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.
-
Sign of corruption? Bangkok station’s US$1-million name change
When His Majesty the King renamed Bang Sue Grand Station, “Krung Thep Abhiwat Central Terminal,” in September, some quiet questions were asked if the Bangkok station’s US$1-million name change was really necessary. Yesterday, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has been obliged to assure a puzzled public that an investigation into the 33 million baht (US$1 million) cost of the new nameplate…
-
Locals panic after Bengal tiger footprints spotted in community
Locals in the Chong Sadao sub-district in the central province of Kanchanaburi sought help from the authorities after mysterious footprints of a tiger were spotted in the community. Chong Sadao sub-district chief Wasan Soonjirat reported to the media that he was notified about the tiger footprints at 8.30am yesterday, January 5. The footprints were discovered near the community and forest…
-
Thailand’s long-distance trains to relocate to new Bangkok rail hub from January 19
The State Railway of Thailand is relocating 52 train services from Hua Lampong Station to Bangkok‘s new central rail hub – Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (formerly Bang Sue Junction) – from January 19. Passengers catching long-distance, rapid and express train services will depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district from this date onward. Inbound trains…
-
1 killed and 1 injured in explosive disposal mission
One officer was killed and another injured during an explosive disposal mission at the old military base of the Royal Thai Army Rangers in the Khun Harn district of the Isaan province of Sisaket. The director of the National Park Conservative Area Administration Office Unit 9, Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, told the media that the incident happened at 10.37am yesterday, January 5.…
-
Heavy rain, flash flooding forecasted for six of Thailand’s southern provinces
Heavy rain to very heavy rain and flash flooding is expected to hit six of Thailand’s southern provinces from today until Sunday. According to Thai PBS World, the Meteorological Department says that the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat are expected to see heavy rain over the next three days. Three other southern provinces of Songkhla, Phatthalung, and Nakhon…
-
Pravin Kumar appointed as general manager of Hyatt Regency Koh Samui
Press Release KOH SAMUI (DECEMBER 22, 2022) – Hyatt Regency Koh Samui, the island’s best luxury beachfront resort in the vibrant area of North Chaweng, is pleased to announce the appointment of experienced general manager Pravin Kumar. With over 20 years of hospitality experience, Mr Kumar brings to Hyatt Regency Koh Samui a wealth of industry knowledge in the luxury…
-
Thailand’s official year-end population lower than in 2021, females outnumber males again
Thailand’s official year-end population has been recorded at 66,090,475 as of December 31, 2022, with females outnumbering males again. According to Thai PBS World, the latest census data was provided by the Central Domicile Registration Office. The population consists of 65,106,481 Thai nationals with 983,994 waiting to receive Thai citizenship. Of the recorded number of Thai nationals, 31,755,032 are males…
-
Pattaya Beach is second most popular beach in the world
Pattaya Beach was named the second most popular beach in the world on TikTok. The most popular beach prize goes to Bondi Beach in Australia. The UK luxury holiday company, Destination2, created a list of the most popular beaches across the world on TikTok. The company conducted the research on TikTok by creating a specific hashtag for the dream beaches…
-
VIDEO: Angry farang chases Thai-French woman who rejected him in Pattaya
An angry farang (Westerner) of unknown nationality chased a half-Thai half-French woman around the pool at a Pattaya hotel in eastern Thailand when she rejected his advances on Monday. Twitch streamer ‘Justketh’ was live-streaming at the hotel’s pool where only she and the older man were present. Keth told The Thaiger… “He had been sitting in the pool and drinking…
-
Man attacked by teenagers on Airport Rail Link train
A man was attacked by a group of teenagers while travelling on an Airport Rail Link train last night. The victim insisted that he did not know the offenders. A woman who witnessed the assault recorded a video of the incident and shared it on the local news Facebook page, Let Me Know If You Wanna Be Famous, Return Ver.…
-
Eight found dead with gunshot wounds in a Utah family home
The United States added yet another senseless shooting statistic to a cast of thousands when a family of eight, including five children, were found shot dead in a house in Enoch City, Utah. Police discovered the bodies while conducting a welfare check at the property yesterday. No motive has been determined and no further information has been released about the…
-
Drug addict father arrested for killing his 3 year old daughter
A drug addict father was arrested yesterday at a petrol station in Chon Buri after he allegedly murdered his 3 year old daughter in the central province of Nakhon Sawan. The junky denied the charge and blamed a ghost for the murder. Officers from Lat Yao Police Station were notified of the child’s death, later identified as Nareenan Pananon, at…
-
Over a quarter of travellers from China test positive in Taiwan
Thailand may want to rethink its pandemic prevention strategy for Chinese tourists after news broke this week that more than a quarter of passengers from China landing in Taiwan tested positive for Covid-19. The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) in Taiwan reported that over a quarter of the 500 plus travellers who arrived in Taiwan from China returned positive Covid…
-
Whale shark visits Thailand’s Koh Chang in rare sighting
A stunning four-metre-long whale shark visited a group of tourists on a snorkelling trip in the waters of Koh Chang in the Gulf of Thailand yesterday in an extremely rare sighting. Danai Unglo, the owner of Mister Khai Tour Company, said he was leading a group of 15 tourists to go snorkelling at Koh Klum island in Trat province’s Koh Chang…
-
Chiang Mai issues booster shots to get ready for Chinese tourists
Chiang Mai is preparing to welcome Chinese tourists by giving booster shots to its workers in the tourism industry. The province intends to issue 3,000 doses per day from January 23 to 29. Other residents in the province are also being encouraged to get booster doses. The Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai, Worravit Chaisawat, was chair of the meeting at…
-
US Mega Millions jackpot close to US$1 billion
As the Mega Millions jackpot closes in on US$1 billion, with an estimated US$940 million in its next draw, after another draw without a grand prize winner. The lack of a winner of an estimated US$785 million (27 billion baht) jackpot Tuesday means there have been 23 straight draws without a winner. The new jackpot is the sixth-largest in US…
-
Thailand ranks 9th in 10 Cheapest Places to Live list by Forbes
Thailand and Italy secured joint 9th place in Forbes magazine’s list “Quit Your Job and Move Abroad: 10 Cheapest Places to Live” list published on Monday. Forbes compiled a list of desirable locations to live aimed not only at retirees but anyone who wants to quit their job, pack up shop and start a new life for an affordable price……
-
VIDEO: Indian restaurant owner attacked for ‘stealing customers’ in Thailand
A Thai-born Indian man was attacked on Saturday after opening an Indian restaurant in close proximity to another Indian restaurant in Krabi province in southern Thailand. The victim, Wirent Tiwari, was welcoming customers into his restaurant when he was suddenly attacked by an Indian man. The attacker screamed “I’ll kill you! Then bury you in the ground!” as he slapped,…
-
Infected Chinese tourist escapes quarantine in South Korea
South Korean police are searching for a Covid-19 infected Chinese tourist who escaped from a quarantine hotel last Friday. The South Korean news website, KBS News, reported yesterday that local police have been unable to track down the 41 year old Chinese man who escaped Covid quarantine. The website revealed that the man entered the country via the Incheon International…
-
‘Buffalo’ Suttipong’s trash-talk tarnishes Phuket’s reputation
The trash-talk of Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Suttipong Juljarern tarnishes Phuket’s reputation, according to the president of the Phuket Lawyers Association. As the highest-ranking civil servant at the Interior Ministry, Suttipong can’t seem to keep his foot out of his mouth or his name out of the headlines. The latest of the senior servant’s woes comes as people in Phuket…
-
Couple injured after their motorcycle collides with sedan
A foreigner and his Thai wife were seriously injured after a white sedan crashed into their motorcycle last night when they made a U-turn at Samerng Intersection in Chiang Mai province. A witness reported the collision to the Hang Dong Police Station at 7pm yesterday, January 4. The accident happened in front of a convenience store at the Samerng Intersection on…
-
PM Prayut proud of Thailand’s pineapples
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha‘s face lit up with joy when he heard that Thailand is the biggest exporter of canned pineapple in the world, according to government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri. PM Prayut was “delighted” when the Agriculture Ministry informed him that Thailand holds a 32% share in the global canned pineapple market – the biggest in the world – valued…
-
VIDEO: The WHO accuses China of massaging Covid data
The World Health Organization (WHO) accused China of not being transparent about the true impact of the coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese mainland or about its death toll. The WHO believes Beijing is massaging data since it removed its strict restrictions and mass-testing last month. Mike Ryan, the WHO’s emergencies director, said… “We believe that the current numbers being published…
-
Man arrested for forcing woman to perform oral sex in mini bus
Police arrested a man who forced a woman to perform oral sex on him in a mini bus in the central province of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The driver of a mini bus immediately filed a complaint with the police after the female victim notified him about the sexual assault when she got out of the vehicle at her destination.…
-
Malaysia responds to China’s lifted Covid restrictions with plans to tighten borders
Malaysia is responding to China’s recently lifted Covid-19 restrictions with plans to tighten its borders. The Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, announced the country’s plans as fears mount over another Covid wave due to China. According to the Straits Times, the Cabinet is choosing to prioritise health over the economy. “We will control and tighten (our borders) even more, including (travellers) from…
-
Former US funeral home director gets 20 years in slammer for selling dead body parts
A former US funeral home director in the state of Colorado has been jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of selling dead body parts. The former director, Megan Hess, 46, pleaded guilty to defrauding relatives of the dead by dissecting 560 corpses and selling them without permission. Hess operated a funeral home named Sunset Mesa in Montrose, Colorado.…
-
Chinese tourist surge may be small, trains may help
After a flurry of excitement over the return of Chinese tourists, perhaps tempered a bit by Covid-19 worries amidst a huge outbreak there, industry experts are predicting a smaller surge this Chinese New Year. The Association of Thai Travel Agents says that many large tour groups popular in China have not confirmed trips until the country makes an official announcement…
-
Video of alleged Chinese Triad drug raid in October released
A new video has surfaced of a drug raid at Jinling nightclub in Bangkok from October that was part of a crackdown on illegal Chinese triad activity. The video was released by controversial politician and soapy massage pioneer Chuwit Kamolvisit who has been active in efforts to curb Chinese gang activity in Bangkok. The raid in October nabbed 104 people…
-
National Park officials condemned for allowing sailboat to destroy Krabi reef
Thai netizens condemned National Park officials for failing to do their job after seeing images of a tourist sailboat destroying a coral reef in the southern province of Krabi. Yesterday, January 3, the environmental activist Facebook page Monsoon Garbage Thailand posted photos of a white sailboat docking over the coral reef near Yawasam Island. The page explained that the island…
-
Reckless driver surrenders to police after running over taxi rider
A reckless sedan driver fled from the scene of a deliberate crash after smashing into a motorcycle taxi rider and dragging him about five metres on a road in Bangkok. The motorcyclist was injured in the collision but miraculously survived. Another motorcycle rider chased after the negligent motorist but could not catch him. CCTV at the Phasi Charoen Canal Intersection…
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.