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...
-
Thailand boosts benefits, extends maternity leave to 98 days
The Ministry of Labour announced significant improvements to benefits for Social Security Fund (SSF) members, which will kick off next year. These enhancements include an increased allowance during maternity leave and extended periods for receiving various social security benefits. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed new guidelines for managing the SSF, including a legal amendment under the Social Security Act aimed…
-
Elderly American expat assaulted in Pattaya, suspect at large
Pattaya City Police responded to an assault on an American expat last night near the Youth Sports Stadium on Soi Wat Boonkanchanaram. Police Colonel Nawin Thirawit, Chief of the Pattaya City Police Station, coordinated with rescue workers from Sawang Boriboon to address the situation at around 10.06pm yesterday, September 4. Reporters were also present at the scene. Officers found Rad…
-
Man kills estranged wife, himself in tragic Chiang Mai shooting
A tragic incident unfolded in the Doi Saket district of Chiang Mai yesterday when a 46 year old man shot and killed his estranged wife before taking his own life in front of a convenience store. Chanyut fatally shot his wife, 43 year old Charunee, and then turned the gun on himself. Police from the Doi Saket Police Station have…
-
Thailand government includes cash options in 10,000-baht handout
The Thailand government’s 10,000-baht handout programme is set for adjustments, with Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat acknowledging the need to include cash distributions for some recipients instead of digital money. Numerous petitions against the government’s flagship policy contributed to this decision, Julapun said yesterday. Additionally, feedback from various sectors has prompted changes to improve the programme’s effectiveness. Initially, the policy…
-
Man falls from tree into Wang River and dies in northern Thailand
A man who climbed a tree to rest tragically fell into the Wang River and died. His body was discovered by a Good Samaritan who was relaxing at a riverside park. At 4.40pm yesterday, September 4, rescue workers from Sawang Nakhon Lampang retrieved the body of 45 year old Ek, a construction worker who had fallen into the Wang River…
-
Ayutthaya residents warned of flash floods amid rising water levels
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) alerted residents in parts of Ayutthaya to prepare for flash floods due to a continued surge in the Chao Phraya River. Monitoring is ongoing at two primary water stations, and the warning comes as water levels rise significantly. Residents near Khlong Phong Pheng in Ang Thong, as well as those living along the banks of…
-
Man dies in collision with cow on Thai road
A 54 year old man tragically died in a collision with a cow while riding his big bike. The accident occurred on the road connecting Nang Rong and Buriram on September 3. His grieving wife appealed for the cow’s owner to take responsibility. Nantachai, a resident of Village 13, Sakae Phrong subdistrict, Mueang district, Buriram province, was riding his big…
-
Thailand recovers first mpox clade Ib patient, no further cases
Thailand has successfully managed its first confirmed case of the mpox (formerly monkeypox) clade Ib variant, with the patient fully recovered, public health officials announced yesterday. The 66 year old European male arrived in Bangkok on August 14 after travelling from Africa. The following day, he was admitted to a hospital, where laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the clade…
-
Thailand braces for heavy rain and floods as Typhoon Yagi nears
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued its seventh warning about Typhoon Yagi. Northern and northeastern Thailand are expected to experience heavy rain and strong winds, with potential flash floods and landslides. Coastal areas face high waves, urging caution for all residents. Today, September 5, the TMD announced Typhoon Yagi’s seventh warning (166/2024). At 4am, the typhoon was positioned over…
-
Chiang Rai vendor receives 54-year sentence for lese-majeste
A Chiang Rai clothing vendor has had his prison sentence extended to a record 54 years and 6 months for lese-majeste offences, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). The appeal court’s decision yesterday, September 4, upheld Mongkol Thirakot’s earlier conviction, adding to his existing sentences to make it the longest ever under Section 112 of the Criminal Code,…
-
Thai Red Cross slashes dengue fever jab prices
The Thai Red Cross Society’s Immunisation and Travel Medicine Clinic is rolling out an unbeatable dengue fever vaccination campaign. For a limited time, the life-saving jab is available at a slashed price of just 1,600 baht per dose, with the full two-dose course set at a budget-friendly 3,200 baht. This special offer runs until October, giving ample time for people…
-
Swiss man walks free: Shocking gaps in prosecution exposed
In a sensational courtroom drama that gripped Phuket, Swiss businessman Urs Fehr aka David has been acquitted of assault charges after the Phuket Provincial Court found glaring inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case. The owner of an elephant park, David, was accused of kicking Thai doctor Thandao Chandam on Yamu Beach in Thalang district on the night of February 24, but…
-
Cambodian worker buried alive by Chon Buri landslide saved
A Cambodian worker was miraculously rescued after being buried alive by a landslide while fitting a drainage pipe. The terrifying ordeal unfolded this morning, September 4, in an alley on Soi Wat Boonsamphan, in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Rescuers from the Sawang Boribun Thammasathan Foundation rushed to the scene, where they battled against time and…
-
Thai school bus driver accused of sexually assaulting teenage girl
A Thai mother accompanied her 13 year old daughter to file a complaint against a school bus driver who allegedly sexually assaulted her. The accused driver denies the accusation. The 41 year old mother, Ta, brought the sexual assault case to her lawyer, Kritsada Lohitdee, who took her to the Damrongdham Centre, under the Ministry of Interior, to file a…
-
Economic challenge: Business tycoon Pichai to the rescue
Pichai Naripthaphan, a businessman-turned-politician, is stepping into the hot seat as Thailand’s new Commerce Minister at a time when the nation’s economy teeters on the edge of disaster. With sky-high expectations from every corner, Pichai faces the daunting task of steering the country out of economic turbulence. Pichai takes over from Phumtham Wechayachai, who has moved to Defence Minister and…
-
Body found floating near Koh Loy in Sri Racha
A man’s body was discovered floating near Koh Loy in Sri Racha district yesterday. Sri Racha Police Station received a report of a body found face down near the shoreline. Officers, along with rescue workers from the Sawang Prateep Sri Racha Foundation, promptly went to the scene to investigate. Police discovered the body floating approximately 50 metres offshore, near an…
-
French woman drugged and raped by 72 men over nine years
A harrowing case of sexual assault has emerged in France, involving Giselle, a 72 year old woman, who was drugged and raped by 72 men on 92 occasions over nine years. Her husband, 71 year old Dominique, orchestrated the assaults. Giselle has bravely chosen to have the trial conducted publicly. The disturbing events took place between 2011 and 2020, with…
-
SCB predicts Bank of Thailand to lower rates by 0.25%
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) anticipates the Bank of Thailand (BoT) will initiate a series of policy rate cuts starting later this year, potentially continuing into early next year. This move is expected to trigger a reduction in interest rates across the banking sector. SCB’s Chief Executive Kris Chantanotoke predicts the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee will reduce the policy rate…
-
Indian man refuses to leave Thai wife despite divorce demand
An Indian man in Samut Prakarn province, near Bangkok, is seeking justice after his Thai wife heartlessly demanded a divorce and expelled him from their home. He acknowledged that he was aware she had deceived him for money but he loved her enough to tolerate it. Chaos erupted at Mueang Samut Prakarn Police Station yesterday, September 3, due to a…
-
Pattaya temple donates 40,000 baht to aid Phetchabun school
The Chakravartin Temple, in association with local Pattaya entertainment business operators and sponsors, recently organised a heartwarming charity event for the students and teachers of Ban Khlong Takhro School from Phetchabun province. Taking place at the Chakravartin Temple on Soi Kasetsin near Pratumnak Hill, the event was spearheaded by Amporn Kaewsaeng, the temple’s founder, and Rakphong Sutidechanai, a member of…
-
Romantic comedy ‘Love You to Debt’ tops Netflix Thailand charts (video)
Love You to Debt, the top movie on Netflix in Thailand as of today, is a Thai romance-action film entirely set and filmed in Pattaya. Premiering in cinemas in April, the film has recently become available for streaming on Netflix. The story centres on Bo, an illegal loan shark and debt collector working for his formidable mother. His life takes…
-
Thai man loses millions to masseuse in love scam (video)
A Thai man’s pursuit of love with a masseuse led to a courtroom showdown after she allegedly drained nearly 2 million baht from his account using a mobile banking app. The 47 year old victim, named Wittawat, sought help from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after losing 2 million baht to the masseuse identified as Ray. He was worried that she…
-
Thailand’s life-saving tech boost to guard against natural disasters
Thailand is gearing up to supercharge its natural disaster warning system with a sweeping expansion of automated monitoring stations. In a bold move to protect lives and property, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed yesterday, September 3, by the Friends in Need Volunteers Foundation and various national agencies, marking the launch of the second phase of a nationwide project.…
-
Villa thrill-a: Russian buyers drive Phuket’s 2024 villa surge
Phuket’s villa market has seen a remarkable surge in the first half of 2024, surpassing the total launches for the entirety of 2023. For the first time in 15 years, the value of new villas has exceeded that of condominiums, driven primarily by robust demand from Russian buyers. Phattarachai Taweewong, director of the research department at property consultancy Colliers Thailand,…
-
Turbulence ahead: Thai pilots unhappy over foreign job wet lease plan
The Thai Pilots Association expressed significant concerns regarding the potential liberalisation of pilot jobs for foreigners through wet lease agreements for domestic routes. This move, they argue, could risk another red flag from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Several stakeholders, including the Department of Employment, the association, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, and an airline that requested the…
-
Bangkok: American teacher arrested for assaulting student
An American language teacher in Bangkok has been arrested on serious charges involving the alleged abuse of a 14 year old student. The American, 41 year old Robert Leroy Keller, was apprehended yesterday, September 3 by officers from Phetkasem Police Station, following a distressing report from the girl’s mother. The incident began on February 16, when the girl’s mother sent…
-
Brew-tal concoction: Thai woman dies after sipping toxic coffee mix
A Thai woman died, and her husband is in a serious condition, allegedly after drinking coffee mixed with sappan wood, which is believed to have health benefits. A doctor discovered an unidentified toxic substance in their bodies. The 21 year old man, Worrawit Chaisirin, revealed to Thai Rath that his mother, 49 year old Naree Chaisirin, died on Sunday, September 1,…
-
Temu’s impact on Thailand’s e-commerce market remains uncertain
Chinese e-commerce giant Temu‘s potential to impact the e-commerce market in Thailand and the region remains uncertain, according to market analytics firm Cube Asia. Sellers may need to brace for another price war if Temu sustains strong incentives and a low-price strategy, similar to the shifts seen with Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop focusing on profitability. Simon Torring, co-founder of…
-
10 drug dealers arrested trying to rob undercover police
A prominent drug dealer, known widely on Thai social media, along with 11 gang members, tried to steal 9 million baht from two undercover police officers during a buy-and-bust operation in the central province of Nakhon Nayok. The police successfully arrested ten of the gang members, including their leader. Two officers from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board posed…
-
Thai court slaps 35.2m baht fine on pyramid scheme defendants
The Criminal Court of Thailand sentenced defendants in the pyramid scheme case, กองทุนพัฒนาเกษตรกรไทยสู่สากล (Thai Farmers Development Fund to Global) to 352 years in prison and fined them 35.2 million baht. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) to detect such scams online. The DSI’s Financial Crime Division had been investigating special case number 40/2559 involving…
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.