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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
-
High and dry: British bloke nicked in Euro cannabis run flop
A British man has been caught red-handed trying to smuggle a suitcase crammed with cannabis from Bangkok to Newcastle, the latest bust in a growing string of drug mule disasters linked to Thailand. The 31 year old was stopped at Vienna International Airport, yesterday, May 27, during a transit stop en route from Bangkok to Newcastle via Frankfurt, and was…
-
Pattaya condo tragedy: Swiss man devastated by partner’s suicide
A quiet condo in Pattaya was rocked by tragedy in the early hours of today when a 53 year old woman was found dead in an apparent suicide. Police received the distressing report at approximately 2.46am from a residence in Nong Prue, Pattaya, Chon Buri province. Upon arrival, Lieutenant Chaineret Phengkaen, deputy investigator at the Dongtan sub-branch of Pattaya City…
-
Old Thai father becomes homeless after being kicked out by son
Locals in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok sought help for a 77 year old Thai man, who was reportedly kicked out of his family home by his son and forced to take refuge in a roadside wooden shelter. Residents of Soi Thesaban Bang Pu 39 in the Tai Banmai sub-district noticed the elderly man, later identified as 77 year old…
-
Phuket boosts tourism with 7 new developments
Phuket’s booming tourism industry is set for a fresh injection of new developments as four hotels and three condominiums received approval from the Expert Committee on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) during a recent meeting. The third EIA committee gathering of the year took place at the Phuket Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, chaired by Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai. The…
-
Bangkok ride-hail row erupts over forced toll fee (video)
A viral TikTok video has ignited fierce debate over passenger rights after a Bangkok woman claimed her ride-hail driver ignored her route instructions and demanded she pay a toll she hadn’t agreed to. The incident came to light when TikTok user @aomsintupleng shared footage of the heated exchange during a ride. She said she had told the driver to avoid…
-
Mud and done it! Phuket villa project sinks after landslide scandal
A swanky Phuket villa project has been slapped with a construction ban after furious locals complained it was turning their neighbourhood into a mudbath. The VIP Galaxy Villa development in Rawai was ordered to down tools earlier this month after a series of alleged planning breaches, including triggering mudslides onto public land. The two-storey luxury pad project, built from reinforced…
-
Human skull discovery near Chachoengsao sparks police probe (video)
A human skull wrapped in a pink towel was discovered alongside two black bags near Mueang subdistrict, Ban Pho district, Chachoengsao province. The skull, which showed signs of trauma likely from a blunt object, had long red hair attached to it. This led police to suspect the deceased was a woman. No other human remains were found in the vicinity.…
-
Retired police officer rapes Cambodian girl under wife’s complicity
A retired police officer raped a 13 year old Cambodian girl, who worked at his grocery store in the central province of Nakhon Pathom, and reportedly forced her to watch him having sex with his wife. Chalida “Ton Or” Palamart, founder of the non-profit organisation Be One, accompanied a Cambodian woman and her teenage daughter to Mueang Nakhon Pathom Police…
-
New regulation updates fees for Thai historical sites and museums
Visitors to Thailand’s national museums and registered historical sites should prepare to pay updated entry fees following a new ministerial regulation announced today. Published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette, the regulation immediately revises the charges for entry to these cultural landmarks, aiming to modernise fees that had remained unchanged since 2008. The culture minister enacted the regulation under the…
-
Borderline madness as Thai and Cambodian troops trade fire
Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged gunfire in the early hours of yesterday morning in a tense border flare-up that’s reignited fears of conflict in a disputed stretch of jungle in Ubon Ratchathani province. Shots rang out just before sunrise near Chong Bok, in Nam Yuen district, when Thai troops approached Cambodian soldiers who had crossed into contested territory, sparking a…
-
2 meth dealers arrested in police bust in Phuket
Phuket’s drug suppression unit struck a significant blow against the local narcotics trade on Monday, arresting two suspects and seizing methamphetamine and related paraphernalia in a crackdown led by top provincial police officials. Under the command of Police Major General Sinlert Sukhum, Phuket Provincial Police deployed a focused operation headed by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phichit Thongto, head of the Narcotics…
-
Thai woman’s depression cure bid ends in father’s sexual assault
A 20 year old Thai woman, hoping to cure her depression, moved to live with her biological father in the central province of Samut Prakan but ended up being sexually assaulted by him. The victim filed a complaint against her 42 year old father, Somkuan, at Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station on Monday, May 26 and provided a voice recording…
-
Si Racha arson attempt foiled after drug-fuelled attack
A drug-fuelled rampage nearly ended in disaster in Bo Win, Si Racha district, yesterday when a man smashed household items and tried to set fire to a relative’s home — but quick action from local officials stopped the chaos in its tracks. At around 1pm, yesterday, May 27, police apprehended 30 year old Saharat Nuangjamnong after reports surfaced of a…
-
Thai Defence Ministry appoints first ever female spokesperson
The Thai Defence Ministry has appointed its first female spokesperson, marking a major milestone in the traditionally male-dominated military sector. The historic appointment signals a fresh, progressive direction for the ministry’s communications and public engagement efforts. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai approved the appointment yesterday, May 27, making Colonel Dr Dangjai Souvannakitti the first woman to hold…
-
Thailand video news | Bangkok cracks down on rogue taxi drivers, Vietnamese sex workers outnumber Thais in Bangkok’s red-light zone
In today’s Thailand news update, Alex and Jay bring viewers the top stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. Bangkok police crack down on rogue taxi drivers, while authorities prepare to enforce a nationwide helmet law from 1 June. In international headlines, a British couple is caught smuggling cannabis through Spain, and a Thai transgender YouTuber reports discrimination in China.…
-
Aussie brothers banged up after brawl in Sin City, Pattaya (video)
Two Aussie brothers have turned themselves in after a boozy bar brawl in Thailand’s party capital left one tourist bloodied and battered, the latest drama in a string of shocking incidents involving Australians in Pattaya. Carlos Anthony Madafferi, and his 20 year old younger brother Isaac Biagio Madafferi, walked into a local police station on Monday, May 26, after footage…
-
PM Paetongtarn champions green economy at Malaysia summit
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made waves yesterday at the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Malaysia, unveiling a three-pronged strategy aimed at boosting economic prosperity, protecting human resources, and preserving the environment. Speaking at the high-profile gathering, the 38 year old Thai premier urged deeper collaboration between ASEAN and Gulf countries to tackle pressing challenges while seizing new…
-
Bitcoin hit! Crypto king eyes US$130k in grown-up glow-up
Bitcoin is not just for the tech bros and crypto cowboys anymore, it’s all grown up, flashing serious financial muscle as analysts tip it to smash through the US$130,000 barrier by year’s end. Following a high of US$111,000 last Thursday, financial analysts now peg bitcoin’s next major resistance at US$130,000, as the world’s top digital currency shakes off its wild-child…
-
Pattaya cannabis shop vandalised by American tourist
A late-night visit to a Pattaya cannabis shop turned ugly when an American tourist allegedly smashed a glass window, sparking a furious brawl and a police investigation. At 11.36pm yesterday, May 27, Police Lieutenant Wuttinan Kongdee from Pattaya City Police Station received reports of a fight and property damage at the SWEET69 cannabis shop in Soi Honey. Police patrol officers…
-
Indian thief performs wai before fleeing with 93,000 baht
An Indian man robbed nearly 100,000 baht from a currency exchange shop in the Bangrak district of Bangkok on Monday and performed a wai before fleeing the scene. He was ultimately arrested yesterday, May 27. Officers from Bangrak Police Station received complaints from two currency exchange shops in the area: X-ONE Currency Exchange Centre on Surawong Road and WISE Exchange…
-
Rainy wreck: Wild crash smashes noodle shop in Chon Buri
What started as a rainy afternoon bowl of noodles turned into a high-speed horror show when a sedan slammed into a roadside shop in Chon Buri, sending bowls, broth, and chairs flying in every direction. The chaos unfolded at around 3pm yesterday, May 27, on Highway 331 in Khao Mai Kaew, heading towards Bowin. Officers from Huay Yai Police Station…
-
Pom-pom pow! Big Pom swings at reporter in ‘strength test’ stunt
Controversial Thai MP “Big Pom” stirred up fresh outrage after pretending to punch a female reporter during a bizarre exchange at party HQ, all while dodging serious questions on political rifts and budget bust-ups. General Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), was back in front of the press yesterday, May 27, for the first time since taking…
-
Fisherman rescued from Chon Buri rock after ignoring warnings
A dramatic rescue unfolded off the coast of Bang Saen in Chon Buri after a fisherman found himself trapped on a rocky outcrop, surrounded by rising tides and pounding waves, all because he refused to abandon his fishing gear. The man, believed to be around 50 years old, was spotted stranded about 150 metres from the shore around 6.30pm on…
-
Thailand braces for more rainfall, TMD warns of flash floods
Weather conditions in Thailand are set to bring heavy rainfall across 48 provinces, including the north, northeast, Bangkok, and eastern Thailand. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of potential flash floods in some areas due to a 70-80% chance of rain. Residents in these regions should be cautious of heavy rainfall and accumulated precipitation, which may lead to flash floods,…
-
Phuket transwoman arrested for pickpocketing Turkish tourist
Police arrested a Thai transwoman for pickpocketing a Turkish tourist in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket in the early hours of this morning. Stolen cash amounting to 4,000 baht was recovered. The 38 year old Turkish tourist filed a complaint with officers at Patong Police Station at 4am today, May 27. He suspected a transwoman of stealing 4,000 baht in cash…
-
Mexican actress battles brutal heat filming in Bangkok
A Mexican actress has opened up about the punishing heat she endured while filming the new action movie Fountain of Youth in Bangkok, calling it one of the toughest challenges on set. In a recent Zoom interview with The Star, actress Eiza González revealed how the scorching Thai weather made her shoot physically gruelling. “When we watch movies, we rarely think about the…
-
Elephants find freedom and healing at Thailand’s Samui sanctuary
In the lush greenery of Koh Samui’s Bo Phut district, two elephants have discovered the ultimate way to beat the sizzling May heat: cooling off in a pool and rolling in mud at the Samui Elephant Sanctuary. Kaew Ta and Kham Phean, both in their mid-60s, enjoy this peaceful retirement after years of harsh labour in logging and tourism. The…
-
Thai woman mysteriously falls to death at Pattaya luxury condo
A Thai woman mysteriously fell to her death at a luxury condominium in Pattaya today, May 27. Police officers are investigating the cause of the fatal fall. The death of the Thai woman, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was reported this afternoon at a 59-storey condominium on Jomtien 2 Road in the Bang Lamung district. Officers from Mueang…
-
Phuket anti-corruption chief slams dropped appeal in graft case
Phuket’s top anti-corruption official has sharply criticised the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for declining to appeal the overturned conviction of MaAnn Samran, a former local official convicted of corruption but later acquitted on appeal. MaAnn, once the powerful Chief of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) overseeing Phuket’s prized beach areas, including Bang Tao, was sentenced in…
-
Udon Thani motorist fined for repainting no-parking kerb
A well-intentioned motorist’s attempt to boost business at a local food stall backfired spectacularly after he was caught painting over a red-and-white no-parking kerb in Udon Thani. The 45 year old auto mechanic, who is not connected to the eatery, took matters into his own hands on Saturday, May 24. Spotting an empty stretch outside the food outlet, he decided…
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.