News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
-
Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
-
Tourist thrill ride: Hanging out of car windows lands travellers in hot water in Phuket
A group of reckless tourists in Karon, Phuket, were caught on video hanging out of a car’s windows on the road on Tuesday afternoon. Karon police confirmed that the tourists were seen engaging in impulsive behaviour at approximately 3pm on January 30. The police tracked down the individuals in question at 5.45pm and took them to the local police station…
-
Rare Pokémon Oreo fetches up to 200,000 baht
A recent online sensation has emerged as a Facebook page announced it is willing to pay up to 200,000 baht (US$5,637) for a special edition Oreo cookie featuring the rare Mew Pokémon design. This limited-edition cookie has caused a stir among collectors and raised questions about the authenticity of the buying offers, with some speculating it might be a price…
-
Welsh tourist dies of heart failure on first day of Phuket holiday
A 60 year old Welsh holidaymaker tragically passed away from heart failure on the first day of his vacation in Phuket, Thailand, reported by Patong Police. The lamentable event was confirmed to Police Lieutenant Colonel Pacharathorn Chan-iad of Patong Police by Patong Hospital at around 12.30pm yesterday, January 31. The man, accompanied by his family of three, had embarked on…
-
Palang Pracharath Party member calls for dissolution of Move Forward Party
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) MP Rueangkrai Leekitwattana plans to submit a letter to the Office of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) seeking the dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP) following the recent decision by the Constitution Court. Thai lawyer Teerayut Suwannakaesorn accused the MFP and former party leader Pita Limjaroenrat of trying to overthrow the monarchy and the…
-
Teenager detained for premeditated murder in Suan Luang school
A 14 year old schoolboy, recently detained at a juvenile detention centre, stands accused of premeditated murder and public possession of a weapon. This follows a tragic incident that occurred on Monday at a school in the Suan Luang district, where he allegedly stabbed and killed another student. Awaiting judgment, the teenager remains under the jurisdiction of the Central Juvenile…
-
Foam and scale: Dishwashing liquid divides netizens in fishy transport debate
A fish vendor’s unconventional method of using dishwashing liquid to keep fish alive during transportation has sparked intense online debate. A video went viral showing the vendor pouring the liquid into a fish transport container, claiming it helps provide oxygen to the fish, preventing them from water shock. However, Dr Jesada Denduangboripant, a biology lecturer at Chulalongkorn University and a…
-
Heroic bus driver’s honesty wins hearts: Returns lost wallets to French couple
A Thai bus driver is breaking the Internet with his virtuous act after returning the wallets of a French couple. Kanta Sridara, the 59 year old driver of Mini Bus No. 44 on the Kanchanaburi-Bangkok route, not only discovered misplaced wallets belonging to French tourists but also promptly returned their lifetime savings, earning praise and admiration across social media. According to…
-
Thailand weather forecast: Cool morning, fog, warming, light rain
A sharp temperature drop and sporadic rain are expected in parts of Thailand today, according to the Thai weather forecast by the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD). In Bangkok, light showers are anticipated, while the south faces stormy conditions due to the prevailing monsoon, with waves exceeding 1 metre in some areas. The country’s northern region is bracing for a…
-
Lottery frenzy hits Thailand ahead of Chinese New Year
As the festive season of Chinese New Year beckons, lottery fever grips Thailand, with enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the draw today, February 1. The blend of Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day sparked a surge in lottery ticket sales, with a particular focus on numbers associated with these celebrations. The government lottery office, however, has yet to commence its travelling draw…
-
4 year old boy falls to his death from 23rd floor of Bangkok condo
Tragedy struck the Jomthong district of Bangkok yesterday when a four year old boy fell to his death from the balcony of a 23rd-floor condominium on Rama II Road. The family had only just moved into the condo on the day of the heartbreaking incident. Bangmod Police Station officers visited the 26-storey condo at about 4pm yesterday after receiving reports…
-
Student Loan Fund recalculates debt repayment to reduce 100 billion baht bad debts
With a staggering 100 billion baht (US$2.8 billion) in bad debts, the Student Loan Fund (SLF) is set to see a decline in its debt pile following the implementation of a new debt repayment calculation method, according to SLF manager, Chainarong Kajchapanan. This change is a result of the recent amendment of the Student Loan Fund Act (No.2) 2023, which…
-
Thai man arrested for repeated thefts at house of well-known celebrity manager
A well-known Thai celebrity manager filed a complaint against a local man for repeatedly stealing designer brand products from her home. The transwoman celebrity manager, Suppachai “A” Srivijit, filed a theft report with the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMB) in mid-January after designer brand items worth about 2 million baht were stolen. Officers investigated the matter and…
-
Thai Transport Ministry announces 652 billion baht for infrastructure projects
The Thai Transport Ministry recently announced a substantial investment of 652 billion baht (US$18,345,526,120). The funds are earmarked for around 150 transport projects to be initiated this year and the next, in a bid to bolster the country’s infrastructure. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit detailed the plans following a policy seminar held yesterday, January 31. According to him, 64 projects, with…
-
Potential rise in minimum wage to 400 baht in select provinces
The anticipated increase in the daily minimum wage to 400 baht in select provinces is set for review by the tripartite wage committee in April, according to Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. The committee’s chairman, Pairoj Chotikasathien, assigned a subcommittee to reassess the wage calculation formula and explore the potential for wage hikes in certain provinces and professions. The findings from…
-
Good Samaritan injured aiding crash victims in Pathum Thani
In the early hours of today, February 1, a good Samaritan tragically became a victim himself while assisting at the scene of a crash involving two motorcycles in Pathum Thani Province. A 38 year old man was struck by a speeding car, sustaining severe injuries. The accident, which initially left three people injured from the motorcycle collision, occurred on the…
-
Thailand’s steel industry suffers as cheap imports from China flood market
Steel industry capacity utilisation in Thailand is on a downward spiral, with Tata Steel Thailand Plc (TSTH), a subsidiary of India’s largest steelmaker, attributing this trend to the sluggish economic recovery and the influx of inexpensive steel from China. The postponement of the fiscal 2024 state budget planning as a consequence of the 2023 general elections and the protracted process…
-
Thailand’s manufacturing sector set to rebound by 2024 despite 2023 contraction
Despite the economic slowdown causing a 5.1% contraction in Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) last year, it is expected to rebound in 2024. The forecasted improvement comes in response to an increase in the export of industrial products, which grew by 3.22% in December, marking the third consecutive month of growth, according to Warawan Chitaroon, the director-general of the Office…
-
Thailand’s tourism sector remains stable despite court ruling, says TCT president
The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) president, Chamnan Srisawat, has reassured that the Constitutional Court ruling will not destabilise the government or the country’s tourism sector. He confidently stated that international tourism demand would remain unaffected unless there was severe violence. Chamnan credited Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s government with beneficial tourism-driving initiatives, such as visa-free travel for high-potential markets. Despite…
-
Man Fighting Shark sculpture to come to Hua Hin
In a meeting at the Chomsin Room of the Hua Hin Municipality Office on Monday, municipal authorities including Deputy Mayor Busaba Choksuchat discussed a sensational new landmark sculpture titled Man Fighting Shark. This assembly marked a pivotal moment in the rejuvenation of a beloved public space. The proposed sculpture, destined for a prime spot in front of the Chao Pho-Chao…
-
Thai wife injured by fruit knife during heated argument with British husband
A Thai woman was found with a serious hand injury sustained from a fruit knife in a condominium on Soi Wat Boonkanjanaram, near Jomtien Beach, Pattaya. Pattaya police and a rapid response unit responded to a distress call at 3am yesterday, January 30, stumbling upon a gruesome scene on the seventh floor: a 27 year old woman, identified as C,…
-
Pink Line back on track: Monorail bounces back from holiday disaster
The Pink Line monorail, which suffered a dramatic collapse on Christmas Eve, resumes service tomorrow, February 1. Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote, after a meticulous inspection yesterday, announced that the Pink Line’s developer and operator, North Bangkok Monorail Co, has pulled off a miraculous recovery. “The conductor rail has been restored to its former glory, and the entire line has…
-
South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce host networking event in Pattaya
The South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce (SATCC) hosted the SATCC ESB Multi-Chamber Networking Evening at Pullman Pattaya Hotel G on January 19. The event, generously supported by Bumrungrad Hospital as the main sponsor, transformed the venue into a vibrant hub of collaboration. A constellation of sponsors, including Macallan Insurance Broker, Q Cars, Red Wolf Global, and CSP Construction, illuminated the…
-
TAT urges government to extend tourist visas
Thailand is seeking to revolutionise its tourism sector, urging the government to extend visa-free stays for long-haul tourists, including those from the United States and Europe. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to elevate long-haul revenue to a whopping 40% of the country’s total in 2024. Thailand’s Deputy Governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, Siripakorn…
-
Thai court orders Pita and Move Forward Party to refrain from lese majeste law reform
The Constitutional Court ordered the advisor to the former leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), Pita Limjaroenrat, and the party to cease campaigns to reform Section 112 of the Criminal Law, also known as lese majeste law. Their efforts were deemed to pose threats to the monarchy of Thailand. During the General Election last year, one of the key policies…
-
Phuket police hunt bus staffer after tourist’s restroom harassment claim
Phuket police are actively searching for a bus employee who allegedly sexually harassed a female foreign tourist in a restroom at the Phuket Bus Terminal. The incident, which took place today, January 31, was interrupted by a monk, who attempted to intervene before the suspect fled the scene. Police Deputy Inspector Surachart Thongyai of Phuket Mueang Police Station was notified…
-
Lending company manager arrested for siphoning 200,000 baht from clients’ accounts
A lending company manager in Buriram has been apprehended following accusations of syphoning approximately 200,000 baht from clients’ accounts. The suspect reportedly manipulated the personal details of three clients, thereby gaining access to cash cards used to withdraw funds from the victims’ loan accounts. Anurak, the 32 year old manager of the lending establishment in Mueang district, was taken into…
-
British man arrested in Chiang Mai for abusing teen student
A British man, posing as an English teacher in Phuket for two years, has been arrested for sexually abusing a 16 year old foreign student twice at a private residence. The incidents, which took place on December 9, 2014, and April 2, 2015, came to light following an investigation by the school after the student’s guardians reported the matter. The…
-
David Beckham scores big with fans at Predator event in CentralWorld (video)
Football legend David Beckham held a meet & greet at CentralWorld shopping mall in Bangkok yesterday for the Adidas event, The Legend of Predator. The 48 year old soccer icon attended The Legend of Predator event held at the Central Court in CentralWorld yesterday January 30, organised by Adidas. At the event, more than 21 models of Adidas Predator football…
-
Alleged encroachment in Bang Khanun protected forest sparks controversy
The Gulf of Thailand Coastal Area Conservation Network – Andaman (branch) raised concerns over alleged encroachment in the Bang Khanun protected forest reserve, calling for an investigation. Led by the chairman, Chamroon Kerddam, the group complained to the Phuket branch of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), implicating government officials in facilitating unlawful activities in the protected area. The complaint, submitted…
-
Thai activist gets suspended sentence for lèse-majesté
Activist Pasarawalee ‘Mind’ Thanakitvibulphol has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Bangkok South Criminal Court under Thailand’s lèse-majesté law, also known as Section 112. The sentence has been suspended for three years. This ruling stems from her involvement in a protest and speech at a rally held on March 24, 2021, by the Ratsadon group at the…
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.