- Phuket News
Missing jet ski operator found dead on island off Phuket
A routine day on the water turned tragic after a young jet ski operator vanished off Koh Naka Yai; his body was pulled from mangroves two days later. The body of 22 year old Jessadawut Hom, also known as Bass, was discovered yesterday afternoon, July 29, tangled in mangroves along the shore of Koh Naka Yai, off Phuket’s east coast.…
- Business News
‘Flying Giant’ A380 becomes a costly nightmare for airlines
Two decades after its maiden flight, the Airbus A380 is back in demand as international travel roars back to life post-Covid. But while passengers may love its spacious cabins, airlines are groaning under the weight of its soaring maintenance costs. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued 95 airworthiness directives for the aircraft since 2020, more than double…
- World News
Japan and US issue tsunami alerts after mega quake
A colossal magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula today, sparking tsunami warnings and urgent evacuations from Japan to Hawaii. The quake, initially measured at 8.7, struck about 126 kilometres southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 18 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). In the Russian Far East, waves as high as 4 metres battered parts…
- Phuket News
2 suspected drug dealers nabbed in Bangla Road raids
Tourists out for a wild night on Patong’s Bangla Road were unknowingly partying alongside drug dealers, until a swift crackdown by local officials brought the party to a halt. Two suspected dealers were arrested in separate sting operations on Monday, July 28, as part of Phuket’s aggressive No Drugs, No Dealers campaign, a sweeping initiative aimed at clearing narcotics from nightlife…
- Thailand News
Border blitz: Thai forces smash enemy assaults in fierce clashes
Thai troops are holding the line in a brutal border battle, smashing enemy forces in a series of explosive clashes near key temples and hill positions along the Thai-Cambodian frontier. According to the 2nd Army Area’s Operations Centre, clashes intensified in multiple zones today, July 26, with enemy forces launching coordinated infantry and artillery attacks across Surin, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani,…
- Pattaya News
Baby monkey boom delights visitors at Chon Buri zoo
Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri has announced the successful birth of five healthy squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus), adding to its troop and bringing the total population of the species at the zoo to 23. Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoy confirmed the good news this week, calling the multiple births a sign of the zoo’s high standards of animal care.…
- Thailand News
Rayong visa scam busted as 34 illegal workers nabbed on site
Tourist cops stormed a construction site in Rayong, unmasking a major visa scam that saw dozens of foreign nationals working illegally in Thailand. In a high-stakes operation led by the Tourist Police Bureau, 34 foreign workers—seven Chinese and 27 from Myanmar—were arrested at a site in the Nikhom Phatthana Industrial Estate. The workers had entered the country on tourist visas…
- Phuket News
Artists flock to Phuket for Asia’s biggest sketch fest
Phuket is gearing up to welcome an international crowd of artists, art lovers and cultural travellers for the Asialink Sketch Walk Phuket 2025, a major arts event aimed at boosting creative tourism and rebranding the island as a year-round cultural hotspot. Scheduled for August 14–17, the event was officially announced at a press conference held at Limelight Avenue Phuket, led…
- Business News
Thai govt unleashes 87 billion baht to jolt economy
Thailand’s government is throwing billions at the economy in a high-stakes bid to spark recovery before time runs out. With just two months left in the fiscal year, the Budget Bureau has unleashed 87.36 billion baht to fund 148 urgent economic stimulus projects, according to Deputy Finance Permanent Secretary Theerarak Saengsanit. The hefty injection accounts for 75.72% of the 115…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok drug bust: 27 arrested in police raid
Police from Wang Thonglang station, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Investigation Unit 4, raided a drug-fuelled party in the Ramkhamhaeng area today. The operation resulted in 27 testing positive for drugs. The raid was commanded by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Police Major General Nopasilp Phulwasawat, Pol. Maj. Gen. Charin Kopatata, Deputy Police Commissioner General Pallop Aermla,…
- Phuket News
Weed stench driving tourists away, claims Phuket MP
A Phuket MP has lit up controversy by claiming that the smell of cannabis on local beaches is driving away big-spending tourists and damaging the island’s reputation. Yesterday, July 25, Chalermpong Saengdee, an MP for Phuket from the People’s Party, issued a fiery statement slamming the lack of cannabis regulation and the government’s “careless” visa-free policy, warning that Thailand’s top…
- Pattaya News
Top cop’s Mercedes goes up in flames in Pattaya
A high-ranking police officer narrowly escaped disaster in Pattaya after his Mercedes-Benz burst into flames on a major road. In the early hours of yesterday, July 25, a luxury car went up in smoke at the notorious Matchstick Factory Intersection on Sukhumvit Road, drawing dramatic scenes of flashing lights, thick black smoke and a wall of fire. Emergency responders from…
- Thailand News
Thailand evacuates 100,000 amid Cambodia border clashes
Over 100,000 civilians have been evacuated from the northeastern provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, and Buriram due to escalating border clashes with Cambodia. Permanent Secretary Unsit Sampuntharat stated that evacuees are now housed in safety at 295 designated sites away from the conflict zones near the border. The evacuations were organised by local leaders, aided by village defence and…
- Thailand News
Thai king steps in as Thai-Cambodia border erupts
A royal lifeline has been thrown to victims of the violent Thai-Cambodian border clashes, with His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua pledging aid for the injured and support to rebuild shattered lives. As artillery fire rattled Thailand’s eastern provinces, the monarchy stepped in to assist those caught in the escalating conflict. The king extended royal patronage to all injured…
- Pattaya News
Wrong-way rider causes crash near Sattahip
A three-motorbike collision unfolded on Highway 331 near Sattahip late on Thursday, leaving one man seriously injured and another rider lucky to walk away. The accident occurred at around 10pm on July 24 when 49 year old Boonchalerm Singngoi, riding a white-and-red Honda Wave 125i, reportedly entered the highway from the Khao Mai Kaew market – but heading in the…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Northern and northeastern Thailand brace for heavy rainfall
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts significant rainfall in the northern and northeastern regions, impacting 36 provinces. Residents in these areas are advised to be vigilant against potential flash floods and landslides due to persistent heavy rain. These conditions are attributed to the strong southwestern monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand, coupled with a low-pressure…
- Pattaya News
Cops bust Chon Buri grocery store fronting drug ring
In a dramatic crackdown on drug trafficking in Chon Buri, Bang Lamung Police joined forces with local officials to raid a seemingly ordinary grocery store that was secretly operating as a hub for illegal narcotics. The bust, which took place in Village 5 of the Takhian Tia area, led to the arrest of five suspects and the seizure of a…
- Thailand News
Drunk French tourist dies on sofa outside Thai police station
A 55 year old French tourist was found dead on a sofa in front of Koh Phi Phi Police Station this morning after a night of heavy drinking and being left to recover outside. The man, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, had been on holiday on Phi Phi Island. He was last seen the…
- Thailand News
Frustrated hotels ditch glitchy travel scheme for DIY Thai deals
Thai hotels are losing patience with the government’s troubled Half-Half travel scheme, ditching the red tape and launching their own “Thai Price” promotions after weeks of chaos and low results. Launched on July 1, the highly touted campaign aimed to revive domestic tourism during the low season (July–October) by covering up to 50% of hotel room costs. But just three…
- Thailand News
Store brothers killed in Chachoengsao bike crash
A devastating road accident in Chachoengsao claimed the lives of two brothers yesterday afternoon, leaving colleagues and bystanders in shock. The fatal collision occurred at around 4.30pm yesterday, July 24, along Highway 3076 near the Rural Roads Office in Khlong Takrao subdistrict. Officers from Tha Takiap Police Station and emergency responders from the Panom Tha Takiap rescue unit rushed to…
- Phuket News
Phuket unshaken by border conflict fears
As artillery fire shakes the Thai–Cambodian border, Phuket officials have stepped forward to squash growing fears that the island’s world-famous tourism is at risk. In a rare bilingual statement issued yesterday, July 24, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat reassured tourists and locals that the island remains “safe, calm, and completely unaffected” by the ongoing military conflict hundreds of miles away. “Phuket…
- Thailand News
Thai-Cambodian clash kills 16, sparks mass evacuation
Explosions echoed across the Thai–Cambodian border for a second day today, as the fiercest fighting in over a decade left at least 16 people dead and forced more than 120,000 to flee their homes. Thai authorities confirmed that 15 people—14 civilians and one soldier—were killed in Thailand, while Cambodia reported one death and five injuries following retaliatory fire from Thai…
- Bangkok News
Cable crooks busted after blacking out Bangkok Internet
Bangkok police have arrested two men accused of stealing Internet distribution cabinets in a scheme that knocked out online access to hospitals and public offices across the capital, causing more than 10 million baht in damage. The suspects, identified as 43 year old Wirat and 29 year old Jongrak, were nabbed yesterday, July 24, at a house in Soi Kamnan…
- Business News
Thailand taps digital wallet leftovers to fight Trump’s tariffs
The Thai government is rushing to prop up struggling businesses as Washington’s trade crackdown starts hitting closer to home. An anonymous source from Government House revealed that US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy is expected to severely impact local entrepreneurs. In response, the economic stimulus committee has decided to allocate 42 billion baht—leftover from the digital wallet scheme—to aid…
- Phuket News
Phuket Fortuner thieves busted with GPS jammer
Two women who posed as tourists to steal a Phuket-registered Toyota Fortuner were arrested in Prachuap Khiri Khan after attempting to drive the stolen vehicle across Thailand undetected. The suspects, identified as Supaporn and Khemnan, were intercepted at the Nong Phai Intersection red light on Highway No. 37, in Thap Tai subdistrict, Hua Hin district, following a tip-off from the…
- Thailand News
Paetongtarn blasts Cambodia for ‘illegal’ border attacks
Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has launched a blistering attack on Cambodia, accusing it of igniting violence along the Thai border and violating international law by firing into Thai territory. In a strongly worded statement posted to X (formerly Twitter) at 2.25pm yesterday, July 24, Paetongtarn condemned the neighbouring country for its alleged aggression. “I condemn Cambodia for the use…
- Bangkok News
Chinese scammer busted at Don Mueang over app fraud
A Chinese national accused of fleecing Thai victims out of more than 1.5 million baht was arrested at Don Mueang International Airport while trying to flee the country. The suspect, identified as 45 year old Wang Hao, was caught in the international departure hall yesterday, July 24, as he attempted to board an AirAsia flight to Kunming, China. The arrest…
- Thailand News
Thailand ramps up flights as border unrest worsens
Thailand’s government is scrambling to evacuate its citizens from Cambodia as tensions escalate along the border, triggering fears of potential conflict. On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit ordered the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to work urgently with seven Thai airlines to boost seating capacity for Thai nationals wishing to…
- Pattaya News
Flashing zebra crossing turns heads in Pattaya
Pattaya has rolled out a new traffic safety innovation that’s turning heads and slowing traffic. On Wednesday, July 23, the city launched a high-tech pedestrian crossing system on Second Road near Soi 6 in North Pattaya, designed to make road crossings significantly safer. The crossing features a push-button system that activates flashing lights, alerting oncoming vehicles to slow down or…