Thailand News
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Police pose as joggers to catch foreigners hosting drug party in Koh Pha Ngan
Police officers disguised as joggers yesterday, November 6, arrested two foreign men for hosting a drug party at a house on Koh Pha Ngan, and seized cocaine from the suspects. Officers from Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police received a tip-off about suspicious behaviour at a rented house on the island. The informant reported that several foreigners were making loud noises…
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‘Big Joke’ exposes 30 cops in online gambling payout scandal
A former senior police officer testified before a House panel, accusing dozens of fellow officers of taking payments from illegal online gambling networks. Former deputy national police chief Police General Surachate Hakparn, better known as “Big Joke,” has accused more than 30 police officers of receiving payments from illegal online gambling networks, handing over what he called “evidence” to a…
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Vietjet goes green with SAF as jet delivery hits more delays
A budget airline has begun using sustainable aviation fuel on select routes while facing delays in new aircraft deliveries due to external disruptions. Vietjet Thailand has kicked off its first flights using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), becoming the latest low-cost carrier to go green while grappling with delayed aircraft deliveries. The airline launched SAF-powered operations on its…
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Officials raid Chon Buri plant over foul stench complaints
Officials inspected a recycling plant in Chon Buri after residents complained about foul odours, uncovering waste violations and environmental concerns. The inspection, carried out on November 5, was led by Ploylapas Singtothong, adviser to the industry minister, as part of the “Full Throttle” mobile inspection campaign. The facility, located in Bo Kwang Thong subdistrict, handles industrial waste processes including sorting,…
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4 foreign tourists rescued after speedboat stranded off Phuket
Four foreign tourists were safely rescued after their speedboat became stranded on rocks near Maiton Island in Phuket yesterday. Vice Admiral Weerudom Muangjeen, Commander of the Third Naval Area Command, ordered officers from the Third Naval Area Command and the Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre Region 3 to rescue the four tourists after receiving a report that their speedboat was hit…
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Delivery man found dead after recent surgery in Sri Racha room
A delivery worker was found dead in his rented Sri Racha room after neighbours reported a foul smell, days after he told his boss he was going to see a doctor. Rescue services and police forced entry into Room 532/45 at a dormitory at around 9.30am yesterday, November 6. Inside, they found the body of 33 year old Thawatchai Naen…
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Typhoon lashes coast as Thailand braces for flooding risk
Thailand braces for severe weather as a typhoon moves inland, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and flood risks to several regions across the country. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of widespread rainfall, strong winds and isolated heavy to very heavy downpours across the northeast, especially in provinces such as Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Sisaket, and Surin. Residents in…
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Thai senator sues ex-news anchor over Facebook post about alleged theft
A Thai senator is taking legal action against a former news anchor for defamation after she shared a Facebook post about his alleged theft on an expressway in 2021. The 40 year old former news anchor, Natthasinee “Kwan” Pinyopiyavid, visited Na Jomtien Police Station in Chon Buri yesterday, November 5, to acknowledge the defamation accusation made by a senator whose…
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Bangkok hauls in 390k krathongs after quieter festival night
City Hall workers in Bangkok collected over 390,000 krathong floats after the Loy Krathong Festival, marking a notable drop from the previous year’s total. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials collected a total of 391,027 krathong floats from canals, rivers and lakes across the capital following last night’s (November 5) Loy Krathong festival, a 24% drop compared to the same event…
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Frenchman and two Thais save woman from suicide in Chao Phraya River
A Frenchman and two Thai nationals saved a heartbroken woman from a suicide attempt in the Chao Phraya River in Chai Nat province yesterday, November 5. CCTV footage of the incident, shared by Channel 7, showed the woman, aged around 30, climbing over a riverside fence before jumping into the water. The incident occurred in the Mueang Chai Nat district…
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Thai tourism chiefs urge bold fixes to win back visitors
Tourism experts gathered in Bangkok to discuss how Thailand can regain traveller confidence, adapt to new demands, and boost its global tourism standing. Thailand must move quickly to restore tourist confidence, enhance safety, and offer modern, meaningful experiences if it wants to remain a top global destination, experts said during The Nation Visionary Club’s latest roundtable, Rebuilding Thai Tourism Trend:…
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Trusted transwoman helper accused of stealing gold from elderly woman
Police arrested a Thai transwoman for stealing a gold necklace from a 68 year old woman in Sattahip, Chon Buri province. The 68 year old victim, Maew, filed a complaint with Sattahip Police Station on November 3 after her gold necklace, worth around 31,000 baht, went missing. Maew told officers she suspected the transwoman, later identified as 48 year old…
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Phuket braces for floods as storm lashes Andaman coast
Phuket officials have warned residents to prepare for flash floods, heavy rain, and strong winds as a powerful monsoon system moves across the island. Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra has issued an urgent public warning as intensified southwesterly monsoon winds fuel extreme weather across the Andaman coast. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts continuous rainfall from November 5 to 10, with…
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Female Bangkok taxi rider thanks heroes who save her from rape attempt
A female motorcycle taxi rider is searching for the good samaritans who saved her from being raped by a male passenger on November 1 in Lat Krabang district of Bangkok. The female rider, identified only as May, took to social media on November 3 to look for those who came to her aid and to share her story as a…
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Thai tourism shines in London with wellness-themed showcase
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) led 50 Thai businesses to the World Travel Market (WTM) 2025 in London, aiming to court high-spending long-haul travellers with a strong focus on health and wellness tourism. Held from November 4 to November 6 (today) at ExCeL London, WTM is one of the world’s premier travel trade shows. Thailand’s pavilion this year was…
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Chon Buri man threatens neighbour with gun in cat-related dispute
A Thai man threatened his neighbour with a gun on Tuesday, November 4, after the neighbour’s cat ate grass in front of his home in Chon Buri province. The 53 year old victim, Yongyot, reached out to several news agencies out of concern for himself, his family members, and his cat named Panda. The incident occurred on Tuesday night in a…
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Thai girl, 12, rescued after getting trafficked to Tokyo by mother
A 12 year old Thai girl has been rescued from a Tokyo massage parlour where she was forced to serve dozens of customers in a month-long trafficking ordeal orchestrated by the establishment’s owner and her own mother. The girl was forced to work in a massage parlour, serving approximately 60 customers in just one month whilst generating 627,000 yen (around…
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BMW driver pays 5.5 million baht after killing mother and 2 children in Chumphon
A Thai BMW driver faces four years and seven months in prison after a fatal accident that killed a mother and her two children in the southern province of Chumphon last year. She was later granted temporary release. The crash occurred on a highway in Chumphon at around 7.40pm on November 27 last year, when a BMW collided with a…
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People’s Party hits back at salary deduction smear claims
Thailand’s opposition People’s Party has denied claims it used MP assistants’ salaries to fund memberships, calling the allegations politically motivated. The allegations were raised by Klatham Party MP Phai Lik, who suggested such deductions could constitute money laundering. In response, People’s Party deputy leader Rangsiman Rome dismissed the claims as baseless and legally flawed. “Diverting salaries to pay for party…
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Boy, 5, electrocuted on school swing in Northeast Thailand
A five year old boy in Northeast Thailand died after being electrocuted while playing on a school swing, prompting questions over campus safety. The incident occurred on Tuesday, November 4, at a school in Non Suwan district, Buriram province, while the child was playing in the school’s outdoor playground during school hours. Relatives have identified the victim as Atsawin, a…
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Thailand to slap import duties on all low-value online goods
Thailand’s Customs Department will begin imposing import duties on low-value online goods to boost revenue and support fair competition for local businesses. The move, aimed at levelling the playing field for local businesses, will target goods previously exempt from import duties and applies to any item valued under 1,500 baht, even those costing just 1 baht. Phanthong Loykulnanta, director-general of…
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Kenyan woman drives car into Chiang Mai moat on Loy Krathong night
A Kenyan woman accidentally drove her red Nissan sedan into a Chiang Mai moat on Loy Krathong night, November 5, after being startled by firecrackers and children’s screams. Channel 7 reported that the accident occurred in front of Wat Lok Molee last night, where attendees were enjoying the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivals. Witnesses alerted officers from Mueang Chiang Mai…
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Bangkok private school to close after 50 years of service
A long-standing private school in Bangkok will close after decades of operation, citing low enrollment caused by Thailand’s declining birth rate and economy. Udomsuksa School, located in the Wang Thong Lang district, announced it will officially close at the end of the 2025 academic year, citing a sharp decline in student enrolment as the key reason. The final day of…
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Patong tunnel will be built, says transport minister amid backlash
Thailand’s transport minister has confirmed a long-delayed tunnel project will proceed as planned, following public backlash and confusion over recent changes. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn moved swiftly to calm the storm, releasing multiple statements through Phuket’s Public Relations Department late Sunday, November 2, to reassure residents and business leaders that the government remains committed to the…
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Bangkok warehouse erupts in fireball and explosions overnight
A fire broke out at a warehouse in Bangkok during the early hours, causing explosions and thick smoke as firefighters rushed to contain the fast-spreading blaze. The inferno occurred at around 1.45am today, November 6, in Soi Rat Burana 29, in the Rat Burana district of Bangkok. Thick black smoke and intermittent blasts terrified locals as firefighters scrambled to contain…
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Pattaya biker fights for life after smashing into garbage truck
A motorcyclist was critically injured after crashing into a garbage truck during heavy rain on a major road in Pattaya in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crash occurred around 3.30am on November 2 on Sukhumvit Road, inbound to Chon Buri, as torrential rain soaked the streets. The slick road surface is believed to have played a major role…
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Thai woman killed and dumped in canal over alleged love affair
Police are searching for the suspects involved in the murder of a Thai woman whose body was found dumped in a canal in the central province of Nakhon Pathom. Adultery is suspected to be the motive behind the killing. A local fisherman alerted officers from Bang Len Police Station after discovering the body of the woman, later identified as 49…
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Russian QR code drug runner found hiding in Koh Samui hotel
A Russian man wanted for promoting drugs via QR codes was arrested by immigration police after fleeing Phuket and hiding at a hotel on Koh Samui. The suspect, 27 year old Semen Kasparian (also reported as Semian Gaspayan) was arrested by Surat Thani Immigration Police today, November 6, after fleeing an arrest warrant issued in Phuket. The Russian national is…
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Foreign man threatens Phuket hotel staff after being denied entry with cat
A foreign man allegedly threatened to stab and shoot a hotel employee in Phuket yesterday, November 6, after being refused permission to bring a cat into the accommodation. The victim shared details of the violent behaviour with the Phuket Times Facebook page, which also released CCTV footage capturing part of the incident. In the video, the foreign man, dressed in…
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Phuket bosses demand action on Kathu-Patong tunnel plan
Business leaders in Phuket are urging the government to move forward with a vital tunnel project, warning that proposed changes could cause costly delays. At a recent press conference, 24 private-sector organisations joined forces to urge the Transport Ministry to move forward without further alterations or delays. The 3.98-kilometre tunnel, approved by the Cabinet on August 26, comes with a…
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