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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Sponsored See the best of Northern Thailand this winter on a budget
The Thaiger key takeaways Peak season brings higher prices, but smart planning and local know-how can help you experience Northern Thailand affordably. Chiang Mai, Pai, and Chiang Rai offer plenty of free or low-cost attractions, from temples and canyons to...
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Police investigate death of elderly man after suspected drug use at sexual gathering
A 70 year old man was found dead on November 16 at a residence in Lopburi province, following a reported gathering involving drug use and sexual activity. Authorities have not released the man’s identity. Officers from Mueang Lop Buri Police Station responded to a call at 10.28pm and found the man lying unresponsive and unclothed on a sofa in the…
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Khao Kheow Zoo invites public to help name newborn tapir calf
Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri is inviting the public to take part in naming a female Malayan tapir calf born on September 28, 2025. Participants in the naming campaign have a chance to win prizes, including a 3,000 baht cash reward. Narongwit Chotchoi, Director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo, said the calf was born to 14 year old…
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Thai taxi rider arrested for filming police cadet in mall bathroom after drug use
Police arrested a motorcycle taxi rider on Saturday, November 15, for secretly filming a police cadet in a shopping mall bathroom in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The 26 year old cadet reported the incident to Mueang Udon Thani Police Station after noticing the suspect using a mobile phone to record him while he was using the bathroom. The cadet…
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American man knocked out in Bangla Road fight
Phuket Tourist Police officers rushed to assist an American man who lost consciousness on Bangla Road after he got into a fight with another foreigner last night, November 16. The Phuket Times Facebook page reposted a video of the physical altercation between two foreign men on Bangla Road with a caption reading, “Bangla Stadium! Free great boxing show! One punch…
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Thai woman confesses to police officer’s murder, citing abusive affair
A 20 year old Thai woman confessed to murdering a police officer at his home in Chiang Mai province, claiming they had been having an affair and that the officer repeatedly abused her. A friend discovered the body of the 53 year old police officer on November 15. According to the friend, he visited the officer frequently and found his…
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Thai man accused of intentionally spreading HIV, offering sex for drugs
A man in the central province of Saraburi was accused of intentionally spreading HIV within the LGBTQIA+ community and trading sex for drugs. The complainant, identified only as A, contacted news agencies on November 16, saying he wanted the 29 year old man, referred to as Joe, to face legal punishment and hoped to issue a warning to LGBTQIA+ people…
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Rayong father suggests dog attack kills his 2 year old son
A missing two year old Thai boy was found dead on a roadside in the eastern province of Rayong on Friday, November 14. His father denied abusing the child and suggested that he may have died from a dog attack. The boy, Toto, went missing around midnight on Friday, prompting his father, 21 year old Korn, to appeal for help…
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Former soldier arrested for robbery in Bangkok, disguised as woman
Police have arrested a 23 year old former conscript accused of a convenience store robbery in Bangkok while disguised as a woman, pocketing around 10,000 baht in cash. The suspect, identified only as Thanathon, was apprehended yesterday, November 16, at a condominium in the Ramkhamhaeng area by officers from Bangkok Metropolitan Police Division 4 and Hua Mak Police Station. Items…
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Foreign man caught stealing 199-baht sunglasses in Phuket
A security camera footage capturing a foreign man stealing sunglasses from a shop in Phuket yesterday, November 16, was shared across social media. The employee of an accessory shop in Phuket shared the CCTV footage with the Newshawk Phuket Facebook page in an attempt to identify and locate the foreign thief. According to the worker, the man tried on several…
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Phuket warehouse raid uncovers scam with 20,000 items seized
Police in Phuket have dismantled a large-scale fraudulent parcel operation, seizing more than 20,000 items believed to be used in a nationwide cash-on-delivery (COD) scam. Yesterday, November 16, Police Major General Sinlert Sukhum, commander of Phuket Provincial Police, led a team including officers from Mueang Phuket Police Station to inspect a commercial unit in Boat Plaza, Rassada subdistrict. The raid…
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Thailand video news | Thailand updates alcohol rules, Thailand introduces new tax on low-cost imports
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex covers key stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia, including changes to the alcohol laws, a new tax on low-cost imports aimed at protecting local SMEs, several incidents involving misbehaving foreigners, and a few feel-good updates to end on a positive note. Thailand Updates Alcohol Rules with New Sales and Closing Hours Thailand has…
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Second Russian man arrested over drug sale QR code stickers in Phuket
Police arrested another Russian drug dealer on Friday, November 14, following an extended investigation into drug sale QR code stickers placed on utility poles across Phuket. The investigation was expanded after a Russian man was arrested on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province earlier in November for promoting drug sales via QR codes. The suspect was found placing QR code…
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Bhumjaithai hits back at looming Pheu Thai no-confidence motion
The Bhumjaithai Party says it’s unfazed by an expected no-confidence motion from Pheu Thai, insisting Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s administration is already showing results. Nan Boonthida Somchai, a spokesperson for Bhumjaithai, said yesterday, November 16, that the party is fully prepared to respond to the censure debate, which Pheu Thai has signalled it will launch soon. Anutin, who has been…
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November 17: 40 Thai provinces brace for storms, strong winds
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning today, November 17, as severe storms and strong winds are forecast to sweep across 40 provinces, with the upper region facing erratic conditions and southern seas seeing waves of over two metres. The TMD announced that a strong high-pressure system from central China is expected to move across southern China and northern…
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Foreign man fined for strolling naked while visiting Thai wife in Kamphaeng Phet
Yesterday, A foreign man captured the attention of locals after strolling naked through a local market and a convenience store in the northern province of Kamphaeng Phet. Residents buying groceries at Khlong Lan Market recorded the man calmly walking around without clothes. In the clips shared on social media, bystanders stare in disbelief as the man casually makes a payment at…
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Thailand and Sweden eye bigger trade boost and tech ties
Thailand and Sweden held talks to boost bilateral trade and investment, focusing on technology, green products, and a potential EU free trade agreement. In a high-level meeting on Friday, November 14, Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun sat down with Swedish Ambassador Anna Hammargren to push forward the Thailand-Sweden Strategic Partnership and discuss fast-tracking negotiations on a long-awaited Thailand–EU free trade agreement.…
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Thailand’s airport rail deal faces legal showdown
Thailand’s Transport Ministry has raised concerns over proposed contract changes to a major airport rail project, warning of legal risks if the deal is altered. Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, who also chairs the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee, has called for a balanced and legally sound resolution to the dispute surrounding the 224 billion baht project linking Don Mueang,…
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Ayutthaya businesswoman offers red drinks for lottery luck
A crane company owner made a vow at a famous Ayutthaya hermitage after a business success, while worshippers searched for lucky numbers in holy water. Yesterday, November 15, crowds of worshippers and tourists gathered at the hermitage of Rishi Naen That Phutthakun in Pho Taeng subdistrict, Bang Sai district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. The site has become a spiritual…
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Chinese fake tour guide arrested after 1,043-day overstay
Tourist Police arrested a Chinese national in Pattaya for working illegally as a tour guide while overstaying his visa by nearly three years. Undercover Tourist Police swooped in on a Chinese tour group early on Wednesday, November 12, arresting 30 year old Jinlei (surname withheld), who was caught leading tourists with a fake tour guide licence while overstaying his visa…
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Arsenic alert in Mekong prompts urgent government action
The People’s Party (PP) has called on the government to address arsenic contamination in the Mekong River caused by foreign mining, urging immediate action. The spread is believed to be caused by foreign mining activities in China, Myanmar, and Laos. Chiang Mai MP and PP deputy spokesperson, Phattarapong Leelaphat, voiced concerns on Facebook, accusing the government of remaining silent despite…
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Lottery fever spikes as lucky signs sweep Thailand
As the next lottery draw nears, hopeful Thais across the country are searching for lucky numbers through signs, spirits, and superstitions. This month’s frenzy centres around a flurry of spiritual signs, superstitions, and vehicle registrations, all believed to hold the key to fortune. The draw will take place at Sanambinnam in Nonthaburi, and as the big day approaches, popular numbers…
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Phuket gets new governor after record-short term ends
Phuket will welcome a new governor after the sudden departure of the former officeholder, marking a swift change in provincial leadership. Nirat Pongsitthaworn, the current Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), is scheduled to arrive in Phuket tomorrow, November 17, to take over as the new Governor of Phuket. His appointment was confirmed earlier this week through an…
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Cool weather kicks in as storms brew across Thailand
A cold snap and stormy conditions are sweeping across Thailand as a weather system from China brings strong winds, rain, and cooler temperatures nationwide. A moderate high-pressure system from China is sweeping across upper Thailand and the South China Sea, bringing cool to cold mornings and strong winds to northern, northeastern, central, and eastern regions, including Bangkok. The northeast is…
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143 macaques rescued in Sa Kaeo border smuggling raid
Thai officials rescued 143 macaques during two anti-smuggling operations near the Sa Kaeo border, targeting a cross-border wildlife trafficking ring. The first raid occurred around 3pm yesterday, November 14, in Ban Khao Chong Khaep, Khlong Hat district, where a joint task force uncovered 62 long-tailed macaques packed inside plastic crates hidden in a sugarcane field. No suspects were apprehended at…
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Blazing cables and explosions jolt Pattaya neighbourhood
A fire broke out on overhead cables in a Pattaya neighbourhood, causing explosions and panic as locals and rescue teams worked to prevent it from spreading. The fire broke out around 8pm yesterday, November 14, in the Ton Krabok area of Na Kluea, sending flames and sparks cascading from power poles positioned in front of homes. Alarmed locals quickly notified…
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Rare great hornbill spotted in Chiang Mai after 10 years
A great hornbill was spotted in a Chiang Mai national park, marking the first confirmed sighting in over a decade and signalling improved forest health. Chiang Mai’s Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park is celebrating a major ecological milestone after spotting a great hornbill, also known locally as nok kahang or nok gak, for the first time in over a…
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Toddler found dead by Rayong roadside prompts police probe
Police in Rayong are investigating after a toddler’s body was found near a roadside restaurant, with signs of severe injuries and possible foul play. Rayong police have launched a full-scale investigation after the body of a two year old boy was discovered abandoned and unclothed near a roadside restaurant in Mueang subdistrict, Nikhom Phatthana district. Officers were alerted to the…
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Bangkok woman’s lottery streak stuns Ratchaburi locals
A Bangkok woman returned to a Ratchaburi monastery to give thanks after winning the lottery multiple times, crediting her luck to a revered local spirit. Excitement is building in Ratchaburi ahead of the national lottery draw tomorrow, November 16, as word spreads of a woman who’s racked up six consecutive wins, each time returning to perform a dance of thanks…
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Thai ex-cop Santhana granted bail in 2021 Taiwanese kidnap case
A former police officer was granted bail after being arrested in Bangkok for allegedly abducting a foreign businessman as part of a wider criminal case. Santhana Prayoonrat, a 66 year old former senior police officer with a controversial past, was granted bail yesterday, November 14, following his arrest in connection with the 2021 abduction of a Taiwanese businessman in Bangkok.…
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Royal order visits Phuket to back aid for the underprivileged
An international chivalric order met with Phuket officials to discuss new partnerships aimed at supporting social development and local communities. A delegation from the Order of Saint Stanislas, an international NGO with roots in European chivalric tradition, visited Phuket on Thursday, November 13, to explore community development partnerships and expand support for disadvantaged residents. The high-profile visit took place at…
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