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 Travel vs international health insurance: Which coverage do you need overseas?
The Thaiger key takeaways Travel insurance is ideal for short-term trips, covering emergencies, cancellations, and lost luggage, but not routine care. International health insurance suits expats and long-term residents, offering full medical coverage, including checkups, maternity, and chronic care. Choosing...
-
Samut Prakan garage shootout leaves 1 dead, 2 seriously injured
A shooting at a car repair shop in Samut Prakan left one person dead and two others seriously injured, prompting a police investigation into the incident. The violent incident occurred around 5.20pm yesterday, September 29, and is currently under investigation by local police. Officers responded to reports of gunfire at the garage, located at the end of Soi Si Samit.…
-
Big Joke strikes back with lawsuit against top judges (video)
A former senior police officer has filed a lawsuit against top judges, accusing them of interfering in a court ruling that led to his controversial dismissal. Former Deputy National Police Chief Police General Surachate Hakparn, better known as Big Joke, has filed a corruption complaint against two of the most senior figures in Thailand’s judiciary. The explosive lawsuit, submitted to…
-
Suvarnabhumi flies high with booming flights and upgrades
Suvarnabhumi Airport has reported a rise in flights and passengers, as officials reveal strong growth and outline expansion plans for the year ahead. The airport has recorded a strong recovery in air travel, with 58.10 million passengers passing through its gates in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to August 2025). Kittipong Kittikachorn, General Manager of…
-
Drunk BMW driver drives against traffic and causes 10 car pile-up
A drunk Thai BMW driver drove against the traffic flow, causing a pile-up involving 10 vehicles on Ratchaphruek Road in the Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. Officers from Ratchaphruek Police Station arrived to find five vehicles involved in a rear-end collision in the left lane. Among them were a Porsche 911 Carrera and a Porsche Cayenne S, both of which sustained…
-
Bualoi batters Thailand as flood warnings sweep nation
A powerful tropical storm is sweeping across Thailand, triggering flood warnings in dozens of provinces as officials urge residents to brace for severe weather. Residents in affected areas are advised to exercise caution due to potential heavy to very heavy rainfall and accumulated precipitation, which may lead to flash floods, forest runoffs, and overflowing rivers, especially in mountainous regions, low-lying…
-
How much does it cost to see a doctor in Thailand?
Thailand is known for its high-quality yet affordable healthcare system, but how much does it really cost to see a doctor? As an expat, this question might be crucial for budgeting your health needs. The answer depends on whether you have health insurance or not, and the difference can be significant. Let’s explore the costs, compare insured versus uninsured expenses,…
-
Pickup driver claims brake failure after crashing man twice in Chiang Rai temple
A Thai man accused a female pickup truck driver of intentionally crashing into his father, killing him as he sat within a temple in Chiang Rai province. CCTV footage captured the vehicle striking the victim twice. The incident occurred inside Mung Mueang Temple in the Wiang sub-district of Mueang Chiang Rai district on Saturday, September 27. The victim, 68 year…
-
Thailand’s border trade plunges 23.6% in August as Cambodia market collapses
Thailand’s border trade dropped 23.6% in August to 63.9 billion baht, with trade with Cambodia almost collapsing, falling 99.9% to just 10 million baht, according to the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT). Arada Fuangtong, director-general of the DFT, said combined border and transit trade in August reached 150.1 billion baht, down 3.1% year-on-year. Exports stood at 75.05 billion baht, while…
-
Thailand eyes private-run ‘lotto-style’ lottery to boost jackpots
The Government Lottery Office (GLO) is considering launching a new “lotto-style” lottery that could be managed by private companies rather than the state. A Finance Ministry source revealed to Bangkok Post that the model would follow systems used overseas, where unclaimed prize money rolls over into bigger jackpots. The move would mark a major shift from the current system, in…
-
Bangkok graffiti vandals slammed for defacing Spanish artist’s mural
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt condemned the three suspects responsible for vandalising a mural by Spanish artist in Soi Charoen Krung 30. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) A follower of the popular Drama-addict Facebook page urged the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to expose the culprits who defaced the wall painting by Carolina…
-
EXAT mulls toll fee cuts and new Easy Pass perks
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) is weighing plans to reduce toll fees and roll out special campaigns to boost Easy Pass use, with some initiatives expected to start later in the year. The proposal, reported today, September 29, aligns with Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn’s pledge to cut living costs within four months. EXAT said it…
-
Thai construction worker killed in staircase collapse in Bangkok hotel
A concrete staircase collapsed and killed a construction worker at a hotel in Huai Khwang, Bangkok, yesterday, September 28. Officers from Huai Khwang Police Station were notified of the incident at about 3pm. The accident occurred at a hotel on Thiam Ruam Mit Road in Huai Khwang district. Police officers attended the scene together with a medical team from Ramathibodi…
-
Thai millionaire market owner found dead in Ratchaburi canal
A female millionaire disappeared from her home in Ratchaburi province yesterday, September 28, before her body was found floating in a canal. Officers from Photharam Police Station were alerted to the discovery of a body in the Mae Khlong Canal at around 11.30am. The woman was dressed in a yellow shirt and white and green striped shorts. She bore no…
-
Thailand video news MG Car Smashes Into Shop in Chiang Mai, Tourists Escape Harm, Man Becomes Disabled After Selling Kidney to Buy iPhone
Thailand’s week was marked by high-stakes diplomacy, law-enforcement scandals, and headline-grabbing incidents. From the foreign minister accusing Cambodia of ceasefire violations at the UN, to police probes over tourist extortion in Chiang Mai, a viral naked dance arrest in Phuket, and a restaurant brawl in Ayutthaya, public safety and tourism issues loomed large. Meanwhile, a man’s tragic kidney sale for…
-
Indian actor quits Cambodia tourism role amid border tensions with Thailand
Indian actor Gagan Malik announced his resignation as Cambodia’s Tourism Goodwill Ambassador on Saturday, September 27, following a border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. He declared, “Thailand is my second home.” Malik is best known for his leading role as Lord Buddha in the film Sri Siddhartha Gautama. He renounced Hinduism and embraced Buddhism in 2014, later becoming an outspoken…
-
Thaksin requests royal pardon, justice ministry confirms
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has officially submitted a petition for an individual royal pardon, which has now advanced to the Secretariat of the Cabinet for further consideration. Thaksin filed the request on September 10, one day after the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced him to one year…
-
Thailand and Japan join forces to tackle call scams and cybercrime
Thai police are stepping up cross-border efforts with Japanese authorities to combat call centre scams and cybercrime. The partnership between Thailand and Japan took a step forward following a high-level visit to Osaka last week. From September 16 to 21, Police Lieutenant General Jirabhop Bhuridej, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), led a Thai delegation to Japan to exchange ideas…
-
South Korean man, Thai wife and child rescued from Lampang forest
Officials on Saturday, September 27, rescued a South Korean man, his Thai wife, and their 10 year old son from a forest in Doi Khun Tan National Park in the northern province of Lampang, after the family had been lost for more than five hours. Officials from Hang Chat District Office, together with Doi Khun Tan National Park rangers and…
-
Foreign couple filmed having sex in sea off Jomtien Beach in Pattaya
Police urged the public to await further investigation after a video showing a foreign couple having sex in the sea off Jomtien Beach in Pattaya sparked widespread online backlash. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The explicit act came to light after the news Facebook page ท่านเปา (meaning Bao Gong) shared a…
-
Thailand braces for heavy rain and flash floods in 42 provinces
Today, September 29, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for 42 provinces across Thailand, highlighting the risk of heavy rain and potential flash floods and landslides. Bangkok and its surrounding areas are also included in this alert, with the possibility of strong waves in the sea. The forecast for the next 24 hours indicates severe rainfall in…
-
Man’s kidney sale for iPhone leaves him disabled at 31
The story of a Chinese man who once sold a kidney to purchase an iPhone 4 and iPad 2 has resurfaced, highlighting his current life at 31 years old. He is now permanently disabled, unable to work, and requires lifelong dialysis, serving as a stark lesson about the consequences of a hasty decision made at 17. In 2010, the iPhone…
-
Ayutthaya restaurant brawl leaves owner’s father injured (video)
Yesterday, on September 27, the Ayutthaya brawl between a restaurant owner and a customer escalated to a physical altercation and car collision, leaving the restaurant owner’s father seriously injured. Police are set to summon all involved for questioning. Police Lieutenant Colonel Samart Raksasat, an investigative officer in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district, responded to reports of a dispute involving vehicles…
-
Transport pioneer Je Kiew dies at 88, leaves billion-baht legacy
The passing of Suchinda Chirdchai, fondly known as “Jae Kiew,” marks the end of an era for Thailand’s transportation industry. The 88 year old businesswoman, who founded the Cherdchai Tour and Cherdchai Industry, built a multi-billion-baht empire from humble beginnings. Suchinda was born on March 20, 1937, in Nakhon Ratchasima province, the sixth child in an ordinary family. Despite completing…
-
Thai minister accuses Cambodia of violating ceasefire at UN assembly
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow addressed the United Nations General Assembly, accusing Cambodia of provocative actions and breaching a ceasefire agreement with Thailand. His remarks were a response to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sokhonn Prak, who claimed Cambodian civilians had faced eviction and an unprovoked attack. The Cambodian official was likely referencing Thailand’s efforts to reclaim parts of Ban Nong…
-
MG sedan crashes into Chiang Mai shop, narrowly missing tourists
A red MG sedan crashed into a popular Mala shop in Chang Phueak, Chiang Mai district, narrowly missing two foreign tourists and other patrons. Police are investigating the incident that occurred yesterday, September 27. Surveillance footage captured the moment the vehicle collided with the shop, where both local and international tourists were dining. The tourists fled in panic, with one…
-
Military crackdown at Sa Kaeo border nabs 19 in trafficking bust
Military forces from the Eastern Border Special Task Force arrested 19 individuals in connection with an international human trafficking network at the border region of Ban Non Khilek, Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province. The operation, carried out today, September 28, also uncovered illegal substances on the group’s leader. The operation was led by Colonel Chainarong Kasee, commander of the Aranyaprathet…
-
Father admits to shooting son over violent behaviour in Udon Thani
A father, unable to endure his drug-addicted son’s violent behaviour any longer, fatally shot him in front of their home in Udon Thani. The 63 year old admitted he reached his limit and was unafraid of prison. The incident occurred at 8pm yesterday, September 27, at a house in Ban Non Yang, Mueang district. Police Colonel Ratchapol Morarat of Na…
-
Lawyers in Thailand accused of faking papers to steal estate
Heirs in Thailand filed a complaint against lawyers who allegedly forged documents to seize assets in a case now under investigation by legal authorities. A representative of a deceased estate has filed a formal complaint against several lawyers, accusing them of conspiring to forge legal documents and unlawfully seize assets worth over 57 million baht. Yesterday, September 26, Chanwut Mekraksawanit,…
-
Bags of cannabis dumped outside Udon Thani home baffle locals
Villagers in Udon Thani were shocked when sealed bags of cannabis were found dumped outside a house, prompting a police investigation into the source. Residents of Ban Si Wilai in Mueang district, Udon Thani, were left both alarmed and confused after discovering 16 bags of dried cannabis dumped outside a home yesterday, September 26. The incident was reported to local…
-
Intoxicated man rescued after sprinting into Jomtien sea
A man was rescued from the sea at Jomtien Beach after running into the water while intoxicated, prompting an emergency response late at night. Emergency services in Pattaya were called into action after a 36 year old man had to be rescued from the sea at Jomtien Beach, near Dongtan Curve, late on Thursday, September 25. The incident occurred around…
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.