- Thailand News
Thai F-16s scramble as Myanmar fighter sparks panic
A Myanmar fighter jet triggered a tense military response this week after flying close to Thai airspace in Kanchanaburi province, prompting the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to deploy two F-16 fighter jets to intercept what was initially classified as an unidentified aircraft. But according to Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, the drama never truly crossed the line, literally. “The aircraft…
- Phuket News
Burmese worker busted in Phuket for 1.1 million baht cash heist
A 23 year old Burmese worker has been arrested for stealing over 1.1 million baht from his employer’s home in Phuket. The Myanmar national, Nye Bo Thet, was arrested as part of a Cherng Talay Police crime suppression campaign running from May 1 to May 7. Police tracked the suspect down and nabbed him outside Building 92 of the Baan…
- Politics News
Million-baht bounty: EC offers big cash for election snitching
With municipal elections looming, Thailand’s Election Commission announced it will offer cash rewards of up to 1 million baht for tip-offs leading to proof of election fraud. The move comes amid mounting concerns over vote-buying and irregularities in the lead-up to the May 11 polls, which will see mayoral and council seats contested in 76 provinces. The payouts are part…
- Thailand News
Lèse majesté: US academic fights Thai university sacking
A US academic is challenging his dismissal from a Thai university after being sacked following a dropped lèse majesté charge. The American national claims the termination was unlawful, lacked due process, and violated university regulations. The case has sparked debate over academic freedom and the treatment of foreign scholars in Thailand. Chambers, a former lecturer in the Faculty of Social…
- Pattaya News
Hotpot horror: Beer glass brawl erupts in Pattaya restaurant
What started as a sizzling night out at a popular Pattaya hotpot spot boiled over into a glass-shattering fight that sent three people to the hospital and left diners in shock. Earlier this week, a heated row at a well-known hot pot restaurant in Central Pattaya exploded into violence between a transgender woman, a woman, and the woman’s brother, turning…
- Thailand News
Fuel shock: Thailand hikes petrol and diesel tax as oil prices drop
Motorists across Thailand are bracing for higher fuel prices after the government officially announced a fresh hike in excise taxes on petrol and diesel, just as global oil prices are falling. The move was confirmed by a new ministerial regulation published in the Royal Gazette and will take effect from today, May 7. Issued by the Ministry of Finance, the regulation updates…
- Pattaya News
Thai cops injured chasing rogue bike in Pattaya
A routine patrol turned into a street-side disaster in Pattaya after two police officers were injured during a high-speed chase of a suspicious motorcycle. The drama unfolded around sunset on Monday, May 5, in Soi Nern Plub Wan, when officers from Nong Prue Police Station attempted to stop a modified motorbike drawing attention with its blaring exhaust and missing licence…
- Bangkok News
Brazilian duo caught with 22 million baht cocaine at Bangkok airport
Thai Customs officials apprehended a Brazilian couple for attempting to smuggle cocaine valued at over 22 million baht. Between October 1 last year and yesterday, May 6, customs has handled 140 cases, seizing drugs worth a total of approximately 800 million baht. Yesterday, Pantong Loykulnanta, advisor on development and tax collection and Government spokesperson for the Customs Department, highlighted the…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok housing projects plummet, campus condos rise this year
LWS, a subsidiary of L.P.N. Development, reported a significant decline in new housing projects in Bangkok and its surrounding areas during the first quarter of 2025. The number of new projects and their value dropped by more than 50%. In contrast, campus condominiums have seen growth. The company hopes government measures to reduce fees will stimulate the market in the…
- Bangkok News
Paetongtarn hits back over Thaksin hospital scandal
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra came out swinging yesterday, defending her father, ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, amid growing backlash over his controversial hospital stay. Thaksin, now 75, was sentenced to eight years in prison (later reduced to one via royal pardon) after returning from 15 years in self-imposed exile, but instead of doing time behind bars, he was transferred directly to a…
- Thailand News
Don’t panic: Blaring phone alerts hit Thailand in disaster drill
Don’t panic if your phone blares out an emergency alert this week—it’s not the end of the world, just a test. Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is stepping up its game in disaster preparedness with a nationwide trial of its Cell Broadcast warning system. The tests, rolled out in three phases across May, aim to ensure the…
- Bangkok News
Leaky billion-baht Thai Parliament building sparks repair scandal
Thailand’s glitzy new Parliament building may be one of the most expensive in the country’s history but five years after opening, it’s already falling apart, and taxpayers are footing the bill – again. The Thai Parliament Complex, officially named Sappaya-Saphasathan, has cost an eye-watering 22.987 billion baht so far but the spending spree isn’t over. Repair budgets totalling nearly 2 billion…
- Thailand News
Fourth anthrax case confirmed in northeast Thailand outbreak
The Mukdahan Provincial Public Health Office announced yesterday a new case of anthrax, raising the total number of cases in the current outbreak to four, with one resulting in death. According to a source, three are currently hospitalised; two at Mukdahan Hospital and one at Don Tan Hospital. Of the 636 deemed at risk, 538 have completed a seven-day observation…
- Phuket News
Phuket fights erosion as turtles and dugongs make a comeback
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Chalermchai Sri-on has announced an urgent expansion of erosion control efforts at Sai Kaew Beach in Sirinat National Park near Phuket, following severe shoreline damage and disruption to local communities caused by last year’s monsoon season. During an inspection on May 3, Chalermchai revealed that erosion had severely disrupted transport routes and threatened nearby…
- Bangkok News
Pet Expo 2025 goes wild with stars, snakes and shopping galore (video)
Thailand’s largest pet trade event, Pet Expo Thailand 2025, kicked off in style on May 1, celebrating its 25th anniversary with a four-day spectacle which drew over 200,000 visitors. Held at Halls 5 to 8 of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, the event brought together more than 300 companies across 850 booths, offering products, services and cutting-edge innovations for…
- Bangkok News
Thai celeb couple slams breast pump ad misuse
A Thai celebrity power couple has taken legal action after discovering their faces plastered on breast pump ads, without permission. The drama unfolded yesterday afternoon, May 5, when the stars and their lawyer stormed into Thong Lo Police Station to file a complaint against a well-known baby brand accused of hijacking their images to peddle discount coupons at a children’s…
- Thailand News
BLACKPINK’s Lalisa steals the Met Gala spotlight in LV ensemble
All eyes were on Lalisa from the girl group BLACKPINK at the 2025 Met Gala, as the global K-pop sensation made her hotly anticipated debut in a jaw-dropping Louis Vuitton ensemble that has fans, and fashion critics, buzzing. Fresh off her acting debut in The White Lotus season three and a solo Coachella set that lit up the desert, the BLACKPINK megastar…
- Thailand News
Southern Thai watermelon gets GI boost in sweet victory
The Ministry of Commerce has officially designated the Koh Sukorn watermelon as Thailand’s first GI-certified watermelon variety, marking a significant milestone for the small island in Trang province. Deputy Commerce Minister Napintorn Srisunpang announced the news, calling it a victory for local identity and agricultural pride. “This sweet, sea-grown watermelon is a standout. Its flavour, fine texture, and colourful flesh make it unique not…
- Phuket News
Phuket tragedies: 2 found dead in separate suicide cases
Phuket was rocked by two heartbreaking discoveries just hours apart, as police responded to separate scenes involving men found hanged: one a foreigner in a hotel under renovation, the other a Thai man struggling with stress. Yesterday morning, May 5, two suicides unfolded in Phuket, leaving local police and residents shaken. At around 8.45am, Police Lieutenant Colonel Surachat Thongyai, Investigation…
- Thailand News
Thai parents turn to pawn shops for school expenses
Parents across Thailand are increasingly turning to pawn shops to secure funds for their children’s uniforms and other essentials for the upcoming school term. With the new school calendar set to begin on May 16, these establishments are preparing for a surge in business. Pawn shops nationwide are bolstering their cash reserves in anticipation of the increased demand. In Nakhon…
- Thailand News
‘Hello, Ni Hao’ campaign woos Chinese tourists back to Thailand
Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong has unveiled the Hello, Ni Hao campaign, a bold new move aimed at rebuilding confidence in Thai tourism among Chinese travellers. The initiative, which kicks off this month, will see more than 300 Chinese media professionals and influencers invited to Thailand to showcase the country’s attractions through social media and press coverage. “This is…
- Thailand News
Thailand rattled by tremors as 10 mini quakes rock region
Residents in northern and northeastern Thailand woke up to a shaky surprise this morning after a swarm of small earthquakes hit the region, sending tremors through three provinces and sparking concern online. Ten mild earthquakes were recorded today, May 6, in parts of Myanmar and across northern and northeastern Thailand, according to the Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division. The…
- Bangkok News
Paws and effect: New Bangkok law to shake up pet ownership rules
A new law set to take effect in Bangkok early next year will significantly alter pet ownership regulations. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Ordinance on Animal Keeping and Release Control 2024, coming into force on January 10 next year, seeks to manage stray populations and promote responsible pet ownership, particularly affecting dog and cat owners. The ordinance classifies Bangkok as…
- Pattaya News
Chinese tourists vanish, Pattaya cruise sinks into crisis
A luxury Pattaya dinner cruise once packed with Chinese tourists is now struggling to stay afloat, after a dramatic drop in visitors forced mass layoffs and desperate reinvention. Ocean Sky Pattaya, a once-thriving restaurant cruise catering largely to Chinese travellers, has laid off 30% of its staff in a drastic move to slash costs as Chinese arrivals dry up. Buncha…
- Phuket News
Missing catamaran found off Phuket, Canadian sailor safe
A solo sailor vanished, a luxury catamaran went silent, and fears of a maritime disaster gripped Phuket, until a dramatic twist yesterday saw the missing boat found bobbing near Koh Racha Noi, with the Canadian sailor alive and well. The search for the catamaran Liliput, which sparked a marine alert across southern Thailand, ended on a high note yesterday, May 5,…
- Thailand News
Kok River contamination sparks fears in northern Thailand
The Kok River, winding through the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai before joining the Mekong River, has become a source of concern for residents who once depended on it for agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. High concentrations of arsenic, a hazardous heavy metal, have been discovered, generating fear and uncertainty among those who rely on the river for…
- Thailand News
People’s Party urges peace talks after deadly southern attacks
A wave of violence in Thailand’s Deep South has sparked a fierce call to action from the People’s Party, which is demanding the government restart peace talks and urging insurgents to stop slaughtering innocent civilians. The opposition People’s Party has issued an open letter calling on the Thai government to urgently resume stalled peace talks with insurgent groups, while also…
- Thailand News
No new anthrax infections found in Thailand’s Mukdahan province
The anthrax situation in Mukdahan province is showing signs of improvement, with the Public Health Ministry reporting no new cases as of yesterday, May 5. The province has recorded three anthrax cases, according to Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. Of these cases, one person has died, while two remain hospitalised. Some 636 people in the province have come into contact…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya police bust illegal gambling ring, 10 arrested
A midday raid in Pattaya uncovered a group of gamblers caught red-handed playing Thai gambling card game Pok Deng at a local restaurant. But what seemed like a harmless card game quickly escalated into a major bust, with police seizing cash and cards, and 10 suspects arrested. On Thursday, May 1 at 12.30pm, Pattaya City Police received a tip-off from…
- Thailand News
Thailand urged to adopt single cigarette tax rate to boost revenue
Thailand’s current tiered tax system on cigarettes has been criticised by academics, who urge the government to switch to a single excise tax rate as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The existing system is said to neither reduce illegal cigarette sales nor increase state revenue or deter new smokers. Dr Roengrudee Patanavanich from Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine…
