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...
-
Forest faux pas: Illegal loggers caught in the act as DSI turns the spotlight on hidden tree mischief in Thailand
An unsanctioned logging operation, hidden deep within Thailand’s Bang Khanun protected forest, was inadvertently exposed during a routine inspection by officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). Conducted in conjunction with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and forest protection officials, the group stumbled upon the illegal exploitation yesterday. Vice Admiral Suchart Thammapitakwet, the commander of the RTN’s Third Area…
-
Thailand PM temps European tourists with longer visa incentive
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is making bold moves to boost the nation’s economy by unveiling plans to waive visa requirements for European tourists. Thailand also plans to attract more tourists to the Land of Smiles by lining up hundreds of cultural and sporting events, to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more. The Bangkok-born Thailand PM sees tourism…
-
Khlong Toei shooting claims lives of student and teacher
A tragic event unfolded in the Khlong Toei district as two unidentified assailants opened fire on the roadside, ultimately leading to the death of a 19 year old student from Uthen Thawai Campus, Rajamangala University of Technology, known as Nong Yod. After an eight-day fight for life following the fatal Khlong Toei shooting, his mother confirmed his passing today. The…
-
266 Thais rescued from Myanmar conflict zone, most charged for call centre scam
The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry rescued 266 Thai nationals trapped in the Myanmar conflict zone. Most of them will be charged with running a call centre scam upon their arrival in Thailand. Thai PBS reported that the Chinese authorities announced an operation to get rid of illegal businesses run by Chinese nationals in Laukkaing District, Shan State, Myanmar. To avoid the…
-
Insufficient street lighting blamed for motorcycle crash in Pattaya
Pattaya witnessed a motorcycle crash in the early hours of yesterday that left two people injured on Soi 11. The driver of one of the motorcycles, a 21 year old man named Korakot, reported that insufficient street lighting in the area was to blame for the accident. The incident occurred at approximately 1am on November 19 and was promptly reported to…
-
Thailand weather update: Slight temperature increase in upper regions, heavy rainfall threatens south
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) announced today that temperatures in the upper part of Thailand will slightly increase, with morning fog expected. Meanwhile, the Thailand weather forecast predicts that southern regions face heavy rainfall, leading to high sea waves. The public is warned of potential flash floods and forest runoffs, particularly today. The prevailing high-pressure system or cold mass that…
-
Chinese beggar nabbed in Bangkok, human trafficking suspected
Police arrested a Chinese beggar outside the Major Cineplex Pinklao in Bangkok yesterday. Suspicions of human trafficking were raised as there was more than one Chinese beggar and each earned more than 10,000 baht a day. Social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet yesterday reported a suspicious beggar to the Bang Phlat Police Station. Gun explained that he had been contacted…
-
Debate over Thai government’s digital wallet handout impact on public debt
The Thai government’s proposed 10,000-baht digital wallet handout has sparked debate, with concerns regarding its potential impact on public debt. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat stated that this economic stimulus is necessary as economic growth has averaged only 2% annually over the past decade, insufficient to support the country’s ageing population in the future. With low GDP growth, the government’s…
-
BAAC plans to boost export of high-value agricultural goods
Chatchai Sirilai, the president of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), stated that the bank will augment its role as a facilitator for the export of high-value agricultural goods. This move is aimed at increasing income for farmers. The BAAC’s strategy is focused on nurturing a new generation of farmers who concentrate on producing quality products, rather than…
-
Call centre scam alert: Thai DES ministry urges probe after Myanmar repatriation
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) in Thailand has urged the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to probe a call centre scam following the repatriation of victims from Myanmar, a country currently in the throes of conflict. DES Minister, Prasert Jantararuangtong, disclosed that 41 Thai citizens were repatriated from the embattled town of Laukkaing in the Shan State over…
-
Kazakhstan courts ASEAN investors to become Central Asia’s investment hub
Kazakhstan is reaching out to foreign investors, particularly from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in a bid to establish itself as a central investment hub in the Central Asia Region. The Kazakh government has expressed interest in mutual economic development with the Southeast Asian region, according to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko. He made these remarks…
-
Peruvian culture delights: Thailand’s Peru Embassy promotes food and coffee
In a recent series of events designed to strengthen bilateral ties between Peru and Thailand, the Embassy of Peru in Thailand organised three cultural programs centred around Peruvian food and coffee. The events showcased the richness of Peruvian culture and gastronomy, aiming to introduce the Thai public to the unique flavours and traditions of Peru. The series kicked off with…
-
Sugar cane farmers dispute government’s 2 baht price hike
Sugar cane farmers in Thailand are seeking clarification from the industry and commerce ministries regarding the Cabinet’s decision to allow a mere 2-baht increase per kilogramme in ex-factory sugar prices. The decision has been deemed unfair by sugar manufacturers as it falls short of the four-baht price hike requested by the Cane and Sugar Board. Citing escalating manufacturing costs due…
-
Unexpected reunion at Siam Paragon leads to 350,000 baht repayment (video)
The world indeed goes round in unexpected ways, as discovered by a TikTok user @kanokyai2022 who chanced upon an old friend in Siam Paragon, Bangkok, after a separation of 22 years. Following this unexpected reunion, the friend promptly returned a long-overdue loan of 10,000 dollars, which converted to almost 500,000 baht yesterday. Once upon a time, the two were friends…
-
Economic ties in focus: Thai PM extends invitation to Biden
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently extended an invitation for an official visit to US President, Joe Biden. This invitation was extended during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit that took place in San Francisco. The Thai PM used this platform to assure President Biden of Thailand’s readiness to serve as a base for major American companies’ production, boosting their…
-
Bangkok gold heist: 23 necklaces stolen in daring store robbery
A daring heist took place at a renowned gold store inside a Lotus’s mall branch in Nong Chok, Bangkok, where a lone masked robber wielding a gun swept away 23 gold necklaces. The aftermath saw the thief escaping in a parked orange taxi. The incident occurred at 7.30pm yesterday, and the police were promptly informed. As the officers from the…
-
Anntonia Porsild secures highest Miss Universe placement for Thailand since 1988
Anntonia Porsild, the 27 year old representative of Thailand in the Miss Universe 2023 beauty contest, garnered the first runner-up position, earning the nation’s highest placement since 1988. This achievement was announced at the 72nd Miss Universe pageant, which took place at the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador. Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke revealed Prime Minister Srettha…
-
Long-hunted Thai vegetable vendor arrested for child molestation
A 63 year old vegetable vendor was arrested today in the bustling market of Rayong, after evading justice for six years. The man was apprehended by a police team led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phadet Ngam Lamom and Police Lieutenant Colonel Burin Kapitta. The arrest was executed under a warrant issued by the Loei Provincial Court in 2017, on charges…
-
Cyber police nab call centre gang for 1.5 million baht scam
The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) led an operation to apprehend a call centre gang, that swindled a doctor’s wife out of 1.5 million baht through account manipulation. The behaviour of the gang was exposed, and a key arrest warrant was issued today. Police Lieutenant General Worawat Watnakornbuncha, Chief of the Special Operations Division, directed Police Lieutenant Colonel Satra Sukhanusas,…
-
2 foreigners arrested for murder of Taiwanese man, 1 foreigner still at large
Thai police arrested two foreigners, a Burmese and a Cameronian, in connection with the murder of a Taiwanese man. Another foreigner, reportedly a European man, remains at large. A Thai woman was accused of planning the entire murder. Officers from Bangna Police Station gave an update to the media this afternoon on the investigation into the death of 47 year old…
-
Temperature plummets to 11 degrees in Huai Nam Dang National Park
Huai Nam Dang National Park in Mae Hong Son Province is experiencing a rapid drop in temperature, reaching as low as 11 degrees Celsius. The park’s head anticipates the temperature may soon dip into single digits, possibly leading to frost. Buncha Ramsiri, the head of Huai Nam Dang National Park, disclosed that the lowest temperature recorded this morning was 11…
-
Jatuporn criticises government’s proposed digital wallet scheme
The digital wallet initiative proposed by the government has come under fire from Jatuporn Prompan, a former red-shirt leader and co-leader of the Melting Pot Group. In a livestream on Facebook, Jatuporn voiced his concerns about the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s repeated withdrawal from pledges, including their initial vow not to form a government with ex-coalition parties from the previous…
-
South Korea’s advanced tech industries endorsed by international alliances
South Korea, poised to become the world’s epicentre for advanced technology industries, received a vigorous endorsement from international alliances eager to accelerate its economic growth and competitiveness. The nation also committed to bolstering cooperation with its ASEAN partners to promote trade and investment. Specifically, South Korea showcased interest in the automobile sector within Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in Rayong…
-
Tragic accident at Thai religious procession: One dead and several injured
A tragic accident transpired during a festive religious procession in Thailand, resulting in one death and numerous injuries. A modified bus, driven by a novice 31 year old driver, lost control and ploughed into the crowd of merry villagers, resulting in the death of a 52 year old woman and injuring dozens more. The incident took place yesterday, in the…
-
Tragic car plunge in Udon Thani canal claims three lives
A tragic accident unfolded when a car, en route to a relative’s ordination ceremony, plunged into a canal between bridges, resulting in three fatalities and two injuries. A one month old girl miraculously survived, ejected from her mother’s lap outside the vehicle. The incident occurred at 1.30pm yesterday. Deputy Inspector Kittikawin Umathitipong of Nong Han Police Station, Udon Thani province,…
-
Bangkok police hunt for Thai woman behind Taiwanese man’s murder
Bangkok police are pursuing an arrest warrant for a Thai woman alleged to have orchestrated the killing of a 48 year old Taiwanese man, Chu Chiang Shen, in the city. Additionally, they are liaising with Interpol in an attempt to apprehend another suspect hailing from Vanuatu who is believed to have left the country. Following the detention of two male suspects,…
-
Thai chamber calls for infrastructure development in secondary tourism provinces
A call to accelerate public infrastructure development in 10 secondary tourism provinces has been issued by the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC). The move is hoped to push tourism revenue and transform these areas into main tourist attractions. The TCC, on Saturday, shared its development blueprint, which also aims to address social inequality within the 10 provinces currently under consideration.…
-
Tragic motorbike crash: Young Thai man dragged 500 metres by lorry
A 26 year old man died tragically after his motorbike crashed into the back of a 10-wheel lorry and was dragged for more than 500 metres. The incident occurred in Chachoengsao and was reported to police at 4.20am yesterday. The deceased, identified as Tawiwan, was found in a shocking state, with broken arms and legs. His helmet was discovered in…
-
Nonthaburi: Fatal road accident on Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road results in fiery crash
A serious road accident resulted in a fiery crash and a fatality on Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road, heading towards the Lak Si intersection. The incident took place at 7.45am this morning. Nawin Sonitpon, a police investigator at Don Mueang Police Station, was on the scene to assess the situation alongside Don Mueang Fire Station and Poh Teck Tung Foundation officers.…
-
Pattaya: Central Marina Shopping Mall to host Marina Countdown 2024 festival
The Central Marina Shopping Mall in Pattaya is set to host an exciting food and beverage festival named Marina Countdown 2024. The festival, designed to be a casual and enjoyable affair, is scheduled to run from November 23 to January 3 next year. The event promises a lineup of various artists such as Klear, No One Else, Ble Patumrach, and…
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.