Thailand News

Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.

  • Sponsored

    5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)

    Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...

  • Blackpink’s Lisa brings the Thai par-TEA to the US

    Blackpink’s Lisa brings the Thai par-TEA to the US

    Pop sensation Lalisa Manoban, better known as Lisa from Blackpink has done it again, proving she’s the ultimate soft power queen by taking Thai tea globally. From promoting Thailand’s iconic meatballs to elevating fried egg rice, Lisa is now bringing the nation’s beloved iced tea to the world stage in a way no one saw coming. Lisa unveiled her latest…

  • Elderly driver in tragic collision with motorcyclist in Sattahip

    Elderly driver in tragic collision with motorcyclist in Sattahip

    A tragic accident occurred yesterday when a 71 year old woman driving a white Mitsubishi Triton collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the motorcyclist’s death. The incident happened yesterday, January 7, at 12.30pm, at the Na Jomtien subdistrict in Sattahip, Chon Buri. Police Lieutenant Thanakorn Suetrong from the Na Jomtien Police Station received the report of the collision at the…

  • Prehistoric skeletons found near Khon Kaen dinosaur museum

    Prehistoric skeletons found near Khon Kaen dinosaur museum

    While preparing land for cultivation, villagers discovered prehistoric human skeletons estimated to be 1,500 to 2,500 years old, suggesting an ancient settlement location. The Fine Arts Department is examining the remains, found opposite Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum in the Wiang Kao district of Khon Kaen province. Thipawan Wong-assapai, a skilled archaeologist from the Fine Arts Office 8 in Khon Kaen,…

  • Thai cop accused of selling data to Cambodian scammers

    Thai cop accused of selling data to Cambodian scammers

    A Thai woman accused a police officer in Chon Buri province of selling her personal information to a call centre scam gang in Cambodia. Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station denied her complaint. The tattoo artist, Mint, sought help from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after the police refused to take action on her case. The accused officer is reportedly an…

  • Kazakh man reports Phuket investment scam run by Ukrainian and Thai men

    Kazakh man reports Phuket investment scam run by Ukrainian and Thai men

    A Kazakh businessman filed a complaint with the Phuket Governor after being tricked by Ukrainian and Thai men into investing in a real estate project in the province. However, he has not received any profits from the investment. The Kazakh victim, Takhir, initially reported the investment scam to Choeng Thale Police Station. He and his legal team subsequently met with the Phuket Governor,…

  • 95 billion baht project to upgrade Chao Phraya irrigation system

    95 billion baht project to upgrade Chao Phraya irrigation system

    The National Water Resources Committee has sanctioned a 95 billion baht initiative to enhance the Chao Phraya River irrigation system on the lower eastern side, encompassing Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani provinces, to mitigate flooding. Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong chaired the meeting on January 6, where the committee endorsed the Department of Royal Irrigation’s extensive project aimed at improving water…

  • Opposition plans censure debate against coalition government

    Opposition plans censure debate against coalition government

    The opposition is planning to file a motion for a censure debate against the coalition government by February, with the debate anticipated to occur between late February and early March. This was announced by Pakornwut Udompipatskul, a People’s Party list MP and head opposition whip. Pakornwut emphasised that the debate should not extend beyond the second week of March. Key…

  • Foreign Ministry warns against PP visit to detained Thai crew in Myanmar

    Foreign Ministry warns against PP visit to detained Thai crew in Myanmar

    Concerns have been raised by the Foreign Ministry regarding a potential visit by representatives of the opposition People’s Party (PP) to Myanmar to meet four Thai trawler crew members currently detained there. Vice Minister Russ Jalichandra expressed yesterday, January 7, that while the ministry cannot stop Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a PP party-list MP and chairman of the House’s Military Affairs Committee,…

  • 600,000 students to receive tablets by June, says education ministry

    600,000 students to receive tablets by June, says education ministry

    Approximately 600,000 high school students are set to receive tablets from the Education Ministry by June, as part of efforts to facilitate flexible learning environments. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, an assistant to the education minister and a ministry spokesperson, shared recent developments regarding this initiative, which aims to address educational inequality. He confirmed the distribution of tablets to 600,000 students by early…

  • Chinese tourist drowns in Rayong cave during dive tour

    Chinese tourist drowns in Rayong cave during dive tour

    A Chinese tourist drowned while participating in a tour at Rayong’s Khang Khao Cave. She was swept away by an undercurrent and her body was found 2 kilometres away. The incident occurred yesterday, January 7 when police were alerted by Khao Laem Ya National Park officials about the discovery of a deceased female tourist near Ko Kudi, Mueang Rayong district.…

  • Fake policewoman wanted for swindling 400,000 baht from man

    Fake policewoman wanted for swindling 400,000 baht from man

    Officers at Mueang Narathiwat Police Station in southern Thailand are searching for a woman who impersonated a policewoman and swindled over 400,000 baht from a Thai man by falsely claiming she was pregnant. The victim revealed to officers at Mueang Narathiwat Police Station that he met the suspect, 21 year old Fatina Nanta-ariyakun, on a dating application at the end…

  • Mahout charged for elephant goring Spanish woman in Thailand

    Mahout charged for elephant goring Spanish woman in Thailand

    Police in Thailand have charged the mahout responsible for the elephant that gored a Spanish woman to death last week in Koh Yao. The deadly incident has since ramped up intense scrutiny of Thailand’s elephant tourism industry. The 38 year old mahout, Theerayut Inthaphudkij, faces charges of negligence causing death after a tragic accident involving the 22 year old Spanish tourist…

  • Meth dealer crashes into car of Thai actress’ mother in Phitsanulok

    Meth dealer crashes into car of Thai actress’ mother in Phitsanulok

    A dramatic car chase unfolded in Phitsanulok as police chased a suspected drug dealer. Despite having his car tyres punctured by armed police, the suspect continued to flee, eventually colliding with a vehicle belonging to the mother of Thai actress Tukk Lila. The suspect was eventually apprehended, and a large quantity of methamphetamine was discovered. The incident occurred at 2pm…

  • Thai woman, initially reported missing, admits to faking abduction

    Thai woman, initially reported missing, admits to faking abduction

    The Be One organisation yesterday reported that a Thai woman, initially reported as missing, faked her abduction and disappearance. Her friends and family allegedly complained to the organisation for revealing her photographs to the public. Friends of the 26 year old Thai woman, Arissara “Alice” Srichathum, urged the Facebook page Tudd Entertain to spread news about her disappearance. Many netizens, as well…

  • Orange Line construction closes Bangkok flyover for two years

    Orange Line construction closes Bangkok flyover for two years

    The flyover on Bangkok’s Charan Sanit Wong Road has been closed to facilitate the construction of the Orange Line electric railway. Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes to alleviate traffic congestion. Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) Deputy Governor Kittikorn Tanpao announced the closure to accommodate the development of the Orange Line, specifically the Bang Khun Non-underground station. This station…

  • Israeli Embassy lacks updates on six Thai hostages held by Hamas

    Israeli Embassy lacks updates on six Thai hostages held by Hamas

    The Israeli Embassy in Thailand reported that it lacks any information regarding the six Thai hostages still held by Hamas, amidst reports of potential hostage exchanges in the region. A representative from the Israeli Embassy confirmed the news yesterday, January 7. “There is still no information about the Thai hostages.” The statement follows a report from January 6 by Reuters,…

  • Thailand’s Children’s Day logo sparks joy and vitality

    Thailand’s Children’s Day logo sparks joy and vitality

    Thailand’s Ministry of Education has unveiled the heartwarming story behind the Children’s Day logo set to represent the nation from 2023 to 2027. The spotlight falls on Wikawee Rattamanee, a talented Silpakorn University student whose design won a nationwide competition last year. Her creation, centred on the theme of a child’s smile, earned her the top prize of 35,000 baht.…

  • Ruble ruckus: Russian suspect nabbed in Phuket hotel heist

    Ruble ruckus: Russian suspect nabbed in Phuket hotel heist

    Police yesterday arrested one of two Russian suspects for stealing approximately US$5,000 (nearly 200,000 baht) in cash from a fellow countryman at a hotel in Phuket on Sunday, January 5. The 31 year old Russian victim, Zelimkhan Iusupov, rushed to Karon Police Station at around 3.30am on Sunday after being physically assaulted and robbed by one of the suspects, later identified…

  • Six Myanmar teens arrested for assaulting Thai man at temple fair

    Six Myanmar teens arrested for assaulting Thai man at temple fair

    Six Myanmar teenagers were arrested for assaulting a Thai man, citing an incident at a temple fair where they allegedly stepped on each other’s feet. The police assured that this was an altercation among hot-headed youths, not related to any gang influence. Yesterday, January 7, at the multi-purpose ground of the Samut Sakhon Provincial Police Headquarters, Samut Sakhon Governor Narit…

  • Thai airports get safety and check-in boost as travellers rise by 14%

    Thai airports get safety and check-in boost as travellers rise by 14%

    The Transport Ministry has instructed the Department of Airports (DoA) to enhance measures in support of travellers following more than 14% rise in passenger numbers over the new year period. Deputy Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced yesterday, January 7, that from December 27 to January 2, the DoA recorded 319,275 passengers, reflecting a 14.12% increase compared to the previous year. The…

  • Sloshed and splashed: Tipsy Thai man makes waves in Pattaya

    Sloshed and splashed: Tipsy Thai man makes waves in Pattaya

    Pattaya officials sounded the alarm yesterday after a booze-soaked escapade by a local Thai man made waves in front of the Amari Hotel. The drunken Thai man, clearly under the influence, took a less-than-graceful plunge into the sea, leaving onlookers in disbelief. Pattaya City municipal officers dashed to the scene, only to find the soggy thrill-seeker showing all the signs…

  • Suspects caught in theft of iPhone 14 Pro Max in Bangkok

    Suspects caught in theft of iPhone 14 Pro Max in Bangkok

    Two suspects have been apprehended in connection with the theft of an iPhone from a 17 year old boy, the son of a department director, during a planned transaction near a prominent shopping mall on Rama IV Road. The incident occurred when the victim, known as A, arranged to sell the iPhone 14 Pro Max, blue in colour, and was…

  • PM Paetongtarn to inaugurate International Boat Show in Phuket

    PM Paetongtarn to inaugurate International Boat Show in Phuket

    Phuket is bracing for a high-profile visit as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra lands on the island tomorrow, January 9 to tackle critical local issues and boost tourism. With an ambitious agenda in tow, the 38 year old PM is set to chair key meetings and launch a glamorous luxury lifestyle event, according to the Phuket Public Relations Department. Touching down…

  • Thailand tourism China-ing bright with visitor boom

    Thailand tourism China-ing bright with visitor boom

    Hold onto your tuk tuks, folks, Thailand’s tourism scene is making a triumphant comeback, with Chinese travellers leading the charge of foreign visitors. Thanks to more lenient visa rules, and especially to Thailand’s Chinese friends, the Land of Smiles is grinning wider than ever. The South China Morning Post reported that an impressive 35.5 million international jet-setters flocked to Thailand…

  • Thailand’s N3 lottery might be scrapped due to poor sales

    Thailand’s N3 lottery might be scrapped due to poor sales

    The Finance Ministry is evaluating the future of the N3 lottery due to its lacklustre public response since its introduction last November. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced yesterday, January 7, that the three-digit lottery (N3), designed to rival illegal lotteries and expensive six-digit tickets (L6), has not met expectations during its trial phase. Introduced on November 1 as part…

  • Cyber police dismantle major Bangkok gambling network

    Cyber police dismantle major Bangkok gambling network

    Cyber police swooped on the Bangkok 198 online gambling network, arresting its financial executive and seizing luxury cars, along with over 9 million baht in cash, and uncovering a monthly turnover exceeding 10 million baht. Yesterday, January 7, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phivphan, head of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, instructed Police Colonel Surapong Thaiprasert and Police Colonel Apirak Champasri,…

  • Thai police rescue missing Chinese actor from trafficking gang

    Thai police rescue missing Chinese actor from trafficking gang

    Missing Chinese actor Wang Xing was dramatically rescued by Thai police yesterday after being abducted by a human trafficking gang while on the Thai-Myanmar border. Wang Xing, known to fans as Xingxing, vanished on January 3 after departing Shanghai Pudong Airport for Thailand in what he believed was an acting gig along the border. Last seen in Mae Sot, the…

  • No luck for Yingluck: Former PM ineligible for prison programme

    No luck for Yingluck: Former PM ineligible for prison programme

    Yingluck Shinawatra, former Prime Minister of Thailand, will not qualify for release under the forthcoming alternative prison detention programme if she returns to Thailand, as she does not meet the new eligibility criteria, stated Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. Yingluck was sentenced to five years imprisonment in August 2017. New regulations by the Department of Corrections (DoC) allow only those with…

  • Thailand faces cold weather, frost and southern thunderstorms

    Thailand faces cold weather, frost and southern thunderstorms

    Thailand is experiencing cool to cold weather, with frost reported in mountainous regions and thunderstorms anticipated in five southern provinces. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts temperature changes and advises caution for high waves at sea as of January 8. In the coming 24 hours, temperatures in northern and northeastern Thailand are expected to rise by 1 to 2 degrees…

  • PM Paetongtarn defends Thaksin amid racist remark controversy

    PM Paetongtarn defends Thaksin amid racist remark controversy

    Stepping out from a Cabinet lunch today, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra launched into a defence of her father, Thaksin, after he was caught in making controversial racist comments during a rally speech. Thaksin’s remarks yesterday, January 6, criticised as discriminatory, sparked a backlash and calls from Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit for Paetongtarn to reprimand him. Initially caught off-guard by the journalists’ pressing…