Thailand News

  • Pattaya News

    2 Chon Buri factory workers suffer burns after fire

    A fire has rapidly ripped through a Chon Buri factory yesterday in the province’s main city district, burning 2 workers. Both men, 44 year old Suthep Chinram and 18 year old Suthat Duangnate, were rushed to a hospital. Suthat sustained slight burns, and was choking on smoke. Suthep’s sustained serious burns. Police are now investigating what caused the fire. Thai…

  • Pattaya News

    Alcohol ban in Pattaya and Bangkok today until 6pm

    There’s an alcohol ban in Pattaya and Bangkok today. It will last until 6pm tonight. Alcohol sales will be banned in Pattaya and Bangkok due to the Pattaya mayoral election, and the Bangkok governor election. Polling for both is being held today. In Bangkok voting is across 50 districts where 31 candidates are vying for the position of Governor –…

  • Bangkok News

    Bangkok virologist says Thais should stay calm over monkeypox

    Amidst a recent global outbreak of monkeypox, which is usually only found in Africa, an acclaimed virologist at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University is saying Thais should stay calm, or jai yen. Last week, a handful of European countries, the US and Australia, reported their first cases of monkeypox, a viral infection similar to smallpox. But the virologist, Dr. Yong Poovorowan, wrote…

  • Phuket News

    Phuket Food Festival 2022 will feature hemp recipies

    As Phuket hosts Thailand’s biggest light festival, Aqua Lumina, another event on the island province is on the way next week. Phuket’s Food Festival 2022 will start on May 28 (Saturday) and run until June 5. It will be held at Saphan Hin Centre Stage area, on the east side of Phuket Town, from 4pm – 11pm every night. This…

  • World News

    5 countries’ representatives walk out when Russian official speaks in Bangkok

    Thailand may be claiming ‘neutrality’ following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but representatives of 5 countries at a Bangkok event today certainly weren’t. Two Thai officials and 2 international diplomats told Reuters that at the Apec trade ministers’ meeting in Bangkok today, representatives of 5 countries walked out when Russia’s economic development minister Maksim Reshetnikov was speaking. The 5 who walked out…

  • Phuket News

    Thailand’s biggest light festival kicks off on Phuket shores

    Thailand’s biggest light festival arrived on the shores of Phuket’s Nai Harn Beach yesterday. Officials from the Tourism Authority of Thailand welcomed partiers to the Aqua Lumina Illumination Festival with, as you’d expect, lots of colourful lights. The Phuket edition of the festival is set to last until May 31. Aqua Lumina’s theme in Phuket is “Land of the Guardians…

  • Pattaya News

    Chon Buri teen tries to steal air conditioning equipment while high

    An 18 year old man in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri province allegedly tried to steal various air conditioning equipment while high on paint thinner yesterday. The air conditioner store clerk told Nong Prue police he saw the suspect sneaking into the back of the store, and going through the equipment. The Pattaya News reports that the unnamed suspect couldn’t…

  • Thailand Travel

    As Thailand’s bars plan to reopen ‘officially’ in some areas, vendors want to extend hours

    After Thailand’s CCSA announced yesterday that nightlife venues in both “green” and “blue” zones will reopen ‘officially’ from June 1, nightlife operators are calling to move the current midnight closing time to at least 2 or 4am. The 31 provinces defined as green and blue zones include busy tourist hubs such as Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Chon Buri. The…

  • Pattaya News

    Alcohol ban in Pattaya and Bangkok from 6pm Saturday

    We know you just can’t get enough of Thailand’s alcohol bans, so here’s another one coming up tonight for you in Pattaya and Bangkok! From 6pm tonight (Saturday) until 6pm tomorrow night, alcohol sales will be banned in Pattaya and Bangkok due to the Pattaya mayoral election, and the Bangkok governor election, both of which are tomorrow. Those who break…

  • Thailand video news

    Thailand News Today | Thailand to target “wealthy foreign tourists”

      Thailand’s deputy health minister is hoping to see an end to Covid-19 by the end of this year, despite the risk of new variants. Satit Pitutecha made his prediction yesterday, saying Thailand is proceeding with its plan to declare the virus endemic. The World Health Organisation has yet to make any recommendation on according the virus endemic status. Satit…

  • Northern Thailand News

    Man in northeast Thailand stabs wife on train

    A man in northeast Thailand stabbed his wife on a train yesterday, after suspecting she was romantically involved with another man. Police said the woman, 31 year old Ratchanok Yimsa-ngob, had decided to go and live with her grandmother in a different district of Nakhon Ratchasima, and the couple was headed there on the train. Along the trip, Ratchanok and…

  • Environment News

    UPDATE: Chief in Phuket says black water is “not from businesses”

    THE LATEST After a popular Facebook page claimed this week that dirty black water at a Phuket beach is being caused by nearby businesses, an official insists it is not. The page, titled Monsoon Garbage Thailand, posted a damning video of the water flowing into the ocean at Kamala Beach. But Kamala Tambon Administrative Organisation Chief Jutha Dumlak told The Phuket…

  • Phuket News

    In Phuket, Indians are the top tourist group since Test & Go scrapped

    Now that Thailand Pass has dropped its much hated ‘Test & Go’ scheme, Indian tourists are the biggest tourist group on the island province, according to Phuket International Airport Immigration. Between May 1-18, 12,200 Indians have travelled to Phuket. The other countries on a list of 10 with the most tourists in Phuket, in order, are Australia, Singapore, UK, Russia,…

  • Economy News

    Thailand’s bottled palm oil price continues to skyrocket

    Efforts by Thailand’s palm oil farmers, extractors, and producers to cap the price of bottled palm oil at 64-66 baht per litre have proved fruitless. The price has now skyrocketed to 70-76 baht in some markets, according to a survey by Thai PBS. The survey says that in department stores, the price is 68 baht per litre or lower. Palm…

  • Thailand video news

    CCSA meeting today to officially reopen bars? | GMT

    The ministry’s proposal to the CCSA involves the revised zoning of Covid-19 hit provinces. Thailand targets UK, India, Germany for Tourism. Thai AirAsia X bankrupt and Russel Crowe takes part in the Bangkok Governor elections. All this and more on todays Good Morning Thailand.

  • Pattaya News

    Chon Buri monk claims illegal drugs helped him meditate

    Another monk scandal in Thailand! Police in the Nong Yai district of Chon Buri have busted a local monk with 6 methamphetamine pills, as well as a bag of crystal methamphetamine or ‘ice’. The police found the drugs in a temple raid earlier this week after locals alerted them about a monk who they were concerned was taking illegal drugs.…

  • Thailand video news

    Thailand News Today | Nok Air’s latest investment failure is costing the airline millions

      Thailand’s Covid situation is continually improving and is expected to be declared an endemic disease more than half a month earlier than expected. According to the Ministry of Public Health, his office originally planned to declare Covid an an endemic disease on July 1 this year. Yesterday, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Kiatiphum Wongrajit announced that Thailand now plans to…

  • Crime News

    As travel opens, Phuket officials gather to fight drug problem

    Now that Thailand’s travel restrictions are easing, Phuket officials are on guard for an expected increase in demands for illegal drugs. This morning, a group of officials held a meeting at Phuket City Hall to discuss drug issues in the island province. The meeting was led by a director from the Region 8 Drug Enforcement Administration. Officials from other government…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand’s health officials say flu shots available for 36% of ‘vulnerable’ people

    Thailand’s health officials are calling on elderly people and other vulnerable groups to get free flu shots from government clinics. The country’s National Health Security Office considers 7 groups of people ‘vulnerable’. These include women over four months pregnant, children 6 months to 2 years old, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, people with asthma, people with heart disease, people…

  • Pattaya News

    Russian woman assaulted in Chon Buri

    A Russian woman was assaulted last night in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri. A driver found the woman, 38 year old Elena Zyalkova, bleeding as she walked along the road to Mab Prachan reservoir. Police from Nong Prue municipality examined Elena and found she had head injuries, bruises on her neck, and abrasions all over her body. She was…

  • Politics News

    Leaders of smaller Thai parties want to legalise online casinos

    Twenty representatives of smaller Thai political parties have submitted a draft amendment for the Gambling Act to Thailand’s parliamentary house speaker yesterday. The draft amendment would aim to legalise online casinos. An MP from the Thai Local Power Party said that legalising online casinos will let authorities collect taxes from license holders, and decide how to punish illegal casino operators.…

  • Phuket News

    Thai officials vow to solve household debt problem at Phuket event

    Thai officials held a ‘Household Debt Reconciliation Fair’ in Phuket yesterday. At the event, Thailand’s Minister of Justice Somsak Thepsutin said the government has designated 2022 as the “Year of Solving Household Debt”. He said that 2,810 people had registered for the event. Somsak said that several government departments have organised events to “facilitate the mediation process of household debts…

  • Northern Thailand News

    Stolen gold found scattered in northern Thailand

    After a robber stole several pricy items from a gold shop earlier this week, police found 7 trays of gold ornaments in the middle of a river in northern Thailand’s Tak province. Local people showed the gold to police after they spotted it on an islet in the middle of Ping River in the main city district. The locals also…

  • Pattaya News

    Chon Buri man shot and killed trying to collect debt

    A man in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district has confessed to shooting and killing another man who tried to collect a large debt from him. 45 year old Kanpongpisut Yaichaingnua told police on Monday that he killed the man at a restaurant. Kanpongpisut’s stepdaughter told the police that the victim, 50 year old Pairoj Runroj, had come to the restaurant to…

  • Thailand video news

    “Don’t drink and vote” Alcohol ban this weekend | GMT

    Following Thailand’s alcohol ban for the Buddhist holiday of Visakha Bucha Day, Pattaya and Bangkok dwellers can prepare for yet another alcohol ban coming just a week later! A popular Facebook page has posted a video and photos this week of black, dirty water flowing into Phuket Kamala Beach on the island’s west coast. Thailand’s public prosecution committee unanimously agreed…

  • Thailand video news

    Thailand News Today | Crashed China eastern flight possible “intentional nosedive”

    Black box data on crashed China Eastern 737 suggests possible “intentional nosedive” Investigators are now examining further if the crash of China Eastern Airlines 737-800 on March 21 was indeed due to “intentional action on the flight deck”. The early reports say that there is, so far, no evidence of a technical malfunction. The Wall Street Journal reported this week…

  • Pattaya News

    Alcohol sales ban planned for Pattaya and Bangkok elections

    Following Thailand’s alcohol ban for the Buddhist holiday of Visakha Bucha Day, Pattaya and Bangkok dwellers can prepare for yet another alcohol ban coming just a week later! The upcoming alcohol sales ban will begin on Saturday, May 21, at 6pm, and last for 24 hours until Sunday, May 22, at 6pm. The ban is in light of Pattaya’s Mayoral…

  • Crime News

    LINE app popular in Thailand warns users, look out for scams

    LINE, a chat app popular in Thailand, is warning users to be on the lookout for scammers who might use SMS and LINE chat to steal personal information. The app said today that recently, some scammers claimed to be company officials, and posted job announcements via SMS and Line chat. LINE said that scammers are also adding people as ‘friends’…

  • South Thailand News

    Songkhla woman charged with trafficking young girl

    A woman in Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla has been charged with trafficking a young girl, forcing the girl into prostitution at her karaoke shop. The woman was arrested last week, but police announced the arrest yesterday. The woman arrested is 48 year old Nattha Meenche. The 13 year old girl says she was forced to provide sex services to…

  • Tourism News

    Thai officials visit Saudi Arabia for roadshow, push for more tourists

    As part of a push to draw more Middle Eastern tourists to Thailand, tourism officials visited Saudi Arabia on May 15-16 in a roadshow. There, the Tourism Authority of Thailand signed a memorandum of cooperation with Almosafer, the biggest OTA in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The TAT also signed an MoC with Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier, to promote a…