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...
-
Thai exports at risk as Strait of Hormuz closes
Thai National Shippers’ Council chairperson Tanakorn Kasetsuwan yesterday discussed potential impacts following Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz due to Middle Eastern tensions. Tanakorn yesterday, June 23, outlined six strategies to mitigate the effects on the oil, fertiliser, and agriculture sectors, urging the Thai government to ensure energy security and minimise long-term risks. The closure of the Strait…
-
Bangkok man arrested for selling e-cigarettes via online store
Police in Phetkasem arrested a 32 year old man for using an online clothing store as a front to sell electronic cigarettes. The arrest took place yesterday, June 23, in front of a department store in Phetkasem, Bangkok, with police seizing some 166 items, including disposable electronic cigarette pods and refill liquids. Under the direction of Police Major General Pallop Aermla,…
-
Pattaya’s crackdown: Vendors face fines as traffic chaos intensifies
Pattaya’s traffic police have launched a major crackdown on roadside vendors, especially the three-wheeled food and merchandise carts that frequently block busy streets, including the popular Pattaya Beach Road and various side alleys. Officers are stepping up enforcement efforts, aiming to reduce congestion and improve safety for both drivers and pedestrians. On Sunday, June 22 at 11.30pm, Police Lieutenant Colonel…
-
Tragic drowning of man in Udon Thani pond
A 51 year old man has been found dead in a pond in Baan Khok Phatthana, Phon Ngam subdistrict, Nong Han district, Udon Thani province. The discovery was made yesterday, June 23, at approximately 4.50pm when a family member found his shoes by the pond’s edge. Despite attempts to rescue him, he had already succumbed to drowning due to a…
-
Thai man kills sister-in-law for allegedly serving his mother omelettes
A Thai man fatally shot his sister-in-law at the weekend at a house in the northern province of Kamphaeng Phet, allegedly because she served inadequate food to his elderly mother. Officers from Khlong Lan Police Station arrested the 42 year old suspect, identified as Arsia, on Sunday, June 22, at the scene in the Pong Namron sub-district of Khlong Lan…
-
Fishing vessel fire off Surat Thani coast claims one life
A fishing vessel caught fire and sank off the coast of Surat Thani, resulting in the death of one crew member. Yesterday, June 23, at 3pm, Vice Admiral Nares Wongtrakun, director of the 2nd Naval Area Command, ordered Captain Natthaphon Sinphunphon, deputy director of the Surat Thani Maritime Enforcement Command Centre, to dispatch a high-speed rescue vessel, Sornchon 4003, to…
-
Israel’s attack on Iran threatens Thailand’s tourism recovery
Thailand’s tourism sector, already struggling from global uncertainties, is facing another blow as Israel’s unprovoked attack on Iran threatens key international markets. The United States, Europe, and the Middle East, which were once seen as “hope markets” for Thai tourism in 2023, may see a significant dip in tourist arrivals. According to Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, President of the Thai Hotels Association…
-
Thai cavalry seizes six million meth tablets in Chiang Mai clash
A special forces cavalry unit named Chaiyanuphap engaged in a confrontation with approximately 30 drug traffickers during a patrol operation in Chiang Mai. The clash took place yesterday, June 23, in Mueang Na subdistrict, Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai province, resulting in the seizure of over six million methamphetamine tablets. While patrolling in Baan Arunothai, soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry…
-
Thai axe man damages car with child inside in Chon Buri road rage
A Thai man threatened and damaged another man’s car with an axe after a road dispute in Chon Buri. The victim condemned the suspect, saying his wife and five year old son were in the car during the violent scene. The 31 year old victim, Withit, filed a complaint with Ban Bueng Police Station after the incident, which occurred at…
-
High and dry: Health minister’s war on cannabis shops
The minister of public health declared a dramatic U-turn on cannabis policy but with thousands of shops raking in billions and a booming weed culture now woven into daily life, critics say his war on weed is destined to go up in smoke. Health chief Somsak Thepsuthin sent shockwaves through Thailand’s green economy today, June 24, by signing off on…
-
Norwegian man charged with attempted murder in Surat Thani
Police in Mueang Surat Thani district apprehended a Norwegian national and charged him with attempted murder according to an arrest warrant issued by the Koh Samui Provincial Court. The Norwegian suspect, Elmer, was caught yesterday, June 23, at Surat Thani Bus Terminal while attempting to flee the area by van. The incident traces back to June 19 in Koh Samui…
-
Bangkok’s Green Line future in doubt: Will 20-baht fare survive?
As the Green Line’s concession approaches its expiration in 2029, the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) is preparing to release a groundbreaking study to explore four potential operational models that could keep the popular 20-baht flat fare policy alive. This move comes after Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt proposed a transfer of the Green Line project to the Ministry of Transport, believing…
-
Fishing boat capsizes off Phuket, one rescued, one missing
A local fishing boat capsized amid turbulent seas off the coast of Phuket, leading to one person being rescued while another remains missing. The incident occurred at approximately 4.10pm yesterday, June 23, when the Andaman Narenthorn Centre alerted the Third Naval Area Command of the event. The boat, which had two people onboard, capsized roughly 1 kilometre from the Thasak…
-
80 year old Thai man fatally shoots drug-addicted grandson in Isaan
An 80 year old Thai man surrendered to the police after fatally shooting his drug-addicted grandson in a paddy field in the northeastern province of Nong Bua Lamphu. Officers from Na Klang Police Station investigated the death of 30 year old Mongkhon, who was found in the middle of a rice field in the Khao Kloi sub-district, Na Klang district,…
-
Thailand Video News | Squid Game’s giant doll brings buzz to Bangkok, Cannabis shops raided for selling unapproved edibles
From protests in Thailand to a tourist rescue in Indonesia and political tensions in the Philippines, today’s stories span heated streets, courtroom clashes, and international headlines. 150,000 Protesters to Rally Against Thai PM at Victory Monument Over 150,000 people are expected to gather at Victory Monument on June 28 in a mass protest demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s resignation. Led…
-
Phuket the bomb! Pair nicked in plot to deliver deadly cargo
Two men from Thailand’s insurgency-hit Deep South have been arrested in a chilling plot to smuggle homemade bombs into Phuket, with a suspicious timer device hidden in their boot sparking a dramatic early morning police sting. At around 3.30am, today, June 24, officers manning a checkpoint near Phang Nga Provincial Hall stopped a black saloon car with Surin plates after…
-
Thai border opens for emergency medical aid for Cambodian man
Thai officials coordinated a special border opening at Ban Khlong Luek permanent crossing in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, to facilitate urgent medical treatment for a Cambodian man experiencing a sudden heart condition. This occurred yesterday, June 23, at 6pm, just an hour before the First Army Area commander was to sign an order closing the border in the same…
-
Thai hotels warn of layoffs amid 400 baht wage hike proposal
The Thai Hotels Association (THA) has raised concerns about potential large-scale layoffs in the hotel sector during the low season, should the government proceed with plans to increase the daily minimum wage to 400 baht next week. The THA has submitted a petition to the prime minister, urging the cancellation of this policy. La-iad Bungsrithong, an advisor to the THA…
-
Bangkok taxi driver and passenger clash over payment method
A cantankerous Bangkok taxi driver refused to accept a bank transfer and allegedly demanded an extra fare from a female passenger after she made him wait while withdrawing cash from an ATM. A Thai man who witnessed a heated argument between the taxi driver and the passenger shared a video on his Facebook account, เรารัก กัน ตลอดไป (meaning We love…
-
Sa Kaeo combats oil smuggling to Cambodia
Police in Sa Kaeo are intensifying inspections at the Khao Din checkpoint to prevent illegal oil transportation to Cambodia, following Cambodia’s decision to halt oil imports from Thailand. Historically, oil has been transported by sea between the two countries, with the latest shipment recorded yesterday, June 23. At the permanent border checkpoint in Ban Khao Din, Klong Hat district, Sa…
-
Air India implements temporary flight reductions and safety measures
Following the tragic loss of passengers, crew members, and individuals on the ground in the AI171 incident on June 12, Air India has made several adjustments to its operations. The airline has expressed its deepest condolences and continued support for the families affected by this devastating event. Since the tragedy, the airline has been in constant communication with the relevant…
-
Man arrested for threatening girlfriend with gun in Chon Buri
A 19 year old man was arrested after threatening his girlfriend with a gun during an argument in Bang Saray, Sattahip district, Chon Buri. The incident occurred yesterday, June 23, at 10.30pm and was reported by the girlfriend’s mother. Police Colonel Komsan Kamtoonkaew, head of Sattahip Police Station, reported that the police were alerted to a situation involving a man…
-
Bourse of concern: Thai stocks tumble after US strike on Iran
A United States military strike on Iran* has sent shockwaves through global markets, with Thailand’s stock exchange plunging to post-pandemic lows, prompting emergency stabilisation measures to stop the slide. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) went into crisis mode yesterday, June 23, after fears of an escalating Middle East conflict caused oil prices to surge and Thai stocks to slump 1.3%,…
-
Thai woman in critical condition after being rescued from asphalt tank
A Thai woman remains in critical condition after being rescued from a tank of asphalt in the central province of Lop Buri yesterday, June 23. The circumstances that led to her being submerged in the tank remain unknown. A 52 year old Thai man, Chanon, alerted officers from Khok Samrong Police Station and the Khok Samrong Songkhro Rescue Foundation after…
-
Green snake struggles to climb wall after swallowing gecko
A green snake was spotted yesterday attempting to slither away from a house with a noticeably bulging belly after swallowing a gecko whole. A Facebook user posted a video of the over 1-metre-long snake climbing a wall outside a bathroom and trying to squeeze into a hole approximately 2 metres above the ground. The snake’s swollen stomach was shaped like…
-
Bhumjaithai criticises Pheu Thai for cannabis regulation delays
Bhumjaithai Party senior member Supachai Jaisamut has urged the swift passage of a cannabis control bill, criticising the Pheu Thai Party’s Ministry of Public Health for its perceived inaction in regulating cannabis. This, he claims, has resulted in its widespread availability and associated challenges. Supachai has reiterated that since 2019, the BJT has supported cannabis use solely for medical purposes.…
-
Borderline chaos: Thai-Cambodian crossings shut amid spat
Royal Thai Army (RTA) chiefs have slammed the gates shut on all Thai-Cambodian border crossings in Sa Kaeo, citing growing tensions, sovereignty breaches, and a spike in cross-border crime. Lieutenant General Amorn Boonsuya, Commander of the 1st Army Area, yesterday, June 23, issued a top-level emergency order banning all vehicles and travellers, both Thai and foreign, from crossing the border…
-
Sick and tired: HIV surge in Phuket sparks shame and scandal
Shocking figures reveal a surge in HIV and STD cases in Phuket, while a Thai student falsely accused of spreading the virus fights to clear her name after being dragged through the digital gutter. Public health officials have raised the alarm after Phuket reported 244 new HIV or sexually transmitted infections, pushing the province’s total number of registered patients to…
-
Giant dolls take over Bangkok for Squid Game Season 3 launch
Young-hee, better known in Thailand as the “Gogowa doll,” and her male companion appeared near the Giant Swing in Bangkok to welcome the upcoming release of Squid Game Season 3, which is scheduled to launch on Netflix on June 27. The survival thriller series Squid Game is hugely popular among Thai fans. Created by South Korean director Hwang Dong-hyuk, its…
-
Wildlife officials to prosecute gunman of injured Khao Yai elephant
Thailand’s Department of National Parks (DNP) is preparing legal action against a man suspected of shooting a wild elephant known as “Plai Biang Lek” (also called “Wong Thong”) in Khao Yai National Park. Wildlife officials believe the suspect may be related to a local politician. Previously on June 19, around 5pm, wildlife rangers and volunteers were pushing a wild elephant…
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.