Here is a look at the top NATIONAL Thailand stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from last week, Monday, June 2nd, to Sunday, June 8th, 2025.
They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication.
Let’s get started and see what the top stories were!
1. Pattaya police have arrested a 66-year-old American man for attempting to exchange counterfeit U.S. dollar banknotes at a currency exchange booth in Jomtien Beach.
66-Year-Old American Man Arrested in Pattaya for Attempting to Exchange Counterfeit Banknotes
Authorities revealed that Mr. Stookey has been traveling to and from Thailand for the past decade and are investigating if his behavior has happened before.
2. A dramatic escape unfolded at Pattaya City Police Station when a Chinese suspect, wanted for fraud, leapt from a second-floor interrogation room and fled, prompting a daring chase by a determined officer who sustained injuries but continued the pursuit.
Chinese Suspect Escapes from Pattaya Police Station, Officer Injured in Pursuit
A dramatic escape unfolded in the early hours of June 5th, 2025, when Li Jian, a 38-year-old Chinese national wanted for fraud, fled from Pattaya City Police Station but was later arrested.
Chinese Fraud Suspect Escapes Pattaya Police Station, Captured in Chanthaburi
3. Chonburi Immigration Police apprehended a 33-year-old Russian national, Mr. Artem Ilichev, in Pattaya following a tip-off from the Russian Embassy.
Further checks revealed that his passport had expired 352 days prior.
4. Phuket’s tourism industry is experiencing a big shift this rainy season as the island faces its first true low season in several years.
Phuket Faces First Low Season in Years as Chinese Tourist Declines
The tourism slowdown is affecting businesses that rely heavily on the Chinese market.
5. Phuket’s real estate sector is undergoing a transformation following intensified government efforts to crack down on nominee ownership.
Phuket Real Estate Market Sees Shift as Authorities Crack Down on Nominee Ownership
Industry stakeholders argue that the existing 30-year lease period may be insufficient for attracting high-value foreign investors.
6. Thailand’s breathtaking coastline continues to capture the world’s imagination, as two of its pristine beaches have been recognized among the top 10 most photogenic beaches globally.
In a recent study conducted by Heepsy, Maya Bay, located in Krabi, secured the number one spot, while Koh Tao in Surat Thani ranked ninth, reinforcing Thailand’s reputation as a tropical paradise.
7. Bangkok hosted its annual Pride Parade, a celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, along Rama I Road.
Bangkok Pride Parade 2025 Draws Over 200,000 People, Prime Minister Attends
The event, themed “Born This Way,” marked a historic milestone with Thailand’s Marriage Equality Act, effective January 23, 2025, making Thailand the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage.
8. A major accident occurred early on Wednesday morning, June 4th, 2025, when a tour bus crashed on Phet Kasem Road in Prachuap Khiri Khan, resulting in two fatalities and 13 injuries.
Tour Bus Crash in Prachuap Khiri Khan Claims Two Lives, Injures 13, Driver Admits Falling Asleep
This comes only days after another tour bus accident in Bangkok injured multiple Indian foreign exchange students, with the driver blaming brake failure.
9. The Royal Thai Army, under jurisdiction from the National Security Council, is taking over all opening and closing of Thai Cambodian borders.
In a big step towards de-escalating tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border, military officials from both nations reached an agreement on June 8, 2025, to withdraw their forces to positions held in 2024 at the disputed Chong Bok pass in Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province, according to posts from the Pheu Thai party and the Thai Government official PR channel.
Thai Cambodian Border Tensions Ease as Forces Agree to Withdraw at Chong Bok
That’s all for this week, as always thanks for your support!
