- Bangkok News
Audit office blames thin elevator shafts for Bangkok collapse
The State Audit Office (SAO) released a statement addressing the decision to reduce the wall thickness of the elevator shafts in its new 30-storey building, which allegedly contributed to its collapse during an earthquake. The statement clarified that the adjustment in wall thickness was made to comply with appropriate building standards for interior architecture. The construction contract was awarded to…
- Pattaya News
DSI uncovers illegal pork import scheme with Thai, Chinese links
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced the discovery of illegal pork imports involving Thai and Chinese investors, along with government officials. A total of 161 containers of frozen pork were found. This announcement took place yesterday, April 24, at the DSI office in Chaeng Watthana Government Complex. Present were Somboon Muangklam, advisor to the justice minister, and several DSI…
- Phuket News
Crypto raids in Cherng Talay linked to drug trafficking and scams
Two cryptocurrency exchanges in Cherng Talay have been raided in a high-profile crackdown, with police alleging links to drug trafficking and scam operations. The exchanges, Ex24.pro and Cryptopida, were among eight locations hit by a coordinated operation led by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on April 18, as part of Operation Crypto Phantom. This nationwide campaign is aimed at dismantling…
- Thailand News
Thai Vietjet launches summer fares from 799 baht
Thai Vietjet is turning up the heat this summer with an unbeatable promotion, offering domestic flights from just 799 baht, including taxes and fees! Whether you’re dreaming of a beach getaway to Phuket, a city escape to Chiang Mai, or a cultural trip to Hat Yai, there’s a deal waiting for you. But that’s not all – international routes are…
- Thailand News
Thailand pushes for inclusive job market for silver age workers
Jobsdb by SEEK, Thailand’s leading job platform, is advancing the country’s labour market by supporting the Silver Age workforce, those aged 55 and above, in preparing for a future shaped by AI technology and digital tools. As of yesterday, April 23, the Silver Age group comprises over 13 million people, roughly 20% of Thailand’s workforce, with projections of the country…
- Pattaya News
Star voyager cruise docks in Pattaya for the first time
Thailand just got a massive upgrade on the luxury travel map — and it’s coming by sea. For the first time ever, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) teamed up with StarDream Cruises to welcome the Star Voyager to Thai shores, marking a milestone moment in the kingdom’s cruise tourism ambitions. The sleek, high-end cruise ship officially launched operations from…
- Bangkok News
4 Indians caught smuggling hydroponic weed from Bangkok
It was anything but a smooth landing for four passengers flying in from Bangkok, as Indian Customs officials at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport uncovered a staggering 20 Indian crores (around 78.4 million baht) worth of hydroponic weed in a series of busts that spanned three separate cases. Acting on specific intelligence, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs…
- Thailand News
UNICEF sounds alarm on Thailand’s rising child obesity
Thailand once made huge strides in improving children’s nutrition but now a new health crisis is growing — and it’s expanding waistlines. UNICEF Thailand has launched a powerful new campaign called Kin Rai Dee (What’s Good to Eat) in response to rising childhood obesity rates and stagnant progress on tackling undernutrition in parts of the country, particularly the southern border provinces,…
- Phuket News
Russian tour guides busted in Phuket crackdown
Thailand’s sun-soaked tourist trails turned tense this week as Phuket Tourist Police swooped in on illegal tour guide operations, arresting two Russian nationals and fining two tour companies in a coordinated sting targeting unlicensed tourism activity. The crackdown, conducted yesterday, April 23, was spearheaded by Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekkachai Siri and involved officers from multiple police units and the Southern…
- Thailand News
Trang woman claims uncut hair has supernatural powers (video)
A 52 year old woman from Trang province has maintained her hair uncut for over a decade, measuring at 1.17 metres in length. Known locally as “Pom Pee Chor” or “ghost hair,” attempts to cut it have been unsuccessful, reportedly causing illness to those who tried. Journalists visited Nutcha’s home in Wangwon subdistrict, Kantang district, Trang. Her hair, which appears…
- Pattaya News
Bug in the eye sparks bike smash in East Pattaya
A routine evening ride turned into chaos in East Pattaya after a bizarre bug-related mishap led to a crash between two motorbikes, leaving both riders injured. The collision happened around 9pm on Tuesday, April 22 along the Huay Kai Nao – Ban Dan Phajon Road in the Khao Mai Kaew subdistrict. Emergency responders from the Sawang Boriboon Pattaya City Rescue…
- Phuket News
Phuket to stage tsunami drill at Kamala Beach
Sun, surf… and sirens? Tourists and locals on Phuket’s Kamala Beach are set to witness a full-scale tsunami emergency drill as Thailand prepares for the worst with one of its biggest disaster response simulations to date. From June 24 to 27, the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket) will take part in the Crisis Management Exercise: C-MEX…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya’s new parking rules spark confusion and complaints
Motorists in Pattaya may want to double-check where they park from now on, or risk fines, towing, and a whole lot of frustration. In a bid to unclog its traffic-choked streets, Pattaya City has rolled out new parking regulations on Pattaya South Road and Thepprasit Road, hoping to ease congestion and restore some order to the city’s notoriously chaotic roads.…
- Phuket News
Phuket Airport baggage belt still broken amid repairs
Holidaymakers flying out of Phuket are being urged to stay calm, despite ongoing baggage belt breakdowns that continue to cause delays at Thailand’s second-busiest international gateway. Yesterday, April 23, Phuket International Airport (HKT) confirmed that one of its four main baggage conveyor belts in the international terminal remains out of action, while three lines have been repaired and are back…
- Pattaya News
Chinese tourist’s joyride ends in horror crash on Pattaya street
A Chinese tourist’s midnight thrill ride turned into a nightmare after he slammed his high-powered motorcycle into a utility pole in Pattaya, leaving him fighting for his life. The horrific crash occurred at 5.16am yesterday, April 23, in Soi Chaloem Phrakiat 3. Emergency responders from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre rushed to the scene, joined by Police Lieutenant Anand…
- Thailand News
Search is on for Thailand’s next global goodwill heroes
Think you, or someone you know, has what it takes to put Thailand on the global map? The search is on for the next generation of Thailand’s goodwill ambassadors, as nominations open for the fourth annual Thailand Public Diplomacy Awards. Launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Thailand Foundation, the prestigious awards recognise individuals, groups, and organisations whose efforts have…
- Phuket News
8,000 runners set for biggest Phuket marathon yet
Lace up those trainers and pack your sunblock — the Laguna Phuket Marathon 2025 is set to be the biggest yet, drawing more than 8,000 runners from 50 countries for an unforgettable weekend of sweat, speed, and stunning scenery. Phuket Governor Sopon Suwannarat and Laguna Phuket’s Managing Director Paul Wilson officially launched the event at a press conference in Bangkok yesterday, April…
- Thailand News
Panic button: Thailand to blast phones with emergency alert tests
Don’t panic if your phone suddenly screams at you in May — it’s not the end of the world, just a test. Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has announced a nationwide test of its emergency Cell Broadcast alert system, with thousands of phones set to blare warnings across selected locations. The staged tests are scheduled for May…
- Bangkok News
Siriraj Hospital urges use of advanced radiology technology
Siriraj Hospital is advocating for the use of advanced technology in interventional radiology, a minimally invasive procedure that targets specific medical treatments. The hospital emphasised that investing in this technology could save more lives and has called on the government to consider its importance. Doctor Yongyut Sirivatanauksorn, director of Siriraj Hospital, highlighted the establishment of the Siriraj Centre of Interventional…
- Thailand News
Chinese tourists favour Vietnam over Thailand amid rising costs
Thailand has fallen behind Vietnam as the most-visited Southeast Asian destination for Chinese tourists in the first quarter. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) subsequently urged the government to lower travel costs, which are currently 30% higher than Vietnam’s, and enhance Thailand’s appeal with new attractions. The Tourism and Sports Ministry recorded 1.3 million Chinese visitors to Thailand during…
- Phuket News
Deadly heatwave to scorch Phuket, Bangkok and 35 provinces
Thailand is bracing for a brutal blast of heat, with public health officials warning that a life-threatening heatwave is set to grip Phuket, Bangkok, and 35 other provinces. The Department of Health has raised the alarm, predicting the heat index, the temperature people feel when humidity is factored in, will soar to dangerously high levels. Phuket is expected to hit…
- Politics News
Phumtham denies visa scandal derailed US trade talks
Rumours are swirling about US visa sanctions throwing a spanner in Thailand’s trade negotiations but Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai says it’s all smoke and no fire. In a press briefing yesterday, April 23, Phumtham hit back at claims that visa bans, imposed over Thailand’s controversial deportation of Uyghur refugees to China in February, had sidelined key Thai negotiators from upcoming…
- Bangkok News
14 million baht vanishes from Thai Parliament savings co-op
A scandal is brewing at Parliament’s doorstep after a whopping 14 million baht mysteriously vanished from the Parliamentary Official Saving and Credit Cooperative. But despite the jaw-dropping fraud, House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha insists there’s no need to panic. According to Wan, the massive embezzlement won’t affect the cooperative’s members or its day-to-day operations. “It was fortunate that we…
- Thailand News
Thai coral recovery: over 60% of bleached reefs saved
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has successfully rescued over 60% of the coral affected by bleaching since last year. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director General of the DMCR, reported that since April last year, approximately 60-80% of coral in Thailand’s waters experienced bleaching. Of these, 60% have been successfully revived, while the remainder perished. The bleaching was attributed to…
- Thailand News
Thailand scraps mandatory scout uniforms, ease parents’ burden
Parents across Thailand are breathing a collective sigh of relief as the Ministry of Education announces a major change in school regulations. The compulsory wearing of full scout uniforms will be scrapped, offering much-needed financial respite to families as the new school term approaches. Deputy Education Minister Surasak Phancharoenworrakul made the announcement during a meeting with senior officials today, April…
- Bangkok News
Thailand’s 3.78 trillion baht budget faces US tariff concerns
The Thai Parliament will hold a special session next month to debate the government’s proposed 3.78-trillion-baht budget for the 2026 fiscal year, as concerns over a potential trade war with the United States loom large. With Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s government seeking to minimise the economic impact of looming US tariffs, the upcoming session promises to be a pivotal moment…
- Thailand News
Thai PM urged by Human Rights Watch on Cambodia repression
As Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra prepares for her visit to Phnom Penh today, April 23, and tomorrow, April 24, Human Rights Watch is calling on her to raise pressing human rights concerns with Cambodian leaders. The visit, which marks the 75th anniversary of Thai-Cambodian diplomatic relations, will see the 38 year old PM meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun…
- Thailand News
Fire destroys Thai museum warehouse, millions in sculptures lost
A devastating fire ravaged the three-storey warehouse of the Thai Human Imagery Museum in Nakhon Chaisri district, Nakhon Pathom province, causing substantial damage estimated at over 10 million baht. The fire, which broke out today, April 23, destroyed the warehouse, although the museum’s exhibition space, featuring lifelike sculptures of Buddhist monks, former kings, and scenes from Thailand’s past, remained unharmed.…
- Bangkok News
120 million baht compensation for SAO building collapse victims
In a step towards addressing the devastating collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building, China Railway No. 10 (Thailand) has pledged 120 million baht in compensation for the victims, as confirmed by Justice Minister Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong. The move comes amidst ongoing investigations into the tragedy, with no impact on the criminal proceedings. Minister Tawee confirmed yesterday, April…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok’s new law: Register and microchip pets by January 2026
From January 10 next year, Bangkok residents will be required to register and microchip their cats and dogs under a new city law aimed at tackling the growing problem of stray animals. The bold new regulation, announced by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), will impose strict requirements on pet ownership, including limits on the number of pets allowed in certain living…
