Hot News
-
Sponsored
Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money
Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...
-
Brits in Pattaya face rising risks, embassy warns
The British Embassy is sounding the alarm in Pattaya, and expats would be wise to take notice. During a high-profile reception at the Courtyard by Marriott, the Bangkok-based consul in charge of consular affairs addressed a gathering of British expats and Thai officials with a stark warning: the number of UK nationals in distress is rising sharply. Joanne Finnamore-Crorkin cited…
-
RTN backs down in Phuket land clash as zoning deal takes shape
A bitter turf war between villagers and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) in Phuket’s protected forest reserve is finally moving towards resolution — and the RTN is backing off. At a high-stakes meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, chaired by Vice Governor Adul Chuthong, provincial officials and senior RTN chiefs agreed to push forward with a zoning plan aimed at ending…
-
Thailand rejects 0% tax policy with US, protects agriculture
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira clarified that Thailand will not agree to a 0% tax policy with the US due to potential widespread impacts. The government is preparing a 200 billion baht soft loan scheme to aid private sectors and farmers. Julaphan Amornwiwat, Deputy Finance Minister, confirmed yesterday, July 21, that Thailand cannot accept a 0% tax…
-
Chachoengsao family seeks answers after dengue kills girl, 6
A family in Chachoengsao was left grieving and seeking clarity over the death of their six year old daughter from dengue fever. Yesterday, July 21, 31 year old Supattra and 33 year old Somkiat, expressed their heartbreak and dissatisfaction with the hospital’s diagnosis process, which they feel contributed to their daughter’s untimely death due to multiple organ failure caused by…
-
From monk to suspect: Abbot may face charges over false theft report
Evidence emerged suggesting that the abbot of Muang Temple in the Bang Khae district of Bangkok may have fabricated a reported theft involving 10 million baht in cash and nearly 13 million baht in gold. The abbot, Phra Ratchawatchara Phattanatorn, also known as Chao Khun Narong, filed a complaint with Phetchakasem Police Station on July 1, claiming that personal assets,…
-
Homes wrecked, power poles downed in Thalang storm chaos
Fierce winds and torrential rain turned northern Phuket into a storm zone, leaving a trail of destruction across Thalang district. The Thalang District Office confirmed extensive damage throughout the area, with multiple subdistricts hit hard as the tropical squall ripped through homes, felled trees, and toppled power poles. In Pa Khlok, nine houses near Soi Na Yao in Village 8…
-
Woman seeks justice after hit and run by drunk driver
A 29 year old woman turned to the Sai Mai Must Survive Facebook page for help after being involved in a collision with a white pickup truck in Thanyaburi on June 17 at around 10pm. Following her work shift, Ubonrat was heading to dinner on her motorcycle when she stopped to answer a call. Suddenly, the pickup truck crashed into her,…
-
Thailand boosts economy with medical and wellness tourism focus
Thailand is exploring opportunities in the medical and wellness sectors to address domestic economic challenges, characterised by slow growth amid global uncertainties. The nation is focusing on medical and wellness tourism, medical manufacturing, and elderly care solutions to stimulate economic activity, according to Messe Düsseldorf Asia, an international trade organiser. These sectors are anticipated to grow the domestic market by…
-
Bangkok drug dealer Por Hua Benz arrested for assaults and meth use
Police Region 3 apprehended a major drug dealer in the Hathairat area, following multiple reports of him assaulting his parents. The arrest of the suspect, Tiwa, also known as Por Hua Benz, took place yesterday, July 21, at his residence on Hathairat Soi 25, Min Buri, Bangkok, as directed by Police Major General Siam Boonsom, alongside other senior police officers.…
-
Temple tension: RTA threatens shutdown over border clashes
A sacred tourist site on the Thai-Cambodian border is fast becoming a powder keg — and the Thai military is ready to shut it down if things get out of hand. Commander of Thailand’s 2nd Army Region Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang issued a stern warning about managing tourism at the historic Ta Muen Thom Temple in Surin province’s Phanom Dong…
-
Thai caretaker denies killing bedridden patient despite grim search history
A Thai caretaker denied murdering and robbing a bedridden woman she looked after, despite suspicious Internet search history revealing various methods of killing and a bloodstain found on her motorcycle. The victim, 53 year old Sriprai, was discovered dead at her home in Ban Pong district on July 17. Her caretaker, 64 year old Nittaya, was the first to find her…
-
Thai officials face scrutiny over foreign worker corruption claims
An investigation into corruption involving Cambodian, Myanmar, and Laotian workers was lodged yesterday, July 21, at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Chaeng Watthana Road. Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Network Foundation, accompanied by Yoswarit Chooklom, known as Jeng Dokjik, submitted a letter and evidence to Major Yutthana Praedam, Director General of the DSI, where Arunsee Wichawut, head of…
-
Nissan sedan crash in Chachoengsao leaves two critically injured
A serious accident occurred yesterday, July 21, around 9.30pm when a grey Nissan sedan collided with a concrete barrier on the Don Sin Non-Laem Pradu Road in Laem Pradu subdistrict, Ban Pho district, Chachoengsao province. Two people sustained critical injuries and were trapped inside the vehicle, necessitating an urgent response from emergency services. Police Captain Somsak Srinrong, deputy inspector of…
-
Bangkok rolls out 5 new EV shuttle routes to beat traffic
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is revving up its clean transport game with the launch of five new electric shuttle routes under its BMA Feeder initiative, starting August 1. The move aims to slash traffic congestion and air pollution while helping commuters connect more easily to the city’s rail network. “This expansion is a key step in improving first- and…
-
Cwm-back kid: Welshman flies home after coma drama in Thailand
A Welsh holidaymaker left fighting for his life in a Thai hospital has finally flown home after spending six weeks in a coma and racking up thousands in medical bills without insurance. Ashton Jones, from Cwmbran, jetted off to Bangkok on May 30 with a mate for a lads’ getaway but just five days in, his family were hit with…
-
Phuket woman runs from Grab rider after fake cash promise
A Grab motorcycle rider in Phuket shared a bizarre experience with the online community, claiming that his female passenger unexpectedly ran away from him to avoid paying the fare. The app-based motorcycle taxi rider recounted the incident to the Phuket Times yesterday, July 21, along with a video of the passenger running away. The page published the post with a…
-
Big Brother hits the beach: AI policing slashes crime in Pattaya
Pattaya’s not just a party town anymore — it’s now a high-tech crime-fighting zone with eyes everywhere. Thai police claim the latest artificial intelligence (AI)-powered surveillance system has cut physical assaults and property-related crimes in Pattaya by at least 40%. And if you’re walking the streets, chances are — you’re being watched. Region 2 Police Chief Lieutenant General Yingos Thepchamnong…
-
Fatal shooting at Uttaradit warehouse linked to property dispute
Lieutenant Natthaphong Phrommidech, Deputy Inspector of Investigation at Lap Lae Police Station, yesterday received reports of a fatal shooting. The incident at 3pm yesterday, July 21, occurred at a warehouse in Moo 4, Chai Chumphon subdistrict, Lap Lae district, Uttaradit province. Upon receiving the alert, Police Colonel Charoen Daengrueng, Superintendent of Lap Lae Police Station, Police Colonel Sophon Changloi from…
-
Education Minister’s jeans stir controversy over teacher dress code
Education Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat ignited an online debate after wearing jeans during an official school visit in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The incident raised questions about why female teachers are not permitted to wear jeans to school, despite the minister’s casual attire. Narumon and other officials from the Ministry of Education visited schools in Nakhon Si Thammarat…
-
Border bombshell: Thailand blames Cambodia for landmine attack
A deadly landmine blast near the Thai-Cambodian border has reignited a fiery diplomatic row, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of planting fresh anti-personnel mines in violation of international law. Three Thai soldiers were critically injured last week by a Russian-made PMN-2 landmine in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province. One soldier lost his foot. Two more mines were found just metres…
-
Comedian involved in car and motorcycle crash in Ayutthaya
In the early hours of this morning, a collision occurred involving a car and a motorcycle on U Thong Road near the Health Intersection in Horattanachai subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district. The 19 year old motorcyclist, named Phutthiphon, sustained severe injuries, including a broken jaw and a deformed leg, at 12.40am today, July 22. The driver of the car,…
-
Thaksin to attend secretive coalition dinner sparking influence row
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be dining with ruling coalition MPs today, reigniting speculation over his behind-the-scenes influence in Thai politics. Chief Government Whip Wisut Chainaroon confirmed the meeting, calling it a rare but much-needed gathering to strengthen unity before Parliament reconvenes. “This isn’t unusual,” said Wisut, a list MP from the Pheu Thai Party. “Since this government took…
-
Bangkok delivery rider caught with Trump-themed ecstasy pills
Police in Chok Chai apprehended a 35 year old delivery rider at a checkpoint on Lat Phrao Road, Bangkok, on July 21. He was found in possession of 59 ecstasy pills, which bore the likeness of former US President Donald Trump. The arrest of the suspect, Ekarin, also known as Diao, was part of a routine traffic and crime suppression…
-
Ex-Thai beauty queen accuses MP of shady 120k baht transfer
A beauty queen-turned-entrepreneur has sparked political fireworks by accusing a ruling party MP of pocketing a dodgy cash transfer, and she’s brought receipts. Netdao Watchainanwong, better known as Madame Cher, filed a formal complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), claiming that Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) MP Sutham Jaritngam unlawfully accepted 120,000 baht from her bank account. Netdao, a former…
-
Gale warning! Phuket reels as freak storm rocks island (video)
Phuket was left battered and on edge after a violent tropical storm tore across the island, killing one and injuring another, with officials warning the danger isn’t over yet. Governor Sophon Suwannarat urged residents, tourists and boat operators to stay on high alert after the Sunday downpour unleashed chaos across all three districts, Mueang, Thalang and Kathu, smashing into 17…
-
Indian man arrested for trying to smuggle cannabis from Thailand to Cambodia
Police yesterday, July 21, arrested an Indian national in the central province of Chanthaburi for the illegal possession and attempted smuggling of nearly 20 kilogrammes of cannabis flowers. Officials from Chanthaburi Immigration, along with police officers, were patrolling Ban Laem Market in Pong Nam Ron district when they noticed a suspicious-looking Indian man. He reportedly behaved nervously upon encountering the…
-
Myanmar national caught smuggling cigarettes worth 2 million baht
A 20 year old Myanmar national was apprehended for smuggling illicit cigarettes, valued at over 2 million baht, via natural routes along the Sangkhla Buri border. The shipment was destined for the Ban Phra Chedi Sam Ong Market. Yesterday, July 21, Police Major General Atsadawut Panyaraoon, commander of the 9th Infantry Division and head of the Surasi Task Force, along…
-
Stars, stripes and tourist gripes as Trump hikes visa fee kick off
Tourists, locals, and ex-pats in Thailand are being warned to brace for a wallet-busting new visa fee, after Donald Trump slapped a stinging US$250 charge on would-be visitors, just in time to cash in on the flood of sports fans heading to America. The controversial visa integrity fee has sparked outrage, with critics accusing the US president of using global…
-
Senator faces 10 years jail for using false professor title
A Thai senator could be booted from Parliament and jailed for up to 10 years after being caught falsely claiming the title of Professor during her campaign. The Election Commission (EC) has ruled that 45 year old Keskamol Pleansamai, a physician-turned-politician, wrongfully used the academic title in her Senate election application last year, a violation that could land her in…
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.