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,...
-
Power outages hit two areas of Phuket: PEA’s ongoing work on low-voltage system
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has announced temporary power outages today in two areas of Thalang District, Phuket, due to ongoing work on the low-voltage distribution system. The first area set to face power disruption is the road alongside Nai Yang Beach. Electricity supply will be cut off between the stretch from Patama Massage to Ratcheting Seafood Restaurant, starting from…
-
Police bust romance scammer turned car thief, uncover trafficking gang
A police investigation into a romance scammer who stole cars from women has led to the arrest of a vehicle trafficking gang. Two women and one Thai man who trafficked stolen cars were arrested Friday. Police officers arrested a romance scammer after eight victims filed a complaint that the man stole their cars. The conman, 26 year old Pheeraphat, created…
-
Huge turnout for advance voting as election nears
Yesterday, advance voting saw a large turnout across the nation, with citizens keen to exercise their democratic rights following a four-year wait. The Election Commission (EC) reported that 2,235,830 individuals registered for early voting yesterday, ahead of the May 14 election. Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that the process went smoothly, with only a few minor issues emerging at polling…
-
Foxconn founder Terry Gou vows to preserve peace between Taiwan and China if elected president
Richard Fox, a 72-year-old billionaire, pledged to “preserve peace” between Taiwan and China at a rally held in the run-up to the January 2024 presidential elections. Fox is the founder of technology giant Foxconn, a significant provider of components for Apple’s iPhones. In April, he announced his bid for the presidential nomination from Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang party, which advocates for…
-
Rohingya refugees refuse repatriation without citizenship and security guarantees in Myanmar
Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh announced on Saturday that they would refuse to return to Myanmar unless their eventual repatriation ensured security and guaranteed citizenship rights. The statement came after a group of twenty Rohingya refugees were allowed to visit Rakhine State for the first time since they fled to Bangladesh following a military-led crackdown in 2017. Nearly one million Rohingya…
-
Scientific expedition to Antarctica reveals surprising temperatures and climate impact on Singapore
Standing on an ice sheet with only a t-shirt on his back, 52-year-old Professor Benjamin Horton certainly did not expect such weather during his trip to Antarctica. “The first couple of days, the weather was amazing. The oceans were like a mirror. We had wildlife, humpback whales, popping out (of the ocean),” said the director of the Earth Observatory of…
-
Pattaya looks to allocate 30 million baht to Bali Hai Pier repair and upgrade
Pattaya is looking to allocate 30 million baht for the repair and upgrade of the popular Bali Hai Pier. Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet announced on May 3 that the Bali Hai bridge, which connects the pier to the mainland, was deteriorating and required repair work to its foundations. The last significant maintenance performed on the bridge was back in 2015,…
-
Japan’s Prime Minister visits Seoul seeking deeper ties amid regional threats
Tokyo/Seoul: Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Seoul yesterday to meet South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol amidst a sceptical public regarding the leaders’ pursuit of deeper ties in the face of nuclear threats from North Korea and China’s increasing assertiveness. Kishida’s bilateral visit marks the first by a Japanese leader to Seoul in 12 years, responding to Yoon’s trip…
-
Japan’s casino impact on Singapore’s integrated resorts
Japan is preparing to welcome customers to its first casino in the western city of Osaka, a man-made island called Yumeshima. The venture, backed by a consortium including MGM Resorts, is expected to cost ¥1.08 trillion (US$7.9 billion), making it the most expensive integrated resort ever built. When it finally opens, Singapore’s established integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and…
-
Chinese man treks 2,000 km to play prayer on speaker at Buddha statue
A 27 year old Chinese man embarked on a 2,000-kilometre journey to make his dreams a reality by visiting a giant Buddha statue carrying a large Airpod-shaped speaker to amplify his prayers to the deity. The man, named Zhang, posted a video on social media on April 25, showing him holding the large speaker next to the ear of the…
-
Elderly woman with horn-like growth on head sparks debate about ‘longevity symbol’
A video of an elderly Chinese woman with a horn-like growth on her head sparked a debate over the so-called “longevity symbol.” A video of a 107 year old woman from Guangdong province, China, has become the talk of the town after it was revealed that she has a horn-like growth on her head. Netizens have commented on the video,…
-
Thai villagers plan lottery numbers based on unusual ‘fog-coloured’ calf
Thai villagers flocked to see an unusual “fog-coloured” calf after a cow gave birth to the beautiful grey and unique-looking offspring. Locals believe the calf brings good fortune and are eager to find auspicious lottery numbers for the upcoming draw on May 16. Yesterday, Sanook reporters were informed by the residents of Kud Thong, in the northeast Surin Province, that…
-
Pickup truck crashes into house in northeast Thailand, injuring elderly man
A dramatic incident occurred when a speeding pickup truck crashed into a house in the Nang Rong district of northeast Thailand’s Buriram province, leaving an elderly man injured and causing serious damage. The homeowner, 75 year old Sompon Wisetsri, was watching television when the truck smashed through the walls of his house. At around 7pm last night, deputy investigator Vivat…
-
American man wakes up to find hotel manager sucking his toes
An American man suffered a shocking experience while staying at a hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, when he awoke to find the hotel manager sucking his toes. The bizarre incident occurred on March 30. The man recounted how he had checked into the hotel alone and went to bed early, only to wake up feeling an unusual sensation on his feet.…
-
Homeless teen attacks and injures homeless man in Pattaya
A homeless teenager attacked and injured a homeless man in Pattaya on Friday. Emergency responders arrived at the scene near an abandoned house on Soi Thep Prasit 17 in the Nong Prue sub-district of Bang Lamung district. There, they found the injured homeless man, believed to be around 50 years old, bleeding heavily from four severe wounds on his shoulder…
-
Netizens show no sympathy for couple who crash after kissing on motorcycle (video)
Netizens are showing no sympathy for a Chinese couple who crashed after kissing on a motorcycle. A video released by the police in Weinan, Shaanxi province of China, sparked an online debate after it showed a couple involved in an accident after kissing on a motorcycle. The incident took place late at night on April 21. The footage captured the…
-
Today’s weather forecast for Thailand: Hot temperatures and health precautions
The Thai Meteorological Department forecasted that temperatures in Thailand will generally be hot today (Sunday), accompanied by partly cloudy skies during the day. Certain areas in the northern part of the country are expected to experience scorching heat. Citizens were requested to take care of their health and watch for heatstroke caused by the intense weather conditions. This situation has…
-
Chiang Mai cafe encounters issue with production team of drama series
A well-known Chiang Mai café refused a request for a popular drama series production team to film on their premises, urging respect for businesses that have high costs and investments. A social media user claimed that a renowned Chiang Mai café was approached by a drama series production team seeking permission to film at their establishment with 9 to 10 crew…
-
Sudan army and Rapid Support Forces set to hold talks in Jeddah
The governments of the US and Saudi Arabia have announced that direct talks between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are set to commence in Jeddah. However, the ongoing conflict in Sudan’s capital shows no sign of subsiding. In a joint statement, both nations encouraged continued international support to end the fighting, urging both parties to prioritise…
-
Hong Kong sees almost double fatal and severe Covid-19 cases in a week
The number of fatal and severe Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong saw a significant increase last week, nearly double the amount of the previous week, according to health authorities. Despite the rise, experts emphasised that the death rate remains small when compared to the potential daily number of infections. The news coincided with the death of a 13 year old…
-
Bicycle thief interacts with kind owner who eventually lets him keep it (video)
A heartwarming video of a Thai woman confronting a bicycle thief has gone viral on social media, garnering nearly a million views. Posted by Tiktok user tai_1138, the clip shows the woman speaking to a man who had stolen her bicycle in a gentle and compassionate manner. @tai_1138♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – กระต่าย 🐰สายแว๊บ🤭 In the video, she asks the thief where…
-
Vietnamese man allegedly impersonated Thai citizen and forged land documents
A Vietnamese man impersonating a Thai citizen was arrested for allegedly forging land documents before attempting to sell them on the market. Numerous villagers throughout the northeastern provinces have reportedly suffered losses as a result of his fraudulent activities. Police, along with a special task force, apprehended the 55 year old suspect known as Kittinan, who was wanted by an…
-
Princes Harry and Andrew to attend coronation without formal roles
In the latest development on the British royal coronation, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew will both attend King Charles III’s coronation today, but will take no formal part in the ceremonies, reflecting their ostracisation from the royal family. Harry and his wife Meghan left their royal duties behind in 2020 and have since aired their grievances with the monarchy publicly.…
-
Thai rescue volunteer mourns his 4-day old son’s burial
A 20 year old Thai rescue volunteer, Witwattanachan Chanthasri, faced a heartbreaking tragedy when he had to perform the burial of his four-day old son recently. Witwattanachan, who works as a rescue volunteer for the Buriram Provincial Highway Police, is known for his dedication to helping others in need. He often transports patients and deals with a variety of emergencies.…
-
Chinese couple caught having sex outside convenience store
In a shocking incident, a couple was caught having sex outside of a popular convenience store entrance in Zhumadian, Henan Province, China, much to the surprise of passersby and the astonishment of netizens. Onlookers appeared to be indifferent to the scene, with some speculating that the woman seemed to be intoxicated. Local news reports indicated that the event took place…
-
Two storms to hit Thailand affecting Election Day, warns disaster centre
Rangsit University’s Climate Change and Disaster Centre expects two storms are set to hit Thailand next week, with potential impacts on General Election Day, May 14. The centre’s director, Seri Suparatit, revealed in a Facebook post yesterday that two storms – one originating in the Indian Ocean and the other in the South China Sea – are moving towards Thailand.…
-
Pattaya mayor defends delayed drainage pipe project
After facing complaints from some residents, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet defended the delayed drainage pipe project under the railway parallel road. However, the mayor delivered disappointing news regarding its completion at a public forum held on May 3 in the Chumsai Community. The forum provided residents with the opportunity to voice their concerns and complaints about the city’s infrastructure and…
-
Prominent Pattaya hotelier urges next Thai government to extend tourism-subsidy scheme
A prominent Pattaya hotelier has urged the next Thai government to extend its tourism-subsidy scheme to promote domestic travel. Yuwathida Jeerapat, managing director for J Pattaya Hotel Group, expressed confidence that the “We Travel Together” programme, launched in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, has positively impacted domestic tourism. The latest round of funding, referred to as “We Travel Together’s fifth…
-
French purists claim British coronation quiche mislabelled
The British palace has introduced a unique vegetarian “quiche” to celebrate King Charles III‘s coronation on Saturday. However, culinary experts in France argue that the dish has been erroneously labelled. Last month, the palace shared the recipe for the Coronation Quiche, which aligns with the new monarch’s environmental concerns and contains no meat. The dish features ingredients such as spinach,…
-
Husband caught holidaying with mistress on livestream by shocked wife during Labour Day
One married woman got an unwelcome surprise while she was staying home during the Labour Day holiday to take care of her children – she discovered her husband on holiday with his mistress on a livestream. The unexpected revelation occurred in China when the woman was at home attending to her children. Feeling bored, she spent her time engaging in…
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.