News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
-
Sponsored Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
-
Thai national flag and message fly high in New York Time Square
Plan B Media is the company behind the #TruthFromThailand billboard in New York City’s Times Square, which went viral on Thai social media. The company also displayed the Thai national flag across its 19,775 screens throughout Thailand to boost morale among frontline Thai soldiers in the border clashes. The X account @Gossip_Gun, yesterday, July 29, shared a video of the…
-
Thailand launches digital platform for migrant work permits
The Department of Employment (DoE) has introduced an updated digital platform to streamline the processing of employment permits for migrant workers, representing a significant advancement in modernisation efforts. Director-General Somchai Morakotsriwan launched the outsourcing service project during a press conference attended by representatives from the Ministry of Labour, foreign embassies, government agencies, and the private sector. The initiative aims to…
-
Massive road revamp to shake up Phuket traffic flow
The Phuket Highways Office has announced plans for a massive 420-million baht overhaul of Srisoonthorn Road, one of the island’s busiest and most vital thoroughfares. Residents, business owners, and commuters are invited to weigh in at a public meeting scheduled for today, July 31. The meeting will run from 9am to midday at the Chalermprakiat 84 Pansa Building, located at…
-
Police seize illegal e-cigarettes and ketamine in Bangkok raid
On July 29, police apprehended a Chinese national named Ham at a condominium in the Rama 3 area. The arrest followed the seizure of over 20,000 pieces of electronic cigarette components, including more than 1,000 ready-to-sell vape pods, 10 gallons of e-cigarette liquid, and 2.8 grammes of ketamine. The operation stemmed from an earlier arrest involving a Thai national selling…
-
Thailand opens first cancer drug manufacturing facility
The Chulabhorn Royal Academy has inaugurated Thailand’s first cancer medication manufacturing facility, certified by the internationally recognised GMDP PIC/s. Located at the Phimanmas Residence in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, the facility is a significant milestone for the country, ensuring the highest production standards. This initiative was driven by the vision of Professor Doctor Chulabhorn Walailak, a member of the…
-
Former laundry owner arrested for Buriram coin machine thefts
A former owner of a coin-operated laundry business has been arrested for breaking into coin-operated washing machines. The business was initially successful but collapsed due to the impact of Covid-19, allegedly leading him to seek funds for online gambling and drug use. Police Colonel Chamrat Siriliang, along with an investigative team from Mueang Buriram Police Station, apprehended 34 year old…
-
Thailand to invite foreign ambassadors to border after Cambodia tour
Following the visit of international ambassadors to Cambodia, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a plan to invite foreign ambassadors to its own border area. The aim is to show them the damage caused by recent clashes and to present Thailand’s side of the story. The Cambodian military, yesterday, July 29, led ambassadors from 13 countries, including the United States,…
-
Phuket drowning in rubbish: Mayor vows not to quit
Mayor Suphot La-ongphet of Phuket City is standing firm as the island faces a mounting waste management crisis, with garbage piling up faster than it can be processed. On Tuesday, July 29, at 5.30pm, the mayor visited the Phuket Central Waste Disposal Centre to assess the worsening situation. He was joined by Director of the Engineering Office Yutthana Kanchanaphak to…
-
Cambodia ‘catches’ Thai spy pigeon, Thais in stitches
Cambodia has become the butt of online jokes after claiming it caught a Thai “spy pigeon” fitted with GPS tracking. The bizarre claim emerged when the Facebook page Battambang Post posted a photo of the captured bird. The pigeon was found wearing ankle bands marked with the word “THAILAND”, sparking wild claims it was part of a Thai military surveillance…
-
Lottery enthusiasts brave rain for lucky numbers in Ang Thong
Yesterday, July 30, lottery enthusiasts gathered behind Wat Bot Ratchasathat in Bang Rakam subdistrict, Pho Thong district, Ang Thong province, to seek lucky numbers from the revered Phaya Bung, a spider. Despite the persistent rain, they remained undeterred, performing a ritual involving incense sticks and flowers to request numbers, hoping to use them for the August 1 lottery. Participants in…
-
Ratchaburi shop owner seeks lottery luck from temple spirit
A superstitious shopkeeper is betting her luck—and future fortune—on a pint-sized bronze spirit. Yesterday, July 30, a 44 year old woman visited Wat Phai Lom in Nakhon Pathom’s Mueang district, hoping for divine intervention from a revered supernatural statue known as “Kuman Sombat”. The temple was abuzz with believers, all hoping for lottery luck from the mysterious child-like figure. Devotees…
-
Man dies in Kanchanaburi car crash after fleeing police checkpoint
A 25 year old man died after his car crashed into a utility pole in Mueang Kanchanaburi district. The incident occurred at 10.45pm on July 30, with the impact splitting the vehicle in two, revealing firearms and kratom water bottles inside. CCTV footage from a local restaurant captured the moment the car lost control and collided with a roadside pole…
-
Thailand braces for heavy rain across 36 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for 36 provinces in Thailand to prepare for heavy rainfall, particularly in parts of the north and upper northeastern regions. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates a decrease in rain across the country, though heavy rain remains in some areas. Residents are advised to stay alert for potential…
-
Pet paradise unleashed at Bangkok’s epic expo
Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre is set to transform into a wonderland of whiskers, wagging tails and wild surprises as the Pet Expo Championship 2025 kicks off with the theme The Magical Land of Friendship. Running daily starting tomorrow, July 31, from 10am to 8pm until Sunday, August 3, the event promises non-stop fun, furry festivities and some serious…
-
Thai singer accuses retired police of gun threat over parking dispute
A Thai singer filed a complaint against a retired police officer in the central province of Nakhon Sawan, alleging that the former officer threatened him with a gun following a parking dispute. The male singer, identified only as Bas, reported the threat to Takhli Police Station today, July 30. He informed police that the incident occurred outside a restaurant on…
-
Thaksin hospital scandal: Supreme Court sets verdict date
The Supreme Court has set September 9 as the day it will deliver its verdict in a highly watched case probing whether former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was unlawfully spared prison time by bunking down in the Police General Hospital (PGH) instead of a jail cell. The court concluded its seventh and final hearing in the self-initiated inquiry this week,…
-
Next US ambassador to Thailand says border clashes do nothing to strengthen alliance
Thai netizens criticised the next US ambassador to Thailand, Sean Kotaro O’Neill, after he commented on the recent clashes at the Thai-Cambodian border. O’Neill, the former US Consul General in Chiang Mai, was recently nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the next ambassador to Thailand. Following his nomination, O’Neill was asked to share his views on the ongoing…
-
Paetongtarn gets final lifeline in leaked tape scandal
Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been granted a last-minute reprieve by the Constitutional Court, which voted 5–4 in favour of extending her deadline to submit a defence in the now-infamous leaked audio scandal involving Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. The decision, announced yesterday, July 29, allows Paetongtarn until August 4 to respond, a final extension under Section 31 of…
-
Spiked: Russian girl jabbed by porcupinefish at Jomtien Beach
A peaceful beach day turned into a seaside scare after an 11 year old Russian girl was stung by a porcupinefish spine while playing along the shore at Jomtien Beach. The incident unfolded yesterday afternoon, July 29, when the girl suddenly cried out in pain, alarming her guardians and nearby beachgoers. According to officials from the Jomtien municipal enforcement team,…
-
Indonesia reconsiders SEA Games participation amid Thailand-Cambodia tentions
Indonesia expressed hesitation in participating in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), citing concerns that tensions between Thailand and Cambodia could affect the safety of athletes during the event. The Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports, Ario Bimo Nandito, commonly known as Dito Ariotedjo, told reporters in Jakarta that his ministry, together with the National Olympic Committee (NOC), is…
-
Knives and walkie-talkies found in Bangkok school sweep
Bangkok police uncovered a stash of weapons hidden across two prominent educational institutions during a sweeping raid ahead of a major school celebration. Yesterday, July 29, more than 100 officers mobilised in Pathum Wan district for a coordinated crackdown targeting the Pathumwan Institute of Technology and Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok. The operation aimed to prevent clashes and violence during…
-
Thai man shot while riding motorcycle on Samut Prakan road
Police are searching for a gunman who shot a Thai man while he was riding a motorcycle on Bangna-Trat Road in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok, this morning, July 30. The Facebook page Mueang Prakan V2 reported that the shooting occurred at around 7.40am on Bangna-Trat Road, opposite the Bangna Tower office building. The victim was a 25 year old…
-
Bag bump at Pattaya bar sparks bloody brawl
A drunken bump turned bloody in the early hours of yesterday after a Thai woman was attacked near a South Pattaya bar in a row over a handbag. At around 3am yesterday, July 29, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre received a report of a physical altercation outside a pharmacy near a well-known restaurant on South Pattaya Road. Responders arrived to…
-
Lucky pink slips: Thai top lotto picks revealed
Thailand’s favourite fortune teller is back in the spotlight as the countdown to the August 1 Government Lottery draw heats up, and Mae Jamnian’s pink slips are flying off the shelves. Renowned for her uncanny accuracy, Mae Jamnian’s lottery number predictions have once again created a nationwide buzz. Her top 10 best-selling numbers for this round are all rooted in…
-
9 victims killed in Suphan Buri firecracker factory explosion
An explosion at a small firecracker factory in the central province of Suphan Buri today, July 30, killed nine people. The total number of victims is still under investigation. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers are examining two houses in Ban Pho sub-district, Mueang district, Suphan Buri province, following a report of the explosion at around 11am. The two houses was…
-
Thailand considers tax breaks to boost off-peak tourism
The Revenue Department is contemplating tax incentives to boost tourism during the off-peak season, potentially enabling people to deduct travel expenses of up to 15,000 baht from their taxable income. Pinsai Suraswadi, director-general of the department, stated that discussions with the Tourism and Sports Ministry are underway to decide which provinces should be covered by these tax measures. The scope…
-
CCTV busts trash dumpers in Pattaya green zone sting
Caught on camera and forced to clean up their mess. That’s the fate that met four litterbugs after Pattaya’s expanding CCTV network spotted them dumping garbage in a forest zone just hours after it had been cleaned. On Sunday, July 27, Pattaya City workers completed a public cleaning and trimming of a green zone. But the next day, officials were…
-
US tariffs on Thailand expected to change in August
US tariffs on Thailand are anticipated to be announced on August 1 or August 2, with the rate expected to change from the current 36%, according to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. After achieving an unconditional ceasefire agreement along the Thai-Cambodian border, Pichai stated that negotiations with the US are progressing, with most issues resolved and only a few remaining. He…
-
100 million baht in compensation offered to provinces affected in border clashes
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance approved 100 million baht in compensation for residents in each province affected by the ongoing border clashes. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Phichai Chunhavajira, reported that approximately 160,000 residents in the border provinces had to evacuate to emergency shelters and were forced to stop working due to the continued violence in the area. Locals…
-
Thailand enforces no-fly zones for drones in military areas
Fourteen areas across Thailand have been declared no-fly zones for drones, particularly in military regions. The Thai military is equipped with anti-drone systems along the Thai border, ready to intercept any unauthorised aerial devices. Today, July 30, Jirayu Huangsub, Government spokesperson, announced that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has prohibited drone flights in areas that could impact national…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.