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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Taxi driver refuses elderly passengers, gets fined on the spot
A taxi driver near Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok was issued traffic fines after an officer caught him refusing passengers and violating traffic rules in a viral video posted on April 26. The clip was posted on Facebook by Bangkok traffic police officer Jaa Auan Bolikhamsai, an online personality with more than 390,000 followers who regularly shares videos from…
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Swedish man arrested for stealing data from Pattaya hotel for scam operation
A Swedish man was arrested yesterday, April 29, for stealing data from a hotel in Pattaya and using it in a scam that caused losses exceeding 100,000 baht among 35 victims. The hotel in Pattaya reported the case to Cyber Police, stating that several guests were targeted by fraudulent messages sent to them via email with a fake hotel domain.…
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Taiwanese woman caught with 30 tortoises on body at airport
A 19 year old Taiwanese woman was arrested yesterday, April 29, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for wildlife smuggling after officers found 30 Indian star tortoises hidden on her body before a flight to Taipei. Wildlife officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport worked with customs officers and police from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division to arrest the woman at the…
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Thai couple allegedly kills man after swindling his money using AI generated profile
A Thai couple allegedly operated a romance scam using artificial intelligence (AI) to create a social media profile, and murdered a victim in Surat Thani after their criminal action was caught. The victim, 61 year old Wichit Chompong, was found with more than 10 gunshot wounds in a roadside plantation in Son Sak district. His mobile phone was damaged and…
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Transport Ministry tightens airfare controls as airlines eye price hikes
Thailand’s Ministry of Transport yesterday, April 28, ordered airlines to keep planned airfare increases under the legal airfare price cap after rising fuel costs pushed up operating expenses across the aviation sector. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the issue does not affect only Thai Airways, but all airlines, as fuel prices continue to rise. “The impact…
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Shooting at Nakhon Si Thammarat wedding leaves six injured
Six people were injured in a wedding shooting in Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday, April 28, after a dispute between guests from the bride’s and groom’s sides escalated into gunfire. Police were called to the scene in Tha Sala at around 3.30am following reports of a shooting, with multiple injuries, at the event. Rescue workers had already taken the injured to…
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Lop Buri locals question authenticity of Yaba advertising sign on road
A sign advertising Yaba for sale at a road intersection in Lop Buri province circulated on Thai social media, prompting calls for police to investigate. The sign, reportedly placed on a traffic island near Ananda Mahidol Hospital, included a contact name and phone number, raising concerns among residents. Images shared by Facebook users showed a white board attached to a…
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Thailand could face severe drought in 2027, agencies warn
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) and the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) warned yesterday, April 28, that El Niño could bring prolonged drought to Thailand for at least two to three years, with conditions expected to worsen in 2027. The ONWR said El Niño, a periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean that disrupts global weather…
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Protected slow loris seized from Phuket tourist photo tout
A man was arrested in Phuket on April 27 for allegedly carrying a slow loris, a protected wild animal, and offering tourists paid photo opportunities in Karon. Officers from the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-Hunting Area, Karon Police Station, local officials, and Phuket MP Chalermpong Sangdee inspected the area after receiving complaints that protected wildlife was being used for tourist photos.…
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Thailand to save energy by cutting or reducing street lights on rural roads
Thailand’s Department of Rural Roads announced it will shut down or reduce street lighting on selected rural highways nationwide from May 1 as part of an energy-saving measure linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The Director-General of the Rural Roads Department, Pichit Hoonsiri, confirmed on April 25 that the Thailand street light reduction plan aims to manage national…
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Thai woman, three Nigerians arrested over Pattaya romance scam
Police arrested a Thai woman and three Nigerian men yesterday, April 28, over alleged links to a Pattaya romance scam operation using mule bank accounts to receive money from victims. The suspects were arrested at a hotel in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Tourist police investigators in Pattaya and regional investigators from Provincial Police Region 2 seized 12 mobile…
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How sports entertainment is changing in Asia – 2026 update
Asia’s sports entertainment landscape looks nothing like it did five years ago. The region now generates more than half of all global esports revenue, while Southeast Asia’s digital economy crossed $300 billion in gross merchandise value during 2025. The way fans engage with sport has shifted dramatically. Streaming platforms, interactive prediction markets, and digital experiences from platforms like BETVIBE India…
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Police face backlash for letting 2 foreigners walk naked on Phuket road
Two foreign tourists were seen walking naked along a road in the Kata-Laemsai area of Phuket yesterday, April 28, prompting criticism of local police and officials over their response to the incident. Images of the naked tourists in Phuket were shared by the Phuket Times Facebook page, showing the pair without clothing while standing roadside with a group of friends.…
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Thailand News | Chinese tourists admit gold shop robbery after travel funds run dry, CP Group and SEGA sign MOU to explore ASEAN Entertainment growth
Today we’ll be talking about a couple of Chinese simps willing to do high crimes for the objects of their infatuation, then, an oil tanker overturn spilling thousands of liters of onto a busy road, also, a teen girl has been rescued after an alleged assault and clinging to a moving pickup truck for dear life in Pattaya, in ASEAN…
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Fujiseiki showcases TSDH shari ball machine at THAIFEX-HOREC ASIA 2026
Japanese food-production equipment manufacturer Fujiseiki Co., Ltd. said it is advancing automation-focused production systems as demand grows for efficient operations that maintain consistent quality, hygiene and safety standards in food manufacturing. Published by Global Kigyo, the report said Fujiseiki has built an international reputation for developing machines that produce artisan Japanese foods such as sushi and onigiri to match the…
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14 year old boy caught sexually assaulting 8 year old girl in Pathum Thani
An eight year old girl was sexually assaulted by a teenage boy in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani, on April 26. The suspect was released from a juvenile detention centre only four days earlier. The girl’s mother, 42 year old Noi, filed a complaint with Pratunam Chulalongkorn Police Station and said she would pursue legal action against the suspect, identified as…
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Australian child sex offender on the run caught in Khon Kaen
An Australian sex offender wanted by Queensland police was arrested at a luxury house in Khon Kaen yesterday, April 28, after Thai Immigration and Australian police traced him to northeast Thailand. The man, identified as Richard, is listed on Australia’s child sex offender register. Sources said his criminal record includes sexual assault and indecent acts against children, possession of child…
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Pad Thai sales break world record at LA Songkran event
A Guinness World Record was set during the Songkran Festival in Los Angeles on April 26 after more than 1,300 Pad Thai dishes were sold within one hour. The “2026 Thai New Year: Songkran Festival” took place along a three-kilometre stretch of Hollywood Boulevard, which was closed to host the event. The organisers described it as the largest Thai festival…
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40,000-litre tanker overturns in Nan, spills 5,000 litres of oil
A 40,000-litre oil tanker overturned on a curve in Nan yesterday, April 27, spilling around 5,000 litres of fuel onto the road before officials contained the leak and resumed traffic. The Nan Provincial Public Relations Facebook page said the Provincial Energy Office was alerted to the crash at around 10.30am on the Thung Chang to Chaloem Phra Kiat road in…
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Cambodia pushes back against ‘Scambodia’ label in US media
Cambodia protested against the use of the term “Scambodia” in a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article published on April 19, demanding its removal, which WSJ refused. The article, titled “How Cybercrime became a leading industry in ‘Scambodia’,” stated that Cambodia is a major global hub for scam operations, with compounds described as being the size of small towns. It also claimed…
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Thai man abandons girl after alleged sex abuse, leaving her clinging to his pickup
A 17 year old girl was rescued after clinging to a moving pickup truck and falling onto a road in Pattaya on Sunday, April 26, following an alleged sexual abuse by the driver. The incident occurred at around 8.45pm on a road along Mab Prachan Reservoir in Bang Lamung district. A 23 year old motorcyclist, identified only as Mix, witnessed…
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CP Group signs MoU with SEGA to explore ASEAN IP growth
CP Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan-based SEGA Corporation to explore entertainment business opportunities in Thailand and the ASEAN region, the companies announced yesterday, April 27. The agreement focuses on combining SEGA’s global intellectual property (IP) and content development expertise with CP Group’s business ecosystem and regional network. Under the MoU, both parties will begin by studying…
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Thai, Chinese workers brawl at Rayong construction site
Police and district officials are investigating a brawl between Chinese and Thai construction workers in Map Kha, Nikhom Phatthana district, Rayong, which left several people with minor injuries on April 26. The incident involved several of workers at a construction site, where a verbal dispute reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation. Video footage showed workers wearing reflective vests and safety…
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Unlicensed BMW driver kills Phuket transwoman while retrieving dropped phone
A BMW driver crashed into and killed a Thai transwoman on April 25 while the victim was retrieving a dropped mobile phone on a road in Phuket. The incident occurred at around 2.30am on Pathak Road outside an entertainment venue in Chalong subdistrict, according to Khao Phuket. The victim, Auttachai Deeprom, sustained serious injuries and later died in hospital. CCTV…
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Foreign man steals from Krabi cannabis shop while staff sleeps
A foreign man was caught on CCTV stealing cannabis products from a shop in Krabi, yesterday, April 27, while a staff member was asleep. The incident occurred at a cannabis shop in Ao Nang subdistrict. The shop owner shared footage of the theft with media and warned other local businesses. The suspect’s face was captured on the shop’s security camera.…
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Thailand video news | Thailand moves to scale back visa-free entry list, Bangkok bus stops get digital upgrade for easier travel
In Thailand video news, Alex covers news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. The stories include that visa-free entry to Thailand will soon become limited to 57 countries. Does yours make the cut? Then, an Australian influencer has died after a trip to Thailand for a Rhinoplasty, in crime news a murder suspect has been extradited 2 years after the…
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Sri Lankan monks’ Thailand trip goes up in smoke after cannabis bust
Twenty-two Sri Lankan Buddhist monks who had just returned from Thailand were arrested on April 25 at an airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after customs officers allegedly found cannabis hidden in their luggage. BBC reported yesterday, April 27, that the monks were detained after officers found 110 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in secret compartments inside their suitcases. Sri Lankan customs…
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Foreign tourists take turn showing their private parts on Phuket tuk tuk
A group of foreign tourists were criticised after exposing themselves to motorists while travelling in a tuk tuk in Patong, Phuket. Images posted by the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, April 27, showed several foreigners standing in the vehicle, turning towards traffic behind them and pulling down their trousers. The page stated in the caption… “Bottoms show in Patong. Foreign…
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Thai govt plans to collect 1,000 baht exit fee from Thai people travelling abroad
Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to collect an exit fee of 1,000 baht for Thai citizens travelling abroad to fund domestic tourism. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworrakun said he would consult the Ministry of Finance on reinstating the Departure Tax Act. The law was previously enforced with a 500 baht fee charged to outbound Thai travellers. Under…
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Chinese gold robbery suspects tracked by cigarette butts
Police arrested two Chinese nationals after tracking them through cigarette butts left at the scene of a gold robbery in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday, April 27. Officers from Chok Chai Police Station and Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police investigated the robbery at a gold shop in Dan Kwian subdistrict, Chok Chai district, which took place at around 10.10am. CCTV footage showed two…
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