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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Nonthaburi shrine draws crowds with lucky numbers
Worshippers gathered at a historic shrine in Nonthaburi during a traditional ceremony where lucky numbers appeared, with a stern warning against pork offerings. Locals flocked to the revered Goddess Tubtim Thong shrine for its annual merit-making ceremony, hoping for blessings, protection, and perhaps a little lottery luck. The event, held today, November 13, at Wat Bang Krai Nok in Bang…
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Police hunt fake doctor after raid on unlicensed clinic in Pattaya
A fake doctor remains at large after his unlicensed clinic in Pattaya was raided and several dangerous medicines were seized yesterday, November 12. The unlicensed medical centre reportedly targeted sex workers and foreign nationals in the area. Officers from Provincial Police Region 2 and the Chon Buri Provincial Public Health Office raided the unregistered clinic named Centre Pattaya Medical Clinic…
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Thailand tightens visa rules to curb abuse by repeat visitors
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has launched a nationwide crackdown on foreigners repeatedly entering Thailand under visa-free exemptions, aiming to shut down “visa runs” being used as cover for illegal activity, including cybercrime and human trafficking. The directive, announced by Phuket Immigration yesterday, November 12, follows an urgent meeting chaired by Police Lieutenant General Panumas Boonyalak, Commissioner-General of the Immigration Bureau, acting…
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Lightning strike blasts Chon Buri restaurant during storm
A restaurant in Chon Buri was damaged when lightning struck during a thunderstorm, splitting a tree, damaging property, and causing a brief power outage. A violent thunderstorm in Takhian Tia, Chon Buri, caused chaos yesterday, November 12, after lightning struck the rooftop toilet of a well-known restaurant, Krua Tee Lek Khao Pa. The strike caused significant property damage, but luckily,…
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Phuket drug dealer arrested in late-night narcotics crackdown
Officers in Phuket arrested a suspected drug dealer during a late-night raid as part of a new 120-day crackdown on narcotics and organised crime. Phuket has launched a hardline law enforcement campaign dubbed Phuket 120 Days Nonstop, aimed at stamping out crime, drugs, and vice across the province. The operation, part of a wider Ministry of Interior policy, is focused…
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Pattaya jet ski operators face bans over insurance crackdown
Marine officials in Pattaya have announced new rules requiring all rental jet skis to carry group insurance, warning operators of strict penalties for violations. The crackdown was announced at a high-level meeting chaired by Bang Lamung Senior District Chief Wanchat Wannaphrahm at the Bang Lamung District Community Hall. Also in attendance were Jarin Butrwong, Director of the Pattaya Regional Harbormaster…
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South Korea eases visa rules for young Thai job seekers
South Korea has eased visa rules for young Thai nationals who speak Korean, allowing them to apply for longer stays and job opportunities with fewer restrictions. The South Korean Embassy in Bangkok has announced a major visa policy shake-up, easing the path for young Thai nationals fluent in Korean to live and work in the country. Effective this month, the…
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German tourist loses 140,000 baht in ‘miracle oil’ scam in Pattaya
A German man lost over 140,000 baht yesterday, November 12, after being tricked by a scammer into buying five bottles of so-called “miracle herbal oil” for hair care. The German victim, 52 year old Nadir Altaf, filed a complaint with Mueang Pattaya Police Station at around 10pm. He told police that the scammer was a foreign man, believed to be Middle…
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Thailand video news | Thai mother wanted for allegedly trafficking daughter to Tokyo, Phuket leads Thailand’s tourism recovery
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover the latest stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia — from a shocking human trafficking case involving a Thai woman in Tokyo to severe flooding impacting several provinces. They also share some uplifting updates, including positive developments in Bangkok’s housing market and Phuket’s thriving tourism industry. Thai Mother Wanted for Allegedly Trafficking…
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Pattaya woman files complaint after violent attack by procuress
A Thai woman sought protection from police after a procuress physically assaulted her on Pattaya Beach and attempted to force her back into prostitution, following her escape from the attacker last year. The 20 year old woman, Jeerawan, filed a complaint with Mueang Pattaya Police Station and shared the details of the assault with several news agencies, hoping to secure protection…
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Bangkok road swamped as flash floods bring traffic chaos
Bangkok police shut a key inbound route after flash floods led to severe waterlogging, triggering safety warnings and widespread traffic disruption. Flash flooding brought Bangkok traffic to a standstill today, November 13, as water levels surged on key roads, prompting police to close a major inbound stretch of Ratchadaphisek Road. The sudden early-morning downpour overwhelmed drainage systems across the capital,…
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‘Big Joke’ sued for calling Thai police a criminal gang
A former deputy police chief is being sued by senior officials after accusing Thailand’s national police force of being a criminal organisation in an interview. Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, the former deputy national police chief, is facing a defamation lawsuit after reportedly branding the Royal Thai Police (RTP) as “the largest criminal organisation” during a recent media interview. Assistant National…
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Thai cyber police recover 14 million baht in crypto from foreign hacker
Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) of Thailand seized cryptocurrency worth 14 million baht from a foreign hacker and plan to return the funds to six Thai victims. Yesterday, November 12, CCIB officers held a press conference to report their successful crackdown on the foreign hacker under the name Operation 293. The investigation began after Thai victims filed…
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Thailand scraps elected council in charter rewrite shake-up
Thailand’s parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing constitutional amendments has scrapped plans to establish a directly elected advisory council, instead opting for a 35-member charter-drafting committee (CDC) to oversee the creation of a new constitution. The decision was reached during a recent meeting finalising the structure of the drafting process. The advisory council, originally proposed in the opposition People’s Party’s amendment…
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Foreign hacker wanted by FBI arrested in Phuket hotel
Police arrested a foreign hacker, wanted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), at a hotel in the Thalang district of Phuket yesterday, November 12. The Commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), Police Lieutenant General Suraphon Prembut, announced the successful cooperation between Thai officials and the FBI. Suraphon explained that Thai police had been notified about…
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Thailand gives illegal migrant workers a year-long lifeline
Thailand has approved a one-year extension allowing undocumented migrant workers from neighbouring countries to stay and work legally in the country. Labour Minister Trinuch Thienthong announced the measure this week, confirming that it applies to Laotian, Myanmar, and Vietnamese workers who are either overstaying their residence or work permits or entered the country illegally but wish to become part of…
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Thailand braces for cold snap, heavy rain and strong winds
A powerful cold front sweeping into Thailand is bringing strong winds, falling temperatures and storms, affecting several regions across the country today. From 6am today, November 13, to 6am tomorrow, November 14, the northeastern region will feel the brunt of this weather change, with temperatures falling by 1 to 3°C. Residents can expect morning chills and a stiff breeze, as…
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Thai man defends attack of brother’s bullies at school
Police arrested a Thai man for physically assaulting a 14 year old boy at a school in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The suspect defended his actions, claiming the victim had repeatedly bullied his younger brother and even put his life at risk. Footage of the attack circulated on Thai social media yesterday, November 11. The video showed…
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Indian woman with severe injuries denied boarding in Chiang Mai
An Indian tourist was denied boarding at Chiang Mai airport after airline staff discovered her severe injuries from a motorbike crash in northern Thailand. Tourist police in Chiang Mai stepped in to assist an Indian woman after she was denied boarding on her flight home due to serious injuries sustained in a motorbike accident. The incident unfolded yesterday, November 11,…
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Warrant issued for mum who sold Thai girl in Tokyo trafficking case
A Thai woman faces arrest for allegedly trafficking her daughter into sex work at a Tokyo massage parlour, where the child’s earnings were sent to the woman. Japanese police have issued an arrest warrant for a Thai woman in her twenties who allegedly trafficked her 12 year old daughter into sex work at a Tokyo establishment, according to investigative sources…
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Phuket bus loses power, slams into car and shop on steep hill
A passenger bus on a steep Phuket road lost power and rolled backwards, crashing into parked vehicles and a shop, causing damage and minor injuries. The incident occurred around 12.30pm today, November 12, at the Tom Yum Kung intersection on Khok Tonod–Rawai Road. According to Karon Police, the EV passenger bus, travelling the Airport–Rawai route and bearing the registration number…
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HIV positive Thai man accused of raping at least 7 girls
Parents in the Isaan province of Udon Thani filed complaints against a Thai man, accusing him of raping at least seven young girls aged between four and ten and spreading HIV to the victims, as his wife is reportedly infected. Worried parents reached out to Panumas “Piak” Jitwasinkul, who operates the Facebook page Hia Piak Helps, saying that officers from…
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People’s Party urges tough diplomacy after border mine blast
The People’s Party has called on the government to adopt urgent diplomatic measures after a mine explosion left soldiers injured near the Cambodian border. On Monday, November 10, a mine explosion near Huai Ta Maria in Sisaket’s Kantharalak district left one Thai soldier severely injured, resulting in the amputation of his right ankle. In the aftermath, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul…
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Thai rapist arrested after Burmese victim tricks him into revealing identity
A Burmese woman tricked her Thai rapist into sharing his Facebook account with her, allowing police to easily identify and arrest the suspect yesterday, November 11. The 20 year old Burmese woman filed a complaint at Nong Chok Police Station at 10am yesterday, following the sexual assault that occurred at around 1.30am the same day. The victim told officers she…
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Police arrest foreign rider for dangerous stunts in Phuket
Police arrested a foreign motorcyclist yesterday, November 11, for dangerous riding, where he was captured on video performing wheelies on a road in Thalang district, Phuket. A Thai man recorded the act and shared the footage in the Facebook group แบบนี้ต้องประจาน ภูเก็ต (This kind of actions must be exposed – Phuket), captioning it… “This occurred near Nai Yang Beach. I have…
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Phuket leads Thailand’s tourist rebound with Russian boom
Phuket’s tourism sector has surged ahead of other Thai regions as international arrivals, led by Russian travellers, boosted hotel occupancy and revenue. From January to October this year, more than 4.16 million international travellers arrived directly in Phuket, bringing the island’s tourism recovery to 97.5% of pre-pandemic levels. That’s up from 4.09 million during the same period last year, according…
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Foreigner steals motorbike in Phuket after petting dog (video)
A foreign man pulled off a bizarre motorbike theft in Phuket by pretending to play with a dog before hopping on a parked bike and riding off in front of its stunned owner. The incident occurred yesterday, November 11, in the Samkong area of Phuket. According to witnesses and CCTV footage, the suspect casually approached the dog outside a property…
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Klatham Party MP assets frozen due to online gambling links
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) temporarily froze assets worth 159 million baht from a Member of Parliament (MP) of the Klatham Party over alleged financial links to an online gambling operation. Political activist and President of the Crime Victim Assistance Club, Atchariya Rueangrattanapong, accused MP Chonnaput Naksue of receiving benefits from online gambling platforms. He claimed to have evidence supporting…
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Bangkok dust levels spike as orange alert hits 3 districts
Bangkok residents are being warned to take precautions as PM2.5 dust levels have reached health risk levels in several districts across the city. Today, November 12, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported that while most areas in the capital recorded acceptable air quality, PM2.5 dust levels surged to orange-alert status in three districts, meaning the fine particulate matter is high…
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Thai man commits suicide in gold shop after 200,000 baht heist fails
A Thai man committed suicide at a gold shop in the Isaan province of Udon Thani to avoid legal consequences after attempting to rob 200,000 baht in cash from the store owner. The owner of the gold shop in Wua Kong Market, Ban Lueam sub-district, reported both the attempted theft and the suspect’s suicide to police at around 5pm yesterday,…
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