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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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Years of dog poisonings on Koh Phangan beach remain unsolved
Animal welfare groups on Koh Phangan are warning residents after a suspected poisoning incident left multiple dogs dead and others hospitalised on Ban Tai Beach, the latest in a series of similar incidents reported in the same area since at least 2022. According to posts from local animal welfare pages, poison was found hidden inside pieces of chicken meat left…
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Foreigners say they were advised into nominee scheme by law firms
Police arrested 13 foreigners during a crackdown on a nominee network today, August 10, after they were found to be illegally owning pool villas and properties in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, through a nominee scheme. More than 200 police and government officials launched an operation named “Crackdown on Foreign Nominee Networks Phase 6” targeting houses and pool villas in…
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Israeli tourists criticised for door prank at Bangkok hotel
A Thai national bodybuilder condemned a group of Israeli tourists for repeatedly banging on his hotel room door in Bangkok. The athlete said one of the tourists later apologised after hotel staff restricted the group’s access to their room. Bodybuilder, Prakasit Kruabut, shared his account on Facebook yesterday, August 9, posting a photograph with an Israeli flag in the background…
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Thai soldier receives treatment after disruptive act on Malaysia-Bangkok flight
Thailand’s Defence Ministry confirmed that a man who caused a disturbance on a flight from Malaysia to Don Mueang International Airport was a military personnel member, who is on a mental health treatment. Footage of the incident was posted on the Social Hunter 2022 Facebook page last week before being reposted by several news agencies. The video showed a Thai…
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Khon Kaen students involved in alleged bullying provide conflicting accounts
A family in Khon Kaen is seeking legal action, alleging that their 18 year old son endured repeated bullying and physical abuse by three to four classmates from the age of 16. The family recently shared details of the bullying at Khon Kaen Witthayayon School with several news agencies after the boy’s mother noticed an injury on his face. She…
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Injured Russian woman flees across border to seek help from Chiang Rai police
A Russian woman received assistance from Thai police yesterday, August 9, after reportedly fleeing across the border into Chiang Rai to escape physical assault in Myanmar. Police are investigating possible links to a call centre scam gang. Officers from Mae Sai Police Station were called to a supermarket car park after the Russian woman was found with injuries to her…
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Interior Ministry investigates Thai citizenship of Israeli national in Phuket
The Ministry of Interior is investigating the Thai citizenship of an Israeli national in Phuket and a business reportedly linked to him after questions over the legality of his citizenship. Phuket Times reported yesterday, August 9, that the Israeli national had obtained Thai citizenship and a Thai identification card and was operating businesses in Phuket that reportedly generated more than…
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Mystery oil spill blankets Koh Larn’s coastline
An oily substance resembling engine oil washed ashore along more than one kilometre of Koh Larn’s coastline yesterday, leaving swimmers coated in the sticky residue. Officials are now investigating the cause and origin of the suspected oil spill. Beach umbrella operators and speedboat operators first reported and photographed the film-like substance floating offshore around midday yesterday, August 9. Waves later…
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Man accused of killing girlfriend found dead days later
A man wanted over the fatal shooting of his girlfriend has committed suicide at the same house where the killing happened, in tambon Tha Wang, Muang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, ending a days-long manhunt, police said. Officers from Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat police station were first called to the single-storey concrete house on the morning of August 7, after…
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Driver in childcare centre crash tests positive for drugs, not medical issue
A driver involved in the Kanchanaburi childcare centre crash tested positive for drugs after initially telling police that a sudden medical problem caused his car to lose control and hit the centre. The crash occurred in the Kaeng Sian subdistrict on Friday, August 7, while children were sleeping inside the childcare centre. CCTV footage showed the sedan travelling at high…
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Tooth decay tumour leaves Thai man accused of faking photos
A 31 year old man in Thailand says a growth on the left side of his face, which he described as having developed after years of picking at a decayed tooth with a toothpick, has left him in constant pain and uncertain how long he has left. He shared his story after facing online accusations that photos of his condition…
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Debsirin Nonthaburi School shooting suspect researched firearms for years
The 12 year old schoolgirl lost her life while receiving treatment on Saturday, August 8, raising the death toll from the shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School to nine. Police revealed that the young gunman had researched firearms online for around two years prior to the incident. The school confirmed the girl’s death on its official Facebook page on Saturday. She…
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Youth shooting during motorcycle chase injures man in Udon Thani
A man was injured by a stray shot after teenage students allegedly chased each other on motorcycles and shot at each other in Udon Thani yesterday, August 8. The incident occurred in Nong Wua So district, while 63 year old Thongda was sitting outside his home with his 57 year old younger sister, Soem. Initial information indicated that the youths…
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Ayutthaya police seize 320kg of crystal meth worth 38 million baht
Officers from the Ayutthaya Highway Police, working with the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, seized 320 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine worth an estimated 38 million baht on the evening of August 8. The driver of the vehicle escaped on foot before he could be arrested. According to a report from the Highway Police Facebook page, investigators had been monitoring a drug network…
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Thief steals millions from foreigner’s Prachuap Khiri Khan home
A thief broke into the home of a foreign businessman in Prachuap Khiri Khan while he and his wife were away, stealing an entire safe, 14 designer bags and other valuables worth several million baht, according to reports today, August 9. The burglary took place at the home of Kornchawan and her foreign husband, Reiner, in Wang Phong subdistrict, Pran…
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Homeless Norwegian set to return home after 1,179-day overstay
A homeless Norwegian man who has been in Thailand for more than three years is being prepared for his return home after Immigration officers found he had overstayed by 1,179 days. Immigration officers took 44 year old Odd Stian Hesseberg for questioning on August 7 to establish the circumstances surrounding his situation. His case came to public attention after he was found…
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Government explains why school shooting phone alert was silent
The Thai government has explained why a Cell Broadcast warning sent during the shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School on August 7 did not make an alert sound, saying the silent notification was intended to protect people hiding at the scene. Deputy government spokesperson Lalida Perthwiwatana addressed the issue yesterday, August 8, after members of the public questioned why the warning…
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Thailand ranks second in Southeast Asia for gun crime
Thailand ranks second among Southeast Asian countries for firearm-related crime, behind only the Philippines, according to 2019 data from the Global Burden of Disease study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. The figures have resurfaced following a shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai, Nonthaburi, on August 8, which left at…
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South African ex-teacher allegedly posts gun threats against Songkhla school
A South African teacher allegedly posted threatening content and images of a firearm online following the termination of his contract with Hatyaiwittayalai School in Songkhla, prompting the school to switch to online learning on August 10 and 11. The school announced yesterday, August 8, saying the decision was made as a safety precaution while security measures are reviewed and strengthened.…
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Labour Ministry orders swift aid for school shooting victims
Family, colleagues, and former students gathered at a Nonthaburi temple yesterday (August 8) for the funeral of a mathematics teacher killed in the mass shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, as the Labour Ministry moved to secure compensation for victims’ families. Rites for 41 year old Prapaporn Konsila, known to students as Kru Paew, were held at Wat Bang Oi Chang…
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Friend debunks bullying claims about Nonthaburi school shooting gunman
A close friend of the student gunman in the Nonthaburi school shooting on August 7 has claimed that the student had never been bullied or involved in disputes with classmates. The close friend, identified only as Mak (pseudonym), gave the account after police finished questioning him yesterday, August 8, with his parents’ permission. Mak described the perpetrator, now reported to…
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Thailand pitches new deals to slash US tariffs
Thailand is preparing a fresh round of proposals in its ongoing tariff talks with the United States, aiming to bring down the current 12.5% levy imposed under Section 301 through wider trade and investment cooperation. Vice Minister of Commerce Kirida Bhaopichitr gave an update on the negotiations, explaining that Thailand has faced two allegations from Washington. The first is that…
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Six years, six major shootings in Thailand
The shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School on Friday, August 7, has renewed attention on a series of major shooting incidents across Thailand since 2020, spanning shopping centres, a childcare centre, schools and a Bangkok market. Seven people died in the Nonthaburi attack, including three teachers, three students and the student suspect. Another 15 people were injured, two of them seriously.…
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Vietnam overtakes Thailand in flight capacity race
Thailand has fallen to No.3 in Southeast Asia’s flight seat rankings for the second consecutive month, with Vietnam overtaking the kingdom on rising domestic demand. OAG’s August report found Vietnam’s flight capacity rose 10% year-on-year to 7.27 million seats, holding onto No.2 after first overtaking Thailand in July. Vietnam’s domestic capacity alone jumped 13.8% to more than 4.7 million seats.…
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Married Thai woman seeks protection after affair turns into year of abuse
A married Thai woman from Lamphun province sought government assistance after she endured a year of blackmail, threats and intimidation by her affair partner. The woman, accompanied by her husband, met Thanakrit Jitareerak, assistant to the deputy prime minister, yesterday, August 6, to request protection. She said the relationship began in February last year and that her husband had been…
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Bullying emerges as possible motive in Nonthaburi school shooting
Police are examining reports that the student responsible for the school shooting in Nonthaburi today, August 7, had been regularly bullied by classmates and had developed resentment over his treatment. In the latest report, eight people have now been confirmed dead, including five teachers, the student responsible for the shooting and his two grandparents, who police found dead at their…
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Body of missing former Dragon 5 singer recovered near Rama VII Bridge
A former member of the Thai boyband Dragon 5, who was reported missing after leaving home on a bicycle, was found dead in the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi province today, August 7. The former Dragon 5 member, 46 year old Thaman “Tae” Taephan, was reported missing by his partner, 42 year old Walaipan Srinapaphan, after he failed to return…
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Thai MP removed over peace chants at Min Aung Hlaing reception
A People’s Party MP was removed from a reception area at Parliament today, August 7, after repeatedly calling for peace and humanity as Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing arrived for an official reception. The incident occurred as Senate President Mongkol Surasajja was scheduled to receive Min Aung Hlaing, who is visiting Thailand as a guest of the government. Before…
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Protesters oppose Thai engagement with Min Aung Hlaing
The Bright Future group, migrant worker networks and Thai citizens gathered outside the United Nations office in Thailand yesterday, August 6, to protest the Thai government’s reception of Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and representatives of the State Administration Council (SAC). Protesters played music, sang and read a statement condemning Thailand’s engagement with Myanmar’s military leadership. Bright Future said…
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Thai man sustains mysterious testicular injury at Prachin Buri hotel
A Thai man sustained serious injuries to his testicles after an hour-long stay with a woman in a hotel in Prachin Buri yesterday, August 6. Rescue workers were called to the hotel to assist an injured guest. When they arrived, they found the room door open and bloodstains leading from the entrance into the room. A broken glass bottle and…
