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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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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Thai woman claims rape by three Chinese men in Pattaya home
A Thai woman has accused three Chinese men of raping her at a private residence in Pattaya after a night out at a karaoke bar. The men reportedly met the woman at a pub before inviting her to the house, where the alleged assault took place. The 21 year old woman, identified only as May, filed a complaint with officers…
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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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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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Chon Buri worker dies on hammock after booze row with wife
A municipal worker in Chon Buri was found dead on a hammock behind his office after being kicked out by his wife following a dispute over his drinking. Police were called to the Laem Chabang City Municipality staff quarters in Thung Sukhla subdistrict around 8.30am on Monday, November 3, after a 39 year old employee was discovered motionless behind the…
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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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Thailand braces for cool snaps and storms as Kalmaegi nears
Thailand will face cooler mornings in the north and storms in the south, as changing weather patterns and an incoming typhoon bring shifting conditions. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for shifting weather patterns influenced by a monsoon trough stretching across the upper south, the Gulf of Thailand, and into a low-pressure cell over Vietnam’s coastal region.…
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Finnair piles on Thailand flights for winter sun seekers
Finnair has announced it will boost flights to Thailand for the upcoming winter season, aiming to meet rising demand from European travellers seeking warmth. The airline will offer 25 weekly flights to the kingdom, marking a significant increase in capacity and forward planning for the Nordic carrier. Currently operating three daily services to Thailand, Finnair is adding another daily flight…
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DHL powers up Thailand’s first solar-run logistics hub
Thailand has taken a major step toward green logistics as DHL opened its first fully solar-powered facility, aiming to boost sustainable trade in Southeast Asia. The new Bangna Sustainable Logistics Centre, launched by DHL Supply Chain Thailand, is the logistics giant’s first global facility powered entirely by on-site solar energy. Backed by a 1.39 billion baht investment, the site showcases…
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Pattaya man arrested for turning blank guns into live weapons
Police in Pattaya arrested a man during a pre-dawn raid after discovering he was illegally modifying and selling firearms from a rented room in the city. The suspect, identified as 27 year old Chatchawan Inmongkol from Sisaket province, was arrested at 6.36am yesterday, November 4, following a raid at 62/157 Soi Kopai 14. Acting on a court-issued search warrant and…
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Etihad launches first direct Abu Dhabi–Chiang Mai flights
Etihad Airways has launched direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Chiang Mai, enhancing air connectivity and boosting Thailand’s high-season tourism strategy. Chiang Mai International Airport welcomed a major boost to its tourism profile with the arrival of Etihad Airways’ inaugural direct flight from Abu Dhabi. The historic landing, which took place at 6.05am yesterday, November 4, was marked with a…
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Drug duo arrested in Phuket police raid on Cherng Talay home
Police in Cherng Talay arrested a Nigerian man and a Thai woman after raiding a home where multiple types of illegal drugs were discovered during a crackdown. Cherng Talay Police arrested 37 year old Nigerian national Kenneth Sibowo Nat and 32 year old Thai woman Nitida Karaket during a targeted raid on a house in Soi Cherng Talay 14 on…
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Thai cop charged after hit-and-run with teacher in Udon Thani
A police officer in Udon Thani, northeastern Thailand, faces charges after allegedly sideswiping a teacher’s car and fleeing the scene, prompting a chase and investigation. The drama unfolded yesterday, November 4, when kindergarten teacher Prapaporn, nicknamed Joom, was driving her white Honda City in Nong Han district. At a local intersection, her vehicle was reportedly struck by a pickup truck. Instead…
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Bangkok’s Mexican Embassy steps in after Miss Universe dispute
The Mexican Embassy stepped in after its Miss Universe contestant clashed with organisers in Thailand, following a dispute during pre-pageant events. The Mexican Embassy in Bangkok has confirmed it is actively monitoring the situation surrounding Fátima Bosch, the country’s representative at this year’s Miss Universe pageant. In a public statement, the embassy said it has remained in close contact with…
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Bangkok ex-PR girls caught running drug operation from apartment
Two former PR professionals were arrested in Bangkok after police discovered they were running an online drug operation from their apartment using delivery apps. Yesterday, November 4, officers led by Police Major General Worawit Yanachinda arrested 28 year old Yupa “Ja” and 27 year old Patcharee “Miki” (surnames withheld) at a housing complex in the capital’s Bang Khen district. The…
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Brazen Russian gang plasters Phuket with drug-selling QR codes
Chalermpong Saengdee, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Phuket (Zone 2) from the People’s Party, has warned of a new form of drug trafficking spreading across the island via a post on his personal Facebook page. Chalermpong revealed that foreigners are placing QR code stickers in tourist attractions and public areas throughout the province. These stickers link to online drug…
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Thailand pension scam: Fake app targets unsuspecting heirs
Thailand’s environment ministry has warned of scammers posing as officials, tricking pension recipients and heirs into downloading a fake app to steal data. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has issued an urgent warning after reports surfaced of fraudsters pretending to be officials from its Office of the Permanent Secretary. The con artists are targeting victims by falsely claiming…
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Loy Krathong to rake in 6.5 billion baht despite toned-down mood
Thailand’s Loy Krathong Festival is expected to draw nearly 2 million local tourists and generate billions in revenue, despite scaled-back celebrations nationwide. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports that around 1.91 million domestic tourists will take part in the nationwide festival today, November 5, opting for serene celebrations over the usual fanfare due to the national mourning period honouring…
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Thai FDA clears shelves of deadly US listeria pasta scare
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) confirmed that two US pasta products recalled over listeria fears were not imported or sold in the country, easing local health concerns. On high alert after a deadly outbreak in the United States, the Thai FDA launched an urgent investigation following a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The…
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Thailand splashes 4 billion baht to keep MotoGP roaring till 2031
Thailand has approved a multi-billion baht budget to extend its MotoGP hosting rights, securing the international racing event for another five years. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ayrin Phanrit announced yesterday, November 4, that the Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ proposal to extend Thailand’s MotoGP hosting rights from 2027 to 2031. The budget set aside for the high-octane…
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Pervert on a bike stalks woman in Sri Racha neighbourhood
A woman in Sri Racha, Chon Buri, was stalked and nearly attacked by a man on a motorbike who followed her home and was later caught on CCTV lurking outside her house. A 32 year old department store worker narrowly avoided an attack after being stalked by a man on a motorcycle. The drama unfolded around 8am yesterday, November 4,…
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British woman arrested for sex yoga at Koh Pha Ngan restaurant
A British tourist was arrested on Koh Pha Ngan for allegedly running sex-themed yoga classes at a local restaurant, charging attendees a 400 baht fee. Tourist police swooped on a restaurant in Village 8 of the Koh Pha Ngan subdistrict after a tip-off from a Facebook user flagged an ad promoting a weekly “Tantra Yoga” class. The flyer promised sessions…
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Double tragedy: Russian and Burmese drown off Nai Thon Beach
Two foreign men drowned in separate incidents while swimming at Nai Thon Beach, Phuket, as rough seas and strong currents created deadly conditions. One of the victims was identified as 31 year old Dmitrii Zakutskii, a Russian man who had been missing since Monday, November 3. Witnesses told police he was pulled under by a powerful wave and never resurfaced.…
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Thailand faces chill up north, storms down south
Thailand braces for mixed weather as the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts morning chills in the north and heavy rain in the south due to shifting monsoon patterns. A brewing typhoon in the South China Sea and a shifting monsoon front are expected to deliver changeable and occasionally severe weather across Thailand in the coming days, with isolated heavy rain,…
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Chaos erupts at Miss Universe as contestants walk out after clash with Thai organiser
The pre-pageant activities for the 74th Miss Universe final competition in Thailand descended into chaos after several contestants walked out of an event, citing disrespectful behaviour by the Thai Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) Vice President, Nawat Itsaragrisil. MGR Online reported today, November 4, that Mexico’s representative, Fátima Bosch, refused to participate in activities organised by the Thailand-based public relations team…
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Drunk driver crashes into pole, blacks out Chon Buri village
A man crashed his SUV into a utility pole in Chon Buri while driving home under the influence, causing a power outage and injuring himself. Emergency responders rushed to the quiet residential area behind the Highway Police Station in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, around 4am today, November 4. They found a maroon Ford Everest, registered in Chon Buri,…
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Patong man found dead with lawnmower in suspected accident
A man was found dead beside a shed in Patong with injuries to his neck and face while holding a lawnmower, prompting a police investigation into the cause. Officers were alerted at 8.50pm yesterday, November 3, to a possible fatality on Soi Som Kwai Yai. When they arrived at the scene, accompanied by Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation rescue volunteers, they found…
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Thai woman found dead at accommodation in Cambodia
A Thai woman allegedly committed suicide at her accommodation in Cambodia. While the public suspected foul play, her elder brother and husband believed she took her own life due to depression. A Thai member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) based in Cambodia reported the discovery of a Thai woman’s body in a rented room in Poipet, Cambodia, yesterday, November…
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