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.
-
Police catch Kazakhstani overstayer with fake passport stamps in Phuket
Immigration police caught a Kazakhstani overstayer with fake passport stamps at Phuket International Airport. The woman was identified as 27 year old Xeniya Kopeikina. An officer stated that authorities are now charging Kopeikina for using counterfeit documents, as well as overstaying her visa in the country for 89 days, The Phuket Express reported. Kopeikina was arrested and will be facing…
-
Malaysia’s PM against the use of violence to resolve southern Thailand conflicts
Malaysia’s Prime Minister is making it clear that he is against the use of violence to resolve conflict in southern Thailand. PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is meeting with Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House. He says it ‘was a session for a most serious and frank exchange’ and ‘not just an ordinary diplomatic session.’ “I came here…
-
BREAKING: 2 victims shot on a Phuket minibus, gunman refuses to surrender
A deranged gunman shot a male and female passenger on a Phuket-Phattalung minibus at 6.49am today. The assailant remains inside the minibus, currently surrounded by police officers attempting to negotiate a peaceful surrender. According to a report on Channel 3, the incident happened just after the Phuket-Phattalung minibus departed from the bus terminal. The bus travelled about 1 kilometre when…
-
Thailand’s royal family sends earthquake condolence letter to Turkey, Syria presidents
Thailand’s royal family sent a condolence letter to the presidents of Turkey and Syria in light of the recent earthquake tragedy. The king and queen of Thailand say they are very saddened to learn about the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, which was an unbelievable phenomenon. The earthquake’s death toll has now exceeded an astonishing 15,000 people, with authorities…
-
Starbucks ruins family’s dream holiday to Thailand by overcharging US$4.5k for 2 coffees
An American couple had to cancel their dream holiday to Thailand after a Tulsa Starbucks outlet charged them almost US$4,500 for two cups of coffee. The US multinational apologised for the mistake and sent them cheques to cover the cost. They bounced! The drama unfolded when the happy couple, Jesse and Deedee O’Dell, and their four kids went shopping at…
-
Rowdy Pattaya teens terrify tourists by throwing ping pong bombs
A rowdy crowd of Pattaya teens terrified tourists and residents by throwing ping pong bombs at Bali Hai Pier on Wednesday night. The incident is the latest case of trouble-making teens causing chaos in Pattaya, which is commonly known as Southeast Asia’s sin city. Residents reported seeing a group of approximately 10 teenagers arrive on motorbikes and begin throwing the…
-
Hospitality industry’s shift from instant: Transforming guests’ in-room coffee experience
Press Release In the hospitality industry, small details can greatly impact the experience of travelers visiting Thailand. One aspect that should not be overlooked is the coffee served to guests. Gone are the days of serving old-fashioned basic instant coffee packets in hotel rooms and villas. As a hotelier, you want your guests to feel pampered and spoiled during their…
-
Cops bust large group of French motorbike racers in Patong
Motorbike racing tourists are once again causing a public nuisance in Thailand, this time in Patong. Cops busted a large group of French motorbike racers in Patong on Wednesday night. Footage of the racers went viral on local social media platforms, causing outrage among residents. The residents complained that the racers were disturbing them when they were trying to relax,…
-
Things to know about Thai culture
Thailand’s culture is a mixture of traditions and religions that all come together to form a unique and vibrant society. Here are a few things to know about Thai culture that will help anyone landing in the Land of Smiles get around and mix with the locals. Family Thai people typically consider family to be the most important aspect of…
-
Malaysian bill seeks expanded protection against stalking
The issue of stalking has become a major concern in Malaysia, and the government has taken several steps to address it. The draft of two bills related to stalking has undergone several improvements to ensure that all aspects of legislation related to stalking are comprehensively covered. Stalking can have a severe impact on the lives of victims, particularly women, and…
-
Police officer accidentally shoots colleague at Bangkok police station
A police officer accidentally shot and injured his colleague during a training session at Huay Kwang Police Station in Bangkok yesterday. The deputy superintendent of the station, Kritthin Phacharathanaboon, spoke to the media today to calm public concerns that the shooting was not a result of a disagreement between the two officers. Krittin said the shooting was an accident that…
-
Thai cops go above and beyond to help Chinese tourist return home
Good eggs from the Royal Thai Police force in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand, helped a Chinese tourist get her passport back in the nick of time before her flight back to China last night. At 10pm, officers at Chang Phuak Police Station received a call from a distressed Chinese tourist. The tourist rented a car from a car rental…
-
Thailand to expand major airports to deal with rising tourist numbers
Thailand is set to expand at least four of its major international airports in response to the predicted return of foreign tourists following the Covid-19 pandemic. Deputy Government Spokeswoman, Traisulee Taisaranakul, announced the plans today. She noted that the expansion is aimed at accommodating predictions made by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) of 200 million foreign arrivals by 2031.…
-
Nok Air slammed for ill treatment of a disabled passenger
A Thai man slammed Nok Air airline for the appalling treatment of his disabled father that descended into a farcical game of musical chairs. The man revealed on TikTok that he booked special seats for his parents, because his father is disabled, but was told to move to facilitate some VIP passengers. The airline denied the accusation, saying “one of…
-
Elderly Thai woman survives wild elephant attack
Netizens think it’s a miracle that an elderly Thai lady survived being trampled on by a wild elephant in Prachin Buri province in eastern Thailand yesterday. The victim, 71 year old Winit On-On, aka “Grandma Winit,” was watering her eucalyptus plants at her home in Phanom Sarakham district when she bent down to pick up her hose. When Grandma Winit…
-
Chinese tourists flee Pattaya pool villa blaze
Chinese tourists fled from a terrible blaze at a Pattaya pool villa last night. The fire gutted a room on the second floor of the villa, on Soi Sukhumvit 4 in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district. Five to six Chinese tourists had been staying at the villa when the blaze wreaked havoc, The Pattaya News reported. Fortunately, the tourists were…
-
Bank worker and spouse accused of embezzling 36 million baht, they say it’s a lie!
A bank worker and her spouse are accused of embezzling 36 million Thai baht from bank clients. The suspects deny the claims against them. Yesterday, Lata, the 33 year old bank employee, and Pharanyu, her 36 year old partner, were apprehended at a condominium located on Din Daeng Road in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district. Lata faces charges for violating Section 335…
-
Anwar’s visit to Thailand brings ‘Deep South’ to top of agenda
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is due in Bangkok today to meet Thai PM Prayuth Chan-o-cha. Anwar’s visit to Thailand brings issues in the “Deep South” to the top of the diplomatic agenda. The provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and parts of Songkhla are an important crossroads for trade between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. China’s plans for high-speed trains from…
-
Nepali man caught smuggling 5.6 kilograms of hashish into Thailand
A Nepali man was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday after customs found 5.6 kilograms of hashish hidden in his luggage with an estimated value of 560,000 baht. At 6.45pm, airport customs officials inspected a suitcase belonging to a man flying in from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. As the unnamed Nepali national passed through with nothing to declare, customs…
-
Land Transport Department will collect traffic fines
The days of blowing off traffic tickets and fines left on your car or motorbike may be coming to a close. At least if you drive legally and pay your taxes. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) and the Land Transport Department (LTD) have joined forces in a landmark agreement aimed at tackling the problem of unpaid traffic ticket fines. Under…
-
Thai family grieves after daughter killed in Turkey earthquake
A Thai family is grieving after their daughter was killed in the recent massive earthquake in Turkey. The earthquake that struck Turkey on Monday, February 6 killed a young Thai woman, 29 year old Nong Dao. Nong Dao was found under the ruins of a building in Iskenderun, a city affected by the earthquake disaster. The Thai embassy in Turkey…
-
Thai immigration chief asks reporter, ‘Do you have a husband?’ to dodge question
In an interview about the macau888 gambling case, Thailand’s Chief of Immigration dodged a female reporter’s question by responding, “Do you have a husband?” The interview followed the interrogation of police officer Kunakorn “Bright” Khajohnboonthaworn who was accused of being one of four brothers operating the illegal gambling website macau888. According to the police force, Captain Bright proved his innocence…
-
Septic tank drained in search for missing baby boy
Parents of the 8-month-old baby boy missing in Nakhon Pathom province were questioned separately by police for about nine hours Tuesday. Early in the day, the order was given for a septic tank to be drained in the search for the missing baby boy. The parents of the missing child, 16 year old Philaiporn Korcharoen and 19 year old Sittichok…
-
UNICEF appeals to Thai public to help child victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
The recent earthquakes in the border region of Syria and Turkey have caused widespread devastation, leaving thousands of people dead and many more injured. Among those affected are countless children and their families, who are now in dire need of assistance. In response, UNICEF Thailand has launched an emergency appeal to the Thai public, calling for people to help provide…
-
Thai actress alleges being abused by macau888 gambling king
The Thai actress who exposed the illegal gambling activities of her ex-boyfriend said she did so because she was brutally abused by him during their relationship. Arisara “Due” Thongborisut shared the story of her ex-boyfriend, Chaiwat “Benz” Khajohnboonthaworn, aka Benz Daemon, on Facebook on Sunday, January 5. The 32 year old revealed that her ex and his three brothers operated…
-
Mitsubishi SpaceJet grounded to a halt
Japan has finally admitted that building the Mitsubishi SpaceJet, the nation’s first passenger aircraft, was not a good idea. The project appears to have been grounded forever. Japan abandoned plans to build its first passenger jet after years of technology setbacks and costs running out of control. According to the Guardian, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will cancel the public-private SpaceJet partnership,…
-
Tarmacked forest in Thai conservation area sparks outrage
Netizens are scratching their heads at the Department of National Park‘s decision to tarmac a forest inside a conservation area at a wildlife sanctuary in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand. No space at all was left around the tree trunks to allow the trees to breathe and grow. An outraged Facebook user posted a picture of the newly tarmacked…
-
Khaosan Road businesses told to cut noise pollution, or else!
Businesses in the backpacker haven of Khaosan Road have been warned to cut noise pollution otherwise, they will suffer legal consequences, due to complaints received from nearby residents. City Hall says businesses have 15 days to get their houses in order and regulate noise levels, or else! After a gathering that brought together 30 members of the Khaosan Road Business…
-
Singaporean salon Strip in trouble over orangutan ad
Singaporean hair removal salon chain Strip has been the centre of a social media storm in China due to their use of an orangutan in an advertisement in the country. The ad for Strip’s salons in Shanghai caused anger among social media users who accused the company of shaming women who do not remove their body hair. In response to…
-
Drunk police officer crashes car into restaurant in Bangkok, 3 in ICU (video)
Three people are seriously injured in intensive care after a drunk police officer crashed his car into a restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday night. The owner of the “Mala” (Chinese spicy hotpot) restaurant in Bang Khen district said they are scared justice will not be served because the drunk driver is a police officer. At 10.55pm on Monday, officers…
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.