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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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 FJ on Facebook. The vehicle was shown stuck in mud at a location later identified as a historic…
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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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Chinese herbicide safety questioned after driver dies in transit
Questions were raised over the registration and safety approval of a Chinese herbicide product after it was suspected of contributing to the death of a Thai man who was transporting it in his car. The concerns were highlighted by garage owner Paris Sittisarn, who shared the case on social media and urged authorities to investigate the product following the death…
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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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Malaysia bans Thai shrimp over seabass dispute, 4 billion baht at risk
Malaysia’s ban on Thai shrimp imports took effect on June 1, targeting five species and putting more than 4 billion baht in annual export revenue at immediate risk. The measure is a direct response to Thailand’s own import restrictions on Malaysian seabass, and it has already disrupted trade on both sides of the border. What Malaysia has banned and why…
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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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Mae Hong Son landslide blocks highway, cars trapped
A landslide has blocked a highway in Khun Yuam district, Mae Hong Son, causing a significant traffic build-up after large boulders fell onto the road at around 9.20am today. The Mae Hong Son Highway District Director, Yodphet Khamseangdi, received reports that boulders had fallen and completely blocked the route on Highway 108 at kilometre marker 301, in the Mae Surin…
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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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Thailand aviation hub push drives airport upgrades, flight routes
Thailand is ramping up airport upgrades and expanding domestic and international flight routes as part of a broader push to establish itself as an aviation hub and regional centre for travel, tourism, and investment. Deputy government spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana said the strategy aims to improve connectivity between major cities and emerging destinations while strengthening the country’s long-term aviation and logistics…
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Southwest monsoon drives flash flood risk across Thailand
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather forecast for June 1, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across much of Thailand as the southwest monsoon strengthens over the Andaman Sea, the South, and the Gulf of Thailand. A monsoon trough extends across the lower North, upper Central, and lower Northeast regions into a low-pressure cell off the coast…
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Pattaya app driver locks car doors before sexually assaulting passenger
A ride-hailing app driver in Pattaya has been reported to police after a female passenger accused him of sexual assault and later entering her hotel room in South Pattaya yesterday, May 30. The case was shared on Facebook, along with a video clip. The woman, identified only as 27 year old May, is from Phichit province. She said she booked a…
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Democrats aim to sway Bangkok voters from Chadchart
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has expressed confidence that Bangkok voters currently backing incumbent Chadchart Sittipunt can still be persuaded to support Democrat gubernatorial candidate Anucha Burapachaisri and the party’s council candidates ahead of the June 28 election. Abhisit was responding to a King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI) poll showing many Democrat supporters leaning towards Chadchart, who is running as an…
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Thailand strengthens defence ties with US, France in Singapore
Thailand moved to strengthen defence ties with the United States and France during separate talks at the 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 29. Thai Defence Minister Adul Boonthamcharoen met US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to discuss regional security and paths to strengthen defence ties between Thailand and the US. Adul said Thailand valued its long-standing alliance and…
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Bangkok international school found illegally teaching 100 foreign students
An illegal international school in Soi Pridi Banomyong, Bangkok, was raided yesterday, May 30, after immigration officers found it had operated without a licence and employed six foreign teachers without work permits. The inspection took place at about 1pm, after Immigration Bureau officers received a tip-off that the school was operating without approval and employing foreign teachers illegally. The Office of the…
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Chiang Mai named top digital nomad destination
Chiang Mai has earned a place among the world’s top eight destinations for digital nomads and creators, after Forbes magazine included the northern Thai city in its 2026 ranking. The city joins Medellín, Cape Town, Lisbon, Bali, Mexico City, Tokyo, and Berlin on the list, reflecting Chiang Mai’s growing focus on intellectual capital and creativity as drivers of urban development.…
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Chinese loan shark gang found hiding in Chon Buri estates
A Chinese loan shark gang wanted in China was arrested in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, yesterday, May 30, after Thai police and immigration officers found four Chinese nationals hiding in luxury housing estates. The four suspects were identified as 34 year old Zhang Chuay, 36 year old Ko, a 34 year old Chinese woman, and 34 year old Yang. They…
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16 year old pregnant girl rescued from truck driver in Phetchaburi
A truck driver has been arrested after allegedly luring a 16-year-old girl with an intellectual disability, who is one month pregnant, from her home under the pretence of friendship, before committing indecent acts against her in his vehicle. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Saichon (surname withheld), was arrested on May 30 on Phetkasem Road in Huai Rong subdistrict, Khao Yoi…
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Thai army officer honoured in South Korea for truck rescue
A Thai army officer received a certificate of honour in South Korea yesterday, May 30, after helping rescue a driver from an overturned trailer truck on a road in Seoul earlier this month. Colonel Srisawat Sriprakon, a Thai army officer attending the National Defence College course in South Korea, received the certificate from Professor Lee Hong Sub, acting president of…
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Two teens, 14 and 15, arrested for stabbing student in Bueng Kum
Two teenagers were arrested for allegedly stabbing a 15 year old vocational student in Bangkok’s Bueng Kum district, with police tracking them down using CCTV footage. On May 30, Metropolitan Police Bureau commander Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom led the arrest of two suspects, a 14 year old identified as “A” and a 15 year old identified as “B”. Officers…
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Uncle knifes nephew over handyman choice in Pattaya
A family dispute over a hired handyman escalated into a knife fight between an uncle and nephew outside their home in Nong Prue, Pattaya, on Friday afternoon. Rescue personnel from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya Foundation arrived at the scene at approximately 5pm after receiving reports of a knife-related altercation. At house No. 38, Village 12, they found 36 year…
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Sri Racha bus driver caught with fake urine and meth on board
A 57 year old public bus driver in Sri Racha, Chon Buri, has been arrested after trying to fool a routine drug test using fake urine and attempting to drink the evidence when officers closed in. Srisit Horai Khuntod, who drove the Sri Racha–Bangkok route, was flagged during a joint drug testing operation at around 1.30pm yesterday. The operation involved…
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Laos cave rescue: one out, six still inside as rains threaten progress
Rescue teams in Laos freed one of seven villagers trapped inside a flooded cave in Xaisomboun province on the night of May 29, after more than ten days underground. The rescued man, identified in some reports as Muen, was brought out at approximately 8.37pm. He was alive but exhausted, covered in mud. Thai rescue group Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin confirmed…
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Fuel prices drop in Thailand as global oil prices fall
Oil prices have fallen for the second consecutive day as of May 30, with updated figures now in effect at PTT, Bangchak, PT, Caltex, and Shell stations across Thailand. The new prices took effect at 5am. The Energy Policy and Planning Office, under the Ministry of Energy, released the latest fuel price updates. PTT (May 30, 2026) Gasohol 95: 42.90…
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Nakhon Nayok locals question tree felling and bat deaths in temple
A temple in Nakhon Nayok province is facing criticism after the removal of a tree believed to be more than 100 years old resulted in the deaths of numerous bats and raised concerns about wildlife protection and public health. The controversy began when a Thai woman posted images and allegations on social media regarding the felling of a large old…
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Pattaya fight involving foreigners, Thais ends with woman under car
A Pattaya fight involving Thai and foreign nationals broke out near Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya early today, May 29, during which a car reversed and injured a Thai woman. The incident happened at about 5am near the Bali Hai Pier. A video posted on Facebook showed men chasing and punching each other, while several women were seen pulling…
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