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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
-
Thailand’s health crackdown: Screening mpox-treme measures
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is on high alert, ramping up passenger screening like never before to fend off a potential mpox outbreak. This drastic measure comes hot on the heels of the World Health Organisation (WHO) slapping a “public health emergency of international concern” label on the situation, following a surge of mpox cases in several African nations. Dr…
-
Soaring high: Thai AirAsia’s stunning turnaround in 2024
Asia Aviation (AAV), the proud sole shareholder of Thai AirAsia, unleashed its operational results for the first half of 2024, boasting an impressive financial recovery. The figures are staggering, with revenue from sales and services soaring to 25,279 million baht, marking a 32% year-on-year increase. AAV’s profit from core operations skyrocketed by a jaw-dropping 1,015%, reaching 1,950 million baht from…
-
AirAsia launches new route from Bangkok to Kathmandu
AirAsia is set to soar into the skies with its latest addition to the South Asian route, offering four weekly flights between Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport and Kathmandu, Nepal. The service, launching on October 2, will utilise the A320neo aircraft, renowned for its efficiency and comfort. The airline is rolling out this exciting route with a tantalising promotional fare,…
-
Tax breaks fall flat: Hoteliers sceptical of Thailand govt incentives
The hospitality industry in Thailand is abuzz as the government unveils a new policy aimed at boosting tourism in secondary provinces through tax benefits for hoteliers. But the response from hotel entrepreneurs has been lukewarm at best. According to the latest hospitality operators’ confidence index, a survey conducted by the Thai Hotels Association (THA) and the Bank of Thailand, 50%…
-
Coalition politics: UTNP sets conditions for Pheu Thai support
The United Thai Nation Party (UTNP) announced its support for the Pheu Thai Party’s next prime minister candidate, with one major caveat: no touching the lese majeste law. This stance from UTNP, led by Pirapan Salirathavibhaga—Thailand’s caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister—could have significant implications for the political landscape. During a press conference today, Pirapan expressed the UTNP’s allegiance…
-
Buriram residents fear digital wallet could be axed after PM ousted
Buriram residents and local vendors are increasingly anxious following the Thai Constitutional Court’s surprise decision to oust Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The major concern is the potential scrapping of the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme, a key economic boost initiative from the Pheu Thai Party. The Buriram municipal market is buzzing with worry as many dread that the much-anticipated digital wallet…
-
Japan invited to supercharge Thailand’s Red Line railway network
In a strategic move to bolster Thailand’s railway infrastructure, the Ministry of Transport extended an invitation to Japanese companies to invest in the extension networks of the Red Line electric train system. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit welcomed the newly appointed Japanese ambassador, Otaka Masato, during a media briefing yesterday, August 14, highlighting the potential for enhanced transport cooperation between the…
-
FTI rattled by PM Srettha’s ousting: Investors on edge
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) voiced alarm following the Thai Constitutional Court‘s shock decision to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office yesterday. Kriengkrai Thiennukul, Chairman of the FTI, warned that the ruling could put a brake on both local and foreign investment as investors rethink their strategies amid the political turmoil. Thailand is already wrestling with major economic hurdles,…
-
South Korean man arrested in Pattaya for drug smuggling
Pattaya police yesterday arrested a South Korean man for illegally entering Thailand and smuggling drugs into the kingdom. Pattaya Tourist Police yesterday, August, 14, received a tip-off that a South Korean man, later identified as Kim Jinjong, had entered Thailand from a neighbouring country. Further investigation revealed that Jinjong was staying in a village in the Bang Lamung district of Chon…
-
Monk arrested in Loei temple raid for meth possession
Police raided a temple in Loei province and arrested a monk caught with methamphetamine hidden in his quarters. The monk was immediately defrocked and charges have been filed. Officers from the 3rd Control Division (R.8) of the Surasak Montri Army, led by Captain Chamnarn Manboon, along with local police and administrative officials, conducted a search at a temple in Namala…
-
Muay Thai boxer flees after fatally slitting father’s throat
A Muay Thai boxer escaped and hid in the Yala mountain forests after fatally slitting his father’s throat at their home in the early hours of this morning. Mueang Yala Police Station officers responded to the incident at around 6am today, August 15, investigating the house in the Bannang Sareng sub-district, Mueang district, Yala province, following a report of the…
-
Unique nine-faced statue draws crowds in Nakhon Ratchasima
A unique statue named Tao Maha Phrom Wessuwan, featuring nine faces and eight arms, has been constructed at Wat Sap Takro in Nakhon Ratchasima. The statue, created by Phra Ajarn Wanchai Wannako, also known as Luang Kru Ae, is gaining significant reverence from the public despite being built only three months ago. The statue, believed to be the only one…
-
Mercedes-Benz shifts into high gear with ByteDance partnership
Mercedes-Benz is revving up its tech game by teaming up with ByteDance’s cloud division, Volcano Engine, to explore cutting-edge large language models (LLMs), generative artificial intelligence (AI), and big data. This turbocharged collaboration aims to supercharge Mercedes-Benz’s in-car systems in China with ByteDance‘s advanced LLM technology, giving their virtual assistants a full-throttle upgrade. According to both companies, ByteDance’s LLMs will…
-
Man found dead on motorcycle in Samut Sakhon
A man from Udon Thani was found dead on his motorcycle, likely due to a pre-existing condition. Rescuers revealed they had previously assisted him during a severe asthma attack. The police are investigating the exact cause of death. Police Lieutenant Panadecha Manolert from the Samut Sakhon Police Station received a report about a man found dead on a motorcycle along…
-
Thai child care centre officer accused of raping 8 year old with autism
A Thai mother accused an unidentified officer at a child development promotion centre of raping her eight year old daughter who has autism. The child care centre officers denied the accusation and accused the girl’s stepfather as the potential rapist. The 43 year old woman, identified only as A, sought help from non-profit organisation Be One after a doctor confirmed…
-
Thai woman faces backlash over luggage request to Japan
A Thai woman travelling to Japan faced online backlash after posting a request for someone to carry her extra luggage for a fee of 2,000 baht. Her post, which appeared in the Facebook group กลุ่มคนชอบตะลอนเที่ยวญี่ปุ่น (Japan Travel Group), was quickly removed following a flood of critical comments. The traveller asked if anyone flying to Tokyo with China Eastern Airline on…
-
Hundreds of illegal resorts face demolition in Nakhon Ratchasima
The scenic district of Wang Nam Khiao in Nakhon Ratchasima is witnessing a massive government crackdown as over 400 resorts face the threat of demolition for encroaching on public land. The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry launched inspections, spearheaded by Thanadol Suwannarit, chairman of the ministry’s task force on illegal land ownership under the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO). This aggressive…
-
Thai man injured in a gunfight with his son over 1 million baht debt
A Thai man yesterday sustained an injury to his left leg during a gunfight with his son over a 1 million baht debt at the son’s pawn shop in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. Officers from Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station were alerted to the shooting outside the pawn shop on Na Mueang Road at approximately 4.30pm, yesterday, August…
-
Man assaults father over 300 baht for drugs in Udon Thani
A man assaulted his father in Udon Thani after being denied 300 baht for drugs, prompting his sister to demand legal action, stating she no longer wants him as her brother. Police in Udon Thani received a report of a son assaulting his father at a rental house in Nong Bua, Mueang district. Officers promptly arrived at the scene. The…
-
Excitement builds for latest lottery with top predictions
Excitement is building as the latest lottery numbers for the latest draw have been revealed, featuring predictions and tips from well-known personalities and sources. Here’s a summary of the key predictions for tomorrow’s draw on August 16. Ryu Jitsampat, a spiritual medium, shared a set of three-digit numbers from auspicious incense sticks. These numbers, 556, have garnered widespread attention and…
-
Pattaya police crack down on noisy Kuwaiti motorcyclists (video)
Pattaya police intensified efforts to crack down on Kuwaiti motorcyclists causing disturbances with loud engines, resulting in numerous motorbike seizures. Officers set up checkpoints to address the complaints from residents distressed by the noise and reckless driving. Police officers in Pattaya yesterday, August 14, led by Navin Teerawit, Sirachat Nootes, and Apinan Boonyarat, conducted a coordinated operation targeting various forms…
-
Thai woman assaulted for rejecting man in nightclub (video)
A Thai man took to social media to call for justice after an influential person in the Isaan province of Sisaket physically assaulted his girlfriend for refusing to clink glasses with him at a nightclub on August 12. The Thai man, Kong, shared a screenshot of security footage on Facebook yesterday, August 14, showing his girlfriend, Noi, being attacked. Kong…
-
Police officers face charges for wrongful arrest in Sa Kaeo murder
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) submitted the case files of eight police officers from Aranyaprathet Police Station to the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Region 2 Prosecutor’s Office regarding the wrongful arrest of a woman’s husband for her murder in Sa Kaeo. The officers face serious charges under Section 157 of the Penal Code and the Prevention and Suppression…
-
Thailand aims to host InterPride World Conference 2025
Thailand is reaffirming its commitment to LGBTQIA2S+ rights and preparing to bid for the InterPride World Conference in 2025, with further aspirations to host WorldPride in 2030. The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) held an event titled Thailand Announcement — Unity in Action: Thailand’s Next Steps in Equality to celebrate the passing of the Marriage Equality Bill and to…
-
Pattaya Film Festival returns with 20 global films, free screenings
Pattaya welcomes the return of the Pattaya Film Festival, running from August 21 to 25. This year’s festival will showcase over 20 films from around the globe, offering free admission to all screenings. The event is a collaborative effort by Pattaya City, the Special Tourist Area Development Authority, and the Film Archive of the Ministry of Culture. Screenings are set…
-
Surat Thani police seize 404,000 meth pills after car chase
Police in Surat Thani arrested two men and seized 404,000 methamphetamine (meth) pills following a dramatic car chase. The suspects, 31 year old Suriyen, and 25 year old Sitthipong, were apprehended after attempting to flee from the police. Surat Thani Governor Jetsada Jitrat, who also serves as the Director of the Provincial Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), directed the operation.…
-
Thai woman found dead in BMW leaves letter and will to mother
A Thai woman committed suicide in her BMW car, which was parked in the central province of Nonthaburi, leaving a letter and last will addressed to her mother. It is reported that a row with her boyfriend motivated her tragic decision. A Thai man, identified only as Noom, discovered the woman lying motionless in a grey BMW 330e M Sport…
-
Businessman robbed by transgender at Bangkok hotel, car found
A businessman was robbed by a transgender woman he met at a hotel, who then attempted to sell his stolen vehicle on social media. The police set up a sting operation but the suspect managed to flee. Around 1am today, August 15, a 42 year old businessman, referred to as Gorn, visited the Nonthaburi City Police Station to identify his…
-
Mother pays for daughter’s haircutting antics in Chinese salon
A mother in China faced an unexpected expense when her young daughter cut another customer’s hair at a hair salon, resulting in a hefty compensation fee. The incident occurred at a hair salon in Guangdong province, China. A mother brought her young daughter along to the salon and while the mother was waiting for her turn, chaos suddenly erupted. Her…
-
Teenagers injured in Ayutthaya market attack
Teenagers defied the law by throwing bombs and firing shots in a bustling market in Ayutthaya, leaving an 18 year old boy and a 16 year old girl injured. Police identified the suspects, and efforts are underway to apprehend them. Early today, August 14, at 2.30am, Deputy Inspector Chaloemchai Roentaithong of Uthai Police Station received a report of a violent…
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.