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 Is expat health insurance in Thailand actually worth it?
The Thaiger key takeaways Foreigners aren’t covered by public healthcare, making private hospital costs a major concern. Insurance offers financial protection and access to better medical care. Whether it’s worth it depends on your stay length, health, lifestyle, and budget....
-
British man with depression falls to death from condo in Pattaya
A British man became yet another statistic of the insensitively named “Pattaya Flying Club” after he fell to his death at a condominium in the popular seaside resort. His Thai caretaker said the deceased had been depressed after losing his Thai boyfriend. Officers at Mueang Pattaya Police Station were notified at 7am today, October 20, of the death of an…
-
Thailand’s EV initiative: Driving towards a greener future
The Thai government has embarked on an ambitious plan to replace ageing government vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs), in line with their carbon neutrality goal set for 2050. The Thai EV initiative move was prompted by a notification issued by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, encouraging the use of EVs within the government sector. PM Srettha’s order, issued via the Secretariat…
-
Couple arrested for operating illegal karaoke bar and prostitution in northern Thailand
Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested a couple for running an illegal karaoke bar and human trafficking in the Isaan province of Loei and rescued three young Lao women from prostitution. The CIB received a tip-off that a Thai couple had turned their restaurant in the Loei province into an illegal karaoke bar, offering sex services to customers.…
-
Ghost encounter leaves Thai Dhamma retreat-goer spooked in Chiang Mai
A Thai woman claimed that a ghost haunted her after completing a Dhamma retreat at a Rampoeng temple in the northern province of Chaing Mai. She also shared her selfie with the ghost in the background on TikTok. Sawitcha “Pear” Butsara, shared a spooky video of her ghost encounter on TikTok @pipimpeary, on Wednesday, October 18, with the caption… “What…
-
Scam targets Thai overseas workers’ financial data amid Israel-Palestine conflict
The Thai Department of Employment raised the alarm on a new scam targeting the financial data of overseas workers amidst the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict. The scam involves tricking victims into downloading a fraudulent money transfer app on their mobile devices. Sompong Kaewwandee, the head of the Chiang Rai Provincial Employment Office, issued a public warning on Thursday, cautioning people against…
-
Prehistoric alligator’s undercover mission: 230,000 years submerged in Thailand
Alligators’ ability to remain submerged for several hours is common knowledge among herpetologists but it came as a surprise to some that one in Thailand had managed to remain buried for 230,000 years. The astonishing archaeological discovery was announced by Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which reported the unearthing of fossilised remains belonging to an extinct alligator species,…
-
Monk’s divine intervention calms drunk Russian man causing chaos in Pattaya
A Thai monk used divine intervention to control a drunk, out-of-control Russian man causing chaos on a street in Soi Chalerm Prakiat 19 in Pattaya by tapping the lid of his alms bowl on the foreign man’s head. The monk said the lid tapping was his way to encourage people to remain calm. The 26 year old Russian man, Rusten…
-
Thailand’s future so bright, it’s gotta rock Ray-Bans
The future’s looking so bright for Thailand that it’s gotta wear shades, and not just any old shades, preferably Ray–Ban sunglasses. Fortunately, for residents in the Land of Smiles, EssilorLuxottica, the renowned creator of Ray-Ban sunglasses, has recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art factory in eastern Thailand, poised to serve as a prominent production centre for the Asia-Pacific region. Located in Rayong…
-
Pickup truck accident leads to woman’s canal rescue in Kanchanaburi
An accident involving a pickup truck teetering on the edge of an irrigation canal alarmed local residents in Thamuang district, Kanchanaburi province. Emergency services were swiftly notified and upon arrival, discovered the empty vehicle poised precariously on the embankment. A search ensued, and 400 metres downstream, a woman was found floating in the water. She was swiftly rescued by locals…
-
Tragic accident: Bangkok Police Deputy Superintendent dies in motorbike crash
A tragic accident claimed the life of a deputy superintendent today who was returning home from his shift. In the early hours of the morning around 2am, 41 year old Thongplaew Hanpaiboon was riding his Yamaha Nmax motorcycle when he collided with a barrier on an elevated bridge near Makasan Pond in the Ratchathewi district of Bangkok. The accident scene, a…
-
Ghost hunt in Lopburi village creates chaos as million baht reward retracted
News of a ghostly “Krasue” haunting a village in Ban Berk, Tha Wung district, Lopburi province, has caused widespread fear among locals. A subsequent offer of a million baht reward for capturing the Krasue, a nocturnal female spirit of Southeast Asian folklore, by a resort owner in Saraburi province has escalated the hunt for the spectre. However, it is reported…
-
Landslide in Chaiyaphum province prompts dramatic rescue
A landslide incident near the floodgate of the Chi River in Chaiyaphum province led to a dramatic rescue. Five locals yesterday narrowly escaped death as the ground gave way, causing multiple motorcycles to fall into the river. The unexpected event occurred at Bueng Lahan (Yai Kaew canal), Nong Bua Ban sub-district, Chatturat district. Volunteers from the Nong Bua Ban Subdistrict…
-
Bangkok taxi driver accused of kicking out female passenger
Police summoned a Thai taxi driver caught on a viral video kicking out a female passenger on a road in Bangkok for making a phone call in his cab. The victim, Ploy, shared the video with local news site Red Skull as she got into a heated argument with the taxi driver on the street. In the video, Ploy and…
-
Thai education embraces UK programmes to boost English language proficiency
Thailand has officially embraced programmes initiated by the United Kingdom, designed to boost English language proficiency among Thai students and teachers. The Education Minister of Thailand, Police General Permpoon Chidchob, held a conversation with the UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, to discuss this educational collaboration. The British ambassador, Mark Gooding, was also present at the discussion…
-
Couple accuse daughter of swindling over 300 million baht assets
An elderly couple in their 80s lodged a formal complaint against their youngest daughter, alleging that she swindled them out of more than 300 million baht over three years by reportedly drugging them. The couple’s granddaughter, Praw, accompanied her grandparents to seek help from the non-profit organisation, Saimai Survive. Praw revealed to the organisation and media that her grandparents lost…
-
Sky skirmish looms: Low-cost airlines face turbulence from price-dumping giants
The survival of emerging low-cost carriers in Southeast Asia could be threatened as dominant airlines may resort to price-dumping strategies to safeguard their market share. The airline industry’s seat recovery is also projected to take a decade to fully bounce back. Really Cool Airlines’ Chief Executive, Patee Sarasin, previously the chief executive of Nok Air, expects to obtain the Air…
-
Bangkok breathes uneasy: PM2.5 dust levels reach ‘unhealthy’ zones
Bangkok, alongside other provinces, is grappling with unsettling levels of ultra-fine dust, or PM2.5. The quality of air in several areas has been categorised as either moderate or in the unhealthy spectrum. People, especially those living with chronic illnesses, have been cautioned by the Public Health Ministry to review the air quality before stepping out or participating in outdoor activities.…
-
Black bear caught after stealing food from local in central Thailand (video)
Royal Forestry Department authorities have successfully captured an Asian black bear that was stealing food from a local kitchen in Prachantakarm district in the central province of Prachin Buri. The 62 year old homeowner, Wimon Ngammeesri, reached out to the authorities after the black bear repeatedly stole food from her refrigerator and food cupboard. Wimon explained that her house is…
-
Yala temple’s amusing rules for resident spirits capture netizens’ attention
An intriguing set of rules has emerged from a renowned temple in Yala, aimed at the spirits residing within the temple’s vicinity. The rules, designed to foster harmony among the monks, villagers, and spirits, have gone viral, sparking amusement among netizens. This unusual story began gaining traction when a vinyl signboard with the rules was posted within the famous Yala…
-
Killer on the loose: Thai court’s bail break leads to murderer attack on witness (video)
A murderer granted temporary bail by the Thai courts used it as an opportunity to threaten and attack a witness in the case. A non-profit organisation, Saimai Survive, shared security camera footage of a 41 year old Thai man named Sarun Sinsuphan being strangled by 44 year old Wuttiphat. In the video, another man wearing a LINE Man jacket came…
-
Fatal twist of fate in northeast Thailand leaves motorcyclist dead and family grieving
A tragic accident on the bypass at the Don Khee intersection in the Nong Bua Lamphu town area left a 37 year old motorcyclist dead. The incident occurred late at night just 1 kilometre from his home. The motorcyclist was returning home when he collided with a black Ford Ranger pickup, leaving family members devastated. Police Captain Kamplaeng Chaiyarin, an…
-
Homeward bound: Fallen heroes return as Thai workers’ remains arrive from Israel
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the remains of the eight Thai workers, who tragically lost their lives in Israel, are set to arrive back in their homeland on Friday morning. This announcement came to light yesterday, following the receipt of a green light from an Israeli forensic institute allowing an Israeli funeral service company to transport the bodies.…
-
Drug-fuelled son assaults father in Muktahan: Officials intervene
A disturbing incident unfolded in Muktahan as a drug-fuelled, armed with a sharp-edged knife, assaulted his father, inflicting deep wounds on him. The incident was reported today, to the local security officials of Nikhom Kham Soi district, Mukdahan province, by alarmed locals who witnessed the man muttering incoherently and behaving erratically, accusing his father of conspiring to murder him. Security…
-
Hero or villain? Thai man arrested for stabbing deputy mayor in Isaan drama
Police arrested a Thai man yesterday for stabbing the Deputy Mayor of Prasart district in Isaan’s Burriram province. The suspect claimed he was a hero, acting to safeguard the community from a corrupt authority. Officers from Ban Darn Police Station rushed to the scene outside a temple in Prasart district to help the victim, 66 year old Deputy Mayor Suriya…
-
Man allegedly steals winning lottery tickets valued 40,000 baht friend in northern Thailand
Police have issued a warrant for the summoning of a Thai man accused of stealing two winning lottery tickets valued at 40,000 baht from a victim. The victim, a 64 year old man named Klai, lodged a complaint against his friend, a 50 year old Thai man named Kwan, at Taluk Doo Police Station in the Udon Thani province of…
-
Burmese man shot dead by Thai police in Prachuap Khiri Khan after knife attack
A tragic incident unfolded today in the Kui Buri district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province when a 30 year old Burmese man was shot dead by local police. The man, reportedly suffering from a mental breakdown, had threatened villagers with a knife, leading to a police intervention that resulted in his death. Upon receiving the report of Ao Ko’s erratic…
-
Thailand NBTC advances regulatory structure for OTT platforms
Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is swiftly developing a regulatory structure for over-the-top (OTT) platforms, focusing primarily on video-on-demand and video-sharing services. This manoeuvre is a further step by the government to supervise domestic and international OTT operators, necessitating that business details be submitted to the regulator to aid in shaping the future of the OTT industry. OTT…
-
Thai man fights for justice after losing job due to police error in central Thailand
A Thai man is seeking justice after officers at Bang Pa-in Police Station in the central province of Ayutthaya mistakenly made an error and registered him as a criminal. The mistake led to the man being fired from his job. The 48 year old Thai man, Panya Boonnarong, urged Channel 7 to spread his story and help him seek justice.…
-
Suphanburi thief arrested for stealing water meters to fund drug habit
A persistent thief In Suphanburi was apprehended for stealing water meters right under the nose of homeowners, simply to fund his drug habit. The arrest was made and charges were filed against him today. The crime was reported to be in progress at a resident’s home in Moo 6, Nong Makha Mong Subdistrict, Dan Chang District, Suphanburi. The homeowner was…
-
Flash flood warnings issued for 33 Thai provinces due to heavy rain forecast
The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for 33 provinces, predicting continuous heavy rain, particularly in southern Thailand, which is expected to experience heavy rain in 70% of its area. The accumulating rainfall could lead to sudden flash floods. The danger is particularly high in the southern region where people are urged to be cautious of heavy rainfall…
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.