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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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Sponsored Bangtao, Phuket: The neighbourhood expats and investors are eyeing in 2025
Bangtao didn't become Phuket’s most talked-about neighbourhood overnight. For a long time, it was a quiet place on the island’s west coast where locals walked their dogs at sunrise and tourists flocked to sunbathe along its eight-kilometre stretch of beach....
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Golden chance: Prices drop, time to cash in on your bling dreams
The Gold Traders Association announced a dip in today’s gold prices, offering a glittering opportunity for buyers. As of 9.05am, today, November 11, gold ornaments are selling at 43,900 baht per baht, showing a 100 baht decrease from yesterday’s figures. For those eyeing pure gold bars at 96.5% purity, today’s prices reveal a buying rate of 43,300 baht per baht…
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Thai-Cambodia skirmish rumours on Koh Kut debunked
Reports of alleged confrontations between Thai and Cambodian soldiers on Koh Kut have been dismissed by the government as fake news. Despite the rumours, government agencies maintain that the tourism situation on the island remains positive, with visitor numbers surpassing those of previous years, according to Jirayu Houngsub, an adviser to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Koh Kut, located in Trat…
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The White Lotus blooms with Lisa BLACKPINK’s acting debut in Thailand (video)
The much anticipated third series of The White Lotus unveiled another teaser revealing Thailand’s favourite K-pop singer Lisa Monobal in her first acting role. Yesterday, November 10, the series producer, Max, swished aside the curtain on Blackpink’s Lalisa as she stepped into the role of Thidapon Sornsin, a charming hospitality host who greets with a quintessentially Thai welcome: “Welcome to…
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Thai drama series faces backlash after cat anaesthetised on set (video)
The Department of Livestock Development planned to summon the director and production team of the Thai historical drama series The Empress of Ayodhaya, also known as Mae Yhua, for questioning due to criticism over animal abuse after a black cat was anaesthetised during the production. The Empress of Ayodhaya is a period drama inspired by the Queen of Ayodhaya, Sri…
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Armed gang steals rosewood logs, attacks officers
A coordinated nighttime attack on a forestry protection unit in Nakhon Phanom province resulted in the theft of valuable Siam rosewood and weapons, with officials suggesting the raid was carefully planned by a gang familiar with the location. The incident occurred yesterday, November 10, shortly after midnight in Ban Kut Takab, Waritchaphum district, when five masked men in black clothing…
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Thai man leaves apology note & cash after laundrette knicker theft
A Thai man with a woman’s underwear fetish got his knickers in a twist after stealing a G-string from a local launderette in Pattaya. Overcome with guilt, the remorseful knicker thief penned a heartfelt apology and left cash compensation for the startled owner. Kai, the 42 year old owner of the automatic laundry shop, marched into Pattaya City Police Station,…
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6 Thai inmates stab prisoner to death in Bangkok prison (video)
Six Thai prisoners at Minburi Remand Prison in Bangkok assaulted and stabbed a fellow inmate to death with a sharpened iron rod and spoon for exposing their involvement in a drug case. Officers from Min Buri Police Station reported to the media that the stabbing occurred near the prison welfare shop in the fifth control area. The male prisoner, Yutthakarn,…
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PM on dual-purpose trip to US west coast and APEC summit
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra departed Bangkok yesterday for a diplomatic mission combining stops in Los Angeles and Lima, Peru. Accompanied by Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and other officials, the delegation touched down in Los Angeles at 7.30pm local time, yesterday, November 10. The Thai premier’s Los Angeles agenda includes chairing a strategic meeting with diplomatic representatives from across the Americas…
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Thaicom 9A satellite repositioned to secure Thailand’s orbital rights
Thaicom is set to reposition an EutelSat satellite, now labelled Thaicom 9A, to the 50.5° East orbit. This move comes as the deadline to retain Thailand’s rights to the orbit approaches, expiring tomorrow, November 12. The satellite operator aims to ensure the country’s continued access to this orbital position by completing the relocation process within the stipulated timeframe. Last month,…
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Lifeless body of Indian man found after Koh Samui waterfall stumble
Thai officials discovered the body of a 29 year old Indian man yesterday after he accidentally fell from the cliff at Na Mueang 2 Waterfall on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Over 30 officials from Koh Samui Police Station, rescue teams, the local administrative office, and the Royal Forest Department participated in the search…
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Thailand video news | Thailand and China to strengthen tourism ties across ASEAN region, British tourists fined for reckless motorbike riding in Phuket
In Thailand’s latest news update, Alex and Jay cover top stories from Thailand and Southeast Asia. Key highlights include Thailand and China’s plans to strengthen tourism ties across the ASEAN region, while the Pheu Thai Party faces political challenges as the unresolved 2004 Tak Bai massacre may affect its support in upcoming elections. Other stories feature fines for reckless British…
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Vietnam to block Shein, Temu if unregistered by November
Vietnam announced plans to take action against Chinese online retailers Shein and Temu by blocking their Internet domains and mobile applications if they fail to register their operations with the Ministry of Industry and Trade by the end of November. This development arises from concerns over the influence of these Chinese platforms on local markets, particularly regarding their aggressive discounting…
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Bitcoin hits record high after Trump’s US presidential victory
Bitcoin surged past US$81,000 (2.78 million baht) today, November 11, hitting a record high, following Donald Trump’s win in the US presidential election. The victory, alongside the election of pro-crypto candidates to Congress, has fuelled speculation about a more lenient regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies. The digital currency has experienced a remarkable rise, more than doubling from its lowest point of…
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Chinese call centre scam leader surrenders after 7 months in hiding
A leading Chinese member of a call centre scam gang in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat surrendered to Thai police after seven months in hiding. The 33 year old Chinese man, Jiang Zhaitian, reached out to the Thai police via his lawyer, expressing his intent to turn himself in. Jiang was subsequently taken to the Cyber Crime Investigation…
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Thailand gears up for excise tax as it charges into electric future
Thailand is set to adjust its automotive excise tax structure to reflect the global shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), according to Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul. This move aims to harmonise local policies with international trends in the automotive industry, particularly as the competition between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) intensifies. Paopoom highlighted the uncertainty…
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Canna-bust: British student’s drug-filled dreams go up in smoke
A British student’s high-flying ambitions came crashing down when his ill-fated bid to smuggle a suitcase brimming with cannabis from Thailand was thwarted. The desperate act was all in the name of funding his university education, a courtroom in Austria heard. The 29 year old mature student, travelling with his 24 year old girlfriend, was nabbed during a layover in…
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A World Kindness Day: Spread kindness, prevent illness – Get your 10% discount
With World Kindness Day just two days away on November 13, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how empathy and care can make a real impact, not just in our relationships but in our health, too. This day is all about creating a more compassionate, understanding world, an opportunity to connect the themes of kindness and health prevention. For…
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No time to lose: Mexican tourist returns pricey watch after Bangkok airport mix-up
A Mexican woman on holiday with her family in Phuket agreed to return a luxury watch worth about 200,000 baht to a Thai woman, stating that she thought it belonged to a family member and mistakenly took it from Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok. A 21 year old Thai woman, Rachawalee, filed a complaint with Don Mueang Police Station…
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Motorcyle thief busted by Bang Lamung’s brave teen vigilantes
In a remarkable display of community spirit and quick thinking, a group of local teens turned heroes yesterday as they apprehended a suspected motorcycle thief in the bustling streets of Bang Lamung. The drama unfolded at 2pm, yesterday, November 10, right in front of a mobile phone repair shop near Wat Boon Samphan, drawing quite a crowd. When Nong Prue…
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Bangkok air pollution spikes as 35 areas exceed safe PM2.5 levels
Bangkok faced a spike in PM2.5 pollution levels, with 35 areas registering unhealthy air quality, prompting swift action from City Hall. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) issued warnings to help residents mitigate health impacts from the pollutants. PM2.5, or ultra-fine dust particles, exceeded the safe threshold of 37.5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) in several areas, according to AirBKK, BMA’s…
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Police drug bust seizes 56kg of heroin in Nakhon Phanom
Nakhon Phanom was the scene of a blockbuster drug bust yesterday as police and local security forces joined forces to take down major drug lords, confiscating a monumental 56 kilogrammes of heroin and a mind-boggling 121,000 methamphetamine pills in the Thao Uthen district. This daring operation was set in motion after an explosive tip-off about a narcotics shipment sneaking across…
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Phuket Airport sees surge with over 30,000 passengers daily
Phuket International Airport is experiencing a significant upswing in passenger traffic this High Season, with daily figures surpassing 30,000 travellers and over 300 flights. This uptick in activity has prompted plans for an expansion of the international terminal to accommodate up to 18 million passengers annually. Monchai Tanod, the director of Phuket Airport, shared insights on the anticipated passenger numbers…
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Brits and pieces: Pattaya calm shattered by heated road rage clash
The tranquillity of Pattaya’s sun-kissed streets was shattered yesterday by a shocking road rage meltdown involving a British man and a Thai local. Chaos unfolded outside the LK Metro Hotel on Soi Buakhao as emergency services rushed to the scene in response to a violent altercation between a British man and a Thai driver. James Edward, a British national, was…
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Toxic warehouse: Cops uncover illegal operation in Chachoengsao
Police in Chachoengsao uncovered a shocking illegal operation housing hazardous chemicals within a warehouse complex in the Plang Yao district. A massive investigation launched yesterday, November 10, revealed that nine out of ten warehouses were being used for illicit factory activities, with the primary focus being the illegal recycling of hazardous materials. The probe, carried out in partnership with the…
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Tak Bai massacre impacts Pheu Thai ahead of Thai election
The unresolved issue of the 2004 Tak Bai massacre in Thailand’s deep south is perceived by many locals as a potential detriment to the Pheu Thai Party, as revealed by a recent opinion poll. Meanwhile, the People’s Party emerges as the preferred choice for the upcoming General Election. This survey, conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), gathered…
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Overnight phone charging sparks fire in Samut Prakan building
A mobile phone charging overnight caused a fire in Samut Prakan, leaving a father and his two sons injured due to smoke inhalation. The blaze erupted in their three-storey commercial building, prompting an urgent response from local fire services. The incident occurred today when the Samrong Nuea Police Station received a report of a fire in a commercial building within…
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Thailand implements 8.36 billion baht plan to stabilise rice prices
The National Rice Policy and Management Committee has introduced three strategic measures to stabilise rice prices amidst concerns of potential oversupply during the harvest season. By maintaining a balance between demand and supply, these initiatives aim to prevent a price drop in this year’s rice crop. Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan announced that the first measure entails an 8.36 billion baht…
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Police raid exposes illegal gambling in Bangkok restaurant
Police raided a Chinese restaurant in the heart of Bangkok, disguised as a legitimate eatery, and arrested four Chinese nationals for illegal gambling. The raid, which took place yesterday, November 9, at 9.30pm, was led by Jesada Yangnok, alongside deputy officers from Wang Thonglang Police Station. This followed intelligence that the establishment was operating as a covert gambling den. Upon…
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Tattoo artist arrested for ketamine dealing in Bang Lamung
In an evening operation on November 8, Bang Lamung police arrested a young tattoo artist suspected of drug dealing. The arrest took place at a tattoo shop in the Bang Lamung district around 6pm, following a tip-off about a planned ketamine delivery intended for Pattaya’s nightlife scene. Police had set up surveillance around the shop and observed a man fitting…
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British nationals charged for reckless motorbike riding
Nine British tourists have been fined for reckless driving after locals reported their disruptive behaviour to the police. The Chalong Police received a complaint via the 191 police hotline at 1.04am on November 7, reporting a group of foreigners riding motorbikes dangerously on Khok San Road towards Saiyuan Road. Witnesses described the group revving their engines loudly and driving in…
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