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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
-
Thailand considers lifting train alcohol ban to boost tourism
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) intends to propose lifting the current ban on alcohol sales on trains at the upcoming meeting of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee scheduled for Friday, February 21. Previously, the committee, under the Public Health Ministry, had rejected a similar proposal due to concerns it could prove more detrimental than beneficial. Public Health Minister Somsak…
-
Worm welcome: American woman’s nightmare trip to Thailand
A 30 year old American woman, who had just returned from a dream holiday trip across Hawaii, Japan, and Thailand, discovered she was harbouring rare parasitic worms in her brain. The woman from New England, USA, visited A&E with agonising headaches and a mysterious burning sensation in her feet that slowly crawled up to her arms, only to be sent…
-
Severe storms forecast for 33 provinces in Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts significant storms with strong winds and potential lightning across 33 provinces in Thailand. Bangkok is expected to experience the most severe weather, with cool mornings and hot afternoons. The upper northeastern region will see a slight drop in temperature. For the next 24 hours, moderate high-pressure systems from the northeast and South China Sea…
-
American man arrested in Phuket for violating foreign business act
Police arrested an American man wanted on multiple warrants at a restaurant in Phuket Old Town on Valentine’s Day, February 14. Officers from the Phuket Immigration Bureau and Mueang Phuket Police Station sought a court-issued arrest warrant for the 67 year old American man, Ronald Ray, mainly for violating Section 8 of the Foreign Business Act: operating a business in…
-
Thailand’s economic growth hits a snag but hope remains
Thailand’s financial fortunes took a slight dip as the latest economic figures failed to meet the lofty heights analysts had anticipated. Official data reveals a respectable 3.2% growth in the last quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year, which, while promising, didn’t quite hit the 3.9% growth mark predicted by a Reuters poll of analysts. The National Economic and…
-
Thai man finds missing wife dead with alleged lover in parked car
A Thai man searching for his missing wife discovered her dead alongside her alleged lover in a car parked on a road in the central province of Chachoengsao today, February 17. Officers from Mueang Chachoengsao Police Station were called to Road Number 304 in the Mueang district to investigate a suspicious white Isuzu MU-X SUV at approximately 9am. A pedestrian…
-
Sex sales: China’s sex doll revolution with an AI-morous embrace
In a bold leap forward, China’s WMDoll is shaking up the sex toys industry with its cutting-edge, AI-enhanced creations, promising heightened interactivity and a surge in sex doll sales. With state-of-the-art technology behind the scenes, these sophisticated companions are transforming the market. It’s no secret that life’s little pleasures often come with a twist, and China’s WMDoll is adding quite…
-
Krabi police criticised for failing to arrest Turkish man who damages locals’ cars
Police officers in the southern province of Krabi allegedly allowed a Turkish man to remain at large, despite the foreigner damaging two locals’ cars in the area. A Thai scuba diving trainer sought assistance from Channel 7 after her complaint, filed at Ao Nang Police Station, was ignored. Police reportedly told her that they could not arrest the foreign suspect…
-
Man attacks wife and relatives with knife in Kalasin, Thailand
A man attacked his wife and her relatives with a knife at a home in Hua Tum village, Kalasin province, leaving four people injured. The suspect fled the scene on a stolen motorcycle, prompting a police manhunt. Police were alerted to the violent incident at 9.30pm, yesterday, February 16. Police Lieutenant Pimpchanok Inthasan from Mueang Kalasin Police Station reported to…
-
Going green: Thailand’s solvent solution sparks eco-revolution
As zero-emission vehicles race to the forefront of Thailand’s climate action, it’s not just the cars that are grabbing the green spotlight in the eco-revolution. Behind the scenes, a silent revolution in solvent recycling is powering the country’s eco-commitments while ensuring a cleaner, more sustainable future. In the bustling auto industry of Thailand, an unsung hero is emerging in the…
-
Thailand faces worsening air pollution crisis in northern regions
The air pollution crisis in northern and northeastern Thailand has been exacerbated by hazardous PM2.5 levels, exceeding safety standards in 42 provinces. Forecasts for February 18 to February 24 predict worsening conditions in the north, with a potential increase on February 18. The Air Pollution Resolution Communication Centre reported today, February 17 that numerous provinces, including Pathum Thani, Bangkok, Nakhon…
-
Big bovine: Thailand’s King Kong crowned tallest buffalo (video)
There’s a new towering titan in town, Thailand’s own King Kong, a colossal water buffalo, has stomped its way into the Guinness World Records, casting a bewitching shadow over Nakhon Ratchasima as the globe’s tallest buffalo. In the tranquil fields of Nakhon Ratchasima, a giant walks, or rather, ambles. Enter King Kong, the towering water buffalo who’s just muscled his…
-
Thailand’s content creators on the rise as online ad spend soars
Move over, television, Thailand’s digital dawn is upon us as the nation experiences an explosive rise in online content creators, set to hit a staggering 3 million this year. That’s up from 2 million just last year, according to insights from the Media Intelligence Group Co. The burgeoning influencer economy now represents about 5% of the entire Thai population, observed…
-
Thai police aid 260 trafficked victims from Myanmar call centre
Today, February 17, at the Technology Crime Suppression Division headquarters, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phewpan, head of the division, addressed the return of 260 people from Myawaddy, Myanmar, who had been coerced into working for a call centre syndicate. Only two to three of them had willingly taken the job. The operation involved 50 cyber police officers collaborating with local…
-
Thai couple arrested for selling porn of themselves and their son
A Thai couple in the northern province of Phetchabun made and sold pornography videos of themselves and their 10 year old son online, leading to their arrest on Saturday, February 15. Officers from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division discovered child pornography videos on a website and in a LINE group chat and conducted a further investigation to trace the source…
-
Woman found dead in Samut Prakan canal after attempted swim
A 58 year old woman from Khlong Dan, Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan province, was found dead in Khlong Dan yesterday, February 16. The incident occurred opposite the Khlong Dan Health Promotion Hospital. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phonchai Kamkhuntod, an investigative officer at Khlong Dan Police Station, received the report and coordinated with Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital in Samut Prakan and…
-
Abbott wins 6 million baht lottery, plans temple development
Devotees gathered in large numbers at Wat Nong Tao in Mueang subdistrict, Nakhon Sawan province, to congratulate the abbot on his lottery win. The abbot, who won 6 million baht with the winning numbers 847377 from the February 16 draw, remained silent, only smiling as he walked around the temple grounds. The bustling atmosphere at the temple was heightened by…
-
ONCB thwarts drug transport ring, 500kg of meth seized
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), in collaboration with partner agencies, intercepted a shipment of 500 kilogrammes of methamphetamine intended for transportation to a neighbouring country. Assets worth 9 million baht were seized and the driver admitted to having transported drugs four times, earning 100,000 baht per trip. Today, February 17, the ONCB’s Drug Suppression Bureau announced the…
-
Influenza cases soar in Thailand, nearly 100,000 infected
Influenza cases in Thailand have surged, with nearly 100,000 infections and three deaths reported over the past 15 days. The Ministry of Public Health announced a significant rise in cases, particularly in schools, and is deploying 4.5 million doses of vaccines to combat the outbreak. Since January 1, there have been 99,057 confirmed influenza cases, with nine fatalities. This is…
-
Pheu Thai dismisses calls to dissolve House over charter clash
The ruling Pheu Thai Party has dismissed the opposition People’s Party’s call to dissolve the House, with Pheu Thai MP Sutin Klungsang clarifying that differing views on a proposed charter amendment do not signify a rift serious enough to destabilise the coalition. “This will not affect the coalition’s stability. Business continues as usual despite the impasse.” Joint sittings to discuss…
-
5 Chinese arrested for 1 million baht scam on old Thai woman
Police arrested five Chinese nationals in the southern province of Yala for stealing 800,000 baht in gold and 150,000 baht in cash from an old Thai woman on February 12. The 71 year old victim, Jiraporn, filed a complaint with Betong Police Station after falling victim to the Chinese scammers. She reported that the scammers approached her outside an electrical…
-
China doubles down on border scam operations with Myanmar
China is intensifying its efforts to dismantle international scam operations along the Thai-Myanmar border, dispatching Liu Zhongyi, China’s Assistant Minister of Public Security, to the region to bolster the crackdown. Liu, an experienced police officer, arrived at Don Mueang International Airport yesterday, February 16, with approximately 26 Chinese delegates. From there, they travelled to Mae Sot district in Tak before…
-
Pickup truck plunges into sea at Rayong’s Maptaput estate
A pickup truck plummeted into the sea in Rayong, leaving bystanders helpless as they watched the vehicle and its occupant disappear beneath the waves. The incident was reported to the Mueang Rayong District Police Station today, February 17, when a local fisherman witnessed the accident near the coastal road at the Maptaput Industrial Estate. Upon arrival at the scene, located…
-
Thailand urged to target older tourists to boost tourism revenue
A scholar from Thammasat University is advocating for Thailand’s government to target older tourists, who are known for longer stays and higher spending, as part of its tourism strategy. The government has designated 2025 as the year of Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism & Sports, with the objective of drawing 40 million international tourists and generating a minimum of 3 trillion…
-
Puff, cuff, and rough: Thai cop busted for smuggling after crash
A Thai police officer got himself arrested for illegal cigarette smuggling after a car accident in the eastern province of Trat yesterday, February 16, and sustained serious injuries. Officers from Ban Tha Luan Police Station responded to the accident on Sukhumvit Road at 6.30pm yesterday. They found the police vehicle crashed into a roadside lamp post. The driver was identified as…
-
Car blaze prompts evacuation in Ubon Ratchathani
A car fire on Chang Sanit Road in the Mueang district of Ubon Ratchathani, led to the evacuation of a woman in her forties before the flames engulfed the vehicle. Firefighters from the provincial and municipal fire departments responded quickly to control the blaze, suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, in 20 minutes. The incident occurred…
-
Bangkok highlights urgent need for pedestrian safety at crossings
Road safety measures at pedestrian crossings in Bangkok are being highlighted as essential, following findings that most road accidents occur near schools and hospitals. Chamaipan Santikarn, who manages the Social Mobilisation for Motorcycle Safety Project at ThaiHealth, emphasised the need for improved safety after a recent incident where a 68 year old South Korean tourist was struck by a motorcycle…
-
Racing sedans crash in Chon Buri, 12 vehicles damaged (video)
An accident involving a group of modified sedans racing on the Chon Buri motorway resulted in damage to 12 vehicles. Emergency services suspect intoxication as a factor. Police are currently questioning those involved after the incident, which occurred yesterday, February 16 at 3.30am. The event was widely shared on social media, showing the cars speeding, weaving, and overtaking recklessly before…
-
Four illegal foreign nationals nabbed in Pattaya swoop
Bang Lamung police officers swooped on Naklua at the weekend, leading to the arrest of four foreign nationals working illegally in the bustling area behind Naklua New Market in Chon Buri province. The targeted raid on Saturday, February 15 uncovered a startling six-year overstaying spree by two of the apprehended individuals. The crackdown unfolded in Moo 5, Naklua subdistrict, where…
-
Chumphon stunned as elderly monk fatally stabs abbot
Residents of Chumphon province were shocked as an 87 year old monk attacked the 94 year old abbot with a knife, resulting in the abbot’s death. The incident occurred at 7.30pm, yesterday, February 16 at a temple in Mueang district. Police Lieutenant Colonel Pathompong Chummak, Deputy Inspector at Ban Wisai Nuea Police Station, responded to a report of a violent…
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.