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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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Realsmart positions AI at the core of its 2026 growth strategy
RealSmart Public Company Limited has unveiled its business plan for 2026, positioning the company to ride what it sees as a decisive shift in how Thai organizations use artificial intelligence in daily operations and executive decision-making. Speaking this week, Phukit Distharanon, chief executive officer of RealSmart, said 2026 would mark a turning point where AI moves beyond pilot projects and…
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Thai worker killed in gas explosion during welding works in Chon Buri
A suspected methane gas explosion outside a supermarket in the Si Racha district of Chon Buri late on Saturday night, December 20, killed one welding worker and injured two others, including a customer. Si Racha Police Station officers received a report of the explosion at Lotus’s supermarket in in the Surasak sub-district at around 11.30pm. Police rushed to the scene…
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Thailand’s car production rises 11% in November as domestic sales climb
Thailand’s car production rose sharply in November, climbing 11.06% from a year earlier to 130,222 units, according to data released on Monday by the Federation of Thai Industries. The increase follows another strong month in October, when production rose 14.17% year on year, signalling a steady recovery in the country’s auto manufacturing sector. Thailand is Southeast Asia’s largest vehicle production…
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Malaysia thanks Thailand for role in repatriation of online scam victims
Malaysia has formally thanked Thailand for its coordination and assistance in the successful repatriation of 31 Malaysian nationals who were victims of an online job scam in Myawaddy, Myanmar. According to reports by Asian News Network and The Straits Times, Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all 31 victims were safely repatriated on the evening of December 20 and…
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Canadian man arrested after stealing car from Krabi police station
A Canadian man was arrested after stealing a car from outside a police station in Krabi, triggering a high-speed chase involving more than 30 officers on Friday, December 19. The Canadian suspect, later identified as 43 year old Michael Jame Parton, stole a car with the registration number กว 5345, which was parked outside Mueang Krabi Police Station, before speeding…
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Thailand video news | Thailand introduces new rules blocking alcohol sales to drunk customers, Bangkok crowned the world’s most visited city for 2025
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring you the latest stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. Highlights include new rules banning alcohol sales to intoxicated customers, regional earthquake activity felt across Southeast Asia, and foreigners making headlines for inappropriate behaviour — from public incidents to cheating in food challenges — plus where Bangkok ranks among the world’s…
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US trade deal on hold as tariffs could rise if border conflict drags on
A senior official at Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce has warned that any trade deal with the United States cannot be finalized until a new parliament and cabinet are in place, as concerns grow that Washington could raise tariffs if fighting between Thailand and Cambodia is not resolved. Speaking on Friday, Chotima Iamsawadikul, director-general of the Department of International Trade Negotiations,…
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Teacher accused of kneeing student in Udon Thani
A mother in Udon Thani complained yesterday, December 21, after her 10 year old son was allegedly kneed by his class teacher during a punishment at school, an incident that has left the boy under medical care. A 41 year old woman, identified as A, filed a complaint via the Hia Piak Chuai Duai Facebook page, alleging that her son, a…
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Phuket van driver faces fine and licence suspension for striking foreigner
A Thai van driver faced a fine of 1,000 baht and had his public transport driving licence suspended after he struck a foreign woman on the head with a plastic bottle outside Phuket International Airport during a dispute over rubbish left in his vehicle. The incident took place last week and quickly went viral on social media. The van driver,…
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Drones, checkpoints ready for Bangkok New Year period
Bangkok’s roads are expected to experience heavy congestion during the New Year period, and to keep traffic under control, Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) officers are ramping up enforcement and introducing new technological measures, including drones. Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Thawat Wongsanga said police aim to reduce accidents and fatalities between December 30 and January 5, the period known for a…
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Danish man and Thai woman intervened while having sex off Pattaya beach
Police intervened after a Danish man and a Thai woman were found engaging in sexual activity on a floating pontoon off Jomtien Beach in Pattaya on Saturday night, December 20. The incident was reported to Mueang Pattaya Police Station by a 27 year old Thai man identified as Bas. He said he noticed the indecent act at around 10pm while…
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Thai marine officer loses foot to Cambodian mine near border
In the eastern province of Trat, a marine officer lost his foot after stepping on a Cambodian mine while on duty in a recently reclaimed area near the Cambodian border this morning, on December 21. Captain Thammanoon Wanna, commander of an ad hoc marine unit in Trat, reported the incident occurred in Ban Nong Ree village, Cham Rak subdistrict, Mueang…
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Thai Army Nurse Honoured with Royal Cremation in Kalasin
A royal cremation ceremony was held for 33 year old Army Nurse Sergeant Apisit ‘Tee’ Bunnak at Wat Pa Phutthaphawan, Ban Somsak Village, Mueang subdistrict, Kuchinarai district, Kalasin province yesterday, on December 20, at 4pm. Apisit, a member of the 2nd Army Region’s combat unit and a nurse at Infantry Regiment 11, succumbed to injuries sustained during a Thai-Cambodian border…
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Man shot dead in Chon Buri love triangle dispute
Police are hunting for a suspect. This comes after a man was shot dead during a confrontation in Chon Buri’s Phanat Nikhom district. Police Lieutenant Colonel Nanthaphon Nanainboon, an investigator from Phanat Nikhom Police Station, said officers were alerted to the shooting at Chum Saeng Village, Moo 10, Mon Nang subdistrict. At the scene, police found a man, identified only…
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Ex-minister Prasert to be questioned over Singapore MoU with money launderer
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) plans to call in former Digital Economy and Society Minister, Prasert Jantararuangtong. They are concerned about his involvement in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Singapore. Alleged money launderer, Ben Smith, was reportedly present during this event. The MoU has since been brought under investigation by authorities. This decision comes after testimony from…
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Canadian mother arrested in Phuket for assaulting her two children
Chalong Police in Phuket are investigating an assault that occurred early yesterday morning in Rawai, resulting in injuries to two Canadian children, allegedly inflicted by their mother, who was later found with self-inflicted injuries. The incident took place in a house on Soi Saiyuan 11, Moo 7, Rawai, around 12.30am. A neighbour alerted the police after a teenage boy was…
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Series of Earthquakes Felt Near Thailand as Regional Seismic Activity Intensifies
Thailand’s Earthquake Monitoring Division has issued a cautionary update after a series of earthquakes were recorded in and around the country in the early hours of December 21, underscoring heightened seismic activity across the region. According to the Thailand Earthquake Monitoring Division, tremors were detected multiple times overnight and into the morning, with the strongest nearby activity occurring close enough…
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Thai music icon Manas Pitisant passes away at age 98
National Artist in Performing Arts, Manas Pitisant, known for his contributions to Thai music, passed away peacefully at 98 years old yesterday, on December 20. The Department of Cultural Promotion received confirmation from his family that Manas Pitisant, the composer of renowned songs such as ‘Sanaeha’ and ‘Muean Khon La Fak Fah,’ died at 4.16am on December 20. The previous…
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Thai and Cambodian Airport Passenger Numbers Drop Despite Open Flights
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have spilled into the aviation sector, with airport authorities in both countries trading accusations even as flight connections remain open and operational. At the center of the dispute are allegations from Cambodian officials that passengers transiting through Bangkok face repeated delays and baggage problems, claims Thai authorities strongly deny. This week, Airports of Thailand rejected…
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Southern Thailand Flooding Update: Travel Conditions Stabilize Across the Region
Travel conditions across Southern Thailand have largely returned to normal following recent flooding, with steady improvements reported in all affected provinces, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. As of December 8 at 10.00am local time, authorities say transport access has stabilized, tourism services have resumed, and most destinations are fully operational. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said it continues…
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Widespread Power Outages on December 21st in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Nonthaburi
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has announced scheduled power outages across Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Nonthaburi on Sunday, December 21, affecting a total of 41 locations as part of routine maintenance and system improvement work. According to the MEA, the outages are necessary to improve the efficiency, safety, and reliability of the electricity distribution system. Power will be temporarily suspended…
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US pushes for Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire compliance by next week
The United States is aiming to bring Thailand and Cambodia back into compliance with a ceasefire agreement brokered by President Donald Trump. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism that this could be achieved by early next week. Speaking in Washington, Rubio highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure adherence to the ceasefire terms, originally agreed upon in Kuala Lumpur in…
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SEA Games 2025: Thailand tops final medal table
The 33rd Southeast Asian Games concluded on December 20 in Thailand, closing nearly two weeks of competition that brought together the region’s top athletes in Bangkok and Chonburi. The 2025 edition marked a symbolic return to Thailand, where the SEA Games were first held in 1959, and reinforced the country’s position as a regional sporting hub. From December 9 to…
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Thai Troops Recapture Hill 350 Near Ta Kwai Temple as Bodies of Fallen Soldiers Recovered
Thai soldiers have secured Hill 350 near Ta Kwai Temple in Surin province and recovered the bodies of two fallen troops, the commander of the 2nd Army Region confirmed on December 20, marking a critical moment in continued fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border. Lieutenant General Veerayut Rakasilp, commander of the 2nd Army Region, said Thai forces regained full control of…
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Thai Navy Fires Warning Shots After Cambodian Vessel Enters Thai Waters
A Royal Thai Navy warship fired warning shots on Thursday evening after detecting a Cambodian vessel entering Thai territorial waters near the eastern border, prompting panic among residents of Hat Lek village in Trat province before the situation quickly de-escalated. The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. on December 19 off the coast of Ban Hat Lek in Hat Lek…
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M6 Motorway Offers 196 Kilometers of Free Travel During New Year Holiday
The Thai government will open the M6 motorway between Bang Pa-in and Nakhon Ratchasima for free travel during the 2026 New Year holiday, offering motorists a 196 kilometer toll-free route aimed at easing congestion and improving safety for holiday travelers. The announcement was made on December 19 by Siripong Angkasakulkiat, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office. He said traffic volumes…
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Fire Destroys Shops at Rong Kluea Market on Thai-Cambodian Border
A major fire tore through Rong Kluea Market in Aranyaprathet district early Friday morning, destroying multiple shops at one of Thailand’s busiest border trading hubs. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze before it spread further, but significant damage was reported. The fire broke out at around 1:20 a.m. on December 20 at Building B5 of Rong Kluea Market, located in…
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Foreign man cheats eating challenge in Bangkok for 20,000-baht prize
A well-known curry restaurant in Bangkok exposed a foreign customer for cheating in an eating challenge to claim a cash reward of 20,000 baht. Gold Curry, is a popular restaurant which is famous for its Japanese-style rice curry served in large portions and also its eating challenges. The restaurant offers free meals, vouchers, and cash prizes for customers who can finish…
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Thai woman jailed 4 years for fatal assault on husband’s alleged mistress
A Thai woman, who fatally assaulted her husband’s alleged mistress while eight months pregnant, was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay 850,000 baht in compensation to the victim’s family. The legal outcome was shared by well-known Thai lawyer Nitikorn Kaewto on his Facebook account on Tuesday, December 16. The ruling was issued around seven months after…
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British man arrested for illegally running tour company in Thailand
A British national was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday, December 18, after allegedly operating an unlicensed tour business in Thailand for over a decade. The arrest followed orders from Police General Kitirat Phanphet, Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police, who had directed a nationwide tourism crime crackdown between December 17 and 25 to protect the industry during peak travel…
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