- Thailand News
3 orangutans destined for Bangkok seized in smuggling bust
Three orangutans were seized in Chumphon’s Mueang district yesterday, January 22 while en route to Bangkok. These animals were discovered in a pickup truck driven by 63 year old Winai (surname withheld), with 45 year old Kalaya in the front passenger seat. The orangutans, classified as endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), were contained…
- Bangkok News
Thailand and Yokohama strengthen Bangkok Port collaboration
The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) and the City of Yokohama in Japan have formalised a letter of intent to enhance their port operations and infrastructure on the 10th anniversary of their partnership. Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit highlighted that this agreement will bolster cooperation in port development and infrastructure, with a focus on Bangkok Port. The collaboration aims to…
- Bangkok News
Thailand’s first LGBTQ+ couple registers marriage on historic day
History was made in Bangkok as Thailand celebrated its first official day of equal marriage. Organised by Narumit Pride, alongside numerous government and civil society organisations, the event marked the start of marriage registration for LGBTQ+ couples nationwide, turning a long-awaited dream into reality. At 6.15am, the first couple, 33 year old Ploynapas Jirasukon and 32 year old Kwanporn Kongphet…
- Thailand News
Election official faces legal action over Bhumjaithai Party decision
Election Commission (EC) secretary-general Sawang Boonmee may face legal action for his decision not to recommend the dissolution of the Bhumjaithai Party over allegations of unlawful donations. Lawyer Pattharapong Supaksorn has filed a petition with the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases against the senior EC official. Pattharapong accuses Sawang of dereliction of duty, based on his decision…
- Thailand News
New Thai law lets LGBTQ+ couples sue for adultery compensation
Thailand has made legal history by granting LGBTQ+ couples the right to sue adulterous spouses for compensation, marking a pivotal step towards equality under the law. The amendment, which came into effect today, ensure[s fair treatment for all couples, regardless of gender. The Civil and Commercial Code has been updated to allow LGBTQ+ spouses the same legal protections as heterosexual…
- Pattaya News
Russian tourist attacked in Pattaya over livestream mix-up
A Russian tourist’s harmless social media livestream took a violent turn on Pattaya Beach when a local woman, mistakenly believing she was being filmed, assaulted him in a dramatic scene outside the Pattaya City Police Station. The incident unfolded in the early hours of today, when Evgenii, a 45 year old Russian national, was livestreaming near Pattaya Beach. Standing by…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok gears up for historic equal marriage celebrations
Love wins in Bangkok as the city prepares to celebrate equal marriage registrations for all couples starting tomorrow, January 23 when the Marriage Equality Bill comes into effect. From exclusive giveaways to romantic photo corners, each district is ready to make history while creating unforgettable memories for lovebirds. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has announced the city’s readiness to implement the…
- Thailand News
Love takes flight: Balloon festival lands in Chiang Rai
Get ready for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day and beyond as Chiang Rai’s skies light up with vibrant hot air balloons. The Singha Park Chiang Rai International Balloon Fiesta 2025 promises a breathtaking spectacle with 30 balloons from 13 countries taking flight next month. Pongrat Luangthamrongcharoen, Managing Director of Singha Park Chiang Rai Company Limited, has announced the return of the…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok: Blind woman sexually harassed by cousin seeks help
A blind woman has sought help from Panadda Wongphudee, president of the Foundation for Good Deeds after enduring a month-long ordeal of alleged sexual harassment by her cousin. The police are set to issue a summons yesterday, January 21. The incident was shared on Panadda’s personal Instagram account, a well-known beauty queen, actress, singer, and presenter, who also serves as the…
- Thailand News
Thai expat wins 96 million baht lottery in South Korea
A Thai national residing in South Korea has won a substantial lottery prize, amounting to nearly 100 million baht. The announcement, shared on the Facebook page แม่ อสม.เกาหลี Chanel – เพจใหม่ revealed that the prize totals 4,066,375,179 Koren won (approximately 96 million baht). The winner returned to Thailand yesterday, January 21. Following the post, many people left congratulatory comments, and…
- Bangkok News
Frenchman detained in Thailand for explicit video scandal
Thai immigration police yesterday detained a 26 year old Frenchman accused of posting explicit videos online without the knowledge of those involved. Following a tip-off, Police Colonel Jirapong Rujiradamrongchai, along with his team from Immigration Division 3, investigated a French national accused of sharing explicit content and boasting about his physique on social media. Believed to involve Thai women, these…
- Thailand News
Thai Airways: Ministry’s bid for more administrators rejected
The Central Bankruptcy Court has thrown out the Ministry of Finance’s bid to tighten its grip on Thai Airways’ rehabilitation, ruling that the current administrators are steering the airline’s recovery effectively. In a hearing yesterday, the court dismissed a proposal by the Ministry of Finance to appoint two additional administrators to oversee the struggling carrier’s rehabilitation. The bid aimed to…
- Thailand News
Thai police deny plan to deport 48 Uyghur men to China
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has refuted claims by human rights organisations that they are attempting to deport 48 Uyghur men to China. Since fleeing from China’s Xinjiang province in 2014, the group has reportedly been imprisoned, with 43 held at the Immigration Bureau headquarters and the remaining five in Thai prisons. Human Rights Watch has called on the Thai…
- Thailand News
Thai government sets 50-day deadline for casino bill review
The government has tasked the Council of State with a 50-day deadline to complete the review of the entertainment complex bill before it proceeds to the House for consideration. It asserts that a referendum is unnecessary since the policy has already received parliamentary approval. Pakorn Nilprapunt, the secretary-general of the council, stated yesterday that the government has stressed the urgency…
- Thailand News
Labour Ministry probes fake health certificates for migrant workers
Labour Ministry Permanent Secretary Boonsong Thapchaiyuth ordered an investigation into allegations of fake health certificates being sold to migrant workers, purportedly through connections with senior ministry officials. Boonsong emphasised that the ministry is taking these allegations seriously. He urged representatives and employers registering foreign workers to follow legal protocols, ensuring authentic health checks are conducted. Following these reports, Boonsong has…
- Thailand News
State Welfare Card applications to open by March
Applications for the State Welfare Card will open by the end of March, with low-income and vulnerable groups invited to register. The registration follows two years after the last round, which took place from September 5 to October 31, 2022. Julapan Amornwiwat, Deputy Finance Minister, announced that the details of the new registration for the State Welfare Card this year…
- Bangkok News
Five arrested in Bangkok drug bust, 1.65 tonnes of Ice seized
Police Lieutenant General Phanurat Lakboon, Secretary-General of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), announced the arrest of five individuals involved in cross-border drug trafficking. They were apprehended during a significant operation that led to the seizure of 1.65 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice, which was hidden in 33 cotton rolls within a warehouse located in Bangkok’s Rat Burana…
- Pattaya News
Sedan crashes into bus on road towards Jomtien Beach, 2 injured
A serious accident occurred on Thappraya Road in Pattaya when a sedan collided with a van and a bus, leaving two individuals injured. The Pattaya Rescue Centre was notified of the crash on the road heading towards Jomtien Beach at 7.36am yesterday, January 21. Emergency responders, accompanied by media representatives, promptly arrived at the scene. On arrival, a grey bronze…
- Thailand News
Thailand tackles high airfares for Songkran festival
The Transport Ministry has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to tackle the high cost of airfares during long weekends and holiday periods, in preparation for the Songkran festival in April. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit stated yesterday that CAAT has also been instructed to devise long-term measures to control prices, ensuring airfares remain within a reasonable limit while…
- Thailand News
Thailand updates family registration for equal marriage rights
A new regulation by the Ministry of Interior regarding family registration was published in the Royal Gazette on Monday, January 20, aligning it with the equal marriage bill set to be enacted tomorrow, January 23. The Ministry of Interior Regulation on Family Registration (No.4) 2025 is designed to accommodate same-gender families, including those engaged or married, as explained by deputy…
- Thailand News
Toxic air: Thailand considers work from home nationwide
The Ministry of Public Health is set to recommend a nationwide work from home directive next week after PM2.5 ultrafine dust pollution surpassed safe thresholds in nearly every province yesterday, January 21, with Greater Bangkok experiencing the highest levels. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced that a meeting would be held today to formulate strategies to address the escalating pollution…
- Phuket News
48 Rohingya migrants found in Phuket and Phang Nga
A group of 48 migrants, consisting of 19 men and 29 women, was taken into safe custody after being found walking along roads in northern Phuket and in Tha Nun, Phang Nga province, early yesterday, January 21. The group is believed to have travelled by boat from Bangladesh or Myanmar. Tha Chatchai police at the northern tip of Phuket were…
- Bangkok News
GSB windfall: Bangkok man wins 40 million baht jackpot
A man from Bangkok became the lucky winner of a 40 million baht jackpot from a special one-year digital Government Savings Bank (GSB) bond. The GSB Society page congratulated Danai, the lucky winner, on this extraordinary prize, stating that the prize distribution was genuine and congratulating him on winning the substantial amount. Danai, a client from the GSB branch at…
- Thailand News
MK Group goes MongKol: Thai hotpot chain’s CNY rebrand
In a sizzling marketing twist, Thailand’s leading Suki restaurant chain, MK Group, embraces the cultural phenomenon of “muketing” by rebranding four Bangkok branches to “MongKol” restaurants just in time for Chinese New Year. Muketing, a fusion of marketing and the Thai term mutelu (beliefs and superstitions), integrates lucky symbols, colours, and auspicious timings into business strategies. MK Group’s new MongKol branding,…
- Thailand News
Philippines and Thailand forge tourism pact amid casino buzz
In a landmark move to bolster tourism and cross-border collaboration, the Philippines and Thailand inked a five-year deal focusing on mutual growth in the travel and hospitality sectors. The agreement, signed on Sunday, January 19 also hints at Thailand’s potential legalisation of casinos: a game-changing development for its tourism landscape. The Philippines, a regional leader in the casino industry with…
- Thailand News
Toxic air crisis: 70 provinces choked by dangerous dust levels
Thailand woke up to alarming air quality today, with ultrafine dust particles (PM2.5) reaching hazardous levels in 70 of 77 provinces, and Greater Bangkok bearing the brunt of the toxic haze. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) revealed that PM2.5 levels surged into the red, or hazardous-to-health, zone in 27 provinces, primarily in central Thailand. At 7am, Samut…
- Thailand News
Burglar captured on CCTV breaking into Samut Prakan clinic (video)
A TikTok user, @doctor_on_thegreen, shared CCTV footage revealing a burglary at their clinic. The incident occurred on January 6 at approximately 9.04pm when a man, concealing his face with a black cap, broke into the clinic using a metal bar. Despite the clinic being located on the busy Srinakarin Road and well-lit inside and out, the assailant showed no concern…
- Thailand News
Thai woman left in debt after lending 880k baht to friend
A woman voiced her grievances on social media after lending 880,000 baht to a close friend nearly three years ago, only to have it remain unpaid. While her friend continues to live a comfortable life, she finds herself burdened with a high-interest loan. The incident came to light yesterday, January 20, when the woman shared her story online, revealing the…
- Thailand News
Pink dholes with rare colour spotted in Thailand
In a stunning discovery that has wildlife enthusiasts buzzing, rare images of dholes with pinkish fur have emerged from Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park. A dhole (pronounced dole) is also known as the Asiatic wild dog, red dog, and whistling dog. It is about the size of a German shepherd but looks more like a long-legged fox. The unusual find…
- Thailand News
Inmate escapes Chumphon prison, manhunt underway
An inmate serving a prison term for a drug-related offence has escaped from Huai Klung temporary prison in Wang Tako subdistrict, Lang Suan district, Chumphon province, sparking a search operation. The escape occurred around 3pm, yesterday, January 20, and seven hours later, the fugitive remains at large. Prison officials, alongside police from the Lang Suan Police Station, have mobilised to…