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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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AI crackdown launched to lure 2 million Chinese tourists to Thailand
Thailand has launched a major security upgrade using advanced technology to boost tourist safety and attract two million Chinese visitors in the coming months. The initiative was unveiled during an inter-agency meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Captain Thammanat Prompao at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The plan aims to restore Chinese tourist…
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RTAF signs mega deal for high-tech Airbus tanker jet
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has announced the purchase of an advanced Airbus 330 Multi Role Tanker Transport Plus (MRTT+) to strengthen aerial refuelling, transport, and rescue capabilities. The RTAF has taken a major leap in defence capabilities by placing an order for the A330 MRTT+, a cutting-edge refuelling and transport aircraft based on the advanced A330neo platform. The…
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Nearly 10 million smuggled cigarettes seized in Phuket sting
Phuket Airport Customs have intercepted a massive haul of illegal cigarettes worth more than 71 million baht in what is being hailed as one of the island’s largest-ever anti-smuggling operations. The seizure, confirmed by customs officials, involved a total of 9.57 million contraband cigarettes and was made as part of a national crackdown targeting violations of customs and intellectual property…
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Old woman saved after being left to scavenge for food in Bangkok condo
A non-profit organisation, Be One, rescued an elderly woman who had been abandoned to live alone in a Bangkok condominium and was forced to search for scraps of food in rubbish bins. A 35 year old resident of the same condominium, identified only as A, reported the matter to Be One in the hope of finding a solution. A explained…
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100000 baht missing following suspicious house fire in Phrae
A Thai man is suspected of theft after a fire broke out in his room in Phrae province, and 100,000 baht in cash he had hidden behind a picture disappeared. Officers from Phra That Cho Hae Police Station received an alert about the fire at 9.10am yesterday, September 25, and rushed to the scene, a house in the Bang Pa…
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Thai government pushes capital shake-up to win back investors
Thailand’s new government has unveiled plans to overhaul capital market regulations in a bid to restore investor confidence and boost economic growth. The newly installed administration has pledged to roll out urgent capital market reforms ahead of the next election in a bid to boost investor sentiment and economic momentum. At the centre of the plan is a sweeping regulatory…
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Body of Myanmar man found floating off Pattaya Beach
A Burmese man’s body was found floating near a popular beachside area in Pattaya late at night, prompting police to investigate the circumstances of his death. A 34 year old Myanmar national was discovered dead off the shores of Pattaya Beach late yesterday, September 25, in a case that has left police piecing together the final hours before his death.…
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Hungry elephant raids Korat BBQ shop in midnight rampage
A wild elephant from Khao Yai wandered into a barbecue restaurant in Nakhon Ratchasima during the night, causing damage while searching for food. The elephant, named Plai Biang Lek, was caught on CCTV casually wandering into a pork barbecue restaurant in Nakhon Ratchasima province during the early hours of yesterday, September 25, rummaging through the kitchen in search of a…
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Bangkok house fire triggers traffic chaos on Soi Bearing 16 (video)
A large fire broke out in a residential area off Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok, causing heavy traffic and prompting an emergency response from fire crews in two districts. The fire erupted off Sukhumvit Road Soi 107 (Soi Bearing 16) yesterday, September 25, causing traffic chaos and prompting an urgent response from fire crews across two provinces. The blaze was reported at…
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Thaksin put to work cleaning drains during prison sentence
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been assigned to supervise drain-cleaning work during his prison sentence, according to his daughter Paetongtarn. The 39 year old Pheu Thai Party leader revealed her father’s new role during a visit to Klong Prem Central Prison in Chatuchak, Bangkok, where Thaksin is serving a one-year sentence. The 76 year old veteran politician was sent…
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Rabies alert: Cat sparks animal epidemic zone in Bangkok
A rabid cat found in a Bangkok suburb has prompted officials to declare multiple areas epidemic zones to stop the spread of the deadly virus. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has declared multiple areas in and around the capital as temporary animal epidemic zones after a cat tested positive for rabies in Lam Luk Ka, Pathum Thani. The announcement, made…
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Thailand video news | Russian man arrested amid outcry over viral Phuket pickup “sex” video, Thai actor accuses police of lax response after major home theft
Thailand saw a turbulent week of headlines spanning crime, public safety, and politics. Authorities arrested two Russian nationals in separate high-profile cases — one linked to a viral Phuket “pickup sex” video and another for running an illegal motorbike rental on Koh Pha Ngan — while Bangkok officials scrambled to fix a leaking pipe near Samsen Road amid public fears.…
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Thai woman sues police for shooting and killing her mentally ill father
A Thai woman is suing police in Ratchaburi province for abusing their authority after officers fatally shot her mentally ill father. Police defended their actions, citing the man’s repeated violent behaviour in the community. On September 24, officers from Mueang Ratchaburi Police Station responded to complaints from residents in Tha Rarb sub-district. Locals reported that 60 year old Suraphon, who…
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Vajira Hospital reopens after Bangkok giant sinkhole scare (video)
A major Bangkok hospital was forced to close after a nearby road collapsed, but has now reopened after engineers confirmed the building is safe for use. Vajira Hospital resumed full medical services today, September 26, two days after a large sinkhole forced the temporary closure of the facility for safety reasons. The hospital, located on Samsaen Road, had shut down…
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Naked tourist dances on Soi Bangla, sparks online backlash
A foreign tourist shocked partygoers after stripping naked and dancing on a busy Phuket nightlife street, drawing criticism and concern from netizens. A video, lasting just 21 seconds, was shared on Facebook and quickly went viral. It shows a man undressing and dancing to loud music, completely oblivious to the stunned onlookers around him. He is later seen picking up…
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Chinese woman accuses Phuket taxi driver of sexual assault attempt
A Chinese woman sought help from locals on a roadside in Phuket after accusing a Thai app-based taxi driver of attempting to sexually assault her yesterday, September 25. Residents who assisted the woman shared details of the incident on the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday. The incident reportedly occurred at around 2am in the Patong area of Phuket. According to…
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Unidentified foreigner drowns at sunset off Karon Beach
A foreign man drowned while swimming off a Phuket beach at sunset, prompting police to investigate his identity and the circumstances surrounding his death. A foreign man, believed to be around 60 years old, was pronounced dead last night after being pulled from the water off Karon Beach. His identity and nationality remain unknown. The incident occurred around sunset yesterday,…
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Bangkok man found cut in half under bridge, organs missing
A man’s severed body was discovered under a bridge in Bangkok, prompting police to investigate the cause of death and possible links to foul play. A gruesome discovery was made in Bangkok’s Thung Khru district yesterday, September 25, when the severed and decomposing body of a 72 year old man was found under a bridge, with some organs missing and…
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Phuket pickup truck sex: Russian man banned and Thai woman arrested
Police yesterday, September 25, arrested a Thai woman who was caught having sex with a Russian man in the back of a moving pickup truck on a road in Phuket. She claimed the foreign man threatened her into making the video and paid her 1,000 baht. An explicit video of the Russian national, 23 year old Georgii, and the 42…
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Pattaya bike thief found asleep next to stolen motorcycle
A man was caught sleeping next to a stolen motorcycle in Pattaya after it was taken from a repair shop, prompting the owner to alert local police. A brazen motorcycle theft in Pattaya ended with the suspect being found fast asleep next to the stolen vehicle, still clutching the keys. Bunsit Chinnawattraprapha, a 30 year old motorcycle repair shop owner,…
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Lights out: Bangkok power cuts to hit Sukhumvit, Charan today
Parts of Bangkok and Samut Prakan will experience a scheduled power outage today as the electricity authority conducts essential maintenance work to enhance safety. The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) stated that the temporary blackouts are necessary to enhance the reliability and safety of the electricity distribution system. Affected areas include some of the capital’s busiest districts, such as Sukhumvit and…
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Storm warning: Wild weather and high waves batter Thailand
Thailand is bracing for more intense weather as the monsoon trough sweeps across the upper North and Northeast while typhoon Ragasa, now downgraded to a depression over China, fuels unstable conditions across the country. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of isolated heavy to very heavy rain across northern and northeastern regions, with flash floods and water runoff likely…
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Russian man arrested over viral Phuket pickup sex video
Police arrested a Russian man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok after he was caught in a viral video having sex on a moving pickup truck in Phuket. A Thai motorist who witnessed the explicit act filmed the couple and shared the footage on social media. The pair were seen engaging in sexual activity on the back of the pickup…
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Phuket Thai-Chinese Association ushers in new president
Phuket’s Thai-Chinese community held a ceremony to appoint a new leader and honour historic ties between Thailand and China through a cultural celebration. The Phuket Thai-Chinese Association marked a significant chapter this week, commemorating both the 76th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and its own 37th year of service to the island’s community, all while welcoming a new…
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Faulty phone charger sparks blaze, razes Na Jomtien home
A fire broke out at a single-storey wooden house in Na Jomtien, injuring the homeowner and prompting a swift response from local firefighters and police. A single-storey wooden home in Na Jomtien was destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon, September 24, with investigators pointing to a faulty phone charger as the likely cause. Police Colonel Patthana Robroo, chief of Na Jomtien…
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Thai actor accuses police of inaction after major theft at his home
A Thai actor accused police of failing in their duties, claiming he had to apprehend two thieves by himself after they stole more than 1,000 of his musical instruments and collectables from his home in Bangkok. The renowned actor, Charlie “Nack” Trairat, shared on his TikTok account on May 23 that his home had been robbed, leaving nothing behind, even…
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Gold necklace swiped in late-night burglary in Phuket’s Wichit
Police are investigating a burglary at a housing estate in Wichit, where a gold necklace worth over 170,000 baht was reported stolen during the early hours. The break-in occurred during the early hours of today, September 25, prompting a call to Wichit Police Station at 1.37am. The report was made by Sujittra Phummuang, the homeowner, who discovered signs of forced…
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British family swap classrooms for tuk tuks in Asia adventure (video)
A British couple and their two young children have begun a year-long journey across Southeast Asia, choosing world travel over traditional schooling. Parents, 38 year old James Humphries-Stone and 42 year old Hayley Griffiths from Derbyshire, have embarked on a year-long journey across Southeast Asia with their two young children, five year old Stanley and three year old Margot. Swapping…
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Russian man arrested on Koh Pha Ngan for illegal motorcycle rental business
Police arrested a Russian man on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in Surat Thani province, today, September 25, for illegally offering a motorcycle rental service. Officers from Koh Pha Ngan Police Station, the Immigration Bureau, and the Surat Thani Special Taskforce received a complaint from a local that a foreign man was illegally operating a motorcycle rental business on the…
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Armed debtor opens fire in East Pattaya over 20k baht dispute
A debtor in Pattaya opened fire during a heated dispute over a 20,000-baht loan, injuring two police officers while fleeing the scene in his car. The incident unfolded at 11.36pm on Tuesday, September 23, near the intersection of Soi Mabyai Lia 20 and Soi Wat Boonsampan 9 in Bang Lamung district. Officers from Nong Prue Police Station were alerted to…
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