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.
-
Shooting at Nakhon Si Thammarat wedding leaves six injured
Six people were injured in a wedding shooting in Nakhon Si Thammarat, early yesterday, April 28, after a dispute between guests from the bride’s and groom’s sides escalated into gunfire. Police were called to the scene in Tha Sala at around 3.30am following reports of multiple people being shot at the event. Rescue workers had already taken the injured to…
-
Lop Buri locals question authenticity of Yaba advertising sign on road
A sign advertising Yaba for sale at a road intersection in Lop Buri province circulated on Thai social media, prompting calls for police to investigate. The sign, reportedly placed on a traffic island near Ananda Mahidol Hospital, included a contact name and phone number, raising concerns among residents. Images shared by Facebook users showed a white board attached to a…
-
Thailand could face severe drought in 2027, agencies warn
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) and the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) warned yesterday, April 28, that El Niño could bring prolonged drought to Thailand for at least two to three years, with conditions expected to worsen in 2027. The ONWR said El Niño, a periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean that disrupts global weather…
-
Thai man steals from coin-operated washing machines and allegedly fakes disabilities
A disabled bakery vendor known on social media was arrested for stealing coins from coin-operated washing machines in Bangkok on April 21. He was also accused of faking his disabilities to increase the sales. The owner of the machines, 23 year old Thanatchai, filed a complaint with Phetkasem Police Station after two suspects were seen in a CCTV footage taking…
-
Thailand to save energy by cutting or reducing street lights on rural roads
Thailand’s Department of Rural Roads announced it will shut down or reduce street lighting on selected rural highways nationwide from May 1 as part of an energy-saving measure linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The Director-General of the Rural Roads Department, Pichit Hoonsiri, confirmed on April 25 that the Thailand street light reduction plan aims to manage national…
-
Thai woman, three Nigerians arrested over Pattaya romance scam
Police arrested a Thai woman and three Nigerian men yesterday, April 28, over alleged links to a Pattaya romance scam operation using mule bank accounts to receive money from victims. The suspects were arrested at a hotel in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Tourist police investigators in Pattaya and regional investigators from Provincial Police Region 2 seized 12 mobile…
-
Thai FM expresses frustration with US over war fallout
Thailand’s foreign minister has voiced frustration with the US, saying Washington offered no direct help to its long-standing treaty ally as rising fuel, fertiliser, and shipping costs from the US-Israel war against Iran continue to plague Thailand. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told The Washington Post that the Trump administration appeared aware of the damage but…
-
Police face backlash for letting 2 foreigners walk naked on Phuket road
Two foreign tourists were seen walking naked along a road in the Kata-Laemsai area of Phuket yesterday, April 28, prompting criticism of local police and officials over their response to the incident. Images of the naked tourists in Phuket were shared by the Phuket Times Facebook page, showing the pair without clothing while standing roadside with a group of friends.…
-
Fujiseiki showcases TSDH shari ball machine at THAIFEX-HOREC ASIA 2026
Japanese food-production equipment manufacturer Fujiseiki Co., Ltd. said it is advancing automation-focused production systems as demand grows for efficient operations that maintain consistent quality, hygiene and safety standards in food manufacturing. Published by Global Kigyo, the report said Fujiseiki has built an international reputation for developing machines that produce artisan Japanese foods such as sushi and onigiri to match the…
-
14 year old boy caught sexually assaulting 8 year old girl in Pathum Thani
An eight year old girl was sexually assaulted by a teenage boy in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani, on April 26. The suspect was released from a juvenile detention centre only four days earlier. The girl’s mother, 42 year old Noi, filed a complaint with Pratunam Chulalongkorn Police Station and said she would pursue legal action against the suspect, identified as…
-
Khon Kaen girl dies in parked car after waiting for promised trip
A four year old girl died in a car yesterday, April 28, after entering the vehicle and waiting inside when her mother promised to take her on a trip. Officers from Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station were alerted at around 2.30pm to the death at a house in Thepharak 5 Community. Police attended the scene with rescuers from Sawang Khon Kaen…
-
Australian child sex offender on the run caught in Khon Kaen
An Australian sex offender wanted by Queensland police was arrested at a luxury house in Khon Kaen yesterday, April 28, after Thai Immigration and Australian police traced him to northeast Thailand. The man, identified as Richard, is listed on Australia’s child sex offender register. Sources said his criminal record includes sexual assault and indecent acts against children, possession of child…
-
40,000-litre tanker overturns in Nan, spills 5,000 litres of oil
A 40,000-litre oil tanker overturned on a curve in Nan yesterday, April 27, spilling around 5,000 litres of fuel onto the road before officials contained the leak and resumed traffic. The Nan Provincial Public Relations Facebook page said the Provincial Energy Office was alerted to the crash at around 10.30am on the Thung Chang to Chaloem Phra Kiat road in…
-
Cambodia pushes back against ‘Scambodia’ label in US media
Cambodia protested against the use of the term “Scambodia” in a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article published on April 19, demanding its removal, which WSJ refused. The article, titled “How Cybercrime became a leading industry in ‘Scambodia’,” stated that Cambodia is a major global hub for scam operations, with compounds described as being the size of small towns. It also claimed…
-
Condom-covered eggplant, sexual items found on Pathum Thani bridge
Community leaders inspected a pedestrian bridge in Pathum Thani today, April 28, after complaints that it was being used for sexual activity, filming adult content, and other illegal activites. Chukiat Phochan, village chief of Moo 4, visited the bridge in Chiang Rak Yai, Sam Khok district, on the Udon Ratthaya Expressway road with assistant village chiefs and reporters after receiving…
-
Thai man abandons girl after alleged sex abuse, leaving her clinging to his pickup
A 17 year old girl was rescued after clinging to a moving pickup truck and falling onto a road in Pattaya on Sunday, April 26, following an alleged sexual abuse by the driver. The incident occurred at around 8.45pm on a road along Mab Prachan Reservoir in Bang Lamung district. A 23 year old motorcyclist, identified only as Mix, witnessed…
-
Thai, Chinese workers brawl at Rayong construction site
Police and district officials are investigating a brawl between Chinese and Thai construction workers in Map Kha, Nikhom Phatthana district, Rayong, which left several people with minor injuries on April 26. The incident involved several of workers at a construction site, where a verbal dispute reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation. Video footage showed workers wearing reflective vests and safety…
-
Unlicensed BMW driver kills Phuket transwoman while retrieving dropped phone
A BMW driver crashed into and killed a Thai transwoman on April 25 while the victim was retrieving a dropped mobile phone on a road in Phuket. The incident occurred at around 2.30am on Pathak Road outside an entertainment venue in Chalong subdistrict, according to Khao Phuket. The victim, Auttachai Deeprom, sustained serious injuries and later died in hospital. CCTV…
-
Youth Olympic Games 2030 bid brings IOC team to Thailand
In a pivotal opportunity to boost its sports industry, Thailand is preparing to present Bangkok and Chon Buri as proposed host areas for the Youth Olympic Games 2030 during an official International Olympic Committee (IOC) assessment visit from April 28 to 30. IOC member Danka Hrbékova, who chairs the Youth Olympic Games 2030 working group, arrived in Bangkok yesterday, April 27,…
-
Foreign man steals from Krabi cannabis shop while staff sleeps
A foreign man was caught on CCTV stealing cannabis products from a shop in Krabi, yesterday, April 27, while a staff member was asleep. The incident occurred at a cannabis shop in Ao Nang subdistrict. The shop owner shared footage of the theft with media and warned other local businesses. The suspect’s face was captured on the shop’s security camera.…
-
Sri Lankan monks’ Thailand trip goes up in smoke after cannabis bust
Twenty-two Sri Lankan Buddhist monks who had just returned from Thailand were arrested on April 25 at an airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after customs officers allegedly found cannabis hidden in their luggage. BBC reported yesterday, April 27, that the monks were detained after officers found 110 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in secret compartments inside their suitcases. Sri Lankan customs…
-
Foreign tourists take turn showing their private parts on Phuket tuk tuk
A group of foreign tourists were criticised after exposing themselves to motorists while travelling in a tuk tuk in Patong, Phuket. Images posted by the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, April 27, showed several foreigners standing in the vehicle, turning towards traffic behind them and pulling down their trousers. The page stated in the caption… “Bottoms show in Patong. Foreign…
-
Thai influencer slammed over Songkran tile grout stunt
A Thai influencer, “Bird Wan Wang Wang”, has come under fire after his prank video from the Phra Pradaeng Songkran celebrations in Samut Prakan went viral on April 26, showing him smearing what appeared to be tile grout mixed with water on festivalgoers. In the video, the influencer appears to pour tile grout powder into a plastic container and mix…
-
Thai govt plans to collect 1,000 baht exit fee from Thai people travelling abroad
Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to collect an exit fee of 1,000 baht for Thai citizens travelling abroad to fund domestic tourism. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworrakun said he would consult the Ministry of Finance on reinstating the Departure Tax Act. The law was previously enforced with a 500 baht fee charged to outbound Thai travellers. Under…
-
Fists fly after man causes disurbance at Phuket restaurant
Patong police took a foreign man into custody on April 26 after he disrupted a restaurant in Phuket and was involved in a physical confrontation with the manager, with video of the incident spreading on Facebook. The man, whose nationality has not been released, was filmed walking in and out of a hot pot restaurant in Patong on multiple occasions…
-
Bangkok rolls out new bus stops with clearer route and digital displays
A Bangkok bus stop upgrade project aims to modernise more than 1,100 locations across the city this year, with nearly half set to feature digital displays providing real-time bus arrival information. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesperson Ekwaranyu Amrapal announced on April 21 that the initiative is a collaboration between the BMA, Mayday, Grab, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which…
-
Foreign woman allegedly steals trainers left outside Phuket home
A Thai resident in Phuket exposed a foreign woman, who allegedly stole trainers from outside the home by sharing footage of the incident online. The video was posted on the Phuket Times Facebook page and circulated today, April 27. According to the timestamp, the incident occurred at around 10.27am on April 26 in Khok Tanote, Karon subdistrict. The footage was…
-
Nakhon Ratchasima government officials investigated for alleged citizenship fraud
A citizenship fraud investigation was launched in Nakhon Ratchasima after a mayor filed a complaint against municipal officers accused of issuing illegal citizenship and birth certificates to foreigners, many reportedly linked to Chinese criminal activity. The Department of Provincial Administration coordinated with Pho Klang Subdistrict Municipality to examine suspicious documents. Investigators identified at least 27 questionable birth certificates, most involving…
-
Udon Thani nurse calls police after delivery rider lingers outside dorm, asks to see her ‘cat’
A nurse in Udon Thani called police after a food delivery rider refused to leave her dormitory and sent messages asking to come up to her room, following a lunchtime delivery on April 26. The woman, a 24 year old nurse at a public hospital in Udon Thani, reported the incident to Mueang Udon Thani Police Station. Officers responded to…
-
Thai prison denies mistreatment and corruption allegations from inmate’s leaked audio
Bang Kwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi denied allegations of mistreatment and corruption raised by an inmate, Chaowalit “Sia Paeng” Thongduang, following leaked audio recordings released last week. The recordings accused officials at Bang Kwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi of unfair treatment, granting privileges to certain inmates, and engaging in corrupt practices. Paeng claimed prison officials deliberately blocked documents he submitted…
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.