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 Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
-
Imminent monsoon to disrupt lower southern Thailand with high waves
A severe monsoon is set to hit the lower southern provinces of Thailand between today and January 27, causing heavy rain and high waves in the Gulf of Thailand. The Meteorological Department of Thailand’s (TMD) Southern East Coast Centre, headed by Komon Promsakha Na Sakolnakorn, issued its third warning, advising against sea travel as waves are expected to reach up…
-
Thai monk sent to rehab after discovery of drugs, condoms, and penis enlargement pump
The Thai authorities sent a monk for rehabilitation at a hospital in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham after the jaw-dropping discovery of drugs, condoms, and a penis enlargement pump in his accommodation. Complaints flooded the Borabue district office, in the Maha Sarakham province, by locals who were fearful of the 54 year old monk named Thawee. Frightened locals voiced…
-
Chememan signs Khimsar agreement to become major lime producer in India
Chememan Public Company Limited (CMAN), a leading lime producer, inked the Khimsar Agreement with Khimsar Mine Corporation (KMC), marking its initiative to set up a state-of-the-art lime factory in Khimsar, Rajasthan, India. This endeavour positions CMAN on the path of becoming a significant lime producer in India. The agreement was signed with KMC, a fresh entrant in the Indian mining…
-
Croatian tourists survive van collision in Phuket
A close shave with disaster was experienced by three Croatian tourists on January 22, when the van they were travelling in collided with a power pole on Thepkasattri Road in Phuket. The accident resulted in minor injuries for the tourists who were immediately rushed to the hospital. The mishap was reported to the local Thalang Police Station around 10pm, as…
-
Belgian fugitive convicted for attempted murder arrested in Thailand
A Belgian fugitive, previously convicted in Belgium for charges of attempted murder, has been apprehended in Patong, Thailand. The 36 year old man, known only by the name Achmal, had been operating as a DJ in a local nightlife establishment for a number of years. Achmal was taken into custody by Phuket Immigration officers from an apartment in Patong, according…
-
Wealthy heiress found dead in Chanthaburi, police suspect foul play
The mysterious death of a wealthy heiress from a prominent family has shocked the community in Chanthaburi province. Today, early at 6.10am, local police led by Police Major General Phadungsak Raksasuk arrived at the residence, a house behind an old petrol station in Ma Kham district, to investigate the circumstances leading to the untimely demise of 77 year old Panithi…
-
TAT holds Amazing Thailand Product event in Indonesia
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) rolled out the red carpet for the Amazing Thailand Product Update 2024 in Jakarta and Bandung. Aiming to strengthen ties between Thai and Indonesian tourism, this event was more than just a gathering; it was a powerhouse of collaboration. Drawing a crowd of approximately 100 Indonesian tourism wizards in each bustling city, the week-long…
-
Man posing as undercover cop with BB gun arrested in Chon Buri, Thailand
Chaos erupted in the municipality of Ban Bueng, Chon Buri province, when a 40 year old man, under the influence of drugs, terrorised residents by brandishing a gun and claiming to be an undercover police officer. The incident occurred around 10.30pm yesterday, January 23, and ended with the man’s arrest by local authorities. The man, identified only as Sorachai to…
-
Thachang Green Energy projects major expansion by 2026 with new power plants
Thachang Green Energy (TGE), an operator and developer of biomass power plants listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), projects a significant business expansion between 2025 and 2026. This growth is attributed to the additional power generation capacity from imminent power plant projects. While no capacity increment is planned for this year, TGE predicts a revenue surge of over…
-
Mobile Cabinet headquarters in Ranong ready for meeting
Prime Minister’s Office Minister Puangpet Chunlaiad and Government Spokesperson Chai Wacharonke took a firsthand look at the cutting-edge Press Centre set to host the inaugural mobile Cabinet meeting of the year in Ranong province. Accompanied by Teerapong Wongsiwawilas, Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Sudruetai Lertkasem, acting Director-General of the Public Relations Department (PRD), and Supaphong Chaolaen, Director of PRD…
-
SEC considers banning NVDR securities for Thai investors
With plans to limit Thai investors from making investments in non-voting depository receipts (NVDRs), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is setting up a public hearing to enforce a ban on securities companies offering such services. Citing concerns over NVDR securities as a mechanism to sidestep compliance with regulations or as a means to obscure shareholding data, the SEC believes…
-
Thailand’s tasty revival: Spending spree at food shows signals economic upswing for MICE sector
A surge in spending at food and packaging trade shows indicates a revival in the economy and a favourable trend for business tourism this year. Thailand remains a favoured location for the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector, according to Informa Markets Thailand, a leading trade show organiser. Kotchasorn Tocharoentanapol, the Deputy Event Director at Informa Markets Thailand, noted…
-
Israeli involved in Phuket heist apprehended
An Israeli suspect was arrested by Patong Police in connection with a currency exchange heist in Phuket. The 26 year old suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, was nabbed in a police operation orchestrated by Patong Police Chief Police Colonel Chalermchai Hernsawad. The incident unfolded on December 31 last year in the Patong area when the suspect targeted a woman at…
-
Late night kitchen blaze claims three young lives in Phichit
Three young lives were tragically lost to a fierce house fire that erupted late last night in Phichit province, with two others sustaining serious injuries. The blaze, which police and emergency services responded around 1.30am today, January 24, is believed to have begun in the kitchen of the two-story dwelling, according to a 14 year old survivor who reported hearing…
-
Record-breaking business registrations and foreign investment in Thailand
Business registrations in Thailand soared to an all-time high in the previous year, exceeding 85,000, a figure not seen in the last decade. These registrations represented a total registered capital of 560 billion baht (US$15 billion). Foreign investment also saw a significant rise, hitting 130 billion baht (US$3.6 billion) in 2023, with Japan leading the investment pool. Projections for the…
-
Dispute over dropped phone leads to fatal stabbing in Buriram
A dispute over a dropped phone in a rural shack escalated into a deadly confrontation when 47 year old Kittisak fatally stabbed 38 year old Atit in self-defence. The incident occurred yesterday around 3.30pm in the Nong Ki district of Buriram Province. Police Deputy Inspector Thongsuk Prongthalee was alerted to the violent altercation and the subsequent death, prompting an investigation…
-
Former MFP opposition leader Pita’s fate hangs on Constitutional Court verdict
All eyes will be fixed on today’s Constitutional Court ruling, a potential game-changer in the media shareholding scandal involving Pita Limjaroenrat, the former leader of the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP). The court’s decision could determine his political destiny, with the looming threat of losing his MP status. Legal expert Komsan Phokong weighed in on the pivotal case, hinting at…
-
Thailand braces for cold snap and gusty winds today
A sudden drop in temperature by up to 6 degrees Celsius and strong winds have been forecasted across multiple regions in Thailand, with Bangkok experiencing a 4 degree Celsius decrease. The harsh weather conditions are set to impact the country today, following an announcement by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). The northeastern part of Thailand is bracing for cold to…
-
Local fishermen hooked over Vietnam warplane wreckage found in Mekong
Thai and Lao men discovered the wreckage of a Vietnam warplane while fishing in the Mekong River within the Isaan province of Nong Khai. In light of safety concerns, locals have been banned from accessing the site, given the potential presence of explosives within the wreckage. A 40 year old Thai man, Chonnathep Suriwong, shared his account of finding the…
-
Mobile Cabinet allocates 552 million baht for Andaman Coast development
A total of 552 million baht (US$15 million) has been allocated by the mobile Cabinet towards the development of 18 new projects across six southern provinces on the Andaman Coast. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced yesterday, January 23, after a Cabinet meeting in Ranong. The projects, proposed by the Joint Public and Private Sector Consultative Committee responsible for the southern…
-
Thai government ends after-school caretaking duties for teachers
The Thai government has approved the termination of after-school caretaking duties for teachers, following a recent assault on a primary school teacher in Chiang Rai by a 38 year old man during her shift. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced yesterday, January 24, at the mobile Cabinet meeting held at the Ranong Civic Centre. The caretaking duties, which were imposed on…
-
JN.1 Omicron sub-variant linked to surge in Thai hospitalisations
The JN.1 sub-variant of the Omicron Covid-19 variant has been implicated in a recent rise in hospitalisations and over 10 fatalities last week. The majority of those hospitalised were elder individuals who had not received a vaccine or booster shots. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) reported 718 fresh Covid cases last week, yielding a daily average of 102 new…
-
Leatherback sea turtle death sparks concern among Thai wildlife officials
The untimely demise of a leatherback sea turtle on a beach in Phang Nga this week triggered a wave of concern among wildlife officials and conservationists. The cause of death was an unfortunate entanglement in a fishing net, which was discovered when the turtle’s carcass washed ashore. Athapol Charoenshunsa, stationed at the helm of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife…
-
PM Srettha promises to consider opposition’s concerns on Land Bridge megaproject
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin assured opposition groups that he would take into account their concerns regarding the Land Bridge megaproject. The discussions took place at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University’s education centre in Ranong, following a mobile Cabinet meeting. The megaproject, valued at 1 trillion baht, is designed to create a logistics network linking Ranong with Chumphon. It consists of a…
-
German president’s state visit to Thailand after 22 years sparks hope
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier embarked on a state visit to Thailand today, following an invitation extended by Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand. This marks the first visit by a German president to Thailand in 22 years, as stated by Chai Watcharonke, the Thai Government Spokesperson. The three-day visit has its highlight set for tomorrow, where a discussion on trade,…
-
Thailand unearths Asia’s oldest dinosaur footprints dating back 225 million years
Thailand has made a colossal leap in palaeontology with the discovery of the oldest dinosaur footprints ever found in the country, and possibly in Asia. The significant find dates back over 225 million years, situating it in the late Triassic period. This monumental discovery occurred at the border between Phetchabun and Khon Kaen provinces, stirring excitement among scientists and dinosaur…
-
Infant with critical heart defect rushed to Bangkok for life-saving surgery
A seven-month-old baby with a critical heart condition was successfully transferred to Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok for emergency life-saving surgery after showing signs of severe distress and requiring a ventilator. The infant’s journey from the Nong Khai border region included bypassing the city of Udon Thani via Mittraphap Road and onward through Khon Kaen to the capital. Today, at 1.20pm, the…
-
Hotel bookings skyrocket as visitors flock in
Hotel giant Minor International Plc witnessed an astonishing 20 to 30% spike in bookings for the first two months of 2024 compared to last year. Minor International Plc, dominating the hospitality scene as the nation’s largest hotel operator, is on the brink of a prosperous year. Chairman Bill Heinecke unveils the exciting news, projecting a tourism spending spree in Thailand…
-
State agencies and Mirror Foundation tackle surge in mentally unstable homeless
Four state agencies and a private foundation forged an alliance to confront the escalating crisis of mentally unstable homeless individuals. The groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), inked yesterday, January 22, binds the Social Development and Welfare Department, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), the Mental Health Department, the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department, and the privately operated Mirror Foundation.…
-
Loan shark takedown: Cyber cops sink teeth into predatory lending racket with jaw-dropping rates
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) police successfully dismantled a predatory lending scheme run by an unscrupulous loan shark who charged exorbitant interest rates of 50% and coerced borrowers into extreme measures to repay their debts. The operation, which took place today, was led by the head of the CCIB, along with his team, who executed a search warrant in Trang…
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.