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.

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    12Go introduces Japan Rail Passes to enhance travel accessibility for international travellers

    For those who have travelled throughout Thailand, 12Go is a well-known provider of various trips, though the platform itself has a much wider reach. Ranging from buses to planes, 12Go is undoubtedly a leading booking platform for travel throughout the...

  • Thai Airways bans power banks on flights after explosive fire risk

    Thai Airways bans power banks on flights after explosive fire risk

    Airlines worldwide, including Thai Airways, are banning the use and charging of power banks on flights from March 1, following a shocking fire incident aboard a Korean Air Busan flight. The explosion, caused by a faulty power bank, raised serious safety concerns, leading South Korean airlines and other inter6national carriers to tighten regulations to prevent similar disasters. The ban applies…

  • Thai woman mistaken for sister stabbed 18 times by sister’s ex

    Thai woman mistaken for sister stabbed 18 times by sister’s ex

    A Thai man mistook his former sister-in-law for his ex-wife yesterday stabbed her 18 times at the side of a road in the central province of Ayutthaya. Officers from Phak Hai Police Station were alerted to the stabbing at about 6.15am, yesterday, March 6. Upon arrival, they found the 39 year old woman, Waraporn, with severe injuries. She sustained at…

  • NHSO reveals Bangkok clinics earn up to 7 million baht annually

    NHSO reveals Bangkok clinics earn up to 7 million baht annually

    The National Health Security Office (NHSO) has disclosed budget allocations for each community clinic, revealing some clinics receive up to 7 million baht annually. The income of these clinics largely depends on the number of patients treated and services provided. The Association of Warm Community Clinics yesterday, March 6, released data on per capita budget allocations from the NHSO. They…

  • Teenager electrocuted by phone charger in Thailand sparks warning

    Teenager electrocuted by phone charger in Thailand sparks warning

    The tragic death of a teenager electrocuted by a phone charger today has left a community reeling in the Sikhoraphum district of Surin in Isaan. Police revealed that the 15 year old girl was electrocuted after falling asleep with her phone, today, March 7. Officers added that she had burn marks from the phone charger cord. Sergeant Den Wanyang, taking…

  • Ayutthaya acting school director arrested for sexually assaulting 13 schoolboys

    Ayutthaya acting school director arrested for sexually assaulting 13 schoolboys

    Police yesterday arrested an acting school director in the central province of Ayutthaya for sexually assaulting 13 schoolboys aged between eight and 12 years old. The child sex abuse at a school in the Bang Sai district of Ayutthaya came to light after the parents of one of the victims discovered it from their son. The parents then filed a…

  • Thai Attorney General charges 8 in contract killing case (video)

    Thai Attorney General charges 8 in contract killing case (video)

    The Thai Attorney General’s office has filed charges against eight defendants in a high-profile case involving the alleged contract killing of Chaimate “Tong” Sittisanitpong. The case includes charges of conspiracy to commit murder and illegal possession of firearms. Yesterday, the Attorney General’s inspector, Sak Kesem Nithaiyok, and spokesperson for the office, revealed details about the case dating back to February…

  • Cat’s out the bag! Cops claw back wildlife in Bangkok airport bust

    Cat’s out the bag! Cops claw back wildlife in Bangkok airport bust

    In a purrfectly executed operation at Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok, Thai police proudly announced a successful swoop on a hair-raising attempt to smuggle exotic wildlife out of Thailand. The operation on Sunday, March 2, led to the apprehension of a 44 year old Indian woman, who was trying to wing it by sneaking protected animals aboard AirAsia flight FD 137 bound…

  • Thailand cracks down on e-cigarettes with tough new measures

    Thailand cracks down on e-cigarettes with tough new measures

    The Thai government is ramping up its fight against illegal e-cigarettes with a sweeping crackdown on smuggling, online sales, and domestic distribution. At a high-level meeting yesterday, March 6 at Government House, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Jiraporn Sindhuphrai, who oversees the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), announced intensified suppression efforts and long-term solutions. Jiraporn revealed that…

  • Bizarre ‘airplane’ light poles spark online debate in Samut Prakan (video)

    Bizarre ‘airplane’ light poles spark online debate in Samut Prakan (video)

    A wave of online chatter erupted after images went viral of densely packed airplane-shaped light poles in Nong Prue subdistrict, Samut Prakan. Critics are questioning the necessity and cost of the elaborate structures, while local officials insist the project follows regulations and is an innovative way to boost the area’s identity. The viral images, first shared by the Samut Prakan…

  • Warehouse fire keeps Bangkok firefighters on toes for over 8 hours

    Warehouse fire keeps Bangkok firefighters on toes for over 8 hours

    A blazing inferno inside a frozen goods warehouse in Bang Phili proved to be a stubborn adversary for Bangkok firefighters, with the flames still not fully extinguished today after more than eight hours. Amid the chaos, the warehouse owner firmly denied any ammonia gas presence in the facility, easing some public safety concerns. Firefighters from a multitude of agencies converged…

  • Udon Thani hospital staff beaten by patient over queue number (video)

    Udon Thani hospital staff beaten by patient over queue number (video)

    A disturbing video surfaced online this week showing a hospital worker being brutally attacked by a patient at Nam Som Hospital in Udon Thani. The shocking footage, shared by Lieutenant Colonel Dr Thanakrit Chit-arirat, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, has sparked outrage and calls for tougher security in hospitals. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 5 at 8.56am,…

  • Israeli tourists and transwomen clash in Phuket street brawl (video)

    Israeli tourists and transwomen clash in Phuket street brawl (video)

    Two Israeli tourists found themselves embroiled in a street skirmish with a group of transgender women on the bustling Bangla Road in Phuket, leaving both parties nursing injuries. The brawl erupted in the island’s notorious nightlife district on Wednesday, March 5, sparking a dramatic scene captured on video and widely shared across social media. Drama unfolded in the vibrant hub…

  • Thailand video news | Foreign tourist found dead on Kata beach in Phuket, Vietnam sees tourism surge but still lags behind Thailand

    Thailand video news | Foreign tourist found dead on Kata beach in Phuket, Vietnam sees tourism surge but still lags behind Thailand

    In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring the latest headlines from across Thailand and Asia. A foreign tourist was tragically found dead on Phuket’s Kata Beach, while an MP has exposed illegal condo rentals and prostitution in Bangkok’s Nana district. Meanwhile, the court has blocked the travel request of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra due to ongoing…

  • Turkish man arrested in Phuket for illegally selling cannabis

    Turkish man arrested in Phuket for illegally selling cannabis

    Police arrested a Turkish man in the Patong area of Phuket for illegally selling cannabis in the province. Patong Police Station officers reported the arrest of the 33 year old Turkish man, whose name remains undisclosed, yesterday, March 6. The arrest took place outside the Weed Kebab store on Bangla Road on Wednesday. The Turkish man was found illegally distributing…

  • Thailand halts airport transfer plan due to financial concerns

    Thailand halts airport transfer plan due to financial concerns

    Thailand’s Transport Ministry has abruptly scrapped plans to transfer Krabi, Udon Thani, and Buriram airports to Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT), citing financial and operational concerns. Instead, officials are shifting focus towards developing state-run airports to generate more income and reduce reliance on government funding. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced yesterday, March 6, that the transfer, initially approved by…

  • Koh Larn mystery: Tourist’s body leaves police puzzled

    Koh Larn mystery: Tourist’s body leaves police puzzled

    Thai police have been left scratching their heads after discovering the dead body of a tourist in a forest on the picturesque island of Koh Larn. A photograph of an elderly woman was found at the chilling scene, yesterday, March 6. Police Lieutenant Anan Mahakit Asawakun from Pattaya City Police Station’s Koh Larn branch today shared news of the unfolding…

  • Royal Thai Navy’s billion-baht battle over subs and frigates

    Royal Thai Navy’s billion-baht battle over subs and frigates

    Thailand’s troubled submarine deal and ambitious warship plans are caught in political limbo, with the Pheu Thai-led government showing little urgency in making key defence decisions. As Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra prepares for a censure debate later this month, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN)’s long-stalled projects remain up in the air. The RTN initially accepted China’s offer of an S26T…

  • Fatal nap! Driver falls asleep, kills passenger in highway horror

    Fatal nap! Driver falls asleep, kills passenger in highway horror

    A devastating accident on Highway 11 in Nakhon Sawan province tragically claimed the life of a young passenger this morning after a driver fell asleep at behind the wheel. At around 2.40am, today, March 7, a Toyota pickup truck slammed into the back of a parked 18-wheeler, resulting in calamitous damage and heartbreak. The scene at kilometre markers 13 and…

  • Thailand’s new law to tackle online sexual harassment

    Thailand’s new law to tackle online sexual harassment

    Thailand is taking a bold step towards protecting victims of sexual harassment and privacy violations with a groundbreaking new bill that grants victims direct access to the courts—bypassing the slow bureaucratic process that has long delayed justice. Patcharin Samsiripong, Vice Chairwoman of the House Committee on the Draft Act to Amend the Criminal Code, announced that the committee had carefully…

  • Military drill blunder leaves 4 Thais injured in South Korea

    Military drill blunder leaves 4 Thais injured in South Korea

    Two fighter planes mistakenly dropped eight bombs in a residential area in South Korea during a military drill between the country and the United States, resulting in 15 injuries. Four of the injured victims are Thai nationals. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Nikorndate Palangkul, reported that the ministry received notification of the bombing in Pocheon,…

  • Thai farmers urged to go bananas for ripe returns

    Thai farmers urged to go bananas for ripe returns

    The Government of Thailand is urging beleaguered Thai farmers to pivot to bananas from rice as a strategy to bolster their earnings amidst plummeting rice prices. Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan dropped the fruity bombshell while addressing People’s Party MP Narongdech Ularnkul’s concerns about rice price stabilisation. “A rice oversupply is crushing prices, and bananas could be the alternative farmers need.…

  • Thailand’s Lawa Yai island wins top beach award

    Thailand’s Lawa Yai island wins top beach award

    Lawa Yai, an unspoiled tropical retreat in Ao Phang Nga National Park, has just landed a major international honour, securing ISO 13009:2015 certification for top-tier beach management and sustainable tourism. This recognition puts the island on the map as a world-class destination that blends environmental preservation with visitor-friendly services. Phob Toonsang, chief of the national park’s first conservation unit, hailed…

  • Thai motorcyclist praised for his kindness to disabled man in Bangkok

    Thai motorcyclist praised for his kindness to disabled man in Bangkok

    Thai TikTok users praised a Thai motorcyclist for helping a disabled man in a wheelchair cross a steep bridge in Bangkok. The female TikToker, @aileen_eenn, shared a video of the incident on Tuesday, March 4 to highlight the generosity of the motorcyclist. She added a caption to the video stating, “Others may not notice your good deeds, but I do.”…

  • Heavy rain and hail hit Thailand amid summer storm

    Heavy rain and hail hit Thailand amid summer storm

    The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) has issued its sixth warning for a summer storm expected to hit 46 provinces, including Bangkok, with heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and lightning in certain areas. Residents are advised to exercise caution. Issued at 5pm yesterday, March 6, the announcement details that northern, northeastern, central Thailand, Bangkok and its surrounding areas, and the…

  • Seoul searching! Tourist Police nab fake South Korean tour guide

    Seoul searching! Tourist Police nab fake South Korean tour guide

    A South Korean man found himself in hot water with the Tourist Police after allegedly masquerading as a tour guide without the necessary paperwork. Police clocked him on Wednesday, March 5, shepherding a group of international holidaymakers through a bustling local market, where he was seen snapping up tickets and handing out local information. But there was a catch: he…

  • Taiwanese man scammed by Thai lover flies to Thailand for justice

    Taiwanese man scammed by Thai lover flies to Thailand for justice

    A Taiwanese man who thought he had found love with a Thai woman was left devastated after she scammed him out of nearly 10 million baht. Determined to seek justice, he flew to Thailand to file a complaint against her, only to discover she had vanished. Chia Wei Te from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, accompanied by an interpreter and his lawyer, Thiraphong…

  • Luxury Mini Cooper goes up in flames on Bangkok street

    Luxury Mini Cooper goes up in flames on Bangkok street

    A luxury Mini Cooper was destroyed after bursting into flames near Soi Thonglor 20 in Bangkok’s Watthana district this morning. The shocking fire erupted in front of Kasikorn Bank’s Sukhumvit 55 branch, leaving bystanders scrambling to contain the blaze. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sitthichai Jumprom of Thonglor Police Station received a report of the fire at 10.40am, today, March 6, and rushed…

  • Illegal Chinese workers busted in Phuket construction raid

    Illegal Chinese workers busted in Phuket construction raid

    Thalang police arrested four Chinese nationals caught working illegally at a construction site in Thepkrasattri, Phuket, after a dramatic raid on the premises. Acting on a tip-off received on Monday, March 3, officers stormed a warehouse in Village 9, Thepkrasattri, yesterday morning, March 5. Upon arrival, they found the warehouse door open, with the sounds of construction echoing from inside.…

  • Toxic air crisis: Dangerous PM2.5 levels choke 28 Thai provinces

    Toxic air crisis: Dangerous PM2.5 levels choke 28 Thai provinces

    Thailand’s air pollution crisis has intensified, with PM2.5 levels in 28 provinces, mostly in the north and northeast, exceeding the country’s safety standard, the government’s Centre for Air Pollution Mitigation (CAPM) confirmed this afternoon. PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter, small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, increasing the risk…

  • Lost and afraid: Chinese woman rescued from Pattaya woods

    Lost and afraid: Chinese woman rescued from Pattaya woods

    A Chinese woman suffering from mental health issues was found wandering in distress near a wooded area in Jomtien, prompting a swift rescue operation by Pattaya City officials. The alarm was raised when a concerned local spotted the woman looking lost and disoriented near a condominium complex and immediately alerted the police. Responding quickly, officials tracked her down in the…