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
How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
-
Bitcoin breaks the bank: Crypto leap sends shockwaves through markets
In a dazzling leap forward, Bitcoin smashed through the US$71,000 barrier, sending shockwaves through the financial world. This crypto milestone, unmatched since June, comes on the heels of hefty inflows into exchange-traded funds and rampant election speculation. As the clock ticked past 10.45am in Singapore, the digital asset darling rocketed over 2%, peaking at an impressive US$71,310. Not to be…
-
Drug gang’s truck crashes with 1.6m meth pills, suspects flee
A drug trafficking gang’s pickup truck, loaded with over 1.6 million methamphetamine pills, crashed after a tyre burst. The suspects fled into a nearby forest, prompting a police manhunt. At approximately 2.45am today, October 29, Chaiyachai Nathanakarn, the superintendent of Phatthana Nikhom Police Station, led a team to investigate a report from Chaiwat Kuntolthong, a local volunteer and assistant village…
-
Academy lecturer removed after lawsuit against Big Joke’s wife
There are no updates regarding the theft lawsuit filed by a police officer’s wife against the wife of former police chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, but the complainant is now facing multiple criminal accusations and has just been dismissed as a lecturer at the Royal Police Cadet Academy (RPCA). The 50 year old RPCA lecturer, Thanattha Yodyiam, accused Big Joke’s…
-
Fire torches Phichit warehouse, 10 million baht damage
A fire ravaged four connected buildings housing a second-hand Japanese goods warehouse in the heart of Phichit, causing 10 million baht in damages. The fire broke out around 12.30am today, October 29, with local police and emergency services scrambling to control the blaze. Police Lieutenant Natthaphon Netyim, deputy inspector of Mueang Phichit Police Station, received a report about the fire…
-
Motorcycle shooting in Samut Songkhram injures young man
A tense incident unfolded in Samut Songkhram when a young man on a motorcycle shot at a rival’s house, causing injuries but narrowly missing vital areas. Police have apprehended the suspect, who remains uncooperative. Around 9.30pm yesterday, October 28, Phonsuda, a police lieutenant at Mueang Samut Songkhram Police Station, received a report of a shooting with injuries behind Koo Thammasatit…
-
Parliament to debate charter amendments in December session
Parliament will deliberate on charter amendment bills during its next session in December, as confirmed by House Speaker Wan Muhammad Noor Matha. The decision followed an agreement between the government, opposition, and Senate whips to address the proposed revisions to the 2017 constitution in the upcoming Parliamentary session due to time constraints in the current one, which concludes tomorrow, October…
-
Car crash in Pattaya tunnel causes severe damage, minor injuries
A car lost control and crashed into a barrier in a Pattaya tunnel, causing severe damage. The driver claims another vehicle forced him off the road. Fortunately, he sustained only minor injuries. At 10.06pm yesterday, October 28, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre in Pattaya received a report of a car accident. The incident occurred on the road through the…
-
AirAsia takes off with five new international routes
AirAsia is ramping up its operations towards the end of the year with the launch of five new international routes. These include two routes from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport to Hyderabad, India, and Phu Quoc, Vietnam, and three routes from Phuket to Kolkata and Chennai in India, and Siem Reap, Cambodia. Supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Don…
-
Mystery unbedded: Thai police dig into Canadian man’s death
Thai police are digging deep into the puzzling death of a 46 year old Canadian man discovered by a group of his friends after five days of silence. The alarm was raised in a quiet corner of Moo 8, Srisoontorn, alerting Thalang police officers to the scene at around 12.35pm, yesterday, October 28. The man’s body was found peacefully in…
-
Disabled Thai woman robbed, physical assaulted and dumped in Pattaya
A disabled Thai woman sought help from officers at Mueang Pattaya Police Station yesterday after her dishonest girlfriend, in collusion with her boyfriend, allegedly robbed, physically assaulted, and abandoned her in Pattaya. The 33 year old victim, Chutiphat “Air” Noo-krod, arrived at the police station last night, October 28, to file a complaint against her girlfriend, Nam. However, officers faced…
-
Pattaya vendors protest daily fines and increased operating days
Vendors from the Thepprasit area market have petitioned the Pattaya City Mayor, claiming unfair treatment by the market owner. They face a daily fine of 1,000 baht for non-attendance and an extension of operating days from three days to daily. A group of vendors from the Thepprasit area market approached Pattaya City Hall, seeking justice from the Mayor of Pattaya.…
-
Sisters survive 10-metre fall after motorcycle crash in Phuket
Two sisters narrowly escaped death when their motorcycle, with faulty brakes, lost control and crashed into a roadside barrier, causing them to fall into a 10-metre-deep ravine. The incident occurred on a steep road in Patong, Phuket. At approximately 5.40pm yesterday, October 28, Police Lieutenant Pongpipat Kumchumpoo of the Patong Police Station received a report of a motorcycle accident on…
-
Thai police intercept 2 million meth pills in sedan bust
Thai police in Wang Noi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, arrested a major drug trafficker, seizing a significant quantity of methamphetamine pills hidden in a sedan. The arrest happened after a keen-eyed officer noticed the vehicle appeared heavily loaded, leading to a search that uncovered five sacks of drugs. Yesterday, October 28, at the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Police Headquarters,…
-
2 Thai teens surrender after brutal attack on homeless man in Isaan (video)
Two of the three Thai teenagers involved in the brutal attack on a homeless man in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima surrendered to the police yesterday. They claimed that another friend ordered them to commit the crime. Locals in the Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima, along with rescuers from the Sawang Dhammastan Foundation, rushed the homeless man, 60 year…
-
Bangkok cops have last laugh on Khao San Road’s laughing gas sales
Bangkok police discovered two entertainment venues on Khao San Road selling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, during a crackdown late on October 26. Officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and police officers from Phlapphla Chai 2 and Chana Songkhram Police Stations conducted inspections around 12.30am, pinpointing two nightclubs engaged in the illegal sale of gas in…
-
Thailand drones on: Flying tech to lift farmers’ fortunes
Thailand is ready to support the effort to boost farmer access to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), or drones, to improve the management of the nation’s agricultural land, Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong announced. Prasert made this commitment during a Senate meeting, responding to questions from Senator Premsak Piayura regarding the government’s strategies to enhance…
-
Pakistani vendors in Pattaya attack tourist for refusing their products
Pakistani vendors at Pattaya Night Bazaar brutally attacked a fellow countryman last night, leaving him unconscious after he refused to buy their herbal products. A Thai witness, Mit, and his friend shared a video of the unconscious Pakistani victim, Muhammad Abdullah, yesterday, October 28, on social media to seek justice for him. The video showed Abdullah lying on the ground…
-
Burmese man overturns car in Pattaya to avoid hitting dog
A Burmese man claimed he overturned his car near Pattaya while attempting to avoid a street dog. At 11.16pm on Sunday, October 27, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre received a report of a car accident in the Khao Mai Kaew area, prompting an immediate response from rescue volunteers and local police. Rescue teams arrived to find a bronze-gold Nissan Frontier…
-
Thailand weather: Cooler north, rain in central and southern regions
Thailand sees a shift in weather patterns, experiencing a noticeable drop in temperatures in the northern and northeastern regions, while the central and eastern parts continue to see scattered rain. The southern region faces strong winds and heavy downpours. The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecasts weather conditions for the next 24 hours, predicting cool mornings in the upper northern…
-
Thailand ambitions take off: 6 projects to boost transport hub status
The Transport Ministry of Thailand is advancing six airport development and construction projects to position the country as a regional transportation hub. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced that representatives from the ministry’s Airport Department, Airports of Thailand, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, and other relevant agencies recently attended the 59th Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Conference in the Philippines.…
-
Thai-panic: AirAsia flight defies disaster over denied landing in India
A Thai AirAsia flight found itself in a death-defying situation straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster when it was denied permission to land at an airport in India. Passengers were left fearing for their lives as the aircraft was forced to circle for a staggering 45 minutes with only 30 minutes of fuel remaining in the tank. The drama unfolded…
-
Sky’s the limit: Suvarnabhumi Bangkok aims for a million flights in a year
An ambitious target set by Thailand’s government aims to handle one million flights nationwide next year, following the recent opening of Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s third runway. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced the objective, emphasising the move as part of Thailand’s strategy to become the region’s aviation hub and to stimulate tourism and economic growth. After the official opening of…
-
Jay Fai-ning appetite: Michelin Thai chef hangs up her apron (video)
Renowned Thai chef Jay Fai is set to close her one-star Michelin restaurant next year, 2025, due to the increasing price of ingredients and exhaustion after seven years of cooking. Jay Fai Pratu Phee restaurant ranks among the top must-try street food stalls in Bangkok, having earned a prestigious one-star award over its seven years of operation. A visit to this…
-
Thai airports to launch biometric ID system this November
Six major Thai airports will introduce an automated biometric identification system using facial recognition technology later this year, allowing passengers to present their physical ID only once during their journey. This system, set to launch for domestic passengers on November 1 and for international passengers on December 1, will be operated by the Airport Authority of Thailand. Kirati Kitmanawat, the…
-
Khao Yai park clarifies contractor resigned amid elephant concerns
Khao Yai National Park has clarified that Sutthiporn Sinka, known as “Phlai Su” resigned from his duties of pushing back wild elephants rather than being transferred. He faced numerous complaints for using inappropriate methods that posed risks to tourists. Sutthiporn, a contractor at Khao Yai National Park, was responsible for managing wild elephants that ventured onto visitor paths. As of…
-
Fatal shooting in Songkhla after heated altercation
A heated altercation led to a fatal shooting in Songkhla when an ice delivery man was shot dead by a rival. The confrontation occurred yesterday, October 27, in Singhanakhon district, Songkhla province, at around 7.30pm. CCTV footage revealed the confrontation between the victim, 23 year old Thanakorn and his assailant, 33 year old Kritnai. Thanakorn, riding a sidecar motorcycle, encountered Kritnai,…
-
Thai man arrested for attempted murder of sex worker over wallet dispute
Police arrested a Thai man for the attempted murder of a sex worker in Pattaya after he crashed his car into her and fired shots at her, following a misunderstanding over a suspected theft. Officers from Nong Prue Police Station apprehended the 51 year old man, identified as Wathin, at his home in the Isaan province of Sisaket at around…
-
Snake snack attack: Python’s kitten meal causes a hissy fit in grocery
A massive python was discovered after devouring two adorable kittens in a grocery store near the mountains in Phatthalung. It was too full to move, prompting rescue officials to capture and release it back into nature. Rescue officials in Phatthalung’s Srinakarin district received a call for help from locals reporting a large python that had swallowed a male and a…
-
Fowl play: Man busted for snatching rooster as pricey pet
A man was arrested for stealing a prized fighting rooster worth 100,000 baht, claiming he only wanted to keep it as a pet. Police from Sai Mai Station used CCTV footage to track and apprehend him along with the stolen rooster. Police were alerted to the theft by the caretaker of a rooster coop, who reported that a fighting rooster…
-
Thailand leads Southeast Asia in agricultural exports, 8th globally
Thailand emerged as the largest exporter of agricultural products in Southeast Asia and the eighth-largest globally, thanks to its free trade agreements (FTAs). The Trade Negotiations Department highlighted this achievement, with the Director-General, Chotima Iemsawasdikul, attributing the success to these agreements despite growing foreign competition and global economic uncertainties. Thailand’s agricultural export value reached US$19.8 billion (638 billion baht) in…
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.