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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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4 Brits arrested after robbing American lawyer in Phuket heist
Police in Phuket arrested four British nationals after an American tourist was ambushed on his motorbike and robbed of a luxury watch worth millions of baht. The violent attack, which was caught on dashcam and widely shared on social media, took place on Layan Soi 7 in Cherng Talay district, Thalang. A blue car struck the victim’s motorcycle before two…
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Northern Thailand machete attack leaves teen with severed wrist (video)
Police arrested a machete-wielding suspect at a Lamphun checkpoint after a violent Chiang Mai clash left several teenagers seriously injured. The suspect, identified only as Mong, was caught at a drug checkpoint in Mueang Tha district while attempting to flee on a motorcycle. Police said Mong was wanted for his role in a violent clash earlier this year that left…
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Bangkok steps up plans for 2025 SEA Games spectacle
Bangkok officials met with Thailand’s sports authority to map out preparations and public relations plans as the capital readies to co-host the 2025 SEA Games. At a meeting yesterday, September 18, at Bangkok City Hall, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) outlined their joint public relations strategy for the event. Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanon…
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Thai AirAsia X unveils 3 new routes for December takeoff
Thai AirAsia X will launch three new international routes from Bangkok to destinations in Central Asia, Northern Asia, and the Middle East ahead of the holiday season. The budget long-haul carrier announced that it will begin services to Almaty, Sendai, and Riyadh, giving Thai travellers more choice for winter escapes while opening fresh gateways for inbound tourism. From December 1,…
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American tourist rammed off bike and robbed in Phuket attack
An American tourist was attacked on a Phuket road when two men rammed his motorbike with an SUV before robbing him of a luxury watch and fleeing the scene. The assault happened at about 4.20pm yesterday, September 18, on Soi Layan Soi 7, heading towards Ban Phru Somphan, when a blue Ford Everest SUV struck the tourist’s red Honda motorbike…
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Bang Lamung trains 150 volunteers for disaster response
Bang Lamung has launched a disaster training programme to equip volunteers with the skills needed to protect residents and tourists during future emergencies. The opening ceremony took place at the district office’s Civic Hall, where Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharapatch Srinthanyanon launched the 2025 Volunteer Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Training Programme. The initiative, named Enhancing the Efficiency of Disaster Prevention…
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Pheu Thai hints at Thaksin’s son-in-law for PM race
Pheu Thai is considering a family-linked business executive as a possible candidate for prime minister in the next general election, sparking fresh speculation. Nuttaphong Kunakornwong, husband of Thaksin’s eldest daughter Pintongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong, has drawn support from some within the party as a fresh face for leadership. Nuttaphong is currently the chief executive of SC Asset Corporation and has largely…
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Taxi turf war erupts as Phuket drivers block cruise cab
Police intervened at Phuket’s main cruise port after local taxi drivers blocked an outside cab from collecting tourists, sparking a tense standoff. The confrontation erupted at about 3pm at Phuket Deep Sea Port in Wichit, shortly after the Genting Dream cruise liner arrived with 4,200 foreign tourists. According to police, around 60 community taxi drivers gathered at the pier and…
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Knife thug robs Saraburi gold shop, takes customer hostage (video)
Police are hunting a knife-wielding robber who held a customer hostage during a gold shop robbery in Saraburi, central Thailand, escaping on a motorcycle with stolen jewellery. The incident took place at Por Udomsuk gold shop in Tha Lan market, Ban Mo district, at around 4.30pm on Wednesday, September 17. Police Captain Sombat Phonsing, deputy investigation chief at Banmor Police…
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Thailand battered by heavy rains as monsoon drags on
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of heavy rainfall across multiple regions, urging residents to brace for flash floods, runoff, and rough seas. The warning, issued yesterday, highlights a monsoon trough stretching across the central, eastern, and lower northeastern regions into an active low-pressure system over the South China Sea. At the same time, the southwest monsoon prevailing over the…
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Phuket cracks down on illegal restaurants in protected park
Officials in Phuket inspected Mai Khao Beach and confirmed that restaurants are operating illegally inside Sirinat National Park, prompting a renewed crackdown. The joint inspection took place yesterday, September 17, in Villages 3 and 4 of Mai Khao, where officers confirmed that several operators continue to run beachfront businesses despite the area being legally designated as part of the national…
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Bang Lamung monk busted with meth hidden in alms bowls
A Buddhist monk in Bang Lamung was arrested after police discovered methamphetamine hidden in alms bowls and other items, following a public tip-off. The arrest took place yesterday, September 17, after officials received information via the Broken Down Bang Lamung LINE application, which allows residents to report crime and misconduct. Acting on the complaint, District Chief Patcharapat Srithanyanon led a joint…
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Pickup driver busted for fake tax sticker trick in Chumphon
Police in Chumphon, southern Thailand, arrested a pickup driver who altered his expired tax disc with a marker to avoid fees after he was caught during a routine highway checkpoint. The man, identified as 39 year old Nakarin from Ubon Ratchathani, was stopped at a checkpoint on Highway 41 in Wisai Tai, Sawi district, around 11am on Tuesday, September 16.…
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Hunt on for driver after car smashes Phuket U-turn barrier
Police in Phuket are searching for a driver who fled after crashing into a newly built U-turn barrier in Thalang, an incident caught on video and shared online. The crash happened late on Tuesday, September 16, near the Thalang power station in Baan Lipon, Srisoonthorn. The impact, captured on video and widely shared on social media, shows a sedan slamming…
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Pattaya drivers slam selective crackdown on odd-even parking
Pattaya officials tightened enforcement of odd-even parking rules on South Pattaya Road, sparking criticism from residents who accuse the city of selective crackdowns. The Pattaya City Administration recently announced tighter enforcement of the regulation, which requires vehicles to park on alternating sides of the street depending on the date. Signs along South Pattaya Road now warn: “Follow odd–even days strictly,…
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Thai curry rice championship set to spice up Bangkok
Thailand has launched a national curry rice championship to crown the country’s top chefs and promote Khao Gaeng as a global symbol of Thai culinary culture. The event, organised with the Thai Restaurant Association and other partners, aims to showcase Khao Gaeng as an iconic dish that reflects Thailand’s culinary heritage while boosting its profile on the global stage. Tourism…
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Lopburi villagers demand crackdown on serial animal abuser
Villagers in Lopburi are calling for urgent action after a 20 year old man was accused of repeatedly abusing animals, raising fears for community safety. The disturbing allegations emerged after a video clip circulated online showing the man sexually assaulting a female dog in a bathroom near his home in Wang Khon Khwang, Khok Samrong district. The footage, filmed by…
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50 Chumphon politicians jump ship to back Anutin’s Bhumjaithai
Around 50 politicians from Chumphon have defected from the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) to join Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party (BJT). The group was officially welcomed at BJT headquarters yesterday, September 17, by senior party figure Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. Among the defectors were Chumphon MPs Chumpol Chulasai and Wichai Sudsawat, along with Nopporn Usit, president of the Chumphon Provincial…
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Bangkok district declared rabies zone after dog carcass found
Officials have declared parts of Bangkok’s Nong Chok district rabies-infectious zones after a dog tested positive, triggering strict controls on animal movement. The Area 10 office of the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) announced yesterday, September 17, that the zones have been designated rabies infectious areas until October 16. Under the order, no live animals, particularly dogs, or their carcasses…
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Trang man dies after ambulance fails to arrive in time (video)
A 60 year old man collapsed near a hospital in Trang and died after waiting in vain for an ambulance, raising questions over Thailand’s emergency response system. The victim, identified as Charoen, a hotel caretaker from Sikao district, was pronounced dead on September 12 after suffering an acute heart attack. His family say the tragedy highlights serious failures in the…
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Agoda touts Asia’s hidden gems in Tourism Day push
Agoda has highlighted rising interest in Asia’s secondary destinations as travellers seek unique experiences, with searches outpacing traditional hotspots this year. The digital travel platform revealed that accommodation searches for lesser-known spots are growing 15% faster than for traditional tourist hubs compared to the same period last year. The shift is particularly visible in countries such as Thailand, India, Indonesia,…
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French tourist drowns after late-night swim at Patong
A French tourist drowned on Patong Beach after being swept away by strong currents during a late-night swim, despite red warning flags along the shore. Patong Police confirmed the victim as 53 year old Laurent Simon, who had arrived on the island just a day earlier with his brother, sister and brother-in-law. The family reportedly entered the water behind the…
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Pattaya biker dies in high-speed smash with taxi
A motorcyclist died after crashing into a taxi making a U-turn on a Pattaya highway in the early hours, prompting police to launch an investigation. The collision occurred at 1am on Tuesday, September 16, on Highway 36, inbound to Pattaya, at a U-turn point. Police Lieutenant Janda Dermphan, Deputy Investigator with Bang Lamung Police Station, arrived at the scene with…
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Patong lifeguards warn as venomous bluebottles wash up
Lifeguards at Patong Beach have issued a warning after venomous Portuguese man o’ war jellyfish washed ashore, urging tourists to stay cautious in the water. Lifeguards raised the alarm after several of the creatures were found along the sand. Patong Surf Life Saving urged beachgoers not to touch or play with them, stressing that anyone stung should immediately seek assistance…
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Drinkers in Thailand face 10,000 baht hit for after-hours pints
Drinkers in Thailand face fines for consuming alcohol in pubs and bars after legal hours, under tougher rules aimed at curbing late-night drinking. From November 8, anyone caught drinking in pubs and bars outside the permitted times faces fines of up to 10,000 baht. The Department of Provincial Administration confirmed the new penalties under an amendment to the Alcoholic Beverage…
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Thailand on alert as fierce monsoon rains threaten floods
Thailand prepares for more widespread monsoon rains, with the meteorological department warning of flash floods, rough seas, and heavy downpours across multiple regions this week. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reported that the monsoon trough is lying across the lower Central region, the East, and the lower Northeast, connecting to an active low-pressure cell over the South China Sea. Meanwhile,…
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Villagers in Northeast Thailand demand monk disrobe over woman
Villagers in Kalasin in Northeast Thailand confronted an abbot after he was found with a woman inside his quarters at night, sparking demands for his immediate disrobing. The disturbance broke out around 11pm yesterday, September 16, at a temple in Kae Pae subdistrict, Mueang district. A temple boy raised the alarm by beating a drum to alert the community after spotting…
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GPS blunder sends tourist into forest crash in Pattaya
A 23 year old man in Pattaya crashed his motorcycle after GPS led him into a forest, forcing him to abandon the bike and walk 2 kilometres to find help. The incident unfolded at 7pm on Monday, September 15, when the Sawang Boriboon Pattaya Rescue Foundation received a call reporting a stranded tourist in Pong subdistrict, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri.…
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Nakhon Ratchasima man wins 12 million baht with lucky lottery bet
A man from Nakhon Ratchasima struck gold in the national lottery, winning 12 million baht after spending just 200 baht on tickets: a fraction of what he usually spends. The Government Lottery Office announced the results of yesterday’s draw, September 16, with the winning first prize number confirmed as 074646. Other results included front three-digit numbers 740 and 512, back…
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People’s Party leader stands firm on lese majeste reform stance
People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut reaffirmed his stance on Thailand’s lese majeste law, stressing that any reforms must follow court rulings. Speaking yesterday, September 16, Natthaphong expanded on comments he made in a recent interview with Time magazine, where he addressed the controversial law. The magazine quoted him: “Article 112 still causes problems in Thailand, and if we get power,…
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