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 Why 8 Atelier Residence is poised for growth: Phuket’s investment hotspot in the making
Phuket’s residential real estate market is no longer defined only by beachfront villas and short-stay resort condominiums. The island is now seeing sustained interest from international investors targeting long-term yields, capital stability, and access to full-scale lifestyle infrastructure. Looking at...
-
Murder, rape, dead bodies in pools – The toll of dead young British tourists visiting Thailand
PHOTO: Luke Miller (left) was found dead at the bottom of a pool in Koh Tao in 2016 Why is there a mounting toll of young Brits dying, often in mysterious circumstances, in Thailand? 60 or so unexplained, or poorly explained, deaths in just 24 months actually. Britian’s Daily Mail Online has dug deep into the vault of strange disappearances and…
-
The spirit of Songkran – Ajarn Pranee
By Pranee Sakulpipatana, AKA Ajarn Pranee Songkran is one of the happiest festivals celebrated by Thais. When I was young and lived in Phuket, I always found the Songkran celebrations in other provinces such as Chiang Mai to be very unique and beautiful. Over the years Phuket has grown into a hub filled with Thais from all corners of the…
-
Songkran activities around the country
Songkran is celebrated across Thailand. It’s the annual celebration of the Thai New Year – a farewell to the hot season and a welcoming of the coming wet season. But it is celebrated in many different ways, from the insane water-fights in Patong, with elephants in Ayutthaya or the Sand Pagoda Ceremony in Chonburi. The word “Songkran” has its origins in…
-
PM Prayut, the prolific song-writer
When he’s not putting down members of the press with witty retorts or summoning detractors to the NCPO HQ for ‘attitude adjustment’, dear leader Prayut is putting pen to paper to write patriotic uplifting songs. His first song, “Khuen Kwam Suk Hai Pra Thed Thai” or “Returning Happiness to Thailand”, is considered the biggest hit so far and has been…
-
Van crashes with ice truck in Krabi
A van has crashed into the back of a 6 wheel ice truck in Krabi critically injuring the van driver yesterday (April 10). The van driver, Nattapong Ketmuang, was stuck in the damaged vehicle after the crash on Krabi-Khaothong route before the rescue team rescued him out by using the ‘jaws of life’. He had a broken right leg and…
-
Phuket’s Governor urges care over Songkran
Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong, is urging special attention to road safety during the peak period of Songkran from today, April 11 – April 17 during his regular morning meeting. He is ordering the departments involved to install lights at road curves and known risky spots. Also, he is emphasising to officials working at checkpoints to enforce the law strictly and…
-
-
Husband stabbed with pair of scissors in Kathu
A 42 year old man, Somporn Iadchang, was stabbed by his wife during a fight last night. He was stabbed on his neck and shoulder. The incident occurred in Kathu late last evening (April 9). Police found the husband lying on the floor after being stabbed several times in a house located in Soi Nakrob. He was sent to Vachira…
-
Mobile phone shop robbery in Rassada
70 Mobile phones and 7,000 Baht in cash were robbed from a mobile phone shop named No.1 in Rassada. The robber also took away the CCTV camera in the shop and covered the one outside the shop. However, the robber dropped a knitted hat at the scene. This morning (April 10), Muang Phuket Police received a report about the robbery.…
-
Manhunt on for six suspects in the Sungai Golok attacks
Army offices and local police are now hunting down six men for suspected involvement in last night’s attacks in Narathiwat. The six men are suspected of being involved in bomb explosions at three residential areas in Sungai Golok district, injuring 13 people. (Sungai Golok is the last town in Thailand before you cross over the Malaysian border) Police also note…
-
Phuket International Airport prepares for Songkran
Phuket International Airport held a ceremony yesterday to announce its readiness for security and necessary services during the Songkran Festival which starts officially on Friday but already sees increased traffic at the airport. The event took place in the parking lot near exit number 6 of the international terminal. Phuket’s Vice Governor, Thavorn Kongkaew, hosted the ceremony yesterday (April 9).…
-
6 killed, 44 injured in another bus crash in Tak
Another crash, again involving a bus carrying Burmese workers back home for Songkran. Six Burmese migrants have killed and 44 others were injured when a bus taking them from Tak to Chachoengsao lost control and crashed down a roadside hill last night (Monday). Pol Capt Kiarttisak Boonplong, deputy inspector of Mae Thor police station, said 28 of the injured workers…
-
Dog owners shot by neighbour over loud dog barking in Wichit
A family of three has been shot late last night (April 9) resulting in injuries after their neighbour got angry over their dog barking loudly. At about 11.30 pm last night, Wichit Police received a report about the shooting at Tinnawut Village, off Chao Fah West Road. Police and rescue teams found a lot of blood at the scene from…
-
EU set to change its tune on Thai fishing
Yesterday southern fishermen in Songkhla, Pattani and Trang were threatening to go on strike if the Thai government didn’t lift restrictions imposed on them to help satisfy demands by the EU over illegal fishing practices. Today a representative from the EU is pouring praise on the Thai government for its actions to clean up the industry. Smells fishy!? The Nation…
-
Southern violence injures four – attacks in Sungai Golok and Pattani
Violence continues in two deep southern provinces last night (Monday), injuring at least four people. Initial reports said that at least four people were injured when bomb attacks hit Narathiwat’s Sungai Golok district and Pattani provinces. In Sungai Kolok, the bomb attacks took place in two areas, injuring at least three. In Pattani, the explosion seriously injured a volunteer, identified…
-
Thailand’s zoo horrors captured by British photographer
PHOTO: Aaron Gekoski A British photographer has had a sickening series of photos published in thesun.co.uk after witnessing what he described as “a wildlife house of horrors”. 37 year old environmental photojournalist Aaron Gekoski says he witnessed the shows on a tour of Thailand’s zoos and will now campaign for more restrictions over the industry. In the article he claims……
-
Patong hotel operators counter-sue military and former employee
The Patong Paragon Hotel operator, Wisit Iew-Wirotrit, together with his lawyer, Ananchai Chaiyadet and his lawyer team, visited Patong’s Police Station to issue litigation against the army officers and his former employee, both for criminal and civil charges, asking for 100 million Baht compensation. The charges include unlawful detention and perjury. The lawyer said prior to the police report that……
-
Krabi’s Emerald Pond defaced by tourist graffiti
The famous Emerald Pond in Krabi has been defaced with hand writings and scratches by visitors while the Chief of Khao Pra Bangkram Non-Hunting Area is preparing to prosecute anyone who is caught writing or scratching their names in the stones there. An approximately 1 metre long area of the Emerald Pond is covered in hastily-scratched handwriting, names and pictures.…
-
Thai soap opera inspires traditional dress for ID cards
The Thai soap opera ‘Buppae Sanniwas’ (Love Destiny) is the hot ticket at the moment inspiring Thais to get back to their historical roots and ‘Thainess’, even for official documents. Some Thai ladies have even gone so far as to dress in traditional outfits to take pictures for their ID cards in Phuket. At Phuket Municipality Office a local woman,…
-
Burmese workers lucky to escape burning van after crash in Tak
PHOTO: Facebook Fourteen Myanmar migrant workers and a Thai van driver where lucky to escape after their van caught fire after a tyre burst. The burst caused the van to lose control. The van ran off the road into a ditch along side this morning. The van didn’t flip over but the inhabitants were shaken. Luckily they all got out quickly…
-
656 homes damaged by Spring storms
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation are reporting that the summer storms in the north, north-east and central regions have created damage across 17 provinces during April 2-April 6. The Department’s Director-General reports that storms caused damages to a total of 656 homes in 34 districts. Bangkok was hit by summer storms on Saturday night with torrential rain in…
-
What’s open and what’s closed during Songkran?
The Songkran Silly Season’ is almost upon us and along with the break comes official public holidays. This year’s Songkran runs, officially, from April 13 – 16 (this Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday). But many will be taking this Thursday off as well as the following Tuesday to make the Thai New Year long weekend even longer. You should expect…
-
Take an air-conditioned rest on Songkran roads this year
Police have prepared air-conditioned accommodation for motorists who might feel tired after a long drive during the Songkran holidays, a police chief said on Monday. Highway police commander Pol Maj Gen Chut Sukkaewnarong says toilet facilities would also be made available for motorists but added that since the number of temporary accommodation spots was limited, motorists were advised to check…
-
Vale Chef Ronnie
Filipino celebrity chef Ronnie Macuja, who opened ultra chic VSet Restaurant and Bar at Chalong Pier showcasing his modern Mediterranean/Asian cuisine, as well as Higher Restaurant at Seduction nightclub in Patong, and more recently at Café Del Mar, died suddenly in the early hours of Friday morning. Ronnie’s chef career started at the Manila Hilton. They offered him a two…
-
100 million worth of heroin seized at Bangkok shipping port
PHOTO: Thai Customs Department You can’t accuse Thai Customs officials of sleeping on the job. Yesterday (Sunday) they seized 28 kilograms of heroin with a street value of around 100 million. The heroin was hidden in rubber pillows bound for Hong Kong. Customs officials staffing X-Ray machine at the Klong Toey port say they noticed something suspicious amongst the shipment…
-
Looming fishing strike over government IUU restrictions
PHOTO: The Nation Southern fisherman are threatening to strike to put pressure on the Government to ease restrictions on what’s called illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing practices. New technologies and other improvements have been introduced in the Thai fishing fleet in efforts to get the nation removed from the European Union’s “watch list” for illegal fishing. Fishermen claim the restrictions are…
-
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit – Risk-taking billionaire pursuing social justice
New blood politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit may have led his family auto-parts business to international success but he remains a socialist in his economic philosophy and a political liberal, with a passion for social justice. The 40 year old has been in the spotlight for less than two months since he announced the formation of the new Future Forward Party. But…
-
Kids from around Asia head to Pattaya for Thai Optimist National Championships
PHOTO: Thailand Optimist National Championships – Guy Nowell By Duncan Worthington Thailand’s premier youth sailing event is just around the corner. The Thailand Optimist National Championships, held as part of the Top of the Gulf Regatta, will see more than 100 youngsters from around Thailand and Asia compete over three days (April 29 to May 1, 2018) in Pattaya. First sailed…
-
Cooler weather surprises central & northern Thailand
PHOTO: The Pinoy Legacy Thais in many provinces are surprised about the sudden cool spell that has brought them relief from the sweltering summer heat. According to the Meteorological Department, Thailand’s summer officially began on March 3 (we admit to being totally unaware how they arrive at this date). But instead of experiencing almost unbearable heat, as they expect to,…
-
We’re in for a bumper Songkran this year
Economists are predicting a bumper Songkran festival this year due to a number of factors. he University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting says surveys indicate that Thai new year revellers are showing greater willingness to spend more this year. They estimate there will be 3-5% growth in spending which they predict will bring…
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.