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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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Koh Chang tourism rebounds despite border tension
The tourist season kicked off in Koh Chang, Koh Kut, and Koh Mak as Thai tourism officials launched fresh campaigns to revive travel following border tensions. Clashes along the border led to a travel ban in Trat and nearby provinces, with martial law enforced for up to five months. The disruption triggered mass cancellations from international travellers, especially Europeans, costing…
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Thai man arrested for murdering neighbour allegedly over lottery dispute
Police yesterday, October 15, arrested a Thai man who murdered a woman and dumped her body in a pond in Phetchaburi province. He was arrested while hiding in Krabi. The body of 55 year old Thai woman, Ladda Dodesang, was discovered tied to a wooden log in a pond in Phetchaburi province on September 29. Her neck was wrapped with…
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Barbershop drug den busted in Bangkok police sting
Police in Bangkok raided a barbershop run by a foreign gang, uncovering a secret drug den and arresting eight suspects linked to a transnational crime ring. A foreign-led criminal syndicate operating out of a barbershop in central Bangkok was dismantled this week in a dramatic police operation. Eight suspects, including nationals from Egypt, Myanmar, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Thailand, were…
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Thailand plans historic law to boost trans rights by March
Thailand will introduce its first law focused on transgender well-being, aiming to improve rights, healthcare access, and social inclusion nationwide. Thailand’s LGBTQ community is looking ahead to a historic milestone, with the government preparing to roll out the country’s first legislation focused on the well-being of transgender persons. The proposed Trans Wellbeing Charter is expected to be introduced on March…
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Phuket marks Austrian consul handover with honour and ceremony
Phuket hosted a diplomatic ceremony where Austria honoured a former consul and appointed a successor to strengthen ties in tourism, trade, and culture. Phuket marked a major milestone in Thai-Austrian relations on Tuesday, October 14, as long-serving diplomat Wanida Hongyok was honoured for her service, and Montawee Hongyok was officially appointed as Austria’s new Honorary Consul on the island. The…
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Lottery hunters chase lucky numbers at Udon Thani Naga site
A wave of lottery hopefuls has descended on Kham Chanod Island in Udon Thani province, believed to be the mystical realm of the Naga serpent, to seek lucky numbers ahead of the upcoming draw. The island, steeped in legend and spiritual significance, has long been a hotspot for those hoping to channel supernatural luck into winning tickets. In recent days,…
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Italian tourist lost in Pattaya with only a hotel key in hand
An Italian tourist was found lost in Pattaya with no ID or belongings, prompting police and locals to step in after he showed up holding only a hotel room key. The tourist, identified as Marco De Vivo, turned up at Pattaya Police Station earlier this week, prompting immediate assistance from international liaison officers. According to police, the Italian had lost…
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Police bust 5 illegal tour guides working for Israeli-Thai couple on Koh Pha Ngan
Police arrested five illegal tour guides for offering ATV trips to foreigners on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province and launched a further investigation into an Israeli man and his Thai wife, who are alleged to be behind the illegal business. Officers from the Koh Phangan Tourist Police and the Immigration Office monitored the area near the entrance to an…
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Bangkok’s giant sinkhole grows, gobbles up more sand
The sinkhole on Bangkok’s Samsen Road continues to expand, forcing engineers to revise their plans and pump in significantly more sand than originally estimated, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) confirmed yesterday. Wacharapon Khongsawad, construction director for the MRTA, revealed that the sinkhole, which first opened up on September 24, has grown in size beyond the initial projections. Originally measured…
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Jealous ex beats love rival to death in Phuket flat bust-up
A man was arrested in Phuket after fatally assaulting his ex-wife’s new partner during a violent confrontation at her apartment, driven by jealousy. The suspect, 43 year old Prapan Chukaew from Phatthalung province was apprehended yesterday afternoon, October 15, near a rest area beside Phuket City Police Station on Yaowarat Road in Phuket Town. His arrest followed a warrant issued…
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Police suspect suicide after foreign man falls to death from Bangkok hotel
Police suspect suicide after a foreign man fell to his death from the 16th floor of a hotel in Silom, Bangkok, yesterday, October 15. Officers from Yannawa Police Station were alerted to the fatal fall at around 4.15pm. The body of a foreign man, whose identity remains under investigation, was found in the car park of a well-known hotel near…
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Thailand backs US crackdown on online scam empire
Thailand has voiced support for a US-led crackdown on scam networks operating in Southeast Asia, aligning with its own efforts to combat transnational crime. In a statement released on Monday, October 13, the Thai Foreign Ministry said it shared Washington’s resolve in dismantling scam networks that prey on victims across the region, often through violence, forced labour, and sophisticated fraud.…
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Golden ‘Naga’ eel found in central Thailand sparks lottery frenzy
A rare golden eel was discovered by a fisherman in central Thailand, drawing crowds and sparking hopes of good fortune among curious locals. Residents of Kamphaeng Phet province were left stunned after a man discovered an unusually coloured golden eel, which some believe holds mystical powers and could bring good luck in the lottery. The discovery was made in the…
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Phuket pushes ahead with AI traffic lights to ease jams
Phuket is moving forward with plans to use AI-powered traffic lights to manage congestion at busy intersections as part of a major transport upgrade. Artificial intelligence will soon take the wheel in managing Phuket’s chaotic traffic, as part of a major two-phase overhaul aimed at tackling congestion ahead of the tourist High Season. The Phuket Highways Department has unveiled a…
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Body of pregnant woman found after tugboat capsizes in Ayutthaya river
Volunteer divers discovered the body of a seven-month pregnant woman who went missing after a tugboat sank in the Pa Sak River in the central province of Ayutthaya on Tuesday, October 14. Her body was found about 200 metres away from the scene of the incident. The capsizing of the cargo tugboat was reported at around 3.30pm on Tuesday. The…
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Pattaya to host first-ever Eastern Muslim Culture Expo
Pattaya will be hosting a major cultural expo celebrating Muslim heritage in eastern Thailand, aiming to boost tourism and promote cross-cultural understanding. Pattaya City Mayor Poramet Ngampichet welcomed a delegation from the Chon Buri Provincial Islamic Committee this week to discuss plans for the Eastern Muslim Cultural Expo, scheduled for January 16 to 18. The meeting took place in Meeting…
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Stormy skies bring another wet week to Thailand
Thailand faces scattered storms and strong waves, with heavy rain expected in several regions, prompting officials to warn the public to stay alert. Thailand is bracing for scattered storms across the country, as an easterly wave passes over the upper regions. Several provinces are expected to experience heavy rainfall. Residents are being urged to exercise caution due to possible flash…
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Chiang Mai teen’s hand reattached after gang attack
A brave 14 year old girl from Chiang Mai is back home with her right hand reattached after a gang attack left her severely injured last month. The attack, which occurred on September 16 in Mueang Chiang Mai district, left three students seriously injured. The girl, who was mistaken for a male target due to wearing a hoodie, lost her…
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Phuket transwoman assaulted and robbed by Polish client after sex service
A Thai transwoman called on Phuket officials to improve safety measures, claiming that a Polish man assaulted her and stole her bag after a sex service. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The transgender victim reached out to the Phuket Time Facebook page today, October 15, to report the robbery. She shared…
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KEX Express delists from SET but vows business as usual
KEX Express announced its voluntary delisting from the Thai stock exchange, assuring customers and partners that operations and services will continue as normal. The final trading day for KEX shares was yesterday, with the delisting taking effect today, October 15. This move follows a successful tender offer by its majority shareholder, SF International Holding (Thailand) Co Ltd (SFTH), which now…
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Thailand aces global aviation safety audit with sky-high score
Thailand’s civil aviation authority has achieved a top safety score in a global audit conducted by an international body assessing aviation oversight standards. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has announced a stellar performance in a recent international safety audit, scoring a preliminary 91.35% in the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP CMA) conducted by…
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2 foreign teens condemned for spray-painting Phuket building
Thai netizens condemned two foreign teenagers after they were caught in a viral video spray-painting the wall of a roadside accommodation in Phuket. The Phuket Times Facebook page shared pictures and a video of the teenagers today, October 15, with a caption that read… “Foreign teenagers climbed onto the roof to spray-paint the wall for video content. This happened last…
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Monk found dead in southern Thailand temple with farewell note
A monk was found dead inside his temple quarters after leaving a handwritten note apologising to his parents for the pain he caused them. Police have launched an investigation after a 39 year old monk was found dead inside his living quarters at a local temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand, this morning, October 15, in what officers believe…
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Chinese tourist’s ‘stolen’ figurines found in Bangkok mix-up
A Chinese tourist in Bangkok was left baffled after over 200 of her prized collectible figurines vanished, only to be recovered in a junk collector’s tricycle. More than 200 rare cartoon model dolls, worth over 100,000 baht, have been returned to a Chinese woman in Bangkok after they were mistakenly taken by a junk collector who believed they had been…
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Patong gets safety boost with new traffic barriers
Police in Patong partnered with a local foundation to provide new traffic barriers, aiming to improve safety and city image ahead of peak tourism season. In a joint effort to boost public safety and improve Patong’s image ahead of the High Season, the Patong Development Foundation has donated new traffic barriers to Patong Police. The handover ceremony took place yesterday,…
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Thai agency denies forcing Chinese tourists to buy souvenirs after viral video
A Thai travel agency denied forcing Chinese tourists to buy souvenirs for commission or threatening to cancel their return trip, saying the Chinese tour guide seen in the viral video worked for the company’s partner agency in China. The video, showing the Chinese tour guide arguing aggressively with tourists on a tour bus, went viral on the Chinese social media…
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Contractor crushed in horror wall collapse at Pattaya home
A contractor was critically injured when a wall collapsed during home renovations in Pattaya, prompting emergency rescue efforts and an ongoing investigation. A 61 year old contractor is in critical condition after being buried under a concrete wall that collapsed during renovation work at a private home in Pattaya’s Soi Boonsampan 8/1. The incident occurred at approximately 2.50pm yesterday, October…
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Chinese woman wins divorce from husband after Thai cliff ordeal
A Chinese woman who survived being pushed off a cliff in Thailand by her husband has been granted a divorce by a court after years of legal battles. A Chinese court has granted a long-awaited divorce to Wang Nan, the woman infamously pushed off a cliff by her husband during a trip to Thailand six years ago. The Qinhuai District…
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Helmet row sparks blockade at Phuket company gate
Villagers staged a blockade at a company site in Phuket after a local was denied entry for not wearing a helmet, prompting swift police mediation. A brief but tense confrontation between villagers and a private firm in Phuket came to a peaceful end after police intervened and cleared up a safety regulation dispute. Yesterday morning, October 14, residents from a…
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Bangkok man returns bag of cash worth 225k baht found on street
A man in Bangkok returned over 225,000 baht in cash to a store manager after finding it on the street, prompting praise from police and social media users. Police in Bangkok have praised a man for his honesty after he returned more than 225,000 baht in cash to its rightful owner, a convenience store manager who had lost the money…
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