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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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Foreign man spits on couple in Phuket restaurant without provocation
A Phuket restaurant owner condemned a foreign man after he spat on another foreign couple who were dining at his establishment, without any provocation or prior conflict. The restaurant owner shared CCTV footage of the incident with the Phuket Times Facebook page, where it was made public today, November 14. The owner did not reveal to the media the exact…
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Thai king and queen make China visit to mark 50-year ties
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida arrived in Beijing for an official state visit, marking a historic moment in diplomatic ties between Thailand and China. Their Majesties arrived in the Chinese capital yesterday afternoon, November 13, for an official state visit, strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations on the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. The royal couple landed…
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Lao women arrested in Chiang Mai sex-for-hire crackdown
Three Lao women were caught in Chiang Mai after police uncovered a sex-for-hire operation, following local reports of illegal activity in the area. The operation, led by Mae Wang Police Station Chief Police Colonel Thananchai Siriwanna, saw officers move in on a residence in Ban Nong Tao, Mae Win subdistrict, following multiple complaints from residents. Officers arrested a 32 year…
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Thai woman arrested on 150,000-baht theft at Pattaya noodle shop
Police yesterday, November 13, arrested a Thai woman for stealing valuables worth 150,000 baht from the owner of a noodle shop in Pattaya. The shop owner, 40 year old Anchana Rattanapisankun, filed a complaint at Bang Lamung Police Station on Tuesday, November 12, after belongings worth over 150,000 baht disappeared from her bedroom on the second floor above her restaurant.…
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Thailand urged to act as domestic violence cases surge
Health officials in Thailand are calling for urgent political action after thousands of domestic violence cases were reported across the country this year. The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) has warned about the country’s growing domestic violence problem, urging political leaders to adopt stronger, unified policies after shocking new figures emerged. Speaking at a seminar yesterday, November 13, titled Local…
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Thailand extends drinking hours, trials end of afternoon alcohol sales ban
The Ministry of Public Health extended permitted drinking hours from midnight to 1am and launched a six-month pilot programme to lift the afternoon alcohol sales ban between 2pm and 5pm. Yesterday, November 13, the National Alcohol Policy Committee met to discuss the controversial drinking-hours regulations and the proposed cancellation of the afternoon sales ban. The meeting was attended by representatives…
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Thailand hit by cold snaps up north and storms down south
A cold snap and stormy weather are sweeping across Thailand, bringing temperature drops in the north and heavy rain in the south, as officials warn of changing conditions. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued its latest forecast, warning of a 1 to 2°C dip in temperatures across northern and northeastern Thailand due to a moderate high-pressure system blowing in…
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How Baht strength and government moves impact gold trading in Thailand
Thailand’s gold culture runs deep. From Chinatown shops in Bangkok to family savings across Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen, gold is both a store of value and a trading vehicle. Yet the domestic price you see on the board is not just a reflection of global spot. It is a blend of international gold, the baht’s exchange rate, and the…
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Central Thailand vendor offers red drinks after lottery windfall
A local vendor in central Thailand fulfilled a vow at a famed temple after winning the lottery’s second prize, offering red drinks and seeking fresh fortune. Somkid, a 55 year old merchant from Uthai Thani, visited Wat Sawang Arom in Nakhon Chai Si district, Nakhon Pathom province, to make an offering of 100 red drinks to Kumarn Chuk Dam, a…
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Thai transwoman watches TikTok videos at clinic for hours to avoid payment
A Bangkok beauty clinic owner took to social media to share her experience with a transgender client who refused to pay for breast augmentation surgery and lay on the operating table for hours watching TikTok videos until police arrived. The clinic owner, Supassara Tweesan, posted footage of the incident on her Facebook page on Monday, November 10. The video showed…
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Grab and LINE MAN orders soar under state co-pay scheme
Two major food delivery platforms reported millions of orders after the launch of a co-payment scheme aimed at boosting consumer spending nationwide. Grab and LINE MAN Wongnai reported a surge in activity under the Khon La Khrueng Plus initiative, which began allowing online food delivery orders from November 7. According to the Finance Ministry, nearly 20 million users had joined…
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Drunk Russian tourist hauled off Patong street after outburst
A Russian tourist was arrested in Patong after police responded to reports of public intoxication and disorderly behaviour near a busy roadside canal. The incident unfolded around 10.30am today, November 13, when officers from Patong Police Station were called to Sai Nam Yen Road in Patong subdistrict, Kathu district. The 43 year old man was found near a canal adjacent…
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3 Burmese suspects arrested for stealing 10 million baht from colleague
Police yesterday, November 12, arrested three Burmese nationals accused of stealing 10 million baht in cash and assets from the condominium of a Burmese colleague in the Phra Khanong area of Bangkok. The 33 year old Burmese victim, who works for a recruitment agency in Thailand, filed a complaint with Phra Khanong Police Station on November 9 at around 10.30pm…
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Thai woman claims sister killed by Cambodia scam gang
Police in southern Thailand are probing a woman’s claim that her sister was killed by a scam gang in Cambodia, though no evidence has confirmed the report. Police in Takua Thung district, Phang Nga, have launched an investigation after a local woman reported that her sister was killed by a scam gang in Poipet, Cambodia. Malee Na Cholkhet, a resident…
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Nonthaburi shrine draws crowds with lucky numbers
Worshippers gathered at a historic shrine in Nonthaburi during a traditional ceremony where lucky numbers appeared, with a stern warning against pork offerings. Locals flocked to the revered Goddess Tubtim Thong shrine for its annual merit-making ceremony, hoping for blessings, protection, and perhaps a little lottery luck. The event, held today, November 13, at Wat Bang Krai Nok in Bang…
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Police hunt fake doctor after raid on unlicensed clinic in Pattaya
A fake doctor remains at large after his unlicensed clinic in Pattaya was raided and several dangerous medicines were seized yesterday, November 12. The unlicensed medical centre reportedly targeted sex workers and foreign nationals in the area. Officers from Provincial Police Region 2 and the Chon Buri Provincial Public Health Office raided the unregistered clinic named Centre Pattaya Medical Clinic…
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Lightning strike blasts Chon Buri restaurant during storm
A restaurant in Chon Buri was damaged when lightning struck during a thunderstorm, splitting a tree, damaging property, and causing a brief power outage. A violent thunderstorm in Takhian Tia, Chon Buri, caused chaos yesterday, November 12, after lightning struck the rooftop toilet of a well-known restaurant, Krua Tee Lek Khao Pa. The strike caused significant property damage, but luckily,…
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Thai woman steals valuables worth 150,000 baht from Pattaya restaurant owner
A Thai woman sneaked into a bedroom above a noodle shop in Pattaya and stole valuables worth more than 150,000 baht yesterday, November 12. The victim, 40 year old noodle shop owner Anchana Rattanapisankun, filed a complaint with Bang Lamung Police Station in the evening yesterday. She also submitted CCTV footage that showed the thief’s identity. In an interview with…
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Phuket drug dealer arrested in late-night narcotics crackdown
Officers in Phuket arrested a suspected drug dealer during a late-night raid as part of a new 120-day crackdown on narcotics and organised crime. Phuket has launched a hardline law enforcement campaign dubbed Phuket 120 Days Nonstop, aimed at stamping out crime, drugs, and vice across the province. The operation, part of a wider Ministry of Interior policy, is focused…
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Pattaya jet ski operators face bans over insurance crackdown
Marine officials in Pattaya have announced new rules requiring all rental jet skis to carry group insurance, warning operators of strict penalties for violations. The crackdown was announced at a high-level meeting chaired by Bang Lamung Senior District Chief Wanchat Wannaphrahm at the Bang Lamung District Community Hall. Also in attendance were Jarin Butrwong, Director of the Pattaya Regional Harbormaster…
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German tourist loses 140,000 baht in ‘miracle oil’ scam in Pattaya
A German man lost over 140,000 baht yesterday, November 12, after being tricked by a scammer into buying five bottles of so-called “miracle herbal oil” for hair care. The German victim, 52 year old Nadir Altaf, filed a complaint with Mueang Pattaya Police Station at around 10pm. He told police that the scammer was a foreign man, believed to be Middle…
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Late-night earthquake rattles Koh Samui, no damage reported
A minor earthquake struck Koh Samui overnight, shaking homes and alarming residents across several areas, with reports of loud noises and repeated tremors. The quake, measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale, struck Koh Samui in Surat Thani province early today, November 13, sending tremors across the island and waking startled residents. The quake occurred at 12.47am at a shallow depth…
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Thailand video news | Thai mother wanted for allegedly trafficking daughter to Tokyo, Phuket leads Thailand’s tourism recovery
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover the latest stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia — from a shocking human trafficking case involving a Thai woman in Tokyo to severe flooding impacting several provinces. They also share some uplifting updates, including positive developments in Bangkok’s housing market and Phuket’s thriving tourism industry. Thai Mother Wanted for Allegedly Trafficking…
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Pattaya woman files complaint after violent attack by procuress
A Thai woman sought protection from police after a procuress physically assaulted her on Pattaya Beach and attempted to force her back into prostitution, following her escape from the attacker last year. The 20 year old woman, Jeerawan, filed a complaint with Mueang Pattaya Police Station and shared the details of the assault with several news agencies, hoping to secure protection…
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‘Big Joke’ sued for calling Thai police a criminal gang
A former deputy police chief is being sued by senior officials after accusing Thailand’s national police force of being a criminal organisation in an interview. Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, the former deputy national police chief, is facing a defamation lawsuit after reportedly branding the Royal Thai Police (RTP) as “the largest criminal organisation” during a recent media interview. Assistant National…
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Sa Kaeo border blast triggers panic and cross-border blame
An explosion near Sa Kaeo province’s Nong Ya Kaeo checkpoint triggered chaos and evacuations on both sides of the Thai-Cambodian border last night, with Thai authorities firmly denying involvement in the incident. According to a source from the Burapha Task Force, a loud blast was heard at approximately 7.30pm yesterday, November 12, opposite Checkpoint 34 at Ban Nong Ya Kaew…
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Thai cyber police recover 14 million baht in crypto from foreign hacker
Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) of Thailand seized cryptocurrency worth 14 million baht from a foreign hacker and plan to return the funds to six Thai victims. Yesterday, November 12, CCIB officers held a press conference to report their successful crackdown on the foreign hacker under the name Operation 293. The investigation began after Thai victims filed…
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Thailand scraps elected council in charter rewrite shake-up
Thailand’s parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing constitutional amendments has scrapped plans to establish a directly elected advisory council, instead opting for a 35-member charter-drafting committee (CDC) to oversee the creation of a new constitution. The decision was reached during a recent meeting finalising the structure of the drafting process. The advisory council, originally proposed in the opposition People’s Party’s amendment…
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Thailand gives illegal migrant workers a year-long lifeline
Thailand has approved a one-year extension allowing undocumented migrant workers from neighbouring countries to stay and work legally in the country. Labour Minister Trinuch Thienthong announced the measure this week, confirming that it applies to Laotian, Myanmar, and Vietnamese workers who are either overstaying their residence or work permits or entered the country illegally but wish to become part of…
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Blackout behind the wheel kills Bangkok taxi driver in crash
A taxi driver in Bangkok died after blacking out while driving, causing his vehicle to crash into trees and overturn during the early hours of the morning. A 38 year old taxi driver, identified only as Chayanan, was killed in a horrific accident after losing consciousness while driving, causing his vehicle to veer off the road, smash into two large…
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