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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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Minister denies hiring designer amid SEA Games ceremony controversy
The Sports and Tourism Minister responded to the controversy over the cancelled SEA Games ceremony design, insisting that no hiring contract was ever made with the designer or his team. The drama began after Thai visual and lighting designer Rueangrith “Ton” Suntisuk shared on December 2 that he and his team had been working on the opening and closing ceremony…
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Israel confirms identity of Thai hostage’s body from Gaza
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office has confirmed that the Red Cross handed over the body of Thai national Sudthisak Rintalak on Wednesday, December 3. Only one deceased hostage remains in Gaza, 24 year old Ran Gvili, an Israeli police officer. Sudthisak and Gvili were the final two hostages who had not been recovered from the territory. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s (PIJ)…
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Thai netizens call out Cambodia’s Miss Charm video
Thai netizens are accusing Miss Charm Cambodia 2025 of using Thailand’s iconic tourism slogan and traditional-style attire. The recently released video on Miss Charm’s Facebook page, titled “Miss Charm Cambodia 2025 | Introduction Video”, features this year’s Miss Charm Cambodia contestant, Det Sreyneat, narrating the kingdom’s cultural wonders, historic temples, and natural beauty. But what caught the attention of many Thai…
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South Korean man allegedly pours hot water over Thai girlfriend out of jealousy
A jealous South Korean man allegedly poured hot water over his Thai girlfriend in an attempt to disfigure her so she would be unable to date other men. The Thai woman took to a Facebook group of Thai people in South Korea yesterday, December 3, seeking a free interpreting service after she was assaulted by her South Korean boyfriend. She…
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Chon Buri spa denies responsibility on client loses gold worth 300,000 baht
A Thai woman lost more than 300,000 baht worth of gold jewellery yesterday, December 3, after keeping her valuables in a locker at a spa in the Sriracha area of Chon Buri province. The 38 year old woman, Suwadee Fadchin, filed a complaint with Sriracha Police Station after discovering that several gold accessories had vanished from her locker. She told police…
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Danish tourist erupts at Trat bus terminal after missing final airport bus
Police intervened after a Danish man caused a disturbance at the Trat Bus Terminal on Tuesday, December 2, after he missed the last bus to Suvarnabhumi International Airport for his midnight flight. Staff at the terminal called officers from Mueang Trat Police Station at around 6pm after the foreign tourist began shouting and causing chaos. The man, a Danish national,…
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Phetchaburi homeowner shoots intruder after repeated break-ins
A homeowner in Phetchaburi shot an intruder today, December 4, after burglars had targeted the house multiple times before the latest incident. Police identified the injured suspect as 18 years old Arun, from Ban Laem district in Phetchaburi province. Officers found him with gunshot wounds to his right shoulder, arm, and knee. Emergency responders transported him to Phra Chomklao Hospital…
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AOT to hike airport tax in 2026, eyes 10 billion baht revenue boost
Passengers flying internationally from Thailand will soon face higher airport taxes, after the Civil Aviation Board approved a 53% hike in the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) at six major airports. Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, who chaired the board’s meeting yesterday, December 3, confirmed the PSC for international departures will rise from 730 baht to 1,120 baht per person. The increase…
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Thailand unveils six eco-friendly tax measures for 2027
Thailand’s Excise Department plans to roll out six new tax initiatives to promote environmental sustainability and improve public health. Director-General Pornchai Thiraveja said these policies aim to align with shifting global trade standards, which now place more emphasis on climate action and public health. The measures also support upcoming carbon-related regulations. Bangkok Post reported that the first measure expands the tax…
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Thailand video news | Thailand loosens alcohol sale rules starting 3 December, Former homeless man in Chiang Mai wins lottery jackpot
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover key stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia — from the official rollout of relaxed alcohol sales regulations to cases involving gambling, drugs, and defamation among foreign visitors, plus a heartwarming story of a man’s journey from rags to riches. Thailand Loosens Alcohol Sale Rules Starting 3 December Thailand has approved…
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Foreign suspect flees after stabbing British man outside Phuket nightclub
A “large” foreign man is on the run after stabbing a British national outside a nightclub in the Choeng Talay area of Phuket in the early hours of yesterday, December 3. Choeng Talay Police Station officers and rescue workers were called to the road outside the entertainment venue at around 12.20am to investigate the stabbing and assist the victim, later…
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Trat woman collapses after 10 months on diet pills
A 22 year old woman collapsed at her workplace in Trat and was rushed to the hospital late last night, December 3, after reportedly taking weight loss pills for over 10 months. Investigators suspect the pills, which she bought from an online shop, contain sibutramine, a banned substance linked to severe health risks. At around 10.30pm yesterday, reporters visited Trat…
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Nonthaburi driver attempts suicide over 35,000 baht repair cost
A 61 year old driver from Nonthaburi attempted suicide yesterday, December 3, due to stress over financial strain. Police responded to a report of a man seriously injured at his home in Bang Phut subdistrict, Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi province. At the scene, police found Anurat lying in the garage of his home, wearing only shorts. There was a knife…
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Thai actress denies fraud as police seize 10 million baht in assets
Thai actress Rybena “Nana” Intachai remains in police custody today, December 4, over a fraud scandal, but continues to deny all allegations. Police said they have substantial evidence against her and seized assets worth around 10 million baht from her home in Bangkok’s Phra Khanong area. Yesterday, December 3, officers arrested Nana at her home and searched the property before…
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Thailand and UAE mark 50 years of diplomatic relations
Thailand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marked 50 years of diplomatic relations this week during a ceremony held at the UAE Embassy in Bangkok. The celebration coincided with the UAE’s 54th Union Day. UAE Ambassador to Thailand, Obaid Saeed Obaid Bintaresh Aldhaheri, addressed the attendees on Monday, praising the steady growth of bilateral ties. He remarked that the long-standing…
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Dumbhead dispute: Miss Universe 2025 winner faces defamation complaint from Thai organiser
A Thai beauty pageant organiser filed a defamation complaint against the newly crowned Miss Universe 2025, Fatima Bosch, after she publicly claimed he called her a “dumbhead”. The dispute between the president of the Miss Universe 2025 organising committee, Nawat Itsaragrisil, and the Mexican beauty queen, Bosch, began on November 4 during a pre-pageant event in Bangkok. The conflict first…
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Thai illegal worker in South Korea seeks help after losing fingers while working
A Thai illegal worker in South Korea sought help from a migrant support centre after losing two fingers in a workplace accident, but is still receiving no compensation. Farida “Aum” Ma, a volunteer who provides assistance to Thai workers in South Korea, shared the man’s case on Facebook yesterday, December 2, posting photos showing that his middle and ring fingers were…
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Ten foreigners arrested in Koh Phangan poker raid
Tourist police arrested ten foreign nationals last night, December 2, for gambling during a poker game in Koh Phangan district, Surat Thani. The raid took place around 10pm at a private property. Officers from Division 5 of the Tourist Police Bureau acted after receiving information that foreigners had gathered there to gamble. When they arrived, they saw numerous motorbikes parked…
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Ex-homeless Chiang Mai man wins 18 million baht lottery
Relatives flocked to the home of a former homeless man in Chiang Mai after he struck it rich with a winning lottery ticket worth 18 million baht. The lottery winner, 68 year old Suthon, also known as “Uncle Jae,” lives alone in a rented room in San Pa Tong district. He earns just 350 baht a day from odd jobs…
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300 million baht budget for SEA Games pool triggers public debate
Public scrutiny is mounting over the 300-million-baht budget allocated for the swimming pool renovation ahead of the SEA Games 2025, after official procurement documents revealed the high prices of equipment installed at the venue. The Facebook page Young Shark Thailand (ฉลามหนุ่มไทยแลนด์) shared several posts breaking down the renovation costs of the SEA Games swimming pool and urged the public to…
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Indian tourist apologises for placing feet on seat of Trang-Phuket bus
An Indian man issued an apology after a video of him placing his feet on the backrest of a Trang-Phuket coach bus seat went viral on Thai social media. The video was first shared yesterday, December 2, by Facebook user Y’Not Seven, and later reposted by several news pages. In the clip, the Indian man is seen travelling with a…
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Thai man attempts suicide after setting girlfriend on fire at supermarket
Police stopped a man from taking his own life after he set his girlfriend on fire outside a supermarket in Nakhon Sawan province on Monday, December 1. Witnesses rushed to extinguish the flames engulfing the 33 year old woman, Nicha, outside the store on Krai Lat Road in the Pak Nam Pho sub-district at around 5pm. She was taken to…
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Austrian man dies in Phuket hotel, police rule out foul play
An Austrian man died in his hotel room in Kata, Phuket, yesterday morning, December 2. Police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. At around 7am yesterday, hotel staff contacted Karon Police Station about their discovery. Officers arrived and identified the deceased man as 62 year old Andreas Nemec. The tourist’s wife, 62 year old Hildegard Unterwieser, who is…
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Thai government accused of scrapping SEA Games ceremony design with no warning
A Thai designer accused the government for cancelling his designs for the SEA Games 2025 opening and closing ceremonies just one month before the event, despite him and his team working on the project for more than seven months. Rueangrith “Ton” Suntisuk, a visual and lighting designer and owner of the art and design studio DuckUnit, shared his frustration on…
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Thai police arrest six foreigners over major fraud and trafficking
The Immigration Bureau arrested six foreign nationals for financial fraud, human trafficking, and narcotics offences, according to Deputy Commissioner Police Major General Panthana Nuchanart. In the first case, police arrested Pan, a 41 year old Chinese man, wanted in China for swindling financial institutions out of 560 million yuan (roughly 2.8 billion baht). Officers say Pan falsified business information to…
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Thailand video news | Thai cabinet drops plan for extra 2026 public holidays, Pattaya reveals crowded lineup of December 2025 events
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover key stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. These include government relief efforts in flood-hit areas, unusual incidents involving a toilet truck and a paraglider, and, later on, some of the exciting events coming up this holiday season. Thai Cabinet Drops Plan for Extra 2026 Public Holidays The government has reversed its…
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Phuket villa scam leaves Thais and foreigners with over 100 million baht loss
Thai and foreign buyers lost more than 100 million baht to a Phuket property agent who duped them into purchasing luxury pool villas that were never completed. The victims claim their cases stalled because a well-known local politician is linked to the land involved. A group of victims travelled from Phuket to Nonthaburi on Monday, December 1, to seek help…
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Rare pink dragon millipede amazes tourists in Uthai Thani
Tourists flocked to Hup Pa Tat in Uthai Thani to witness the annual appearance of one of the world’s top three newly discovered species, the rare pink dragon millipede. Large crowds gathered on December 1 at Tham Prathun Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Lan Sak district’s Mueang subdistrict, as visitors explored the forest landscape, often compared to a real-life Jurassic Park.…
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Thailand begins 180-day trial lifting afternoon alcohol sales ban
Thailand officially launched its trial to lift the long-standing afternoon alcohol sales ban today, December 3, allowing alcohol sales between 2pm and 5pm for the first time in decades. The trial will run for 180 days while officials assess the impact before making a permanent decision. Two weeks ago, Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Sarum revealed that the National Alcohol Policy…
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Woman killed in Pathum Thani motorcycle crash
A motorcycle crash in Pathum Thani claimed the life of a woman and left another injured after the bike collided with a six-wheel truck. The incident occurred around 10pm yesterday, December 1, on the inbound express lane of Phahonyothin Road, near kilometre marker 46+500 in Khlong Luang district. Police Lieutenant Kriangkrai Srimai of Khlong Luang Police Station, forensic doctors from Thammasat…
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