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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    How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?

    Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....

  • Phatthalung real estate agent found dead at home

    Phatthalung real estate agent found dead at home

    A 69 year old female real estate agent was discovered dead in her home in the Thung Mai community of Phatthalung province. The body was found yesterday, April 27, after neighbours noticed unusual behaviour and reported it to police. Officers from Mueang Phatthalung Police Station, along with rescue officials, responded to the call at 2.30pm. They accessed the single-storey home through…

  • Pattaya sees drop in Chinese tourists, welcomed by Europeans

    Pattaya sees drop in Chinese tourists, welcomed by Europeans

    Pattaya is seeing a noticeable decline in Chinese tourist arrivals, a shift met with mixed feelings by locals and long-term visitors. Business owners reliant on mass tourism have voiced concern, while many European tourists and residents are quietly welcoming the change. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported that daily Chinese arrivals in Pattaya have fallen to around 5,000, compared…

  • Toyota Vios driver shoots truck driver in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Toyota Vios driver shoots truck driver in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    In a shocking early morning showdown, a Toyota Vios driver unleashed six bullets at a truck driver, leaving him critically injured. The dramatic incident unfolded yesterday, April 27, on Phetkasem Road’s southbound stretch near kilometre marker 315 + 600 in the heart of Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan district. The gunman later handed himself over to the police. The car involved,…

  • Grim search as death toll hits 62 at SAO tower collapse in Bangkok

    Grim search as death toll hits 62 at SAO tower collapse in Bangkok

    Rescue crews are still battling through mountains of concrete to reach the first floor of the collapsed 30-storey State Audit Office tower in Bangkok, with hopes fading for the dozens still missing after the deadly disaster. Demolition workers are expected to reach the first floor of the devastated skyscraper today, April 28, City Hall confirmed, as the official death toll…

  • Thailand video news | Chinese Man Arrested for Murder and Dismemberment of Trans Woman in Pattaya, Sword-Wielding Man Arrested After Violent Dispute in Phuket

    Thailand video news | Chinese Man Arrested for Murder and Dismemberment of Trans Woman in Pattaya, Sword-Wielding Man Arrested After Violent Dispute in Phuket

    Today’s regional news, Jay and Alex cover serious crime cases in Thailand, including a murder in Pattaya and public scandals involving tourists. Meanwhile, Thailand moves to modernise immigration procedures with a digital arrival card. Updates from across Southeast Asia also highlight major drug busts, public health initiatives, and trade negotiations shaping the region’s future. Chinese Man Arrested for Murder and…

  • 2 British men fined after clash with group of Thai men in Pattaya

    2 British men fined after clash with group of Thai men in Pattaya

    Two British men clashed with a group of Thai men at a convenience store in Pattaya and were ordered to pay 15,000 baht in compensation. The news Facebook page เจ๊มอย v+ (Jamoi v+) reported the incident yesterday, April 27, and attached a video of the altercation to the post. The initial cause of the confrontation was a road dispute between…

  • Crane accident in Bangkok injures two construction workers

    Crane accident in Bangkok injures two construction workers

    Two construction workers sustained injuries when a crane basket cable snapped, causing them to fall onto Pracharat Bamphen Road in Huai Khwang district, Bangkok. The incident yesterday, April 27, occurred near the Huai Khwang intersection. Police Colonel Prasopchok Iampinit, chief of Huai Khwang Police Station, along with Deputy Police Superintendent Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekachai Malawanno, instructed Police Lieutenant Chaiya Weluwanarak…

  • Thailand PM pushes major transport projects in northeast region

    Thailand PM pushes major transport projects in northeast region

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is advocating for major transport development projects in northeast Thailand, aligning with an upcoming mobile Cabinet meeting agenda in Nakhon Phanom tomorrow, April 29. This initiative precedes the PM’s scheduled visit to the area today, where the government is considering transport projects in Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, and Mukdahan provinces. The aim is to transform the…

  • PPRP vows not to rejoin Thai government coalition

    PPRP vows not to rejoin Thai government coalition

    Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader General Prawit Wongsuwon affirmed that the PPRP will not re-enter the government coalition. He dispelled rumours suggesting that its MPs had defected to the coalition Kla Dharma Party. Yesterday, April 27, the same day PPRP unveiled a new party logo, Prawit denied any intentions among the party’s MPs to defect, noting that all members were present…

  • Purr-fect excuse: British driver blames cat for crashing BMW into Phuket restaurant

    Purr-fect excuse: British driver blames cat for crashing BMW into Phuket restaurant

    A British man yesterday claimed that he swerved to avoid hitting a cat, causing him to crash his BMW into a house and a restaurant on Kwang Road in Phuket. A Thai owner of a som tum stall on the Kwang Road in the Wichit sub-district of Phuket called officers from Wichit Police Station and rescuers from the Ruam Jai…

  • Boy shot dead by cousin after psychic’s chilling prediction

    Boy shot dead by cousin after psychic’s chilling prediction

    Police in Udon Thani are investigating the heartbreaking death of a 10 year old boy who was accidentally shot by his cousin, also aged 10, while playing with their grandfather’s antique gun. In a chilling twist, a fortune teller had reportedly predicted the youngster’s death, warning of danger after the boy survived several near-misses in the months leading up to…

  • Russian man stabbed outside Pattaya condo in jealous rage

    Russian man stabbed outside Pattaya condo in jealous rage

    A Russian man stabbed a fellow countryman in a jealous rage after seeing the victim speaking with his girlfriend outside a condominium in Pattaya. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were called to investigate the stabbing at the Sunset Boulevard 2 condominium on Soi Khao Phra Tamnak 4 in Pattaya at about 6pm on Saturday, April 26. Upon arrival, officers…

  • US targets Thai exports for strict origin checks amid trade concerns

    US targets Thai exports for strict origin checks amid trade concerns

    The United States has identified 50 to 60 Thai products for stringent origin verification to prevent circumvention of trade regulations through false origin claims for exports to the US, as stated by Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. He noted that the US is focusing on the issuance of certificates of origin (C/O) to prevent misuse of trade privileges granted to Thailand,…

  • Curry on thief: Pattaya market vendor fleeced by motorbike bandit

    Curry on thief: Pattaya market vendor fleeced by motorbike bandit

    A crafty crook made off with a Thai food vendor’s cash after pulling a sneaky stunt at a bustling Pattaya market. The police fear it’s just the latest in a growing trend of brazen street thefts. At 8.06am, yesterday, April 27, officers at Huai Yai Police Station were alerted to a snatch theft at Khao Mai Kaew Market, Pattaya. Patrol…

  • Brace yourselves: Thai-thunderstorm warning across 61 provinces

    Brace yourselves: Thai-thunderstorm warning across 61 provinces

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for today, April 28, forecasting severe thunderstorms across 61 provinces, with the northeastern region particularly affected. Residents are advised to exercise caution, avoid open areas, and beware of strong winds and possible hail. The TMD predicts that upper Thailand will experience summer storms, characterised by thunderstorms, strong winds, hail, and occasional…

  • Thai-hard life: Brit’s retirement dream sours over frozen pension

    Thai-hard life: Brit’s retirement dream sours over frozen pension

    A British expat who dreamed of living out his golden years under the Thai sun says he’s been left counting every baht after his UK state pension was frozen and he reckons it’s “immoral” he’s been abandoned by his own country. Christopher Lee swapped Wrexham for Thailand back in 2010, lured by sizzling sunshine, spicy street food and a slower…

  • Man arrested after sword-wielding altercation in Phuket

    Man arrested after sword-wielding altercation in Phuket

    A man was apprehended in Phuket after wielding a sword during a roadside altercation on Chao Fa Suan Luang Road in Wichit previously on April 25. The incident stemmed from a dispute over a construction contract fee. Video footage widely circulated on social media depicted the victim, 46 year old Chatchai Sae-Ku, leaving his vehicle after it was rear-ended by…

  • Thailand launches digital arrival card to replace paper system

    Thailand launches digital arrival card to replace paper system

    Thailand is set to introduce its Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) on May 1, replacing the previous paper-based system for international arrivals. This initiative aims to streamline the arrival process and enhance the screening of transnational criminals, according to immigration officials. The TDAC will be implemented for all international entries via sea, air, or land, as stated by Police Major General…

  • Road rage shooting leaves man injured in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Road rage shooting leaves man injured in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    A recent road rage incident on Phetkasem Road in Prachuap Khiri Khan province resulted in a 29 year old man being seriously injured after an altercation between two drivers led to gunshots being fired. Police Lieutenant Panom Hongthong from the Khlong Wan Police Station was notified of the shooting at approximately 3am, today, April 27. The incident took place in…

  • Former village headman killed at monk ceremony in Ratchaburi

    Former village headman killed at monk ceremony in Ratchaburi

    A former village headman was attacked and killed by four youths after attending a monk ordination ceremony in Ratchaburi province. The incident occurred around 12.10am today, April 27, with one additional person seriously injured. Police are currently investigating the case. Police Colonel Saifon Lakpetch was alerted to the incident at the entrance of Soi 6, Moo 3, Ban Rai subdistrict,…

  • Chiang Rai man detained for claiming to be mythical creature

    Chiang Rai man detained for claiming to be mythical creature

    Police and military forces in Chiang Rai detained a man claiming to be a mythical creature, causing concern among residents in a local village. The incident occurred yesterday, April 26, when the man, reportedly exhibiting signs of mental illness and carrying weapons, was found in a hut at the edge of the village, Moo 9, in Sri Kham subdistrict, Mae…

  • Thaksin refutes coalition reshuffle rumours in Thailand

    Thaksin refutes coalition reshuffle rumours in Thailand

    In Chiang Mai, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra dismissed speculation that the Bhumjaithai Party might be removed from the coalition, amidst reports of a possible Cabinet reshuffle. Speaking to the media, Thaksin, father of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, emphasised that decisions regarding the Cabinet rest solely with the PM. He further indicated that any Cabinet changes would be comprehensive,…

  • SRT extends Thai-Chinese rail project by 201 days

    SRT extends Thai-Chinese rail project by 201 days

    The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Board has approved a 201-day extension for the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project between Saraburi and Kaeng Khoi due to structural constraints, including land-use permissions from the Royal Irrigation Department. SRT Governor Veeris Ammarapala announced the board’s approval for the extension of the contract for the high-speed rail system connecting Bangkok and Nong Khai, a…

  • Fire engulfs Rangsit grassland, dangerously close to gas pipeline

    Fire engulfs Rangsit grassland, dangerously close to gas pipeline

    A fire engulfed over 100 rai of grassland in Rangsit, Pathum Thani, with smoke billowing into the sky, causing anxiety among residents due to its proximity to a gas pipeline. Firefighters worked to control the blaze and create firebreaks yesterday, April 26, at around 1pm. The Rangsit Municipality Fire Radio Centre in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani province, received a report…

  • Collapsed Bangkok building death toll rises to 60

    Collapsed Bangkok building death toll rises to 60

    Rescue teams in Bangkok have uncovered three more bodies from the rubble of a 30-story building that collapsed last month, bringing the death toll to a devastating 60. The bodies were found in the fire escape stairwell area of the under-construction State Audit Office (SAO) building in Chatuchak district. Officials fear that more victims may be discovered as search and…

  • 8-year-old girl drowns in Buriram’s Mun River, mother distraught

    8-year-old girl drowns in Buriram’s Mun River, mother distraught

    An eight year old girl tragically drowned after a boat capsized in the Mun River in Buriram province. Her 45 year old mother was left distraught. Survivors recounted the incident, highlighting attempts to bail water from the boat and the rescue efforts by a seven year old boy. Yesterday, April 25, Phasakorn Phokham, a Police Lieutenant Colonel at Phutthaisong Police…

  • Youths throw pétanque balls at boxing leader’s Chon Buri home

    Youths throw pétanque balls at boxing leader’s Chon Buri home

    In a bizarre and frightening incident in Chon Buri, a group of youths targeted the home of a boxing camp leader, throwing pétanque balls at his house in the early hours yesterday, April 25. The attack, which narrowly missed his six year old daughter, left the family car and house windows damaged, leaving the family shaken and fearful. The incident…

  • Tourism in Mukdahan drops by 50% after Songkran festival

    Tourism in Mukdahan drops by 50% after Songkran festival

    The Mukdahan Hotel Association has highlighted a significant decline in tourism activity following the Songkran festival, with accommodation bookings plummeting by over 50%. The lack of major events in this secondary tourist destination is affecting employment, with thousands at risk of losing their jobs. Pramin Wongpralab, chairman of the Mukdahan Hotel Association, noted that the sluggish economic conditions in April…

  • Pattaya’s new drainage system ready for rainy season

    Pattaya’s new drainage system ready for rainy season

    Pattaya City is gearing up for the rainy season with a major new upgrade to its drainage system, designed to combat flooding in central areas. On Thursday, April 24, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet inspected and tested the newly completed Phase 1 of the Eastern Railway Parallel Road Drainage System, ensuring it’s ready for heavy rainfall. The drainage project, part of…

  • Phuket road rage leads to livestreamed assault, man arrested

    Phuket road rage leads to livestreamed assault, man arrested

    Shocking footage has surfaced of a violent road rage incident on the streets of Phuket, leading to the arrest of a 34 year old man who brutally assaulted a 46 year old driver. The disturbing altercation unfolded yesterday, April 25, on Chao Fah Suan Luang Road, when Nattapol, known as Pa Joke Wat Thep, chased down Chatchai’s vehicle, crashed into…