News
Stay up-to-date with the latest news from across Thailand and beyond with The Thaiger. Our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from this stunning part of the world, covering a diverse range of topics, including local politics, business, culture, and tourism. Keep yourself informed about the Kingdom’s rich history, stunning landscapes, and thriving expat communities, as well as updates on events, attractions, and transportation.
The Thaiger is your essential resource for staying connected with Thailand’s captivating blend of tradition and modernity. To remain in the loop with the country’s most trusted news source, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
-
Double trouble: British lookalikes forge unlikely friendship on flight to Thailand
An airport mix-up led a pair of British lookalikes to discover they not only shared the same flight but also the same name, sparking an unlikely friendship. The lookalikes, Mark Garland, a 58 year old bus driver from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and another Mark Garland, a 62 year old builder from Warmley, Bristol, were inadvertently seated next to each other on an…
-
Alarming statistics: Thailand women in domestic violence crisis
The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) delivered a stark wake-up call as alarming statistics reveal a grim reality: seven women become victims of sexual assault and abuse daily in Thailand. Pornprapai Ganjanarintr, chairperson of the NHRC, issued a resounding plea for gender equality across all sectors. In a society riddled with patriarchal structures, Ganjanarintr highlighted the harrowing repercussions,…
-
House of cards: Vietnamese nationals busted in Bangkok gambling raid
Immigration Bureau officers raided a luxury house in the Rama 9 neighbourhood of Bangkok and arrested 18 Vietnamese nationals for running a gambling website. Immigration police revealed to several news outlets in a press conference yesterday, March 7, that they successfully suppressed an online gambling gang run by a Vietnamese investor on March 5. They arrested 18 Vietnamese suspects at…
-
Declining conditions of Bangkok’s Klong Ong Ang raise concerns
A United Thai Nation Party‘s (UTN) Parliament member voiced concerns yesterday about the neglected state of Klong Ong Ang, a once thriving tourist attraction in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown. Kriangyot Sudlapha, a UTN list-MP, raised the issue in the House of Representatives, urging the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to step in and rejuvenate the area. Located in the Phra…
-
Thailand braces for temperatures above 40°C, TMD warns
A weather warning has been issued by Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) that temperatures across the country are expected to rise above 40°C this month and in April. Kornravee Sitthichitvapak, the director-general of the weather agency, has stated that this summer, temperatures will be 1-2°C higher than the average. Regions facing extremely hot conditions could see the mercury rising above 40°C.…
-
Scent-sational arrest: Thai man nabbed in karaoke perfume heist in Pattaya
Bang Lamung Police apprehended a suspect in connection with a perfume theft from a karaoke venue worker yesterday. The suspect, identified as 33 year old Jakkrapan (surname withheld), was arrested at his residence in the Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri province. The arrest follows a theft incident on February 29 in South Na Kluea. CCTV footage depicted…
-
Phetchabun residents petition over Khao Kho land dispute
A heated land dispute in Phetchabun’s Khao Kho district led residents of 35 local communities to petition two House committees for intervention. Opposition leader and member of the House of Representatives committees on the military and natural resources and environmental affairs, Chaithawat Tulathon, received the petition yesterday. Buppha Chanpheng, representing the locals living within the Khao Kho forest complex, submitted…
-
Swiss scandal sparks crackdown on unruly farangs in Thailand
The scandal involving a Swiss man assaulting a Thai doctor in Phuket prompted authorities to initiate a massive crackdown on illegal foreigners and farangs behaving badly in Thailand. In total, nearly 30 foreigners were arrested during the past weeks. Following the physical assault on a Thai doctor outside the luxury villa of a Swiss man, locals in Phuket demanded that…
-
Swiss national opts for jail after assaulting Thai woman in mall
A 62 year old Swiss national who physically assaulted a local Thai woman in a mall, chose to remain in custody despite an offer of bail from his former Thai spouse. The Trang Provincial Court had set his bail at 50,000 baht (US$1,406), which his ex-wife was willing to pay. However, the Swiss man, Dieter Matthias Straumann, rejected her assistance and…
-
Chiang Mai flower festival blooms success with record visitors
Chiang Mai is basking in the success of its 47th Flower Festival, which attracted a staggering 668,000 visitors, both Thai and international, generating over 80 million baht (US$2.25 million) in revenue. As a result, the province is preparing to enhance the event’s float parade, focusing on innovation and interest for future festivals. On March 8, the deputy governor of Chiang…
-
Leopard in the room: Indian boy’s purr-fect phone escape
A young boy in India encountered a leopard in his room while playing on his phone, managing to quietly exit and lock the animal inside. The 12 year old boy, Mohit Ahir, displayed remarkable composure and bravery during the incident. Ahir, the son of a security official at a wedding event, was waiting for his father in the office room…
-
True Corporation unveils 2024 strategy with AI, digital growth focus
True Corporation, the Thai telecommunications conglomerate, disclosed its tripartite strategic model for 2024. This strategy encompasses modernising its digital infrastructure, offering distinctive services to its customer base and redefining the company through the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technologies. The company’s CEO, Manat Manavutiveth, has identified five disruptive elements for the current year, namely, global economic uncertainty, generative…
-
Thai man flees after assaulting girlfriend and killing her lover
A Thai man remains at large after brutally assaulting his girlfriend and killing her lover outside a rented room in the Doi Saket district of the northern province of Chiang Mai. Officers from the Doi Saket Police Station and rescuers from the Sawang Samret Chiang Mai Foundation investigated the physical assaults that took place around midnight on March 5. Officers…
-
Thai EV sales surge by 603% amid government incentives
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sales in Thailand surged by 603% year-on-year to 73,568 units last year, with the upward trend expected to continue throughout this year, as per the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). This growth is expected to outstrip that of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which witnessed a 13.7% year-on-year sales decline to 238,570 units in 2023, capturing…
-
Thai House rejects labour bill fearing 30% cost surge
A labour welfare bill proposed by the Move Forward Party (MFP) has been rejected by the House of Representatives, sparking concerns about a potential 30% increase in labour costs across Thailand. Despite this setback, the MFP had some success as the House consented to two additional draft bills, one from the Bhumjaithai Party and another from the MFP. List-MP Sia…
-
Thai-Cambodian joint operation successfully combats PM 2.5 crisis
A collaborative operation between the Thai and Cambodian governments was launched on March 6, to combat the PM 2.5 problem. This joint initiative was in line with the Thai government’s policy to proactively deal with PM 2.5 dust and hotspots in both nations. The Thai government has recognised the issue of PM 2.5 as a national crisis that requires immediate…
-
Bangkok launches Vape Operation crackdown on e-cigarette sales
A comprehensive Vape Operation was launched at 2.30pm on Wednesday, March 6, resulting in a crackdown on major e-cigarette sales sources in various areas of Bangkok. The operation was coordinated by Dr Puangpetch Chunlaid, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, alongside relevant agencies. The targeted e-cigarette sales were estimated to be worth over 3 million baht. Following a detailed…
-
Thai government questions credibility of UK’s airport ranking
Thailand’s government spokesperson recently took to social media to question the legitimacy of a ranking released by Business Financing, a UK publisher. The ranking, published in 2023, listed Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports as among the worst in Asia, placing them at the seventh and tenth positions respectively. The ranking also hailed Noi Bai International Airport in Vietnam as the…
-
Thailand’s visa exemption sparks rise in travel bookings to China
The visa exemption agreement between Thailand and China has sparked a significant rise in bookings from Thai travellers. During the Songkran holiday through May, airlines and tour operators noted an uptick in Thai passengers on some routes outnumbering their Chinese counterparts. Chotechuang Soorangura, Vice President of the Thai Travel Agents Association, highlighted the robust sales of tour packages to China…
-
Tech synergy: Arip’s Commart Comtech event unites Thais
The recent Commart Comtech IT event, organised by Arip, has brought together AI-equipped computers from leading brands, such as Asus, Acer, MSi, Lenovo and HP, for the first time in Thailand. The event, which started yesterday, March 7, and continues through Sunday at Bitec Bangna, is expected to upturn the downturn in consumer spending witnessed in the initial two months…
-
Thai Night Hong Kong 2024 returns with global partnerships
The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), under Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce, is abuzz with excitement as Thai Night Hong Kong 2024 approaches. Themed Inspiring Thailand, the event, scheduled for next Monday, March 11 at FILMART, aims to shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of the Thai entertainment industry. Presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi,…
-
Australian fugitive nabbed in Phuket for visa overstay
Phuket Provincial Police apprehended a 26 year old Australian fugitive who had been lurking in a hotel near the Sri Kor Intersection in Kathu, Phuket. The Australian man, whose identity remains undisclosed by authorities, committed a double crime of visa overstay and bill evasion, spiralling from a tangled web of incidents dating back to January 31. The tale began with…
-
Beware the bill dodger: Thai rescue warns Bangkok eateries of Thai man’s seizure scam
A Thai rescue foundation issued a scam warning to restaurants and bars in Bangkok, urging them to remain vigilant for a Thai man who has been repeatedly feigning seizures after meals to avoid paying his bills. The rescue team, stationed in the Phattanakarn, On Nut, Srinagarindra, and Suan Luang neighborhoods of Bangkok urged the media to highlight the Thai man’s…
-
Drunk taxi driver’s wild ride ends in bar smash in Pattaya
A female taxi driver admitted to being intoxicated after causing chaos on Khao Talo Road, East Pattaya in the early hours of this morning. Arriving at the accident scene at the entrance of Soi 10, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, officers from the Nong Prue Police Station discovered a yellow-and-blue taxi from the Pattaya Taxi Cooperative…
-
US woman detained for Thai restaurant fatal shooting and robbery
A woman was apprehended and slapped with a staggering US$100,000 (approximately 3.6 million baht) cash bail by the Department of Corrections in the US for her involvement in a fatal shooting and robbery outside a local Thai restaurant. Jenna Manibusan’s alleged shooting and robbery of Sumittra Lairopi triggered a cascade of legal proceedings, escalating into a gripping courtroom drama. A…
-
Thailand’s digital wellness revolution boosts revenue
Thailand’s Industry Ministry is spearheading a digital revolution aimed at boosting revenue for the nation’s wellness and medical business entrepreneurs. With the ambitious target of surpassing 30 million baht in revenue, this initiative promises to reshape the landscape of Thailand’s tourism and economy. Under this visionary scheme, the ministry is equipping businesses with cutting-edge digital equipment and technologies, propelling them…
-
Chinese woman hails Thai police for speedy thief arrest
A Chinese woman hailed the swift action of Thai police officers who successfully arrested a thief just three hours after he stole her bag containing 25,000 baht in cash in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. Bang Phli Police Station officers arrested the thief, a 41 year old Thai man named Nikorn Maiwong, at a resort in the Bang Bor district…
-
Bali’s new tourist tax: Will it save paradise or sow chaos?
In the latest move to combat over-tourism and preserve its landscapes, Bali introduced a controversial levy for international visitors. Since Valentine’s Day this year, tourists entering Bali have been greeted not only by the island’s breathtaking scenery but also by a new fee of 150,000 rupiah (approximately 340 baht) per person. This move aims to safeguard Bali’s rich cultural heritage…
-
Royal return: King’s son makes emotional homecoming
In a recent social media post, His Majesty the King’s second-eldest son, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, stirred emotions as he shared a photo from Suvarnabhumi Airport, declaring, “I have returned home, as promised.” The post, which garnered over 25,000 likes and a flood of welcoming comments from netizens, marks Vacharaesorn’s third journey to his homeland in less than a year. Having spent…
-
Thai cop blackmails ex for sex, blackmails her with explicit videos
An officer from the Special Service Division (SSD), also known as the Commando Police, is under investigation for allegedly demanding sex from his ex-girlfriend and blackmailing her by posting explicit videos of her on social media when she refused to comply with his request. In February of this year, the victim was sent explicit video links by her relatives 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.