Hot News
Stay updated with the latest Hot News in Thailand, featuring in-depth reporting and analysis of local events and goings on! We bring you breaking news, in-depth reports, and exclusive interviews covering a wide range of Thailand-focused topics, from Crime and Politics to Tourism and Business.
To keep up with the hottest news, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
-
Sponsored The 5 best luxury villa rentals in Koh Samui by The Luxury Signature
Koh Samui has long been known as one of the world’s finest luxury travel destinations. Its pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and crystal-clear waters create an idyllic setting that attracts travellers seeking an escape from the everyday grind. And opting to...
-
Thai transport twist: No chinese takeover in the fast lane, says DLT
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) dismissed media reports suggesting Chinese companies are increasingly taking over struggling Thai transport businesses, emphasising that licences issued to one business cannot be transferred in the event of a takeover. “More importantly, only Thai legal entities registered and headquartered in Thailand are eligible to hold the licences.” The DLT clarified that at least 51%…
-
Thailand’s entertainment bill faces opposition over complex plan
The Government of Thailand’s proposed entertainment complex bill has faced significant opposition from both the coalition Bhumjaithai and the opposition Democrat parties, with critics arguing that the potential drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Bhumjaithai Party Secretary-General Chaichanok Chidchob voiced the party’s objections after a coalition meeting yesterday, August 13, highlighting four main concerns. According to Chaichanok, the bill would not effectively…
-
Thai PM orders swift action on Chinese goods influx
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin tasked Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai with fast-tracking measures this month to tackle the surge of Chinese goods into Thailand. Following the weekly Cabinet meeting held yesterday, August 13, PM Srettha announced that the Commerce Ministry would spearhead efforts to prevent substandard goods from entering the country. This initiative will be a collaborative effort with the Finance…
-
Landslides trap 400 in Mae Hong Son village, urgent aid needed
Over 400 residents in a hillside village in Mae Hong Son‘s Khun Yuam district urgently called for help as they awaited evacuation following several landslides. The main road leading into the village became impassable after heavy rain on Monday, leaving them stranded. Phachat Chomchopdi, a resident, reached out to local government officials yesterday, August 13, reporting that while no injuries…
-
Bangkok councillors support port relocation to ease congestion
Bangkok councillors have thrown their weight behind the Transport Ministry‘s proposal to shift the capital’s port operations to a new location, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce air pollution. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced yesterday, August 13, that five councillors have formally backed the plan through a letter submitted to the ministry. Kittipong Ruayfupan, Bangkok councillor for Thung…
-
Elderly man arrested for assaulting woman with hoe in backyard
Police apprehended a 73 year old man for assaulting a 77 year old woman with a hoe, resulting in her requiring five stitches. The incident occurred while she was cutting bamboo shoots in her backyard. The suspect, identified as Thoeng Chinpak from Buriram, was taken into custody at the Satuek Police Station after hiding at a relative’s house in Nakhon…
-
Retired janitor dies in Chai Nat motorcycle crash
A tragic accident claimed the life of a recently retired school janitor when his motorcycle was struck by a pickup truck at a U-turn point in Chai Nat. The collision occurred despite the pickup driver’s attempts to warn and stop. Police from the Chai Nat City Police Station were alerted to the accident yesterday, August 13, and promptly arrived at…
-
Berry bad: Ex-boss faces 5 years for human trafficking scandal
Finnish prosecutors are gunning for a hefty five-year prison sentence for the former head of a berry company and his Thai business partner over shocking human trafficking charges. The Lapland District Court kicked off the trial yesterday, August 13, with the duo facing a staggering 77 counts of aggravated human trafficking. Jukka Kristo, the ex-CEO of Polarica, and his Thai…
-
Thailand govt addresses TEMU’s impact on local SMEs
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce raised concerns over the impact of the global e-commerce platform TEMU on Thai SMEs. Immediate protective measures are being discussed with eight agencies to curb the influx of online goods into the country. Phumtham Wechayachai shared his views on Facebook, stating that while international e-commerce platforms bring opportunities, they also present significant…
-
Pipe bomb attack at Batu checkpoint injures volunteer in Narathiwat
Two assailants hurled pipe bombs at the Batu checkpoint in Narathiwat, injuring one paramilitary volunteer and damaging property. CCTV footage captured the incident, showing the suspects approaching the checkpoint on foot before throwing the explosives. The southern border province of Narathiwat has been plagued by unrest, and the recent attack at the Batu checkpoint is a stark reminder of ongoing…
-
Hat Yai in southern Thailand hailed Asia’s most affordable travel destination
One of the globe’s most popular online travel platforms hailed Hat Yai district in the southern province of Songkhla as the most affordable travel destination in Asia. Agoda released a ranking of cities that offer the most affordable stays in Asia, providing suggestions for users seeking budget-friendly holidays or those wishing to extend their trips within a limited budget. The…
-
Thailand’s tourism boom: Revenue set to soar to 2.8 trillion baht
Hold onto your sun hats! Thailand’s tourism sector is on the brink of a massive surge in the latter half of the year, with an eye-popping revenue forecast of 1.46 trillion baht. That’s set to push the annual total to a whopping 2.8 trillion baht—up a staggering 25% from last year, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The…
-
Thai rice faces sticky situation as Vietnamese rice steals the show
Rice exporters are sounding the alarm over the possible disappearance of local Thai rice varieties, as farmers increasingly switch to a Vietnamese strain celebrated for its soft texture. Charoen Laothamatas, President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, raised concerns about the dire state of the industry. Production of beloved Thai varieties like Pathum Thani fragrant rice and KB 79 has…
-
Chinese-owned smelting plants raided for hazardous aluminium waste
Police raided two illegal aluminium smelting plants owned by a Chinese investor in the central provinces of Pathum Thani and Samut Sakhon on Sunday and Monday, August 11 and 12, after discovering potential negative impacts on human health and the ecosystem. The raids on the two plants were carried out following the discovery of aluminium dross, a dangerous waste product…
-
Thailand aims to be global tech talent hub by 2030
Thailand is on the brink of becoming a global hub hotspot, thanks to its strategic location, abundant resources, and savvy policies aimed at drawing in young professionals, according to industry bigwigs. The strategy, highlighted at the Techsauce Global Summit 2024 Home for Tech Talent panel, seeks to boost knowledge transfer and export future talent. Karndee Leopairote, chief of foresight and…
-
Thai man caught for Bangkok rape after 3 week-manhunt (video)
Police arrested a Thai man who evaded capture for three weeks after raping a 59 year old woman at an apartment in the Srinakarin neighbourhood of Bangkok. The suspect, 38 year old Surapong, also known as Bang Pakchong, escaped arrest after sexually assaulting the victim on July 23. Surapong reportedly sneaked into the victim’s apartment and placed a pillow over…
-
Thai teen allegedly shoots himself in face while playing with gun
A Thai teenager in the southern province of Phattalung allegedly shot himself in the face while playing with a gun, but his father doubts this, believing that his son may have been attacked by someone. Officers from Kong Ra Police Station rushed to a wooden hut in the Kong Ra district of Phattalung after being notified of the shooting at…
-
MG to produce hybrid electric vehicles in Chon Buri next year
Thailand’s hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) market is set to witness heightened competition as automakers roll out investment plans. The Chinese-Thai joint venture SAIC Motor-CP and MG Sales (Thailand) announced their intention to produce HEVs under the MG brand in Chon Buri by next year. MG is capitalising on a burgeoning domestic market for HEVs, spurred by the Board of Investment’s…
-
Pattaya rolls out the red carpet: Aiming for film-tastic UNESCO spot
The seaside resort of Pattaya is gearing up to host the Pattaya Film Festival 2024 in a bid to establish itself as a UNESCO Creative City of Film. The festival seeks to boost tourism through film-related activities and position Pattaya as a central hub in the film industry as part of its development plan for 2023-2030. A press conference was…
-
Transgender caretaker suspected after camera found in air-con
A transgender caretaker of an apartment in Chon Buri has become the prime suspect after a Thai woman found a hidden camera in the air-conditioning unit within her room. The transgender woman vanished from the apartment shortly after the discovery. The victim, identified only as Noon, shared the story on the Facebook group Volunteer Lawyers, Free Consultation in Groups by…
-
Ringing in trouble: Bangkok thief swaps gold for cold hard cash
Police arrested a man for stealing a gold ring by posing as a customer. He swapped the real ring with a fake one while the staff were distracted and later confessed to selling the ring for money. Police yesterday, August 12, arrested 33 year old Sakda following a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on August 1. He was apprehended…
-
Don’t let Thailand’s smiles rain on your parade: Brace for floods
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecasted increased rainfall and potential flash floods over the next ten days, urging vigilance from residents in the Land of Smiles. The TMD released its updated ten-day rainfall accumulation forecast, predicting increased rainfall and potential flash floods from today to ten days ahead. This forecast, based on data from the European Centre for Medium-Range…
-
Russian-Canadian arrested for overstaying, begging on Koh Pha Ngan
Residents on Koh Pha Ngan island in the southern province of Surat Thani alerted the Tourist Police to a Russian-Canadian man found overstaying his visa and begging for food from locals. Residents on the island reported to the Tourist Police that they witnessed a foreign man begging for food from various households and sleeping on a footpath. The foreigner’s begging…
-
New law proposed for quick tech crime recovery in Thailand
A special law to protect victims of technology crimes and expedite their recovery of losses will be introduced by the government, Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong announced yesterday. The new legislation aims to address the surge in technology-related crimes and was agreed upon during a recent committee meeting focused on suppressing and preventing these offences. The committee…
-
Thai central bank to cut rates as US economy slows
The US economy is anticipated to face a cyclical slowdown from late next year into 2025, prompting the Bank of Thailand to reduce its policy rate by up to 1.5 percentage points, according to KGI Securities (Thailand). KGI analysts, Rakpong Chaisuparakul and Pragrom Pathomboorn highlight in their report that this slowdown will normalise the labour market and make US consumers…
-
Thailand’s ‘call’ for scam help at Mekong meeting
The Government of Thailand will leverage the upcoming Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) meeting to seek regional support in tackling call centre scam gangs. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin tasked Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa with addressing this issue during the meeting and exploring effective strategies to combat cross-border crimes, including these scams. The 9th MLC meeting is set for Thursday and Friday in…
-
Mc Group forecasts 4 billion baht revenue, targets Gen Y and Z
The well-known creator and distributor of Mc Jeans, Mc Group Plc, anticipates its revenue to hit 4 billion baht this year, with a strategic focus on engaging Generation Y and Z to fuel its growth. The Chief Executive James Richard Amatawiwat acknowledged the competitive nature of the market this year but expressed confidence in the company’s ability to stay ahead…
-
Bangkok taxi driver slashes passenger’s head after overcharge (video)
A shameful Thai taxi driver surrendered himself yesterday after trying to overcharge a passenger by 500 baht and subsequently attacking her with a knife on a footpath near Soi Lat Phrao 42/2 in the Huai Khwang district of Bangkok on Saturday, August 10. The victim’s sister, 29 year old Supawadee Khamsa-nga, met with Ekkaphop Luangprasert, the founder of the non-profit…
-
Phuket your plans: Steer clear of roadwork zones at night
Motorists are being urged to steer clear of Thepkrasattri Road, Dibuk Road, and Phuket Road in Phuket Town during nighttime due to ongoing construction work aimed at installing power cables underground. Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas announced that this project, which started on November 14 last year and is set to conclude by November 7 this year, aims to enhance…
-
MPs demand answers from PM over delayed financial bills
The House Committee on Political Development, Mass Communications, and Public Participation is seeking answers from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin after his delayed endorsement of 16 financial legislation bills. The committee, led by People’s Party (PP) list-MP Parit Wacharasindhu, has called on the Thai premier, his Secretary-General Prommin Lertsuridej, and Acting Pol. Sub. Lt. Arphat Sukanan, the House of Representatives Secretary-General,…
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.