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.
-
Thai king and queen make China visit to mark 50-year ties
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida arrived in Beijing for an official state visit, marking a historic moment in diplomatic ties between Thailand and China. Their Majesties arrived in the Chinese capital yesterday afternoon, November 13, for an official state visit, strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations on the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. The royal couple landed…
-
Lao women arrested in Chiang Mai sex-for-hire crackdown
Three Lao women were caught in Chiang Mai after police uncovered a sex-for-hire operation, following local reports of illegal activity in the area. The operation, led by Mae Wang Police Station Chief Police Colonel Thananchai Siriwanna, saw officers move in on a residence in Ban Nong Tao, Mae Win subdistrict, following multiple complaints from residents. Officers arrested a 32 year…
-
Thai woman arrested on 150,000-baht theft at Pattaya noodle shop
Police yesterday, November 13, arrested a Thai woman for stealing valuables worth 150,000 baht from the owner of a noodle shop in Pattaya. The shop owner, 40 year old Anchana Rattanapisankun, filed a complaint at Bang Lamung Police Station on Tuesday, November 12, after belongings worth over 150,000 baht disappeared from her bedroom on the second floor above her restaurant.…
-
Northern Thailand Naga sighting sparks lottery frenzy
A strange Naga-shaped growth spotted on a sacred Bodhi tree in northern Thailand has drawn crowds of locals seeking luck ahead of the upcoming lottery draw. An unusual object resembling the head of a Naga has appeared on the trunk of an ancient Bodhi tree at Sri Khom Kham Temple in Phayao province, drawing curious crowds and believers hopeful for…
-
Thailand extends drinking hours, trials end of afternoon alcohol sales ban
The Ministry of Public Health extended permitted drinking hours from midnight to 1am and launched a six-month pilot programme to lift the afternoon alcohol sales ban between 2pm and 5pm. Yesterday, November 13, the National Alcohol Policy Committee met to discuss the controversial drinking-hours regulations and the proposed cancellation of the afternoon sales ban. The meeting was attended by representatives…
-
Thailand hit by cold snaps up north and storms down south
A cold snap and stormy weather are sweeping across Thailand, bringing temperature drops in the north and heavy rain in the south, as officials warn of changing conditions. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued its latest forecast, warning of a 1 to 2°C dip in temperatures across northern and northeastern Thailand due to a moderate high-pressure system blowing in…
-
How Baht strength and government moves impact gold trading in Thailand
Thailand’s gold culture runs deep. From Chinatown shops in Bangkok to family savings across Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen, gold is both a store of value and a trading vehicle. Yet the domestic price you see on the board is not just a reflection of global spot. It is a blend of international gold, the baht’s exchange rate, and the…
-
Former police arrested over 2021 Taiwanese kidnap and extortion case
A former Thai police officer accused government officials and the Royal Thai Police (RTP) of betraying him after he was arrested today, November 13, over the alleged kidnapping and extortion of a Taiwanese businessman in 2021. Officers from Thong Lo Police Station arrested the former Special Branch Bureau officer, Santhana Prayoonrat, at his accommodation in Bangkok this afternoon. The arrest…
-
Thai transwoman watches TikTok videos at clinic for hours to avoid payment
A Bangkok beauty clinic owner took to social media to share her experience with a transgender client who refused to pay for breast augmentation surgery and lay on the operating table for hours watching TikTok videos until police arrived. The clinic owner, Supassara Tweesan, posted footage of the incident on her Facebook page on Monday, November 10. The video showed…
-
Grab and LINE MAN orders soar under state co-pay scheme
Two major food delivery platforms reported millions of orders after the launch of a co-payment scheme aimed at boosting consumer spending nationwide. Grab and LINE MAN Wongnai reported a surge in activity under the Khon La Khrueng Plus initiative, which began allowing online food delivery orders from November 7. According to the Finance Ministry, nearly 20 million users had joined…
-
Drunk Russian tourist hauled off Patong street after outburst
A Russian tourist was arrested in Patong after police responded to reports of public intoxication and disorderly behaviour near a busy roadside canal. The incident unfolded around 10.30am today, November 13, when officers from Patong Police Station were called to Sai Nam Yen Road in Patong subdistrict, Kathu district. The 43 year old man was found near a canal adjacent…
-
Bangkok underpass shut after flooding chaos and cable theft
Flooding caused by cable theft and torrential rain forced officials in Bangkok to close a major underpass while nearby provinces battled widespread inundation. Officials in Bang Sue confirmed that the underpass along the railway road had to be shut down due to waterlogging, which was compounded by the theft of electrical cables powering the drainage system. Without operational pumps, water…
-
Thai woman claims sister killed by Cambodia scam gang
Police in southern Thailand are probing a woman’s claim that her sister was killed by a scam gang in Cambodia, though no evidence has confirmed the report. Police in Takua Thung district, Phang Nga, have launched an investigation after a local woman reported that her sister was killed by a scam gang in Poipet, Cambodia. Malee Na Cholkhet, a resident…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Thai woman steals valuables worth 150,000 baht from Pattaya restaurant owner
A Thai woman sneaked into a bedroom above a noodle shop in Pattaya and stole valuables worth more than 150,000 baht yesterday, November 12. The victim, 40 year old noodle shop owner Anchana Rattanapisankun, filed a complaint with Bang Lamung Police Station in the evening yesterday. She also submitted CCTV footage that showed the thief’s identity. In an interview with…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Late-night earthquake rattles Koh Samui, no damage reported
A minor earthquake struck Koh Samui overnight, shaking homes and alarming residents across several areas, with reports of loud noises and repeated tremors. The quake, measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale, struck Koh Samui in Surat Thani province early today, November 13, sending tremors across the island and waking startled residents. The quake occurred at 12.47am at a shallow depth…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
Sa Kaeo border blast triggers panic and cross-border blame
An explosion near Sa Kaeo province’s Nong Ya Kaeo checkpoint triggered chaos and evacuations on both sides of the Thai-Cambodian border last night, with Thai authorities firmly denying involvement in the incident. According to a source from the Burapha Task Force, a loud blast was heard at approximately 7.30pm yesterday, November 12, opposite Checkpoint 34 at Ban Nong Ya Kaew…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Blackout behind the wheel kills Bangkok taxi driver in crash
A taxi driver in Bangkok died after blacking out while driving, causing his vehicle to crash into trees and overturn during the early hours of the morning. A 38 year old taxi driver, identified only as Chayanan, was killed in a horrific accident after losing consciousness while driving, causing his vehicle to veer off the road, smash into two large…
-
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…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.