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...
-
‘Demon Loan Sharks’ busted: Ruthless gang exposed in Chon Buri
In a dramatic police swoop, two members of the infamous Demon Loan Shark Gang were arrested after expanding their illegal loan operation into Chon Buri. The duo, identified as 35 year old Yutthaphum and 25 year old Kiatthaphum, were nabbed in a quiet housing estate where their shady business was thriving. Acting on intelligence, police raided the single-story house, uncovering a…
-
New deputy House Speakers elected in Thai Parliament shake-up
In a dramatic power shift today, Pichet Chuamuangphan of the Pheu Thai Party has clinched the role of first deputy House Speaker, while Paradorn Prissananantakul from Bhumjaithai took the position of second deputy. Both MPs sailed through unopposed, but their appointments come amid growing political turbulence. Pichet, who was nominated by Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, had previously served as the…
-
Siriraj Hospital to air programme for Prince Mahidol Day fundraising
Siriraj Hospital is set to broadcast a special television programme this Saturday, September 14, to honour Prince Mahidol Day, which is on September 24, encouraging public donations for a noble cause. Dr Apichat Asavamongkolkul, dean of Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, highlighted that Prince Mahidol Day commemorates the late prince’s significant contributions to medical education in Thailand.…
-
Bangkok Port set for a glamorous makeover: Transport ministry
Bangkok’s iconic port is about to get a dazzling transformation. The Thai Transport Ministry has unveiled plans to turn parts of the port into a buzzing entertainment complex – but there’s a catch. Officials are calling for clearer government regulations before the project can truly set sail. Speaking at a media briefing, Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri made it clear…
-
Phuket vendors demand extended hours and free parking
Vendors from Phuket City Municipality Fresh Market 2 in Phuket Town gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, September 10 to request officials to waive parking fees and extend the operating hours of the soon-to-open Go Wholesale fresh produce mall nearby. The formal request was submitted by the vendors, accompanied by members of the Kon Noom Team, to Monchai Sae-Lao, Director…
-
Illegal factory busted in Bangkok, over 30 million baht of fake drugs seized
Officers from the Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Bureau (IDMB) recently conducted a raid on an illegal factory in the Tungkru district of Bangkok following a tip-off about the production of multiple fake drugs, including counterfeit Viagra, painkillers, and petroleum jelly. IDMB police officers, together with officials from the Ministry of Public Health, arrived at the illegal factory in Soi…
-
Bangkok police arrest man with 10,000 meth pills and ammunition
Police in Sai Mai district, Bangkok, arrested a young man for dealing methamphetamine (meth), seizing a significant quantity of drugs and ammunition. The suspect confessed to distributing drugs for over eight years, starting at the age of 17. Police Major General Attapol Anusit, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2, along with Deputy Commander Sakdit Sitthisawat and other senior officers, successfully…
-
London firefighters take on 110-floor climb to honour 9/11
In a powerful tribute to the bravery of their New York counterparts, two British firefighters will tackle an extraordinary feat: climbing the equivalent of 110 floors—while wearing full fire gear. The firefighters, 35 year old Sam Hayward and 40 year old Jonathan Freeman from Bethnal Green Fire Station in East London, are set to undertake the gruelling challenge this afternoon…
-
Cambodian woman caught begging in Bangkok with three children
Immigration officials have apprehended a Cambodian woman again for begging in central Bangkok, this time with her three children. Last year, she was deported with two children for similar offences but returned, citing the generosity of Thai citizens. Police Colonel Kachapon Pathomang, the Investigation Superintendent of Immigration Division 1, and Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriya Puangsomboon, Deputy Superintendent of Investigations, along…
-
Couple in Nonthaburi finds rare Melo pearl worth 500,000 baht
A couple in Nonthaburi, Thailand, were thrilled to discover a rare Melo pearl in a cockle shell, valued at half a million baht. The pearl, weighing 1.91 carats, was verified as genuine and came with a certification. Adisak Sidao, a 29 year old foreman, and Sawitri Sangjan, a 27 year old company employee, shared their excitement after stumbling upon this…
-
Thai stock market leads Asia with 6% dollar gain in September
The Thai stock market has surged to become the top performer in Asia this month, recording a 6% increase in dollar terms. Foreign investors have returned as net buyers, injecting over 20 billion baht (US$595 million) into the market, driven by a combination of domestic and international factors, according to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). South Korean and Chinese…
-
Tourist confronts teen pickpocket in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Soi 11 (video)
A foreign tourist confronted a Thai teenager in Sukhumvit Soi 11 in Bangkok after catching him pickpocketing £400 (approximately 17,700 baht). The incident turned heated as the tourist demanded the return of his money, assisted by a local Thai woman. A widely shared 23-second video on the popular Facebook page เจ๊ม้à¸à¸¢ v+ shows the intense exchange. Captured on Sukhumvit Soi…
-
On duty Thai rescuers stabbed for false sexual assault accusation
A drunk Thai man and his friend attacked and stabbed rescuers who came to help them after a motorcycle accident in the central province of Chachoengsao, following a false accusation of sexual assault. The 28 year old suspect, Thianchai, who was intoxicated, crashed his motorcycle on Sukhumvit Road in the Bang Pakong district of Chachoengsao province yesterday, September 9. The…
-
Search continues for individual who jumped off Rama VII Bridge
Emergency services are searching for an individual who reportedly jumped off the Rama VII Bridge into the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Despite a thorough search, no body has been found yet. The incident was first reported at 6.26pm yesterday, September 10, by the Rama 199 Radio Centre, which received information from the Special Operations and Water Rescue Unit. The…
-
Software sector grows 12.8%, hits 215 billion baht
The software sector experienced a robust growth of 12.8% last year, reaching a valuation of 215 billion baht (US$6.4 billion), outperforming three other digital sectors. Investment in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, cloud computing, and cybersecurity bolstered this growth, according to a joint survey by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) and IMC Institute. The software…
-
Deputy mayor’s house in Ubon Ratchathani destroyed by fire
Residents narrowly escaped a dramatic house fire, which destroyed the home of a local deputy mayor in Ubon Ratchathani. The blaze, which started in a prayer room, was only discovered after a neighbour alerted the family. Police Lieutenant Prasert Ayuwong, an investigator with the Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station, reported details of the incident. The fire broke out yesterday evening…
-
Call to pause new national parks amid Thap Lan land conflict
The People’s Movement for a Just Society (P-Move) has called on the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to pause the designation of new national parks, urging that the conflicts within Thap Lan National Park be resolved by fostering a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, on his first day in office, announced plans…
-
Thai ladyboy steals motorbike key in Phuket home invasion
A woman in Phuket experienced a frightening encounter when a ladyboy, apparently under the influence of drugs, entered her home uninvited and demanded the key to her motorbike. When she refused, the individual stole the key and, after a confrontation with a group of young males, fled the scene. The incident gained public attention after Facebook user Earn PhimPhattha shared…
-
Tuk tuk theft: driver steals American tourist’s money and valuables
Police arrested a tuk tuk driver who stole money and belongings from an American tourist last month. The thief sped away from the scene with the victim’s possessions, worth over 40,000 baht. The American victim, James Anthony Viafore, filed a complaint at Chakkrawat Police Station on August 30, reporting that he lost all his money and belongings to the Thai…
-
New 3.5 kilometres runway at U-Tapao airport to begin construction
U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport is set to commence construction of its second runway this year. The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is currently seeking a loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to fund the project. Italian-Thai Development (ITD) has been chosen as the contractor for the runway, according to Chula Sukmanop, secretary-general of the EEC. The project is being…
-
Thailand plans 20-baht flat fee for electric rail, 8 billion baht budget
The Transport Ministry has announced plans to allocate an annual budget of 8 billion baht to support a 20-baht flat fee policy for all electric rail services in Bangkok. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit stated that a dedicated team will be formed to expedite the policy’s implementation, aiming to cap the maximum fare for all electric rail services in Bangkok and…
-
Driver’s locked fingers cause truck crash in Nakhon Ratchasima
A pickup truck driven by a man experienced a sudden case of locked fingers, causing him to lose control and crash off the road in Nakhon Ratchasima, resulting in significant vehicle damage. He was transporting old items for sale at the time of the accident. Yesterday evening, a silver pickup truck with Nakhon Ratchasima registration lost control and veered off…
-
Thief steals aluminium ladder in second Pattaya apartment heist
A thief has struck again at an apartment in Pattaya, stealing an aluminium ladder in what marks the second incident at the location this year. The theft occurred yesterday, and the victim, 26 year old Pimnapa Yamsantia, provided CCTV footage to local news reporters to aid in identifying the culprit. The footage shows a man, estimated to be between 30…
-
Thailand’s 400-baht wage hike alarms small hotel owners
Hoteliers in Thailand express concern that raising the daily minimum wage to 400 baht exclusively for large employers could disrupt the job market in the hotel sector. This pay disparity may attract workers to larger hotels, leaving smaller establishments struggling to retain staff. With Thailand’s tourism industry yet to fully rebound, industry leaders urge the government to focus on reducing…
-
Rakesh Saxena to be deported to India after Thai prison release
Rakesh Saxena, the central figure in the collapse of Bangkok Bank of Commerce (BBC), has been detained by police following his release from prison and will be deported to India. The collapse of the bank in 1995, due to the mismanagement of large undercollateralized loans, marked the beginning of the Asian financial crisis known as the Tom Yam Kung crisis.…
-
PM Paetongtarn faces ethics probe over mini-heart gesture
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces a new accusation by serial petitioner Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, who claims she committed a serious offence by making a mini-heart gesture while in her civil service dress uniform. Ruangkrai, known for seeking the dissolution of the Pheu Thai Party for alleged domination by Paetongtarn’s father Thaksin, has focused his efforts on the ethics section of…
-
Intoxicated man attacks hospital guard with knife in Chaiyaphum
A middle-aged man, angry and intoxicated, attacked a security guard at Phu Khiao Chaloem Phra Kiat Hospital in Chaiyaphum, leading to a dramatic confrontation involving a knife. Police quickly apprehended the suspect and charged him with multiple offences. The incident occurred at the hospital’s exit, where a man in an orange shirt and jeans engaged in a heated argument with…
-
Thamanat Prompow sues for defamation over ministry interference
Former Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow is suing three public figures for defamation, accusing them of alleging his interference in his successor’s duties. Thamanat has engaged lawyer Thanadon Suwannarit to file these defamation lawsuits against legal scholar Jade Donavanik, former Bangkok MP Boonyod Sukthinthai, and Thai Pakdee Party leader Warong Dechgitvigrom. The complaints were lodged with the Nang Loeng police in…
-
Transport Co revives Thailand-Laos bus service in early November
The state-run Transport Co is set to revive the Udon Thani–Nong Khai-Vang Vieng bus service in early November, aiming to enhance connectivity between Thailand and Laos. Vang Vieng, located in the Lao province of Vientiane, is renowned for its stunning landscapes, limestone cliffs, and caves. Transport Co’s Acting General Manager Atthawit Rakchamroon confirmed that the decision to restart the bus…
-
Woman gives birth in ambulance en route to Ayutthaya hospital
A woman gave birth inside an ambulance while being rushed to a hospital in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The incident occurred on Rojana Road near the Uthai-Bang Pa-in intersection. Volunteers from the Phutthaisawan Foundation, who were assisting the woman, revealed that this particular ambulance had seen six births before, all of which coincided with lottery wins. The event took place…
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.