Hot News
-
Trat fisherman fined over 140,000 baht for illegal diesel
Excise officers in Trat and marine police seized 3,800 litres of illegal diesel from a fishing boat in Khlong Yai in the early hours of today, April 17, after receiving a tip-off about untaxed fuel entering Thai waters. At about 1am, officers searched the vessel at Por Kasemsiri pier in Khlong Yai district, Trat. Surachai, a 62 year old man…
-
Bangkok woman claims date rape drug was sprayed into her face at Songkran party
A Thai woman issued a public warning after alleging that she was exposed to gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), or date rape drug, through water sprayed from a water gun during a Songkran event at an entertainment venue in Bangkok. The TikTok user, @jeeppji, shared a photo of herself unconscious in the hospital on Monday, April 13. In the caption, she wrote that…
-
Yala boy with special needs found dead in scrapyard car after four-day search
A 12 year old Thai boy with special needs was found dead in a scrap car about 800 metres away, four days after he went missing from his home in Yala province. The 38 year old mother, Wanida, reported the disappearance of her son, Yuttasak, also known as Best, to Yarom Police Station on April 12 after the boy went missing…
-
Thailand set for slowest economic growth in ASEAN in 2026, IMF says
Thailand is expected to record the slowest economic growth in ASEAN in 2026 after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its forecast to 1.5%, down from 1.6% projected in January. The downgrade, reported today, April 17, places Thailand behind its regional peers, including Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The IMF said Vietnam is expected to lead the region with 7.1% growth, followed…
-
Private detained for raping girl in public bathroom near Khao San Road
The First Army Area detained a private who raped a girl in a public bathroom near Khao San Road during Songkran celebrations. The brother of the 15 year old victim took her to Chana Songkram Police Station at 1am on April 14 to file a complaint. The family alleged that police refused to take legal action at first and instead…
-
OPPO Find X9 Ultra and X9s are coming to Thailand — Here’s what you need to know
OPPO has confirmed that both the Find X9 Ultra and the Find X9s are heading to Thailand, with a global launch set for 21 April 2026. The two phones are being positioned as a pair, one for those who want the full flagship experience, and one for those who want something more compact without giving up too much. OPPO Find…
-
1.47 million attend ICONSIAM’s THAICONIC SONGKRAN 2026 as event also tops 100m digital views
ICONSIAM said its Songkran celebrations exceeded expectations this year, drawing more than 1.47 million visitors over the six-day festival and increasing in-mall sales by more than 15% compared with the same period last year. The company said attendance growth came from both Thai visitors and international tourists, while the campaign generated more than 100 million views across digital platforms. Supoj…
-
British man apologises after drifting car near Songkran event
Police are seeking to revoke the driving licence of a British man who was caught drifting a car during Songkran celebrations in Hat Yai district of Songkhla province on April 12. Viral footage shared on Thai social media showed a red vehicle drifting on a concrete area near the Songkran event site close to Black Bridge in Hat Yai district.…
-
Bangkok tuk tuk driver tries to overcharge influencer during Songkran, faces legal action
A Bangkok tuk tuk driver is facing possible legal action after he allegedly tried to overcharge a beauty blogger 2,000 baht for a journey of about 700 metres, in a trip that took around three minutes in total. The influencer, Chatsak Mahata, better known as Eclair Juepak, posted a video on social media on Tuesday, April 14, describing the incident.…
-
What does it cost to raise a family in Thailand?
Thailand regularly ranks among the top destinations for expat families, but cost estimates online tend to assume you are moving as a single person or a couple. Add children, and the numbers change considerably. Thailand international schools, healthcare in Thailand for expats, family housing, and dependent visas all carry costs that tend to get underestimated until you are already here.…
-
Songkran finished but Pattaya is still going — Here is the full Wan Lai 2026 schedule
Songkran in Pattaya runs longer than anywhere else in Thailand, and that is not an accident. The local tradition known as Wan Lai extends the water festival well beyond the national three-day holiday, with different districts rotating their celebrations across the entire month of April. If you missed the main Songkran dates or simply want more, Pattaya is where you…
-
Chinese woman stages her own kidnapping to extort money from father
Thai police arrested four Chinese nationals in Samut Prakan after a Chinese woman staged her own kidnapping with her boyfriend and two other men to extort money from her father. The case came to light after the woman’s father filed a complaint with police in China, saying his daughter, identified only as Tong, was kidnapped in Cambodia. He was told…
-
4 Pattaya taxi riders and bar guards arrested for attacking 2 foreigners
Four Thai men, including motorcycle taxi riders and bar security guards, were arrested after a viral video showed them attacking two foreigners during Songkran celebrations in Pattaya. The video was shared by the SiamChon News Facebook page on April 13 with a caption claiming that Pattaya motorcycle taxi riders attacked a foreign tourist in Soi Pattaya 6 after he sprayed…
-
2 Frenchmen arrested for assault on Thai motorcyclist in Phuket Songkran celebrations
A Thai man suffered serious injuries after he was attacked by Frenchmen in Phuket on April 13 after refusing to join a Songkran water fight. The victim’s girlfriend, 27 year old Maytinee Sila, went to Patong Police Station on the day of the incident to report the assault on her 29 year old boyfriend, Kunanya Phokham. The incident took place at…
-
Phichit man reports sexual assault by women and transwomen during Songkran
A man filed a police complaint after a group of women and transwomen sexually assaulted him during Songkran celebrations in Phichit province, leaving a hickey on his neck. The victim, identified only as Chitsanupong, shared photos of marks on his neck on Facebook yesterday, April 15. Based on the tagged location in the post, the sexual assault took place at…
-
5 things to do in Bangkok this weekend (April 17 to 19)
After the water fights, traffic, and noise of Songkran, Bangkok settles into a different rhythm this weekend. The holiday energy is not completely gone, but it is shifting into something easier, with free concerts, riverside live music, thoughtful exhibitions, and smaller creative events replacing the biggest splash zones. If you are ready to head out again after an electric week,…
-
Phuket locals call for tougher action on foreigners with disruptive behaviour during Songkran
A group of foreigners in Phuket is facing public criticism after reports of aggressive behaviour during Songkran Festival, including blocking roads, harassing motorists and inappropriate conduct towards women. Officers from Patong Police Station arrested the group on April 14 after a viral video showed them forcing open a van door and throwing water at the driver and inside the vehicle.…
-
Chiang Mai records highest drink driving cases during Songkran
Drunk driving accounted for 3,726 cases recorded during the 2026 Songkran Festival, with Chiang Mai reporting the highest number, according to Thailand’s Department of Probation. Director-General Piya Raksakun said the department instructed probation offices nationwide to enforce strict measures under campaigns promoting road safety, including “safe driving, reduce speed, reduce accidents,” and efforts to reduce road incidents during the holiday…
-
Trat officials seize five boats in Cambodia smuggling bust
Officials intercepted a smuggling operation transporting consumer goods and animal products from Thailand to Cambodia along the coastal border in Hat Lek, Trat, on April 12, seizing multiple boats and arresting six suspects. The operation was carried out by the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai MECC) in Trat, working with the Royal Thai Marine Corps task force and border…
-
Rak Chart Party submits UNESCO letter urging tighter review
Representatives of the Rak Chart Party travelled to Paris, France, to submit a letter to UNESCO headquarters today, April 12, expressing appreciation for its recognition of Thai cultural heritage while also calling for careful evaluation of world heritage registrations. The delegation, led by party director Chanin Pinthong and spokesperson Chaiporn Jirawinijnan, said the visit aimed to thank UNESCO for acknowledging…
-
Thai ex-manager confesses to hacking Nonthaburi mall system in revenge
A former network manager of a shopping mall in Nonthaburi confessed to hacking his former employer’s computer system after being dismissed, saying he acted out of anger but did not expect the attack to cause more than 10 million baht in damage. A representative of the shopping mall filed a complaint with Cyber Police in January, reporting that the company’s…
-
LEO Music Battle launches at Rajadamnern Stadium with a star presenter
Thai beer brand LEO has launched a new music marketing campaign called “LEO Music Battle” and named Oat Pramote as its latest music presenter, joining an existing lineup that includes TaitosmitH, Three Man Down, and Ink Waruntorn. The campaign’s inaugural event was held at Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok, which was recast as a music venue for the occasion. LEO, produced…
-
More than 80 undocumented Myanmar migrants found in Songkhla
More than 80 Myanmar migrants were found hiding in a forested area at the foot of a hill in Songkhla, yesterday, April 9, as officials investigated a suspected migrant smuggling operation. Officials acted after village and subdistrict leaders reported a large group hiding in the area. District officers, police and Songkhla immigration officers were then sent to inspect the site.…
-
2 Chinese sex creators arrested in Bangkok with drugs, sex toys, and pornography
Two Chinese sex creators were arrested at a condominium in Bangkok today, April 10, after residents filed complaints about public disturbances. Police seized drugs, pornography and sex toys during the operation. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau raided a unit in Thung Maha Mek subdistrict, Sathon district, following multiple complaints from residents at the property. Residents reported that two Chinese…
-
Black panther cub seized in Mae Sot sting operation
A black panther cub was recovered in a sting operation at a shopping centre car park in Mae Sot district, Tak province, yesterday, April 9, where police arrested two Myanmar nationals over an alleged cross-border wildlife trafficking attempt. The operation was carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau with officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, the…
-
Chinese-born suspect behind 239 gambling websites arrested in Pattaya
A Chinese-born man holding Saint Kitts and Nevis nationality was arrested at a pool villa in Pattaya on Wednesday, April 8, for operating 239 gambling websites with more than 2.7 billion yuan, or about 13 billion baht, in circulation. The arrest followed coordination between the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), and the Immigration…
-
French tourist injured in gold necklace snatching in Phuket
A French tourist sustained a neck injury during a gold necklace snatching on Bangla Road in Phuket yesterday, April 9, but managed to recover the jewellery from the thief. Phuket Times Facebook page reported that the incident took place at about 4am while the tourist was walking on Bangla Road with two friends. A Thai friend recorded a video showing…
-
Pattaya prostitution crackdown nets 16 foreign women
A Pattaya prostitution crackdown led to the arrest of 16 foreign women during a late-night operation along Pattaya Beach and nearby roads in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, yesterday, April 9. Immigration officers, working with social development officials, tourist police and volunteers, carried out inspections along Pattaya Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road targeting suspected soliciting for prostitution in…
-
Oil firms deny plans to sue government over diesel price controls
Two oil refineries denied legal action against the Thai government after the Ministry of Energy ordered a reduction in the diesel refining fee to lower retail prices during the ongoing energy crisis. Energy Minister Akanat Promphan announced on April 7 that the refining margin for diesel types B7 and B20 would be cut by 2 baht. He added that retail…
-
Thai stepfather kills toddler, tries to revive him with electric shock
A Thai stepfather confessed to fatally abusing a one year old boy and shocking the child with an electric fishing device in an attempt to revive him. Officers from Khao Din Police Station in Ratchaburi questioned the child’s mother, 30 year old Saowarot, and stepfather, 38 year old Surasak, after the boy, identified as Khai, died under suspicious circumstances on…
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.