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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
-
Nearly 20 foreigners attack Thai motorbike shop owner in Phuket
Nearly 20 foreigners attacked a Thai motorcycle rental shop owner in Phuket, along with another Thai victim, following a dispute over a fine for damages to a vehicle. A local news agency, Newshawk Phuket, reported the altercation on Tuesday, August 12, stating that the incident occurred at around 9.30pm on Monday, August 11. The report included footage of the assault.…
-
Thai tourist loses life after slipping while taking selfie at Chon Buri waterfall
A Thai tourist lost his life while taking a selfie at a waterfall in Chon Buri yesterday, August 12, after slipping on rocks. Rescuers from the Pure Yiang Tai Siracha Foundation were alerted to the accident at 2.36pm on Mother’s Day, August 12. They took some time to reach the scene on the fourth tier of the Chan Ta Then…
-
Thailand urged to extend maternity leave to 180 days
A Thammasat University academic has supported proposals to increase Thailand’s maternity leave from 98 to 180 days to address the declining birth rate. Kritsada Theerakosonphong, a lecturer at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Social Administration, expressed on Tuesday that extending maternity leave to 180 days would align Thailand with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. The WHO recommends a minimum maternity leave…
-
Pickup truck overturns in Chachoengsao rain, one fatality reported
A tragic accident occurred when a pickup truck crashed into an electric pole during heavy rain, causing the vehicle to overturn near a road in Chachoengsao province. The driver’s father-in-law, a 63 year old man, Min Klaophimai, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Fortunately, the driver’s wife and their nine-month-old child were unharmed. The incident took…
-
Phuket man arrested after woman’s body found chained to dumbbells in canal
Police arrested a Thai man in Phuket on suspicion of killing a woman and abandoning her body in a canal in the southern province of Songkhla, with her neck chained to concrete dumbbells. The body of the woman was discovered floating in the Tha Yai Canal in Takua Thung district, Phang Nga province, on August 8. She was wearing a grey…
-
Tragic shooting at Phetchabun coffee shop on Mother’s Day
A tragic incident unfolded at a well-known coffee shop located within a petrol station in Bueng Sam Phan district, Phetchabun province, when a young man shot his former girlfriend before turning the gun on himself. Yesterday, August 12, at 5.30pm, Police Lieutenant Sakkasit Kaosinchai from Bueng Sam Phan Police Station received a report of the shooting. Upon arrival with the…
-
Pattaya sex worker slaps Indian man after groping and arguing over breast size
A Thai sex worker attacked an Indian man on Pattaya Beach on Monday, August 11, after the foreign man groped her breasts but refused her services. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were called to intervene in an altercation between a Thai woman and an Indian man at approximately 11.30pm. The incident occurred on Beach Road near Soi Pattaya 13/4 in Bang…
-
Sukhothai temple’s holy water bowl predicts lottery numbers
For four consecutive lottery draws, the popular holy water bowl at Wat Nong Thong in Sukhothai has been a centre of attention, delivering winning numbers. As the fifth draw approaches on August 16, many are eagerly anticipating whether this streak will continue. Well-known TV host Art visited the temple in Sukhothai to discover more about the legendary holy water bowl…
-
Pattaya nightclub raid uncovers drug use, no underage found
In the early hours of August 12, a coordinated operation was conducted in Pattaya, Thailand, by Natthaphob Yomjinda, Deputy District Chief of Banglamung, alongside Police Lieutenant Colonel Siriwat Khachamat, Deputy Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, and Police Major Suchart Dusadee, Inspector of Pattaya City Police. This operation, involving both police and administrative personnel, was designed to enforce the government’s…
-
Pattaya police raid pub, detain 16 for drugs, illegal work
In the early hours of August 13, a joint operation led by Banglamung District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon and Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyoo, Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, conducted a raid on a nightlife venue in Pattaya. The operation aimed to address illegal activities as part of the 5 Free policy and the No Drugs, No Dealers campaign initiated by…
-
Hero saves woman from drowning at Pattaya Beach
In the early hours of August 12, a young Thai woman was rescued from a near-drowning incident at Pattaya Beach, thanks to the prompt actions of a bystander and emergency services. The event unfolded near Soi 6 along Pattaya Beach when the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation’s rescue centre received an urgent call regarding a tourist in distress in the water.…
-
2 foreign men flee Pattaya motorcycle accident, leaving injured Thai woman
Two foreign men fled the scene after a motorcycle accident on a Pattaya road, leaving an injured Thai woman and a bag of cannabis behind. Rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Dhammastan Foundation provided assistance to three injured motorcyclists on Jomtien Sai Song Road in Bang Lamung district, Pattaya, on the night of Tuesday, August 12, following an alert about the…
-
Drug-addicted Thai wife leaves disabled Australian man stranded and penniless
A disabled Australian man in the Isaan province of Udon Thani is seeking to return to his home country after his drug-addicted Thai wife left him penniless. The community leader in the Ban Dung district, Boonthom Sorumpha, urged the local news agency, Ban Dung Update, to publicise the man’s plight on social media and coordinate with relevant government officials to…
-
Thai navy rescues nine after fishing boat capsizes near Phuket
The Royal Thai Navy deployed the HTMS Hua Hin to rescue nine people after a fishing boat capsized off Racha Yai Island in Phuket. The incident, occurring at 2.50pm yesterday, August 12, involved the fishing vessel Chok Mana 1, which was overturned by large waves. Fortunately, all crew members were equipped with life jackets. The fishing boat, carrying nine people,…
-
Plastic recycling factory fire in Chachoengsao raises safety concerns
A fire broke out at a plastic recycling factory in Bang Pakong, Chachoengsao province, yesterday, August 12, causing concern over the potential spread to nearby residential areas. The incident occurred at 1pm, prompting Lieutenant Napadol Taweechat, Deputy Inspector of Bang Pakong Police Station, to investigate and coordinate with local and nearby fire departments, as well as Bang Pakong rescue services.…
-
Pregnant student among four trapped in faulty lift at Thai college
Yesterday, August 12, four female students from a renowned college in Mueang Phatthalung were trapped in a lift for nearly an hour. Among them was a seven-month pregnant student. The lift malfunctioned between the first and second floors while they were heading to the fourth floor for a sports event task. Phatthalung rescue services were notified and arrived to assist.…
-
Monk found in suspicious car with woman in Sakon Nakhon
Police in Sakon Nakhon discovered a suspicious vehicle, prompting an investigation that led to a surprising scene. In the car, they found a well-known monk from Bueng Kan with a woman, raising questions about their relationship. Yesterday, August 12, at 12pm, police from Khamin Police Station, along with an investigative team, were patrolling the area around Ban Phan Canal, Khamin…
-
Thailand weather alert: 38 provinces brace for heavy rain
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for August 13, cautioning 38 provinces in Thailand about potential heavy rain affecting 60% of the area, including Bangkok. Residents are advised to remain vigilant against flash floods and forest run-offs as Typhoon Podul is being monitored. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates thunderstorms and heavy rain…
-
Monks defrocked after drug tests in Taphan Hin temples
Today, August 12, a coordinated operation involving the local administration and Taphan Hin police targeted two temples to conduct drug tests on monks. Five monks were found with positive results for drugs and have been defrocked and sent for rehabilitation. Thaneya Naipinit, Governor of Phichit province, initiated this drug crackdown and temple reform. Suphot Rattanarungruang, district chief of Taphan Hin,…
-
Crowds flock to Nakhon Pathom temple for fortune and blessings
Today, August 12, at Wat Phai Lom in Mueang district, Nakhon Pathom province, crowds gathered to seek fortune and blessings from the revered monk Luang Por Phun and the spirit known as Kuman Sombat. The temple was bustling as people visited to pay their respects, especially during the holiday period leading up to the lottery draw. Luang Por Phun, a…
-
Teachers’ pickup collides with guardrail, injuring seven in Mae Hong Son
A group of teachers on a trip encountered a road accident when their pickup truck collided with a guardrail, injuring seven people, including two seriously. The incident occurred at 5.30pm yesterday, August 11, along the descending curve of the Thop Sok section of the rural road มส 4001 in Mueang district, Mae Hong Son province. Emergency services, including the Mueang…
-
Phuket man arrested for illegal high-interest loan operation
A 61 year old man has been apprehended by Wichit Police in Phuket for running an illicit high-interest loan operation. The arrest resulted in the confiscation of 12 motorcycles, five sedans, a pickup truck, and numerous related documents. Residents in Soi Charoenlap, Wichit, had reported unregistered vehicles parked for long periods along the roadside and motorcycles concealed under covers at…
-
Chanthaburi seeks 30,000 Thai workers for longan harvest amid shortages
Yanathicha Buaphuean, a member of Parliament for Chanthaburi province from the Prachachon Party, has posted a video online highlighting a significant labour shortage in the province. The post urgently calls for 30,000 Thai workers to harvest longan in Chanthaburi, offering good pay and free accommodation. This shortage results from recent conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, leading to a mass exodus…
-
Thailand clears 432 explosives on Thai-Cambodian border in 10 days
The Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) has successfully cleared over 400 explosive devices along the Thai-Cambodian border in 10 days, spanning four provinces. Residents are urged to report any suspicious items immediately to authorities. Yesterday, August 11, TMAC and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams announced the successful recovery of 432 explosive items in Buriram, Surin, Sisaket, and Ubon Ratchathani between…
-
Thai police arrest Chinese fraud suspect in Mae Rim operation
The Immigration Division 3 conducted a cross-province operation from Pattaya to Mae Rim to capture a Chinese man wanted for fraud. The suspect allegedly deceived fellow nationals into investing in a durian orchard project before fleeing the country today, August 12. Police Lieutenant General Phanumas Boonyaluck, commander of the Immigration Bureau, along with deputy commanders Police Major General Panthana Nuchanarot…
-
Family feud in Nakhon Pathom ends in tragic shooting
A familial business dispute in Nakhon Pathom turned deadly on August 11, resulting in two deaths. A 70 year old man shot his 63 year old brother and 20 year old nephew before taking his own life. The incident occurred at a residence in Mueang district. Police Colonel Thananut Intharprasert from Nakhon Pathom Police Station received reports of a shooting…
-
Misinformation spreads amid Thai-Cambodian border tensions, fuels public outrage
Misinformation has proliferated on social media amid recent tensions at the Thai-Cambodian border, with one viral TikTok video becoming a focal point. The clip, allegedly showing nighttime gunfire at Prasat Ta Kwai as a ceasefire began on July 28, quickly spread across major digital platforms. Three prominent news outlets amplified the video’s reach, sparking public outrage in Thailand and potentially…
-
Ministry urges swift action on wild elephant alert system
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has directed the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to hasten the development of a wild elephant tracking and alert system to enhance the safety of communities within the elephants’ habitats. Chalermchai Sri-on, the minister, stated that the DNP has been tasked with updating its maps for integration into a…
-
Thai driver caught smuggling Cambodians near border for 1,500 baht
A driver from Thailand was apprehended in Sa Kaeo province near the Cambodian border for transporting Cambodian migrants illegally, the highway police reported. A 49 year old man, Sathit Chanthasri, was intercepted on Highway 33 near Sakaeo Technological College in Mueang district on August 10, according to Police Major General Kongkrit Lertsitthikul, commander of the highway police. Inside his black…
-
Bangkok braces for heavy rain with 50mm expected today
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has instructed preparations for heavy rainfall expected in the city today, August 12, particularly in the northern and eastern areas. Districts such as Don Mueang, Lak Si, Bang Khen, Sai Mai, and Khlong Sam Wa are predicted to experience significant downpours. At the Bangkok Flood Prevention Control Centre in Din Daeng, the governor, along with the…
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.