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 Pre-existing conditions? These expat insurance plans still have you covered
Many expats feel worried that their pre-existing health problems will stop them from getting insurance in a new country. This fear is common, especially when medical care can be expensive. But the good news is, some insurance, like the plans...
-
Online beverage shop rouses uproar for negative quote on customer’s cup, sparking debate on social media
A viral post on social media sparked debate after a woman, who ordered a drink through an online application, was taken aback by the negative quote written on her cup. The beverage shop, known for its creativity, typically writes profound quotes on its products. However, the woman felt insulted by the negative quote. Despite the mixed reactions of netizens, many…
-
Vietnamese man saves small change for two years, surprising wife with 69,000 baht motorcycle
An astonishing act of love has gone viral on Vietnamese social media. A 36 year old Vietnamese man named Phan Van Duek, residing in Ho Chi Minh City, took a backpack filled with cash, weighing over 11 kilogrammes, to a motorcycle shop. Phan had been saving for over two years to surprise his wife with a new motorcycle. The cash,…
-
Bangkok craftsman stabs younger colleague over work dispute
A violent altercation between two craftsmen over a broken water pipe in a dormitory ended in tragedy, with a Bangkok craftsman, 64 year old Chomphu, fatally stabbing the younger one, 37 year old Suradej. The incident took place in a dormitory located in Soi Charansanitwong 37, Bang Khun Sri, Bang Khun Non, Bangkok. Suradej, originally from Chai Nat province, had…
-
Phuket Vegetarian Festival begins with traditional Go Teng pole raising
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival kicked off yesterday with the traditional ceremony of raising the Go Teng poles at each participating shrine. The act is a symbolic invitation to the Jade Emperor and the Nine Emperor Gods to descend from the heavens and spend the subsequent nine days on Earth. The golden Go Teng pole was hoisted at the Guan Yu…
-
Thai gold prices dip: Gold Traders Association confirms morning fall
The Gold Traders Association (GTA) announced a decline in gold prices on this morning, with standard gold selling for 33,400 baht per baht weight, reflecting a decrease of 100 baht compared to the closing price last Friday. The latest value of gold bars in Thailand today, October 16, is 32,800 baht per baht weight for buying and 32,900 baht for…
-
Woman struck and killed by train in South Thailand under investigation
A tragic incident unfolded in the Hat Yai district, Songkhla, when a 40 year old woman, was struck and killed by a local train near the Tha Sae railway bridge, about 2 kilometres from the Hat Yai railway junction. The incident occurred at around 8.25am. The Hat Yai police, led by Lieutenant Colonel Nimman Nikuno, reported that the woman was…
-
Petrol prices to drop by 2.50 baht as new year gift, says Thailand’s Energy Minister
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy announced plans to reduce petrol prices by 2.50 baht per litre as a new year’s gift to the Thai people. The minister, Peeraphan Saleerathaviphak, also revealed the establishment of an official committee to investigate fuel pricing. Peeraphan revealed that the Ministry of Energy is considering ways to reduce petrol prices to help the…
-
Jungceylon boosts public safety and confidence through enhanced security measures
On 10 October, Mr. Sanya Armeen, Manager of Building & Engineering at Jungceylon, Patong, Phuket, in collaboration with the Patong Police Station, hosted a training session on “Step up Public Safety and Emergency Response.” This initiative equips our security personnel and Jungceylon staff to effectively handle various emergency situations, thereby ensuring the safety and confidence of both Thai and international…
-
Lost in Phuket: Stranded British man seeks help as wife takes passport and sails away
A stranded British man, faced with the loss of his passport and funds after a family disagreement, found himself stranded in Phuket. Assistance from the Tourist Police was sought after his wife, following the dispute, left with his travel documents and a portion of their belongings. The public became aware of the British man’s plight through a report by the…
-
COTTO life room viewer app: Tile selection made easier for Thai households
The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly shifted consumer lifestyles over the past three to four years, with increased emphasis on home-based living and working. This shift has not only led to continuous purchasing of new homes but also renovations of existing ones. This is particularly true when it comes to choosing materials for home decoration, especially floor or wall tiles. The…
-
Phuket motorists urged to avoid roads for King Maha Vajiralongkorn tribute procession
Phuket City Municipality issued an appeal to motorists, asking them to steer clear of Phuket Road and its surrounding areas in Phuket Old Town next Monday. This comes in anticipation of a street procession set to pay tribute to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X). The street procession, honouring King Maha Vajiralongkorn, is not part of the traditional Iw…
-
Irresponsible tenants’ vanishing act leaves landlord with blood-soaked bed
A landlord was left in utter shock when some irresponsible tenants, who had rented her property for five days, disappeared without any prior notice in Liaocheng, located in the Shandong Province of China. The unfortunate aftermath of their irresponsible tenancy included a foul stench in the home and the bed soaked in blood. The landlord shared the incident online, revealing…
-
Phuket’s deep cleanup: 800 kilogrammes of marine waste netted in underwater mission
An underwater cleanup operation near Racha Noi Island, Phuket, yielded 800 kilogrammes of discarded fishing nets and other marine debris last Friday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) organised the cleanup after local divers alerted them about the marine trash accumulating on an artificial reef in Ran Gai Bay. The debris posed a significant threat to marine wildlife…
-
Reckless driving causes 1.2 million baht BMW motorcycle crash (video)
A reckless driving manoeuvre atop Phu Thap Boek, a popular tourist spot in Phetchabun, resulted in a BMW motorcycle, worth 1.2 million baht, being sideswiped by a bronze Toyota pickup truck, causing it to topple over. The motorcyclist and a female pillion rider suffered minor injuries in the incident that took place today. The TikTok user, who posted a video…
-
Thailand tightens ban on undeclared pork imports amid African Swine Fever fears
Thailand’s continual enforcement of the ban on unregulated pork imports, including for personal use, has been underscored by the detection and confiscation of illegal pork imports at major international airports. The canine unit, known as Inspector Beagle, plays a vital role in these inspections, seeking out any meat products potentially carrying viral strains of African Swine Fever (ASF). Friday, October…
-
Chinese teacher tricked out of 20 million baht by online love scam
A 38 year old Chinese teacher has fallen victim to a devious online love scam where the fraudster tricked her out of over 4 million yuan, roughly 20 million baht. The South China Morning Post reports that despite numerous warnings from the police, the smitten teacher refused to believe she was being swindled by her handsome online lover. The shocking…
-
Get lucky with TikTok-shared Chinese calendar numbers for upcoming lottery draw (video)
Lottery enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the draw today, with many turning to the Chinese calendar for good luck numbers. A TikTok user, nid8857, recently shared five numbers from the Chinese calendar, encouraging lottery fans to consider them when buying tickets. However, the final decision rests with the individual’s discretion. The Chinese calendar numbers have been a source of interest in…
-
Phuket police crackdown on crime boosts safety for visa-free tourists
In a span of seven days, Phuket police apprehended 64 individuals in an effort to bolster the safety measures for tourists from China and Kazakhstan who are visiting under a visa-free arrangement. The Phuket Provincial Police’s campaign is primarily aimed at curbing crime rates, particularly drug-related offences, to uphold Phuket’s reputation as a safe tourist destination. According to a report…
-
Entertainment venues: Bangkok governor paints the town ‘green’ with 4am nightlife nod
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittupunt has given green light approval to entertainment venues to extend their closing time to 4am, provided they implement appropriate safety measures and take into consideration the welfare of nearby residents and young people. He also insisted that clear and transparent operations are better than secretly operating past the legal hours. During a recent executive meeting at…
-
Thai prime minister zaps to police meeting in eco-style – EV-entful ride
The Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Srettha Thavisin, attended a National Police Office meeting today in an electric vehicle (EV) to reduce pollution. The meeting with Police Lieutenant General Torsak Sukvimol, the National Police Chief, was held in a white Tesla with Bangkok licence plates 2KHP5171. The 61 year old Thai prime minister personally stated that he chose a Tesla…
-
FTI urges new regulatory body to curb cheap Chinese imports
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) urged the Industry Ministry to establish a novel regulatory body to supervise product standards. The move is intended to curb the influx of inexpensive Chinese imports, which the FTI claims are flooding the Thai market. The FTI did not clarify whether the proposed regulatory body would be governed by the state or the business…
-
Phuket car detailing centre manager’s suspected suicide under investigation
Phuket police are currently probing the apparent suicide of a 43 year old man who managed a car detailing centre in Phuket Town. Supachai Panya’s lifeless body was discovered on Saturday night at around 8.10pm on Viraponghongyok Road, north of the Nimit Circle, also known as the Seahorse Circle, on the east side of Phuket Town. Upon receiving the distress…
-
Thailand land tax act assessment: Fiscal policy office’s evaluation
The Thailand 2019 Land and Building Tax Act (LBTA) is receiving a thorough evaluation for its effectiveness and potential issues in enforcement, according to the Fiscal Policy Office director-general, Pornchai Thiraveja. The investigation is a collaboration between the Finance and Interior ministries and is aimed at understanding the effectiveness of the new land tax collection system, identifying any issues and…
-
Thai lottery guru reveals luckiest zodiac signs and numbers to win big
Lottery enthusiasts are eagerly eyeing the predictive powers of Lottery Plus show, Lottery Trend, which has revealed the four zodiac signs with the highest chances of winning the first prize. The show also shared lottery numbers suggested by Grandfather Sri Sutho, a famed lottery guru. The show’s host, known as Doctor Boy, clarified the zodiac signs most likely to enjoy…
-
Scrutinising October lottery trends: Top numbers and peculiar predictions unveiled
The lottery trends for today’s highly anticipated draw are under scrutiny as the top numbers and news highlights have been circulating. TikTok user nid8857, from Pattum Royal Technical Solar Salt, shared a video on their account revealing five lucky numbers from the Chinese calendar: 951, 4536, 3943, 942, 015. In other lottery news, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Settha Thavisin,…
-
Thai worker abducted in Hamas raid on Israeli avocado farm
A Hmong woman from Chiang Rai made a desperate plea to the authorities, seeking assistance in the search for her husband who was taken captive during a Hamas raid in Israel. The 28 year old woman, Suntree Saelee, lost all communication with her 26 year old husband, Kong Saelao, amidst the chaos and violence which kicked off on October 7.…
-
Thailand’s ‘fuelish’ plan: Expanding subsidy scheme to drive down costs for motorcycle taxi drivers
The Government of Thailand is envisaging the introduction of a further stage in the fuel cost subsidy scheme for motorcycle taxi drivers. This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce operational expenses in public transportation. Prasert Sinsukprasert, the permanent secretary for energy, stated yesterday that a proposal for the new instalment of the energy cost subsidy initiative has…
-
Thai economy caught in global crossfire as Israel-Hamas tensions fuel price hike fears
The Thai economy, already tested by geopolitical conflicts over the past few years, is facing potential consequences from the hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East, as governments and corporations all over the world look for excuses and justifications to hike prices to obscene heights. It’s a well-worn tactic last seen in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine…
-
Thai casualties rise in Israel-Hamas conflict: Urgent repatriation underway
The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has resulted in the death of four additional Thai nationals, escalating the total number of Thai fatalities to 28. Furthermore, 16 individuals are injured, and 17 are reportedly held captive, as declared by the prime minister. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin shared these details following the Rapid Response Centre (RRC) meeting at the Foreign Ministry. The rapidly…
-
Clean getaway foiled: Man ‘purifies’ methamphetamine pills smuggling attempt into Thailand
Customs officials in Nong Khai apprehended a man who was smuggling nearly 60,000 methamphetamine pills into Thailand, cleverly hidden inside an air purifier. The suspect claimed to be unaware of the illicit contents, stating he was merely hired to transport the goods from Laos to Udon Thani province in Thailand. The arrest took place at the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge…
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.