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 Top 10 reasons for expats to get a comprehensive health insurance in Thailand
Moving to Thailand offers a prospect full of excitement and adventure, but in the same vein, if any injuries were to occur (and god forbid it does), the local healthcare system can be confusing at first glance for many expats...
-
Thai TikTok user strikes lottery luck after solar doll offering
A Facebook and TikTok user recently struck it rich after winning on three lottery numbers with a prize of hundreds of thousands of baht. The winning streak came after 40 year old Kongkwan Kongnan posted a video of herself offering four solar-powered dancing dolls to her local spirit house and asking for luck. The video, which Kongkwan posted on both…
-
Bogus bucks: 2 Thai men nabbed for selling fake US dollar bills, 1 suspect still at large
Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers arrested two Thai men for selling fake US dollar bills at a petrol station in the Isaan province of Buriram. Another suspect successfully evaded arrest and remains at large. Police in Buriram province received several reports about the use of counterfeit US dollar banknotes and discovered that most of the fake bills allegedly came from…
-
Phuket man fatally stabbed in family feud over neighbourhood disputes
A dispute between a man and his brother-in-law culminated in a fatal stabbing that left one dead and another injured in Phuket. The argument took place within their neighbouring homes, where they previously had disagreements due to proximity. The incident was reported to Phuket’s Wichit Police Station around 8.30am, prompting an immediate response. Upon their arrival, local first responders and…
-
China’s population plummet, two million decline in a year
China witnessed a massive decline in population last year with a decrease of two million, marking the nation’s second consecutive annual dip, according to government reports. The aftermath of Covid-19 restrictions lifting unleashed a demographic whirlwind, unveiling unforeseen challenges for the once-populous Asian giant. The statistics bureau disclosed that deaths surged by a staggering 690,000, reaching 11.1 million – more…
-
From threads to trends: Chiang Mai couple behind Thailand’s elephant pants phenomenon
In Chiang Mai, a business duo are turning Thailand’s iconic elephant pants into a global trend. Hailing from Chiang Mai, Kingkarn Samorn, the Managing Director, and Jakkaphum Samorn, the Director of Chinrada Garment Company, are the masterminds behind the rise of this iconic fashion phenomenon. From a small home office in 2013 to a sprawling modern factory in 2018, the…
-
5 kids aged between 8 and 17 arrested for house theft and drug party
Police arrested five kids aged between 8 and 17 for breaking into a house, holding a drug party inside, and stealing valuables in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The homeowner, 42 year old Wuttinan, filed a complaint with Mueang Udon Thani Police Station officers on January 15 after returning home to find his home had been ransacked and several…
-
On Nut-Lat Krabang elevated road construction to resume in March
The halted construction of the On Nut-Lat Krabang elevated road, following a catastrophic collapse five months ago, is set to recommence in March. The plan is currently being revised by the Public Works Department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The elevated road, located on Luang Phaeng Road in Lat Krabang district, experienced a tragic collapse of a 600-metre section…
-
Thai herbs: Nature’s secret weapon against deadly PM2.5 dust
Whilst Bangkokians battle with the silent killer, the potent PM2.5 air pollution, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine unveils a game-changing solution to combat the notorious dust particles threatening the health of residents in the capital city. Amidst rising concerns over the long-term health impacts of PM2.5 exposure, Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, the face of the Centre for Covid-19…
-
Students offer to sleep in haunted houses for 1,000 baht a night
Two enterprising students at a prestigious university have found a unique way to earn money: they offer to sleep in haunted houses or where deaths have occurred. Their service aims to resolve the issue of previous tenants moving out due to superstitions and to provide assurance to potential new renters. In the Chiang Mai Rental Room, Chiang Mai Rent House,…
-
Thailand vows to support Myanmar with humanitarian aid at Davos
Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, declared the nation’s commitment to supporting troubled Myanmar through humanitarian aid during the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The meeting, which included international representatives, also featured Vice Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Parnpree emphasised Thailand’s proactive and innovative efforts to foster peace, stability, and unity in…
-
Significant reduction in lead contamination at Thailand’s Klity Creek
The Department of Pollution Control reported a significant reduction in lead contamination within Thailand’s Klity Creek in Kanchanaburi Province. The contamination levels have plummeted from over 100,000 micrograms per kilogramme to 3,000mg/kg, a marked improvement since the pre-rehabilitation era. Chayawee Wangcharoenrung, the director of the Department’s Domestic Wastewater Management Division, stated that Klity Creek is subjected to rigorous scrutiny every…
-
Majority of Thailand’s national parks to close for periodical hiatus
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced the seasonal closure of 134 out of 156 national parks, giving tourists and local visitors a heads-up. The annual shutdown, managed by the National Park Office under the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), is a strategic move aimed at steering Thailand towards sustainable environmental management. With closures differing across parks…
-
2 Polish women apologise for sunbathing in Chiang Mai temple
Chiang Mai Provincial Tourist Police tracked down two Polish women caught sunbathing on Sunday, January 14 at Chiang Man Temple in Chiang Mai province. The two foreigners apologised to locals for their inappropriate act. The Thais who saw the two foreign women sunning themselves on the grass at Chiang Man Temple on Sunday raised concerns via Channel 3, causing the…
-
Thailand targets 23.1 million MICE visitors by fiscal 2024
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has set a target to attract a minimum of 23.1 million meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) visitors by fiscal 2024. Through this, they aim to generate a revenue of 136 billion baht, which equates to 75% of the income recorded in 2019. TCEB President Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya noted that the challenge…
-
Former Transport Minister Saksayam found guilty in shares concealment case
The Constitutional Court has declared former Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob guilty of concealing his shares and ownership in a construction company that scored numerous projects from his own ministry, with the ruling of a 7-1 vote. According to the court, Saksayam’s ownership of Buricharoen Construction Co Ltd was confirmed, as alleged by 54 opposition MPs. One judge, Wiroon Saengthian, was notably…
-
SEC allows securities firms to offer spot Bitcoin ETFs to elite investors
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is in the process of permitting securities firms to offer spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) trading to institutional and high net worth (HNW) investors. The information became public when InnovestX Securities, a unit of SCB X Group, announced on its website that it had recently discussed the matter with the SEC and obtained approval…
-
Sa Kaeo police allegedly threaten Thai man to confess to his wife’s murder
The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, stepped in to oversee the inquiry into the murder of a Thai woman, Buaphan Thansu. This intervention followed accusations against officers from Aranyaprathet Police Station in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo that they were alleged to have coerced the woman’s husband into confessing to the crime.…
-
Juvenile violence sparks national police chief’s call for tougher laws
In a bid to curb the alarming rise in violent crimes committed by young offenders, National Police Chief Police General Torsak Sukvimol ordered a comprehensive review of all criminal cases involving youngsters over the past five years. The objective is to assess whether the existing juvenile criminal laws should be revamped to enforce stricter penalties for violent offences, said Pol.…
-
VGI’s bold move to dominate BTS Lines
In the fast-paced world of out-of-home (OOH) media, VGI Plc is gearing up for innovative plans for advertising space on Bangkok’s bustling BTS lines. VGI’s CEO, Nelson Leung reveals the plans. “Global media is evolving but targeting the right audience at the right time remains paramount.” With the OOH sector rebounding from pandemic challenges, VGI sets its sights on exploiting…
-
Teenager brandishes firearm in public, fears mother poisoning him for insurance
A 19 year old man was taken into custody by Surat Thani City police after he was spotted brandishing a firearm at a busy road intersection. The youth claimed he was scared of his mother, who he believed was trying to poison him to claim life insurance money. The incident occurred at 2.15am today, January 18 at the intersection of…
-
Explosion at fireworks factory in Thailand leaves 22 dead
A devastating explosion at a fireworks factory resulted in 22 fatalities. The factory was still within its permit period. This tragic event has left a profound impact on a fifth-year secondary school student who lost both parents in the incident and is still in shock. Sitthisak Yaempraipirom, the district officer of Mueang Suphanburi, Suphanburi Province, revealed the developments in the…
-
Thailand’s insurance sector sees 4.5% growth, aiming for 1 trillion baht by 2026
The insurance sector in Thailand has seen a robust expansion of 4.5%, with the Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) projecting insurance premiums to hit the 1 trillion baht (US$28,184,510,000) mark by 2026, a significant leap from the present 800 to 900 billion baht figure. Such an outlook was shared by Chuchatr Pramoolpol, the secretary-general of the OIC. Chuchatr revealed…
-
Teen girl found drowned in Pak Pha Ying Canal after distressing messages
The body of a 15 year old girl was discovered drowned in the Pak Phing Canal after a two-day search by authorities. The girl, identified as Neem, had been missing since the evening of January 16. The teenager had previously sent distressing audio and video messages to a friend at 1am on January 16 before her disappearance. Neem, who was…
-
Storm warnings for southern provinces as Thailand braces for cold snap
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) warns of storms hitting eight southern provinces with sea waves exceeding 2 metres. Meanwhile, the upper part of the country continues to experience cold weather today. For the next 24 hours, the moderately high-pressure area covering the northeastern part and the South China Sea is weakening, while the westerly wind at the upper level…
-
New 6.5 kilometre six-lane road to link Phutthamonthon Sai 4 with Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi Motorway
The Department of Highways in Thailand embarked upon a new project to construct a 6.5-kilometre-long six-lane road that will link Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road with the Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi Motorway. The new roadway is expected to alleviate traffic congestion on the existing roads and foster urbanisation in the adjoining areas. The highway will extend through four districts in Nonthaburi and into…
-
Thailand’s central bank bans prepayment charges in new lending regulation
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has introduced a new responsible lending (RL) regulation that bans charges for debt prepayment and restructuring across all consumer loan products. The regulation, which comes into effect on January 1, impacts various financial institutions such as banks, non-banks, asset management companies, and specialised financial institutions. However, the ban does not apply to fees for mortgage…
-
Thailand aims for 40 million tourists and 3.5 trillion baht revenue
The goal of 40 million international tourists and an ambitious revenue target of 3.5 trillion baht (US$ 98,348,390,000), as set by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, remains a tall order for this year, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry. Still, the ministry plans to attract longer stays and increase spending through a range of measures, including soft power products, safety…
-
Transgender trio snatch gold necklace from Korean tourist in Pattaya
A Korean tourist last week was allegedly robbed of his 200,000 baht gold necklace by a trio of transgender suspects in Pattaya. The 51 year old tourist, Seongmu, accompanied by his 43 year old Thai friend, Surat Kongin, revealed the details of the robbery which took place on Thursday, January 11, imploring justice for the brazen theft. The escapade unfolded…
-
Chulalongkorn Hospital to employ robot helper ‘Mr Sam’ to assist paperwork
Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital has unleashed a team of five robots, headed by Mr Sam, to revolutionise outpatient services. This futuristic endeavour aims to slash red tape, accelerate patient processes, and provide a helping hand to overwhelmed medical staff. It marks the dawn of a new era in healthcare technology, with robots taking charge of paperwork and streamlining the registration process.…
-
Thailand domestic boarding regulations tighten
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revealed new regulations for non-Thai passengers taking domestic flights in Thailand. Effective from January 16, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) tightened control on the boarding pass and ID checks. The CAAT laid down the law, demanding an exact match between the name on the boarding pass and the passenger’s government-issued ID. Whether…
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.