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 New in July: Save 10% for life on family health plans in Thailand
Cigna has a special offer this July for families in Thailand. When you sign up three or more people on a family health plan, you will save 10% on your premiums for life. This deal helps you get affordable, high-quality...
-
Chinese man arrested at Bangkok airport with 3,000 grammes of heroin
Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) officers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok arrested a Chinese man who attempted to smuggle 3,000 grammes of heroin into Australia. The drugs were concealed in books and powder bottles. The Thai Narcotics Control Board Office (ONCB), stationed in China, reported the drug trafficking plan involving a suspicious Chinese man to the AITF. Further investigation…
-
Pickup truck rampage leaves three injured and spills hot oil
A pickup truck, a motorcycle, and a sidecar motorbike were involved in a collision on Pattaya-Na Kluea Road, Chon Buri in the early hours of yesterday. Rescue workers rushed to the scene just past midnight on February 27, following reports of a chaotic traffic incident at Soi Naklua 14. Upon arrival, emergency responders were met with a tangled mess of…
-
Centel posts impressive Q4 results with 9% revenue increase
Central Plaza Hotel Plc (Centel), known for operating Centara Hotels and Resorts, posted an impressive financial performance for the fourth quarter of 2023, with a total revenue of 6.02 billion baht marking a 9% increase year-on-year. The company’s yearly revenue for 2023 was also positive, amounting to 22.5 billion baht. This represented a significant growth of 24% or a revenue…
-
Tenant finds unexplained stains in condo sparking online debate in Thailand
A recent social media post spurred widespread online discussion after a condo resident in Thailand shared images of mysterious stains found while cleaning a sofa. The post, uploaded by a popular Facebook page known for sharing curious and intriguing stories, depicted large blotches resembling bloodstains, prompting the tenant to question the origin of the marks and express concern over the…
-
Dusit Thani Bangkok set for grand revival in 2024
Dusit Hotels and Resorts unveiled its intention to resurrect Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel, with a projected reopening in September 2024. This new establishment will occupy the same prestigious location as its predecessor, a landmark in the Bangkok skyline from 1970 to 2019. Suphajee Suthumpun, the group chief executive of Dusit International, expressed that this new venture is a symbol of…
-
Thai woman arrested in Cambodia for murder of Taiwanese man
Thai police coordinated with the Cambodian authorities to arrest a Thai woman at a casino in Poipet City yesterday, for her involvement in the murder of a Taiwanese man. It is reported that three Taiwanese suspects are currently evading capture in Cambodia, while another has returned to Taiwan. An employee at Suvarnabhumi International Airport discovered the dead body of the…
-
Young couple dies in Chon Buri motorcycle crash after eerie omen
A tragic motorcycle accident claimed the lives of a young man and woman in Chon Buri province today at 5am. A couple encountered a grim omen in the form of a barn owl feasting on a dead dog by the roadside shortly before crashing into a garbage truck and succumbing to their injuries at the scene. Police Deputy Inspector Jaruek…
-
Over 147,000 sign up for debt relief programme worth billions
Some 147,714 individuals have registered for the Interior Ministry’s debt relief programme within the past three months, an initiative aimed at combating a staggering debt value of 10.74 billion baht, confirmed Permanent Secretary Suttipong Juljarern on Monday. With the registration window, which started on December 1, set to close tomorrow, Suttipong urged those grappling with debt woes to expedite their…
-
Thai minister orders demolition of illicit resorts on Khao Yai farmland
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow mandated the demolition of illicit resorts and hotels erected on Sor Por Kor land around Khao Yai National Park, designated for agricultural use and granted to landless farmers. The minister’s mandate came as he pledged to rid the land of any illicit occupations. Thamanat Prompow announced yesterday that he has commissioned a fresh inspection…
-
BMW to establish first SE Asian EV battery factory in Thailand
BMW Group Thailand revealed plans to establish an electric vehicle (EV) battery factory in the country this year. This move is in response to China’s escalating EV investment and supply chains in Thailand. The factory, to be positioned in Rayong, will bolster the firm’s sales of battery EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs. The company’s president and CEO, Alexander Baraka, revealed…
-
Thailand aims to become SE Asia’s leading halal hub by 2028
The Thai government greenlit plans to transform Thailand into a leading halal hub in Southeast Asia by 2028, to elevate the nation’s GDP by 1.2%, or approximately 55 billion baht. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, speaking after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, disclosed the government’s intent to constitute a national halal industry committee and the Thai Halal Industry Centre. The aim…
-
Thailand’s ex-police chief indicted for aiding Red Bull heir evade justice
The ex-National Police Chief of Thailand, Somyot Poompanmoung, alongside seven other individuals, has been indicted by the Attorney General for alleged involvement in aiding Vorayuth “Boss”‘ Yoovidhya dodge prosecution regarding a 2012 hit-and-run case. Vorayuth is a member of the family that owns the Red Bull empire. Prayut Phetcharakhun, the spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), reported yesterday…
-
Chiang Mai tops world’s most polluted cities
Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand has been blanketed by worsening haze, catapulting it to the top of the list of the world’s ten most polluted cities. The thick smog is a direct consequence of forest fires that have been burning unabated for approximately two weeks. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) detected 1,420 hotspots on Monday alone.…
-
Bangkok’s eastern and central bus terminals set for relocation
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced plans yesterday to move the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) and the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) to the Krung Thep Abhiwat Central Terminal. The intention behind the move is to offer more convenience to travellers as the Central Terminal can be easily reached using the MRT electronic rail system. In the proposed new location,…
-
Heatwave alert in Thailand with temperatures hitting 39 degrees Celsius
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning forecasting sweltering conditions across the country today, with peak temperatures expected to soar between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius. Despite the heat, there is a possibility of isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon, with some regions experiencing light rainfall. The TMD’s 24-hour forecast indicates that a low-pressure area resulting from intense heat is…
-
Thai cyber-attacks surge as Trojans target biometric data
Thailand has been identified as a hotbed for Trojan malware that steals biometric data, such as facial recognition, as the country’s rate of cyber-attacks exceeds the global average over the last half of 2023, according to state reports from top cybersecurity companies. Andrey Polovinkin, a malware analyst at the Singapore-based cybersecurity firm Group-IB, warned that biometric systems may fall prey…
-
New Zealand Embassy introduces increased visa fees for Thailand
The Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington announced an increase in visa fees for individuals from New Zealand intending to visit Thailand. The new fees will be effective from March 19 onwards. The announcement has caused concern among netizens on social media that there could be a possible visa fee increase for other nationalities. The embassy announced on its official website…
-
Thai comedian’s lottery predictions stir excitement
The entertainment scene in Thailand is buzzing with excitement as a well-known comedian, Ball, recently struck a chord with the public by claiming a series of successful lottery predictions, earning him the title of a lottery master. His colleague, Ped, is also riding high on a wave of similar acclaim. This has all unfolded in the lead-up to a grand…
-
SCB X Plc set to acquire Home Credit’s Vietnamese operations
Thailand’s largest bank by market value, SCB X Plc, is reportedly on the brink of securing a deal to acquire the Vietnamese operations of consumer lender, Home Credit. The transaction, which could be worth up to US$900 million, is expected to be announced within the week, say sources familiar with the proceedings who wish to remain anonymous due to the…
-
Steamy side of Internet in Thailand: Adult sites climb charts
The latest report from We Are Social reveals the top 20 most-visited websites by Thais, showing a notable presence of adult content sites in the rankings. Despite the wide range of content available online, it appears that websites with adult material continue to garner significant traffic in Thailand. The recent findings by We Are Social, covering the period from December…
-
Former MP professes innocence in Thai extortion case
Yoswarit Chuklom, affectionately known as Jeng Dokjik, met with the authorities from the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) of the police force today, asserting his innocence in a high-profile extortion case. He was accompanied by Pimnatta Jiraputthiphak, a former parliamentary candidate from the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, and their lawyer, Traisak Thongswai. Jeng arrived with a cheerful demeanour, showing no signs…
-
Thai man arrested for cross-border sperm cell smuggling
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested a Thai man at his home in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok for illegally smuggling sperm cells across the border into Laos and Cambodia for surrogacy. CIB police arrested the suspect, 33 year old Teerapong at his home in Nonthaburi province on February 24. Teerapong was found smuggling to Thailand’s neighbouring countries. Teerapon faced…
-
Extended homage hours for Buddha relics in Bangkok
Thailand’s Ministry of Culture extended visiting hours for the public to pay homage to sacred Buddha relics, Phra Borom Saririkatat and the Phra Arahanthata, at a ceremonial ground at Sanam Luang. The relics, temporarily brought from India, can now be venerated from 8am to 9pm daily, until March 3, as part of the grand celebration in honour of His Majesty…
-
Finnish national found self-harming in Pattaya, Thailand
A disturbing incident unfolded in the early hours of this morning in Pattaya, when a Finnish national was discovered in a state of severe agitation, inflicting knife wounds on himself. The man, identified as Eeuoskari Kontiainen, from Finland, was eventually subdued and rushed to the hospital. The event took place in an apartment building located in Soi Bua Khao, within…
-
Former RTP boss and 7 others sued for reducing Red Bull heir’s sentences
The Office of the Attorney General (AGO) filed a lawsuit against former Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP) Somyot Poompanmoung, and seven other relevant political or judicial figures for allegedly reducing the sentences of hit-and-run suspect Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, better known as the Red Bull heir. This year marks the 12th anniversary since the Red Bull heir, Boss, successfully evaded…
-
8 million meth pills seized in Chiang Mai drug courier arrest
A 24 year old drug courier named Jiraphat, hailing from the Phrao district of Chiang Mai, was apprehended by drug suppression police. The arrest took place at an intersection in Chiang Dao district. Approximately 8 million methamphetamine pills were confiscated from the pickup truck driven by Jiraphat. The seizure was made on Monday, with the methamphetamine pills found stashed in…
-
Family land dispute ends in uncle’s tragic death
A tragic family dispute over a 10-acre land inheritance turned deadly when a 19 year old man shot and killed his 57 year old uncle at their home yesterday evening. The conflict, simmering for six years and previously brought before the courts, culminated in a fatal confrontation prompted by a parking issue. Yesterday, at approximately 11.30pm, police and rescue services…
-
Burned skeleton: Thai woman arrested for death of girlfriend (video)
Police arrested a Thai woman for the death of her girlfriend after her burned skeleton was discovered at a landfill in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The suspect admitted to setting her girlfriend on fire but denied the murder, claiming that her girlfriend died of a congenital illness. The burned skeleton of a woman was discovered at a dump site…
-
Thailand gold prices stable at 35,050 baht with steady market
Gold prices in Thailand remained stable, with no increase or decrease compared to the previous closing figures yesterday The Gold Traders Association (GTA) listed the selling price for gold ornaments surpassing the 35,000 baht mark today in the Western calendar. The latest figures from the association’s website, recorded at 9.02am, indicated that the selling price for gold ornaments was 35,050…
-
Sweeping fires devastate 30,000 rai of forest in Chiang Mai
Sweeping fires engulfed an estimated 30,000 rai (approximately 4,800 hectares) of forest across three districts in the province of Chiang Mai, reported local authorities. The flames, which sparked roughly a week ago, primarily ravaged the Ob Luang National Park. The districts of Hot, Chomg Thong, and Mae Cham are the most severely impacted, with the fires still ablaze and uncontained.…
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.