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 Pre-existing conditions? These expat insurance plans still have you covered
Many expats feel worried that their pre-existing health problems will stop them from getting insurance in a new country. This fear is common, especially when medical care can be expensive. But the good news is, some insurance, like the plans...
-
Chiang Mai University warns of deadly brain-eating disease
The Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University warns of the silent threat posed by the brain-eating amoeba found in natural water sources, urging caution even with seemingly clean water. Yesterday, July 15, the official page of the Chiang Mai University Faculty of Medicine published an article highlighting the dangers of Naegleria fowleri, a single-celled parasite that can cause fatal…
-
Truck brake failure causes pile-up, four injured near Bangkok
A 10-wheel truck experienced brake failure and collided with eight vehicles, resulting in four injuries, outside a prominent shopping mall in Ngamwongwan. The incident led to severe traffic congestion. The driver faced charges but was released temporarily. Yesterday, July 15, at 8.30pm, officers from the Rattanathibet Police Station received reports of a 10-wheel truck experiencing brake failure and causing a…
-
Thai travel subsidy fiasco triggers backlash
Thailand’s flagship tourism stimulus project has spiralled into disarray, sparking fury among hotel operators and senators alike as delays drag on with no end in sight. The Senate Committee on Tourism and Sports is now demanding answers from Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong over the botched rollout of the much-touted Half-Half Thai Travel scheme. Senate Committee Chairperson Phisut Rattanawong…
-
Missing man’s body found in forest after week-long search
A 68 year old woman sought help at the Lan Sak Police Station on July 15, desperate to find her husband who had been missing for seven days. Anuban Sarasuwan, the headman of Rabam subdistrict, Uthai Thani province, accompanied the woman, Janhom, as she searched for her 62 year old husband, Bunliang, who had last been seen riding his motorbike…
-
Asia awaits: Turkish Airlines unleashes flight frenzy on Bangkok
Turkish Airlines is poised to significantly expand its presence in Southeast Asia, with Bangkok firmly in its sights. From October 27, the airline will offer an impressive 21 flights per week to the Thai capital from Istanbul, marking a substantial boost in connectivity. This ambitious move underscores Turkish Airlines’ commitment to the region and solidifies Bangkok’s status as a premier global…
-
Malaysian caught smuggling drugs worth 90 million baht in Nan
A Malaysian national was apprehended at the Huai Kon border checkpoint in Nan province while attempting to smuggle 72 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, valued at over 90 million baht, into Thailand. The arrest took place on July 14 after customs officials at the Thung Chang checkpoint noticed a suspicious vehicle with black smoke billowing from it. The suspect, Surrenthiran Jayabalan,…
-
RTA ready to fence Ta Muen Thom temple amid tensions
The commander of Thailand’s 2nd Army Region has declared the military’s readiness to erect a fence around the disputed Ta Muen Thom temple in Surin province if the government and the Department of Fine Arts give the green light. Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang confirmed that, despite the simmering dispute, stability currently prevails along the border. He noted that while local…
-
Ladyboyz n the hood: American left reeling after Pattaya rock attack
An American holidaymaker ended up bloodied and battered after a run-in with two transgender sex workers near Soi 6 in Pattaya turned violent, with one of them allegedly smashing a rock into his skull. The victim, Mr Saber, who was strolling through the notorious alley at around 4.30am, yesterday, July 15, told police he was approached by two scantily dressed…
-
Thai man’s face impaled by durian in pickup crash in Buriram
A Thai man sustained facial injuries after his motorcycle crashed into the back of a pickup in the Isaan province of Buriram, with a durian fruit on the truck believed to be responsible for his wounds. Buriram Provincial Police officers were alerted to the accident at approximately 5pm yesterday, July 15. Police subsequently attended the scene near the Nong Muang Intersection,…
-
Loom and bust: Aussie men stitched up in Thai meth fabric sting
Three Aussie men have been charged after nearly 600 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, enough for six million hits, was found sewn into fabric rolls shipped from Thailand in a smuggling operation straight out of a crime thriller. Australian Border Force (ABF) officers swooped on the cargo at the Port of Brisbane on July 4, after eight wooden crates labelled as “UV…
-
Anutin dismisses Khao Kradong land dispute investigation
Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul dismissed a renewed investigation into the Khao Kradong land dispute in Buriram, asserting that all actions taken during his tenure as interior minister were lawful. The dispute involves land claimed by both the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and private individuals linked to Bhumjaithai. In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the SRT,…
-
Bomb attack injures four rangers in Yala’s Bannang Sata district
A group of unidentified perpetrators orchestrated a bomb attack on a unit of rangers from the 3306 Task Force in Bannang Sata district, Yala province. The attack, which took place around 1.20pm, yesterday, July 15, left four rangers injured while on patrol in Moo 2, Ban Kue Da village. They were promptly transported to Bannang Sata hospital for urgent medical…
-
Bangkok launches waste separation campaign with fee discounts
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has launched a new waste-separation campaign named This House Doesn’t Mix Waste. This initiative encourages city residents to sort their waste correctly in exchange for discounts on trash collection fees. Registration for the campaign starts on August 1, with the official rollout scheduled for October. The programme involves collaboration with the private sector and offers…
-
Baht out of hell: British man in wheelchair fleeced by Pattaya babes
A disabled British tourist was left humiliated and penniless after three Pattaya Beach babes robbed him blind while he was in the shower, then vanished into the night. The victim, Chris John Glennon, who is speech-impaired and uses a wheelchair, told police he had invited two Thai women and a transgender woman back to his hotel after meeting them on Pattaya…
-
Heavy rainfall warning for 40 Thai provinces, flash floods likely
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today issued a warning for heavy rainfall across 40 provinces in Thailand, with 60% of these areas expected to be affected. Nine provinces, including Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Loei, Nong Khai, Chanthaburi, and Trat, are particularly at risk of flash floods and forest runoffs on July 16. This weather pattern is influenced by…
-
Mother seeks justice after 9 year old daughter alleges sexual abuse by abbot
A Thai mother is seeking justice for her nine year old daughter, accusing an abbot in the central province of Pathum Thani of sexually abusing the girl in a temple bathroom. The 39 year old mother, May, reported the alleged sexual abuse via the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women‘s hotline number 1134 on July 1. May revealed in the…
-
Thai ministers deny US bid for Phang Nga navy base (video)
Top Thai ministers have slammed swirling rumours that the United States tried to swap tariff perks for military access to a strategic naval base on the Andaman coast, calling the claims baseless and speculative. Three senior Cabinet ministers today firmly denied a report suggesting the US had demanded use of Thailand’s Phang Nga naval base during recent tariff negotiations. Deputy…
-
Thailand calls Cambodia to Bangkok for border talks
Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa confirmed today that Thailand will send an official invitation to Cambodia for the long-awaited seventh Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting. The summit is scheduled for September 15 in the Thai capital, with hopes of injecting momentum into stalled negotiations over contested stretches of their shared frontier. Speaking at Government House, Maris admitted the border situation has…
-
Phuket bust: Dealer caught with meth in sea gypsy village
A late-night raid in Phuket’s Rawai Sea Gypsy Village landed a 22 year old in handcuffs after security officers uncovered a stash of crystal methamphetamine and pills hidden along a narrow walkway. Yesterday, July 14, Phuket police swooped to arrest Sompop, also known as Oh, a young man from Rawai subdistrict, on charges of dealing and possessing illegal drugs. The operation…
-
Bangkok sinking: City could be underwater by 2030
Bangkok, already notorious for choking traffic and fierce floods, is now staring down an even grimmer fate—sinking beneath the sea within the next decade if climate change and unchecked development continue unabated. Recent studies have singled out Bangkok alongside Jakarta as two of Southeast Asia’s fastest-sinking cities. According to The Guardian, Bangkok is subsiding by over one centimetre a year…
-
Thailand shelves tourist tax plan over fears of deterring visitors
Thailand’s controversial 300-baht entry fee for foreign tourists has been kicked down the road yet again, with officials admitting that sluggish demand and global uncertainty make this the wrong moment to squeeze travellers’ wallets. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has announced that the long-discussed Travel Fee—dubbed the Kha Yeap Pan Din, meaning “stepping onto Thai soil”—will not be enforced…
-
Thai delivery rider sued for sharing client’s image leading to cyberbullying
A Thai woman is taking legal action against a parcel delivery rider after he secretly took her photograph and shared it on social media, leading to cyberbullying and body shaming. The victim, known as Mint, is seeking justice after receiving offensive comments from strangers, despite having no prior conflict with them. She shared the incident on her Facebook account, writing……
-
Thai man arrested for assaulting autistic woman and boy in Chiang Mai
Police arrested a Thai man for physically assaulting two autistic victims, one of whom was a seven year old boy, on a footpath in Chiang Mai on Sunday, July 13. The victims, an autistic woman named JJ and her seven year old nephew Krit, contacted the Emmy Volunteer team, alleging that police officers ignored their case. The volunteer team pledged…
-
Cambodia accused of claiming Thailand’s royal literary treasures
A storm is brewing between Thailand and Cambodia after claims emerged online that 22 classic Thai literary works have been quietly registered as Cambodian cultural heritage with UNESCO, sparking outrage over what critics are calling a brazen cultural grab. Social media erupted this week when reports circulated alleging that Cambodia had listed dozens of Thai literary masterpieces—many composed by Thai…
-
Butts out: Beach smoke ban sparks flaming row in Pattaya
A fresh crackdown on smoking at Pattaya’s beaches sparked a fiery debate among expats and long-term tourists, who say the ban is little more than a cosmetic fix masking deeper problems. Pattaya’s new smoking ban, which threatens offenders with a 5,000 baht fine for lighting up on the sand or nearby footpaths, was billed as a bold step to clean…
-
Mother seeks justice after toddler injured under friend’s care
An 18 year old woman filed a complaint with Lak Song Police Station after her two year and 10 month old son sustained severe injuries while being cared for by a close friend. The incident, which occurred yesterday, July 14, at Mit Pracha Hospital, has left the child with bruises and swollen eyes. The boy’s mother, A, explained that she…
-
Phuket declared nearly rabies-free thanks to Soi Dog
In a remarkable triumph for animal welfare and public health, Phuket has emerged as one of the safest destinations in Southeast Asia for pet-loving tourists, thanks to a relentless campaign that has driven rabies risk down to almost zero. Southeast Asia’s largest dog and cat charity, Soi Dog Foundation, announced this week that the island has recorded only one human…
-
Thai nationals caught entering illegally at Rong Kluea Market
Three Thai nationals were apprehended after climbing over a wall behind Rong Kluea Market to enter Thailand illegally. Two of the people confessed to working at an online gambling site in Poipet, while the third operated a restaurant. Colonel Chainarong Kasi, commander of the Special Task Force Aranyaprathet under the Burapha Forces, today, July 15, directed Ranger Company 1201 to…
-
Thai temples ordered to limit cash holdings amid monk scandal
Following a romantic scandal involving monks, the Sangha Supreme Council issued a regulation requiring every temple across Thailand to hold no more than 100,000 baht in cash. The regulation is expected to come into effect on October 1. The scandal, which involves a Thai woman named Golf and several respected monks, captured widespread public attention. In addition to focusing on…
-
Ant-agonising: Korea Michelin eatery in a stew over Thai insects
It was hailed as a fine-dining thrill, but a two-star Michelin restaurant in Seoul is now in hot water after its trendy sorbet—topped with ants imported from Thailand and the United States—triggered a food safety scandal. South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has referred the owner of the high-end restaurant in Gangnam district to prosecutors for allegedly violating…
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.