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.
-
Sponsored Thailand health insurance that covers chronic conditions: What expats need to know
The Thaiger key takeaways Managing chronic conditions in Thailand requires health insurance that covers specialist visits, medications, tests, and hospital stays. Cigna offers high-coverage plans with access to top hospitals, direct billing, and telemedicine support for convenient long-term care. Expats...
-
Thailand video news Phuket Issues Over 17,000 Fines to Tourists Driving Without Permits,Monk Caught on CCTV Pilfering Second-Hand Laptop in Nakhon Sawan
Thailand has seen a surge in unusual and high-profile incidents this week, from Phuket cracking down on foreign drivers with over 17,000 fines to border tensions escalating as Thai forces used sound cannons against Cambodian intruders. Other notable stories include a monk caught on CCTV stealing a laptop, a psychiatric patient causing panic with a machete rampage, and…
-
Rayong police officer found dead, stress linked to financial woes
A 33 year old police officer was found dead at his residence behind the Nikhom Phatthana Police Station in Rayong province, allegedly due to stress over failing to secure 100,000 baht to settle a car accident claim. The scheduled payment was missed yesterday, August 26, at 3.45pm. Police Lieutenant Jiranawat Nijai, deputy inspector of Nikhom Phatthana Police Station, received the…
-
Thailand axes M81 tolls ahead of King’s Cup showdown
Thailand’s M81 motorway is going toll-free for nearly two weeks to get fans pitch-side for the King’s Cup without the pain of fees. The Department of Highways has announced that the M81 motorway, connecting Bang Yai in Nonthaburi to Kanchanaburi, will be toll-free from 3pm on Friday, August 29 to 9am on Wednesday, September 10. The move is part of…
-
Supermarket raid uncovers unapproved Chinese products in Pathum Thani
The public health ministry, along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Consumer Protection Police Division, conducted a raid on a supermarket near a university on Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani, yesterday, August 26. The operation followed student complaints about products lacking FDA approval, raising safety concerns. The inspection revealed a single glass-encased stall…
-
Phra Bat Nampu ex-abbot claims designing Petronas Towers under stolen identity
An ex-abbot of Phra Bat Nampu Temple admitted to stealing the identity of a friend in order to avoid military conscription and work illegally in Malaysia, falsely claiming to be a designer of the Petronas Twin Towers. Officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested the former abbot of Phra Bat Nampu, Kriangkrai “George”…
-
Songkhla teacher under fire after alleged assault on pupil (video)
In Songkhla province, a kindergarten student’s guardian has expressed dissatisfaction after a teacher allegedly struck the child’s head, causing him to fall during a sports event. The incident prompted calls for the teacher’s immediate removal. The school principal acknowledged prior warnings about the teacher’s behaviour and announced an investigation. A video shared on Facebook shows a teacher pushing the back…
-
Pattaya panic: Visa crackdowns and QR codes shake expat life
Pattaya’s carefree days are fading fast. Last year, the city embraced digital control: cashless payments, visa crackdowns, surveillance tech, and retirees are struggling to keep up. Once a haven for easy living, Pattaya now demands QR codes, clean records, and compliance, leaving old-school expats wondering if they still belong. Some expats argue that Pattaya is the same as ever: just…
-
Landslide in Chiang Mai’s Pang Ung kills 1, destroys 5 homes
A landslide in Pang Ung village, Chiang Mai province, has destroyed five homes, resulting in one fatality. Over 10 people were injured, and one person remains missing. The incident occurred at 2.50am today, August 27, with emergency services promptly responding to the scene. Dusit Pongsapipat, head of the Chiang Mai provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office, confirmed the landslide struck…
-
Heavy rains forecast in 39 Thai provinces, including Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for August 27, forecasting heavy rains in 39 provinces, including Bangkok, with 80% of the area expected to experience significant rainfall. Residents are advised to remain vigilant against flash floods and forest run-offs. Due to the monsoon trough passing through Myanmar into a low-pressure area in northern Thailand, coupled with moderate…
-
Court rejects plea to block bail for woman who fatally stabs restaurant owner
A woman accused of fatally stabbing a Kamphaeng Phet restaurant owner was released on bail after the victim’s family failed to object. The attack reportedly stemmed from an incident in which the deceased was blamed for not protecting the suspect from a sexual assault. Officers from Khlong Khlung Police Station arrested 32 year old Jaruwan Jaifai for stabbing to death…
-
Illegal Pattaya hotel ordered torn down after resident complaints
Pattaya residents have scored a victory after city officials ordered the demolition of parts of a controversial hotel project that locals say has been disrupting their neighbourhood. Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai, Acting Head of Building Control Marut Uthaiwattananon, and engineers from Pattaya City Hall, inspected the Super Villa Village on Soi Chaloem Phrakiat 29 following complaints. Residents said demolition and…
-
Thai monk caught stealing second-hand laptop in Nakhon Sawan
A Thai couple shared CCTV footage online to expose a monk who stole a second-hand laptop from their shop in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan on Sunday, August 24. The couple, Oak and Nat, revealed details of the theft, which occurred at their shop on Sri Thep Road in Takhli district, during an interview with Workpoint News. They said…
-
Prisoners and soldiers eyed to fix Thailand labour crisis
Thailand’s labour minister has unveiled a drastic plan to plug crippling worker shortages: by deploying prisoners, soldiers, and even youth offenders into the country’s struggling workforce. Labour Minister Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit said urgent action was needed to tackle a labour crisis gripping the agriculture and production sectors. He confirmed he would propose measures to the Cabinet this week to get more…
-
Zimbabwean romance scammer escapes arrest from Phuket to Bangkok
Police arrested a Zimbabwean man at an apartment in Bangkok on Thursday, August 21, for operating a romance scam in Phuket and overstaying his visa. Multiple Thai women filed complaints against a Zimbabwean teacher, later identified as 37 year old Valentive Tandier, at Katu Police Station, saying they had been scammed out of valuables while in a relationship with the…
-
Greenland mother’s baby seized despite ban on parenting tests
A young Greenlandic mother has been left heartbroken after Danish officials seized her newborn baby just an hour after birth, despite a new law banning the controversial parenting competence tests used to justify the removal. The young mother, 18 year old Ivana Nikoline Brønlund, who was born in Nuuk and has represented Greenland in handball, gave birth to her daughter,…
-
Health Ministry crackdown on fake medical certificates for migrant workers
Deputy Health Minister Chaichana Deddejoh has revealed that several private hospitals in Samut Sakhon have been issuing fraudulent medical certificates to foreign workers, allowing them to register legally without undergoing proper health checks. The unlicensed hospital in question reportedly conducted health certificates for 15,000 migrant workers. Officials are now in the process of revoking all certificates issued. Chaichana explained that…
-
Psychiatric patient causes chaos with machete rampage
At 9am today, 26 August, Lieutenant Yongyut Payungyat, Deputy Inspector for Crime Prevention at Mueang Ang Thong Police Station, was notified of a man wielding a machete on the side of Khlong Chonprathan Road, Village 7, Pang Ngiu Subdistrict, Mueang District, Ang Thong Province. Police rushed to the scene fully equipped with batons, a stun gun, and protective shields. …
-
Thais hooked on AI holidays as 98% trust tech to plan trips
Thais are embracing artificial intelligence like no other, with almost everyone wanting AI to plan their next trip, according to a global survey by Booking.com. The Global AI Sentiment Report, which polled more than 37,000 people across 33 countries, shows Thailand topping the charts for enthusiasm, with 98% of respondents excited about AI and 96% saying they would use it…
-
Thai man claims no intent after his dog dies hanging from truck
A Thai man claimed he did not intend to abuse his pet dog after a viral video showed the animal hanging from his pickup truck while travelling on a road in Udon Thani province. A motorist told the Hone Krasae news programme that he spotted a brown dog hanging from the right side of a pickup truck at around 7pm…
-
Thailand signs Gripen Fighter Jet deal with Sweden
Yesterday, 25 August, at 12.20pm local time in Stockholm, Sweden, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampong witnessed the signing of three agreements to purchase Gripen E/F fighter jets. The first agreement covers the purchase of four Gripen E/F jets under Phase 1, valued at 19.5 billion baht (US$600 million). Air Force Commander General Panpakdee Patanakul signed on behalf of Thailand, while…
-
Thailand eyes 5 million Malaysian tourists amid China competition
Malaysia’s tourist target for this year has been adjusted to 5 million, mirroring the figures from 2024, yet this market might achieve a similar number of arrivals as China, remaining unaffected by the border province conditions. Patsee Permvongsenee, the executive director for the ASEAN, South Asia, and South Pacific region at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), noted optimism for…
-
Scottish drug mule with cannabis haul from Thailand dodges jail
A Scottish woman sobbed in court as she avoided jail despite being caught with more than 30 kilogrammes of cannabis stuffed into two suitcases after flying back from Thailand. The woman, 22 year old Kiala Wyles, was promised £10,000 (approximately 450,000 baht) to act as a courier but was intercepted by Border Force officials when she landed at Manchester Airport…
-
Ex-abbot and spiritual medium arrested in AIDS donation embezzlement scandal
Police arrested a former abbot of Phra Bat Nampu Temple and a spiritual medium close to him earlier today, August 26, following the donation embezzlement. The ex-abbot, identified as Alongkot, and the spiritual medium, Sakesan “Bee” Subsuebsakun, had been under investigation over allegations of embezzling donations intended for AIDS patients. Both were suspected of misappropriating funds for personal gain. Alongkot…
-
Drug crackdown in Suphan Buri sees monks defrocked, detained
Yesterday, August 25, a drug crackdown in Dan Chang district, Suphan Buri, resulted in five monks and a temple painter being defrocked and detained. This action followed complaints from locals about drug use among monks at two temples in the area. District chief Phan Suksawaeng directed district security officer Phisut Santinakh to lead the operation, which involved local administrative officials…
-
Man attacks ex-girlfriend, leaps from seventh floor in Samut Prakan
A violent incident occurred in Samut Prakan, where a 24 year old man, Somschai, attacked his ex-girlfriend and her friend with a knife before jumping from the seventh floor of an apartment building. The police received the report at 4.30pm yesterday, August 25, responding promptly alongside emergency services to the scene at a residence in Bang Sao Thong district. Upon…
-
Khao Kheow Zoo probes late-night intruder drama
Mystery trespassers who sneaked into Khao Kheow Open Zoo at night have triggered a police investigation and a sweeping safety review at one of Chon Buri’s most popular tourist attractions. Zoo officials confirmed today, August 26, that police had been called in after the unauthorised entry earlier this month. The incident, they warned, posed a potential risk not only to…
-
Opposition MPs hit with 300 million baht energy defamation suit
Three senior members of the opposition People’s Party (PP) are facing a massive defamation lawsuit from one of Thailand’s energy giants, accused of smearing its reputation in a row over electricity pricing. PP leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut and list MPs Woraphob Wiriyaroj and Supachot Chaiyasat appeared at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road yesterday, August 25, for a preliminary hearing in…
-
Thai troops to retaliate against Cambodian border encroachments
Thai soldiers have been granted permission to retaliate immediately if Cambodian troops are detected encroaching on Thai territory. This decision follows reports of Cambodian soldiers, believed to be from the Bodyguard Headquarters unit of Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, being observed near the border monitoring Thai patrols. On August 24, the 2nd Army Region accused Cambodian soldiers of illegally entering…
-
Fitness trainer in Bangkok severely injured in fall from building
A 35 year old fitness trainer fell from a three-storey building within Soi Suksawat 62, sustaining severe injuries. The exact cause remains unclear, pending an interview with the injured party. The incident occurred at 10.30pm on August 25, when officers from Rat Burana Police Station and volunteers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation responded to the scene in Bang Mod,…
-
20-baht flat fare on Bangkok trains postponed to November
The Transport Minister postponed the launch of Bangkok’s 20-baht flat train fare scheme from October to November, admitting that two relevant bills cannot be approved in time. The registration for the 20-baht train fare policy was announced yesterday, August 25, allowing Thai citizens to travel on the BTS and MRT networks for a flat fee. The initiative is aimed at…
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.