- Thailand News
Thailand secures 12 Saab Gripen jets in 60 billion baht deal
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has confirmed its plan to acquire 12 Saab Gripen E and F fighter jets from Sweden, in a deal valued at 60 billion baht. The initial delivery is expected by 2029. Commander of the RTAF, Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul, announced yesterday, June 5, that the acquisition aims to replace Thailand’s ageing fleet of…
- Thailand News
Thailand launches free alcohol quality tests in 3 provinces
Thailand’s Excise Department is stepping up its efforts to improve the quality and safety of locally produced alcohol by launching a groundbreaking initiative aimed at ensuring community-made liquor meets safety standards. The Community Liquor Lab on Wheels programme, announced yesterday, June 5, by Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul, will deploy mobile laboratories to Lampang, Sakon Nakhon, and Songkhla—three provinces with…
- Thailand News
Thai healthcare scheme stable with 46 billion baht in reserves
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has assured the public that the 30-baht “gold card” Universal Healthcare Coverage scheme remains financially stable, with hospitals holding reserve funds of 46 billion baht after liabilities. During a meeting of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) board, Somsak addressed concerns regarding hospital budget deficits, which some attribute to the scheme’s compensation mechanism. Critics argue…
- Chiang Mai News
Chiang Mai Univeristy students scammed of millions in single day
Ten students at Chiang Mai University experienced scams in a single day, resulting in losses amounting to several million baht. This has led the university and local police to issue a warning about the scams. The scams intensified during a long holiday from May 31 to June 2, according to Police Colonel Manatchai Inthean, superintendent of Bhubing Rajanives Police Station.…
- Phuket News
Phuket tackles plastic pollution for World Environment Day
Over 350 participants gathered at Dragon Square in Phuket Town yesterday as the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) launched its World Environment Day campaign. The event, held at Queen Sirikit Park, focused on the urgent need to eliminate single-use plastics, aligning with the United Nations’ 2025 global theme, Beat Plastic Pollution. The event, presided over by PPAO President Rewat Areerob,…
- Pattaya News
Wall collapse horror: Pattaya construction mishap injures workers
A construction site in Pattaya turned into a scene of chaos yesterday when a concrete wall collapsed, trapping multiple workers and leaving two Myanmar nationals severely injured. The terrifying incident unfolded at 2.10pm yesterday, June 5, along the railway road in Soi Khao Talo, prompting an immediate response from local rescue teams and medical staff. The Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre…
- Bangkok News
Taiwanese trio busted at Thai airport for smuggling scam phones
Three Taiwanese men were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport after Thai customs officials discovered mobile phones in their luggage linked to scam cases across the country. The suspects were detained on arrival after officers found bank account data tied to fraudulent activities in Thailand. The men, whose identities have not been revealed, were taken into custody on Tuesday, June 3, when…
- Pattaya News
Fraudster mobbed in Pattaya after attempting iPhone scam
A man was caught in the act and mobbed by angry residents in Pattaya after attempting to scam a mobile phone shop with a fake bank transfer slip. The incident unfolded at 3.30am yesterday, June 5, in Soi Rungland Village, South Pattaya, when the suspect was detained by locals after trying to flee with two high-end iPhones. The suspect, identified…
- Bangkok News
Former lecturer found dead in Bangkok temple suicide
An 85 year old former lecturer from Kasetsart University was found dead in a suspected suicide at Wat Phra Si Mahathat, located in the Bang Khen district of Bangkok. The elderly man reportedly ended his life due to ongoing health problems and personal distress. Police arrived at the temple on Phahon Yothin Road in Anusawari subdistrict at 12.30pm on Tuesday,…
- Business News
Thailand urged to cut interest rates amid economic challenges
Thailand needs to adopt a more assertive approach in reducing interest rates due to its challenging growth outlook and low inflation, according to Somprawin Manprasert, a candidate for the position of Bank of Thailand (BoT)’s new governor. The benchmark interest rate, currently set at 1.75%, could be reduced by 75 to 100 basis points, Somprawin stated during an interview in Bangkok.…
- Phuket News
Terror in Chalong: Landlady’s plea after year of harassment
A distressed landlady in Chalong has reached out to the media after more than a year of harassment by her mentally unstable neighbour, claiming police inaction and a lack of mental health support have left her with no choice but to go public. Pranee Boonsawang, 51, known as Som, owns an apartment complex in Soi Palai, Village 2, Chalong, where…
- Pattaya News
Escaped Chinese fraud suspect recaptured in East Thailand
A Chinese fraud suspect made a daring escape from a Pattaya police station in the dead of night — by leaping out of a second-floor window. The 38 year old man, identified as Li Jian, was being questioned at Pattaya City Police Station in Soi 9 at around 1.30am yesterday, June 5, when he pulled off a stunt straight out…
- Thailand News
Abandoned boy gets new home after teacher’s plea for help
A heart-wrenching story of a 13 year old boy who was abandoned by his parents as a baby and forced to live in dire conditions has taken a hopeful turn. Thanks to the kindness of a compassionate person and the support of local agencies, the young boy now has a safe, clean home, offering him a chance at a brighter…
- Thailand News
Thai police hold seminar on criminal procedure code amendment
A fiery debate is brewing in Thailand over the People’s Party’s draft bill amending the Criminal Procedure Code, as police officers and legal experts across the country discuss its potential impact. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) is organising a series of mobile seminars to gather opinions on the controversial proposal, with the northeastern region being the latest to host a…
- Chiang Mai News
Foreign tourist vandalises Chiang Mai temple, police seek suspect
A foreign tourist is on the run after spray-painting graffiti on the historic wall of Wat Lam Chang, a 650-year-old temple in Chiang Mai’s old city. The culprit, who left behind English-language text and a house motif, is now being hunted by police after reportedly fleeing the northern province by air. The incident was first reported by the temple’s abbot,…
- Thailand News
Fugitive Chinese fraudster captured in Thailand after scam
A 55 year old Chinese man wanted for defrauding millions has been arrested in Thailand, where he had been hiding after swindling nearly 1.5 billion baht from investors in China. Dong, whose real name was withheld, was captured following an international manhunt after the Chinese government requested Thailand’s help to extradite him to face charges of illegal fund acquisition. The…
- Bangkok News
Fire breaks out on 8th floor of Bangkok construction site
A fire broke out on the 8th floor of a Bangkok building under construction, sending plumes of thick smoke into the air but fortunately causing no injuries. The fire, which started in a pile of leftover construction materials, was quickly brought under control, leaving the building’s structure unaffected. The fire occurred around 12.12pm today, June 5, in the Chatuchak district…
- Thailand News
Bus operators fight back against Phatthalung road ban
Bus operators in Thailand’s southern provinces are fuming over a new ban that restricts them from using the Phatthalung-Trang route, which runs through the Khao Phap Pha mountain. The controversial decision sparked outrage among double-decker bus operators, who are demanding that the Transport Ministry and Land Transport Department review the ban for safety reasons. Around 100 operators took to the…
- Pattaya News
Chinese suspect leaps from Pattaya Police Station window (video)
A 38 year old Chinese fraud suspect is on the run after performing a dramatic escape from a second-floor window at the Pattaya Police Station. The Chinese national, Li Jian, reportedly managed to break free while being questioned, taking advantage of a brief moment when the officers’ attention was diverted. Li, who had been apprehended by immigration police at Don…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok and Koh Samui lead Europe’s summer getaways
Thailand has once again emerged as the number one summer destination for European tourists, with Bangkok topping the charts as the most popular spot. The country has held this coveted title for the past two years, according to a survey by the online booking platform Agoda. The survey revealed that a significant number of European visitors to Thailand hail from…
- Thailand News
King cobra stops car in Phayao, leaving woman terrified
A woman had a terrifying near-“hiss” with a giant king cobra on a rural road in the northern province of Phayao, leaving her shaken but unharmed. The incident occurred yesterday, June 4, between Ban Wang Bong and Ban Huai Son, when the 3-metre-long snake appeared out of nowhere, forcing her to slam on the brakes and narrowly avoid a collision.…
- Thailand News
Thai teachers demand MoU cancellation over alcohol discounts
Thai educators are up in arms over a controversial deal between a state agency and a beer company, launching a petition to cancel the agreement. The backlash is centred on concerns that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel (OTEP) and Tawandang German Brewery undermines teacher integrity and sets…
- Thailand News
Thailand seeks 12m baht over coral reef damage by cargo ship
Thailand is pursuing compensation of at least 12 million baht after a Myanmar cargo ship, the MV Ayar Linn, ran aground on a coral reef in Mu Koh Surin National Park, Phang Nga, causing significant environmental damage. On June 1, the vessel was discovered lodged on a coral reef in Ao Jak Bay, according to Athapol Charoenshunsa, Director General of…
- Thailand News
Lop Buri road crash leaves woman with broken leg
A young woman has suffered horrific injuries, including a broken leg, after her motorcycle toppled due to poor road conditions and non-functioning streetlights in Lop Buri province. The accident, which occurred on a stretch of the Chai Nat-Pa Sak irrigation canal road, has highlighted a growing problem in the area that locals are desperate to see addressed. The incident took…
- Thailand News
Thailand plans new casino laws to combat money laundering
Thailand is set to implement measures to record and monitor financial transactions of casino visitors to combat money laundering, as the government aims to gain support for a bill to legalise gambling venues within new integrated resorts. The country plans to enforce responsible gaming regulations, which include prohibitions on casino advertising and barring those considered “financial risks” from entry, explained…
- Bangkok News
Banthat Thong’s food scene fights back despite tourist drop
Bangkok’s beloved Banthat Thong Road is facing a food fight of its own, with dwindling tourist numbers, high prices, and cautious diners taking a bite out of business. But the Thai Restaurant Association insists the area’s culinary star hasn’t lost its shine. “Banthat Thong still has tremendous potential,” said Thai Restaurant Association President Chanon Koetcharoen. “It remains a top destination…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s meth crisis sparks mental health fears
Thailand is battling a full-blown methamphetamine (meth) epidemic, with 1.5 million users nationwide and hundreds of thousands suffering serious mental health effects, according to bombshell new research unveiled this week. The data, released by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), paints a grim picture of widespread meth use and the severe impact it’s having on Thai society, particularly among youth. During a…
- Bangkok News
70 officials implicated in Bangkok building collusion scandal
Approximately 70 government officials have been implicated in a collusion scandal involving the ill-fated State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok, as revealed by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). This group includes both former and current SAO executives, as well as members from 10 committees associated with the building’s design, construction, and inspection, according to statements made by DSI…
- Phuket News
Syphilis surge grips Phuket as tourism booms again
A shocking surge in syphilis cases has hit Phuket, with infections now reported in all three districts of the island province. Health officials are sounding the alarm as the rise coincides with the post-pandemic rebound in tourism and a return to riskier sexual behaviour. “Youths remain a high-risk group, but syphilis can affect people of all genders and ages who engage in…
- Phuket News
Rawai restaurant owner fumes after tourist poos outside
A Rawai restaurant owner is fed up with cleaning up faeces after catching tourists using his property as an open toilet—now he’s demanding action from local authorities. The owner of a popular floating restaurant in Rawai, Phuket, has called on local authorities to install more public toilets for tourists after a shocking incident involving a foreign visitor defecating outside his…
