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 Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
-
Suspended PM Paetongtarn to face court over leaked audio controversy
Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is anticipated to attend the Constitutional Court in person regarding the contentious audio recording involving her and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, as stated by her secretary. Yesterday, August 15, Doctor Prommin Lertsuridej, the PM’s Secretary-General, commented on the court’s decision to summon Paetongtarn, who also holds the position of culture minister, along with National…
-
MPs approve 2026 education budget, but some are sceptic
The House of Representatives has given its approval to the Ministry of Education’s budget proposal during the second reading, as discussions on the 2026 fiscal year budget bill proceeded in a special session. The budget allocations received the support of 253 MPs, while 121 opposed and 26 abstained. The second reading involved a detailed section-by-section review, with the Ministry of…
-
High-speed racing crash on expressway causes hefty pile up
In the early hours of today, August 16, an incident involving high-speed racing led to a collision on the Udon Ratthaya expressway, resulting in damage to approximately ten vehicles. The accident occurred at around 1.30am on the expressway in Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi province. The crash, captured by a dashcam, showed several cars racing, then crashing, leading to a multi-vehicle…
-
Thailand accuses Cambodia of breaching Ottawa Convention with landmines
Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa has accused Cambodia of consistently breaching the Ottawa Convention and infringing on Thailand’s sovereignty due to recurring incidents involving anti-personnel landmines. During the 10th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Anning, China, Maris addressed the issue via a video briefing. The session, held at the Foreign Affairs Ministry yesterday, August 15, was attended by 67…
-
Thailand allows drone operations from August 16 to 31
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has issued an announcement permitting the operation of unmanned aircraft (drones) from August 16 to 31, between 6am and 6pm. This follows a suspension from July 30 to August 15, requested by national security agencies to mitigate risks near the Thai-Cambodian border. The announcement stated that drones of all types are allowed to…
-
Two Thai police officers arrested in major drug network crackdown
Yesterday, August 15, two police officers were arrested for their involvement in a drug network, leading to the seizure and freezing of assets worth 35.2 million baht. The operation involved multiple police units focusing on money laundering activities linked to drug trafficking. Police Lieutenant General Santi Chaiyanirami, Commander of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, and Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembutr, Commander…
-
People’s Party opposes 2026 budget bill over economic concerns
The People’s Party (PP) has decided to oppose the 2026 fiscal budget bill during its final reading in Parliament yesterday, Friday, August 15, criticising the government’s spending plan for not adequately reflecting the current economic conditions. PP Deputy Leader Sirikanya Tansakul disclosed the party’s decision at around 1pm yesterday in Parliament. She indicated that the PP planned to reject the…
-
Heavy rain alert in Thailand: 80% of regions under threat
The Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecasted intense to very intense rainfall across four regions in Thailand, which includes 48 provinces, with Bangkok experiencing a 70% chance of heavy rain. TMD authorities have issued warnings for potential flash floods and forest run-off today, August 16, due to a monsoon trough influencing the north and northeast, coupled with a strengthening southwest monsoon…
-
Paetongtarn defends negotiation strategy in leaked conversation
Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has presented her defence to the Constitutional Court, asserting that her remarks in a leaked conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen were part of a negotiation strategy and not an improper offer of favours. In her written submission, she addressed a contentious statement from the audio clip, where she said… “If there’s anything you…
-
3 teenagers arrested for burning disabled dog in Lampang temple
Police arrested three Thai teenagers for burning a disabled dog alive in a temple bathroom in the northern province of Lampang. Locals in the Ko Kha district of Lampang reported the cruel act by the 14 year old suspects to the Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) yesterday, August 14. The incident had occurred the previous week in the abandoned bathroom of…
-
Udon Thani lottery thief returns stolen tickets and begs for forgiveness
A thief returned 23 out of 51 stolen lottery tickets to a vendor in the Isaan province of Udon Thani and promised to pay for the remaining tickets within three days. The lottery stall owners, 68 year old Boonmee Bootpho and 43 year old Wannaporn Bootpho, lodged a complaint at Nong Wua So Police Station on Tuesday, August 12, after…
-
Phuket district chief addresses viral altercation over rental motorcycle dispute
A district chief in Phuket clarified details about a physical altercation involving nearly 20 foreigners and two Thai men in a dispute over a rental motorcycle, promising to ensure justice for both parties. Kathu District Chief Akkaraphon Sutthirak, yesterday, August 14, addressed the viral incident between a group of foreigners and two Thai men, one of whom was the owner of…
-
Thai man’s calm response to snack theft goes viral on TikTok
A Thai grocery store owner shared a video on TikTok showing her husband watching a Burmese thief stealing snacks from their store in the central province of Pathum Thani, delighting Thai netizens. The store owner, Sumalee Wongintawang, posted the video of her husband on her TikTok account, @su.pananchita995, on Tuesday, August 12, with the caption… “#GoodHusbandIsNewHusband #ThisIsMyHusbandLol”. The caption was…
-
Thai soldier allegedly commits suicide after shooting 2 civilians in Surin
A Thai soldier in the Isaan province of Surin allegedly took his own life after shooting two civilians with an M16 rifle last night. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) reported this morning, August 15, that the gunfire broke out near Ban Khuean Kaeo Temple at around 12.45am. Ten shots were initially fired, followed by two more shots nine minutes later.…
-
MPs question 41 million baht budget for Phayao agricultural market
Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed concerns over the budget allocation by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, focusing on a 41 million baht investment for a central agricultural market in Phayao. These concerns were raised during a special session of the House dedicated to the second reading of the 2026 fiscal budget bill, which totals 3.78 trillion baht.…
-
Thailand tourism faces slowdown amid Vietnam, South Korea competition
As travellers are shifting their sights to Vietnam and South Korea, intensified competition in Asia’s tourism market may lead to a slowdown in Thailand’s tourism sector for the rest of 2025. According to industry experts, the expansion of visa exemptions from the two nations will most likely siphon tourists away from the Kingdom. Additionally, the domestic co-payment subsidy initiative has…
-
Thailand video news | Strong baht and safety concerns threaten Thai tourism recovery, Bangkok crowned best city in the world for Gen Z in 2025
In today’s Thailand Video News, Alex reports on stories from across the country. Highlights include the slump in Thai tourism driven by an unusually strong Baht and rising safety concerns among Chinese visitors. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is working to boost visitor numbers, and Bangkok has just been crowned the world’s best city for Gen Z. Strong Baht and…
-
Thai man commits suicide on girlfriend’s video call after being rejected by ex-wife
A Thai man commit suicide at a condominium in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok yesterday, August 14, during a video call with his girlfriend, after failing to reunite with his ex-wife. The 34 year old woman, Janejira, contacted officers from Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station, reporting that her boyfriend committed suicide in his room on the fourth floor of a…
-
Phuket seeks special status to tackle infrastructure woes
Phuket is seeking a transformation into a special administrative area to address its significant infrastructure and environmental challenges, according to Governor Sophon Suwannarat. At a recent press conference, Sophon highlighted the province’s pressing issues, such as clean water shortages, inadequate wastewater management, waste disposal concerns, and road safety problems. Budget constraints are hampering large-scale improvements, with the administration’s current budget…
-
Senate proposes aid reduction for Cambodian students
A proposal by a Senate education committee to reduce funding for undocumented Cambodian students in Thailand has faced criticism from a fellow senator and human rights advocate, who claims it could breach international humanitarian laws and children’s rights. Kamol Rodklai, Chair of the Senate committee on Education, Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, urged the government on Wednesday, August 13,…
-
Armed Thai soldier opens fire on civilians in Surin, injuring 2 victims
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is pursuing a soldier who fled his military base with an M16 rifle and opened fire on civilians in Kap Choeng district, in the Isaan province of Surin, injuring two people. The official Facebook page of the 2nd Army Area reported this morning, August 15, that troops heard a burst of ten gunshots near Ban…
-
Heavy rains and floods predicted for 36 Thai provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall across 36 provinces today, August 15, including Bangkok, with the potential for flash floods, strong winds, and rough seas. Today’s weather forecast indicates that the eastern and western southern regions will experience very heavy rain in some areas. Northern, northeastern, central, and eastern southern regions are expected to see heavy rain in…
-
Thai transwoman says nightclub guard assaulted her over mismatched ID photo
A Thai transwoman is seeking justice, accusing a nightclub security guard in the northern province of Chiang Rai of physically assaulting her for looking different from the photograph on her identification card. The 19 year old transgender victim, identified only as Weerapong, told ThaiRath that the incident occurred outside a nightclub in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, on the night…
-
Border clash victims complain over extra costs for document copies in Buriram
Locals in the Isaan province of Buriram are demanding an investigation after a community leader collected an extra cost of 20 baht from residents who claimed compensation following recent border clashes. A resident from the border community in Nong Wang sub-district, Lahan Sai district, told reporters she was unhappy about the fee. She claimed the community leader collected 20 baht from…
-
Elderly Thai woman’s kindness exploited in 3,000 baht theft in Kalasin
An elderly Thai woman in the Isaan province of Kalasin offered free food to a female stranger and her family, but later discovered that the woman had stolen 3,000 baht in cash before leaving. The victim and her husband reported the theft to a community leader yesterday, August 13. The leader then passed the case to officers from the Sahatsakhan Police…
-
Thai woman arrested for luring women into illegal surrogacy for foreigners
Police arrested a Thai woman at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan province, near Bangkok, yesterday, August 13, for recruiting women for illegal surrogacy services. Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and Immigration Division 2 arrested the woman, identified as Urairisa, who allegedly offered surrogacy services to foreigners illegally. She was detained at the departure terminal on the…
-
Thai man escapes with 51 lottery tickets using fake transfer slip
A Thai lottery vendor in the Isaan province of Udon Thani lost 51 tickets to a man who used a fake money transfer slip to pay for the tickets yesterday, August 13. The female owner of a lottery stall outside a fresh food market in Udon Thani filed a theft complaint at Nong Wua So Police Station yesterday afternoon. She…
-
Drunk man at Chumphon station arrested for Krabi assault charge
A man causing a disturbance at Chumphon railway station due to intoxication was apprehended by police, revealing he was wanted for assault leading to death in Krabi. The incident occurred at 3.30pm yesterday, August 13, when a public report led the Chumphon Provincial Police to intervene. Upon arrival, Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyaphon Chatpoom from the Mueang Chumphon Police Station and…
-
Chiang Rai abbot caught in scandalous video call controversy
A video involving a prominent abbot at a well-known temple in Chiang Rai has sparked controversy, as it shows him in an intimate video call with another man. The clip, which has been widely circulated online, has led to public outrage and calls for his resignation. The incident, reported yesterday, August 13, is linked to a conflict involving a local…
-
Suicide at Sarasin Bridge in Phuket allegedly linked to private photo leak
A Thai man, believed to be a former Studio 7 employee involved in a private photo leak case, committed suicide at Sarasin Bridge in Phuket yesterday, August 13. The Phuket Times Facebook page reported that the man was seen jumping from Sarasin Bridge at around 5.30pm. The Kuson Dham Phuket Rescue Foundation arrived at the scene about ten minutes later…
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.