian national, identified only as James, yesterday, June 1. Police said he previously worked as a mathematics teacher…
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Foreigner confronts Phuket police after disturbance, theft attempt
Police arrested a shirtless foreign man after he reportedly caused disturbances at a convenience store and attempted to steal items from outside a local’s home in Phuket yesterday, June 1. The incident came to public attention after a Thai homeowner shared a video on Facebook showing two police officers confronting the foreign man outside her house. In the post, published…
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Nationwide ceremonies planned for Queen’s birthday celebrations
Nationwide celebrations marking Her Majesty the Queen’s 4th Cycle Birthday Anniversary are underway across Thailand, with major events planned in Bangkok and at provincial halls, Thai embassies and consulates abroad. Organised by the Prime Minister’s Office in coordination with state agencies, the programme features ceremonies at three marquee venues in Bangkok: Wat Ratchathiwat Wihan in Dusit district, Siam Paragon, and…
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Co-payment scheme begins, opposition flags borrowed funds
More than 39.2 million people have begun receiving 1,000 baht in government support today, June 1, as the Thais Help Thais Plus co-payment scheme officially launches, according to the Finance Ministry. Permanent Secretary for Finance Lavaron Sangsnit said beneficiaries comprise 13.18 million state welfare cardholders and 26.04 million people registered under the 60/40 co-payment programme. Funds are accessible daily from…
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Thailand’s ‘Dine and Dash’ Problem: When tourists walk out without paying
Small restaurants across Thailand’s tourist hotspots are facing a rising pattern of foreign visitors who eat full meals and then refuse to pay and the legal system offers them almost no protection. It was 120 baht. About three dollars. That was how much a Russian couple short-changed a small restaurant in Mai Khao, Phuket, on 26 April 2024. When the…
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