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...
-
Stranded man sells appliances for 800 baht to visit ill sister
A 56 year old man was deceived and abandoned by a van driver, leaving him stranded along Bang Na-Trat Road, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province. Phorncharoen Saengthothep, originally from Udon Thani, was travelling back home to care for his sick sister suffering from diabetes and had sold his rice cooker and fridge for 800 baht to fund his journey.…
-
Vet shares unusual tale of pet pig choking on pork meatball on TikTok (video)
A bizarre incident occurred when a local villager brought his pet pig to a vet in a fertiliser sack, after it choked on a pork meatball, yesterday, December 20. The incident was shared on TikTok by user @naynaykung019, who happens to be the treating veterinarian. The video clip shows the pet pig owner seeking help, stating that his pet pig…
-
Thailand government expands Red Line electric train to Ayutthaya and Nakhon Pathom
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has received a directive from the government to broaden the Red Line electric train system to include Ayutthaya and Nakhon Pathom. Surapong Piyachote, Deputy Transport Minister, on Wednesday disclosed that the existing 8.8 kilometer stretch from Rangsit to Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus will be extended to Ayutthaya. In a similar vein, the 14.8 kilometer…
-
Unexplained death after tooth extraction sparks controversy in Phetchaburi
A 25 year old woman‘s mysterious death following two tooth extractions has led to her distraught family seeking answers. The woman, Thiphaphon (surname withheld), experienced severe facial swelling and pain after the dental procedure at a hospital in Phetchaburi. Despite later diagnoses of leukaemia and further tests, her death remains unexplained and has sparked controversy. The news was delivered to…
-
Thailand’s commerce ministry targets 2 trillion baht in cross-border trade by 2027
Aiming to increase the value of cross-border and transit trade to 2 trillion baht by 2027, the Commerce Ministry is expediting the application of the cross-border trade strategy. The Ministry is establishing four dedicated task forces to tackle border trade-related issues. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, following Wednesday’s committee meeting on trade, cross-border, and transit trade promotion, shared that the committee…
-
Thai health charter chairman advocates for cannabis in wellness tourism
Dr Kampon Sriwatanakul, chairman of the Thailand National Charter of Health, has called for the adoption of a holistic wellness technique to leverage the potential of cannabis in bolstering the nation‘s tourism. He delivered these remarks at the 4th CISW MedCann Investment Summit 2023, which took place yesterday, December 20. The chairman advocated for a wellness tourism model revolving around…
-
Thai worker returns to Israeli farm amidst conflict to support family
A 33 year old man from Buri Ram has opted to return to his job on an Israeli farm, notwithstanding the ongoing conflict in the region. He had initially returned to Thailand as part of the government’s repatriation initiative that brought thousands of Thai workers home from Israel. With mounting debts and a family to support, Tom Prongjit found the…
-
Cold wave from China hits Thailand: Significant temperature drop and heavy rain forecast
Thailand is currently under the influence of a new surge of high-pressure area or cold air mass from China, as declared by the Thai Meteorological Department. This has resulted in a drop in temperature across the country, with the north-eastern region experiencing a decrease of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius, and the capital city, Bangkok, seeing a drop of 5…
-
Bangladesh on the brink: Opposition calls for general election boycott amidst political turmoil
Bangladesh‘s political landscape is teetering on the edge as the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), intensifies its calls for a boycott of the upcoming January 7 general election. The stakes are high, with the BNP warning of a one-sided dummy election unless Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina steps down. Struggling with key leaders either imprisoned or in exile,…
-
Thai TikToker condemned for encouraging cheating and partner manipulation
Thai netizens condemned a Thai TikToker for encouraging his followers to cheat on their partners and manipulate them for money and other benefits. The videos which now under fire were created and shared by the TikTok account, ครูตี๋ สà¸à¸™à¸ˆà¸µà¸šà¸ªà¸²à¸§. which means learning how to flirt with girls with teacher Tee. The TikToker is identified as Tee. He has over 500,000 followers…
-
Uthlum case: The Thai legal concept preventing children from suing parents
Thai law and cultural norms often intersect, as the longstanding legal concept of Uthlum demonstrates. This term, which translates to forbidden cases, refers to the prohibition against a child bringing a lawsuit against a parent or guardian. Despite the complexities and potential controversies surrounding this unique legal concept, it’s an integral part of Thai culture and law that demands a…
-
KBank to create digital currency system
As mainstream lenders remain cautious about digital assets, Kasikornbank (KBank) is on a mission to create a digital-asset ecosystem, providing a groundbreaking funding route for companies. KBank acquired the licenced digital-asset exchange Satang Corp in October. Notably, this acquisition marks a rare instance of an established lender stepping into the crypto trading platform domain. The rebranded Satang Pro platform, now…
-
MFP Pita defends himself over shareholding charge at Constitutional Court
Pita Limjaroenrat, the advisory chairman of the Move Forward Party (MFP), defends himself at the Constitutional Court over the charges against him for the iTV shareholding case. The Court was poised to dissect his involvement in the beleaguered iTV – a spectacle eagerly anticipated by political enthusiasts. At precisely 9.10am, Pita, exuding an air of calm confidence, addressed the media.…
-
Thai wage committee upholds 2.37% minimum wage increase
Yesterday, a senior government official announced that the tripartite wage committee has decided to uphold their previously agreed-upon plan to increase the average daily minimum wage by 2.37%. The committee, consisting of representatives from the government, employers, and employees, has agreed to uplift the pay threshold range to 330 to 370 baht, starting in January. This was confirmed by Pairoj…
-
Erroneous English signboard at Trang airport rectified following social media uproar
An incorrect English translation on a signboard leading to Trang Airport has been rectified following public criticism. The sign, which was meant to point towards the airport, was found to be using the Karaoke language style in its English translation. It should have read Trang Airport, but instead it was written as THAAGRAD SAYAITHANG. The error has now been corrected,…
-
Phuket paradise beckons: TAT teams up with Saudia Airlines for tourism extravaganza
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has joined forces with Saudia Airlines, setting their sights on a jaw-dropping target of 300,000 arrivals and a staggering 27.68 billion baht in revenue. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool revealed ambitious plans after a high-stakes meeting in Riyadh with Saudia Airlines bigwigs. Thapanee disclosed discussions that could make this a game-changer for Saudi tourists seeking…
-
Thai woman falls off building while fleeing mentally ill neighbour
A Thai woman fell from the third floor of a building in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok while she was fleeing from a mentally ill neighbour who attempted to stab her. Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station officers were called to rescue a Thai woman, 63 year old Chamaiporn, who fell from her room on the third floor to an awning on the…
-
Young firefighter steals hearts and extinguishes flames
Capturing the internet’s attention, six year old Peerapat, a kindergarten student at Wat U-Tapao Kindergarten in Chon Buri, has become a viral sensation after a video of him extinguishing a forest fire alongside adult firefighters surfaced on social media. The video, shared on Thai social media on December 18, has amassed over 2 million views, turning Peerapat into a symbol…
-
Brazilian woman’s fatal encounter with poisoned chocolate
A 27 year old woman in Brazil, known as Fernanda Silva Valas da Cruz Pinto, tragically lost her life after consuming chocolate. This followed a recent fortune-telling session where she was ominously predicted to die prematurely. After eating the chocolate, she suffered severe abdominal pain, vomited blood, and foamed at the mouth. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she was…
-
Explosive growth in Thai insurance industry predicted for 2024
The Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) has foreseen an unprecedented surge in the insurance industry, with premiums expected to skyrocket to 303 billion baht in 2024. The TGIA president, Somporn Suebthawilkul, revealed the industry’s trajectory, unveiling that premiums for the initial nine months of this year already hit a whopping 210 billion baht, marking a staggering 5.2% rise from the…
-
Illegal meatball factory raided, dirty products flood Bangkok and surrounding areas
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police conducted a raid at an illegal meatball factory in the central province of Pathum Thani on December 18. The substandard and dirty products were found to be shipped throughout Bangkok and surrounding provinces. CIB officers launched proactive measures and operations against illegal food producers in the country after six children suffered dizziness and rapid…
-
Illegal labour crackdown in Phuket ensnares 30 Chinese men
Yesterday in Tambon Thepkrasattri, an enclave in Phuket, Thailand, police apprehended 30 Chinese men on charges of illegal labour. The detained, aged between 24 and 59 years old, were caught in the act, with 12 of them arrested at a construction site in Baan Pa Khlok Cheep, and the remaining 18 along Wong Chalerm Village Road. Now, further investigations are…
-
Thai government ditches 300-baht fee for tourists: Massive insurance plan
In a bold move to restore tourist trust, Thailand‘s Tourism and Sports Ministry has abandoned the long-delayed 300-baht tourism fee and is now looking for another type of insurance for tourists. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is spearheading a grand plan to offer a whopping 500,000 baht coverage for injuries and a jaw-dropping 1 million baht in the event of a…
-
2 drunk police and former police injured in fight over female waitress
A drunk police officer and a former Border Patrol Police officer suffered injuries after they fought each other over a female waitress at a restaurant in the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum. One was shot in the legs while the other was hit in the head. Mueang Chaiyaphum Police Station received a report of a shooting at a restaurant on the…
-
Thailand warned of escalating PM2.5 dust levels: GISTDA
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) issued an urgent warning about PM2.5 dust particles exceeding safe levels in various parts of Thailand. Samut Sakhon saw the worst conditions with PM2.5 levels reaching 76.7 micrograms per cubic meter, more than double the standard limit of 37.5 micrograms. In Bangkok, 22 districts experienced PM2.5 levels exceeding the standard limit, with…
-
Uncle Phol receives 20-year sentence in Mukdahan for toddler’s death
A 20-year sentence has been handed down to Chaiphol Wipa, also known as Uncle Phol, in the Mukdahan Provincial Court for his role in the death of a 3 year old girl, Chomphoo, who disappeared from her home in the Gok Kok village, Dong Luang district, Mukdahan province on May 11, 2020. Accompanied by his legal team, Wipa, along with…
-
Brother’s heart wrenching farewell to bride sister stirs emotions in China
An emotionally charged wedding ceremony took place in the Anhui Province of China, where a brother was caught in a tearful farewell to his sister, the bride. The brother, having grown up alongside his sister, struggled to accept her moving away from their home. The groom, a native of Shanxi province, had met the bride during their university years. After…
-
Thai police warn about rise in deepfake AI related crime
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has issued a public warning about the potential rise in crime related to advanced deepfake AI technology. This technology, capable of swapping faces and mimicking voices, is feared to be the next tool for scammers in the coming year. The warning stemmed from the national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol’s concerns, which were communicated…
-
Bangkok BTS Skytrain extends service hours to 2am on December 31
Bangkok BTS Skytrain will extend moments of happiness for the passengers with extended service hours from midnight to 2am on the last day of the year December 31. The board director of the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company, Surapong Laoha-unya, announced yesterday, December 19, that the BTS Skytrain will extend its operating hours at all stations and lines on on…
-
Grab Thailand reveals omni commerce and outdoor integration as top 2023 trends
In the Food and Grocery Trends Report 2023 recently revealed by Grab Thailand, it was highlighted that omni-commerce and the integration of digital platforms with outdoor activities are the preferred delivery methods. The report also listed som tum poo pla ra (papaya salad with crab and fermented fish) and coffee as the most sought-after menu items of the year, with…
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.