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

    How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?

    Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....

  • Bangkok couple arrested for exploiting Shan state minors

    Bangkok couple arrested for exploiting Shan state minors

    Police arrested a couple in Bangkok’s Pracha Chuen area on allegations of exploiting minors from Myanmar’s Shan state for forced labour. The arrests took place yesterday morning when officials from the Department of Provincial Administration, alongside Pracha Chuen police officers, raided a house on Ngamwongwan Road in the Lak Si district. The suspects, identified only as 35 year old Golf,…

  • Locals seek lottery luck at Phrae temple ceremony

    Locals seek lottery luck at Phrae temple ceremony

    Locals flocked to Chai Mongkol Temple in the northern province of Phrae to seek lucky numbers from a grand ceremony honouring Thao Wessuwan, hoping for a big lottery win. A local vendor revealed that since offering to the temple, her life has significantly improved, with her business thriving. A group of residents, led by Sukanya, a fresh market vendor, gathered…

  • Landslide claims four lives in Mae Fa Luang district, Chiang Rai

    Landslide claims four lives in Mae Fa Luang district, Chiang Rai

    A landslide has devastated a hillside community in Mae Fa Luang district, Chiang Rai province, resulting in the tragic death of four people, including an eight year old girl. Over 150 homes have been severely damaged. A teacher expressed her sorrow over the loss of a beloved student. A Facebook user named Woww Natthipha yesterday shared a heartfelt post mourning…

  • Chemical leak hospitalises 21 workers in Samut Sakhon

    Chemical leak hospitalises 21 workers in Samut Sakhon

    Chemical fumes led to 21 workers being hospitalised, with two in serious condition, after a leak at a factory in Samut Sakhon. Officials are still investigating the source of the chemical odour and plan to inspect a nearby factory today. Officials are yet to identify the origin of the chemical fumes that caused severe dizziness and vomiting among employees at…

  • Elderly man killed by elephant in Kanchanaburi

    Elderly man killed by elephant in Kanchanaburi

    An elderly man tragically died after being attacked by a wild elephant while riding his motorcycle in Kanchanaburi province in West Thailand. The incident occurred yesterday, September 13, when a local encountered the elephant on Highway 3199 in Dan Mae Chalaep, Si Sawat district. According to Phaitoon Intharabut, head of the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, the accident was reported early…

  • Maldivian gangsters nabbed in Bangkok for overstaying visas

    Maldivian gangsters nabbed in Bangkok for overstaying visas

    Thai police arrested three Maldivian nationals linked to a notorious gang, wanted for attempted murder, and overstaying their visas. The men were captured in Bangkok following a high-stakes operation on Ramkhamhaeng Road. Police Major General Phantana Nuchanart, Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, led the press conference yesterday, September 13, revealing details of the bust. The suspects, all members of…

  • Suphan Buri police arrest two for trafficking 12 year old girl

    Suphan Buri police arrest two for trafficking 12 year old girl

    Police in Suphan Buri apprehended a woman and a local official on charges related to the trafficking and sexual exploitation of a 12 year old girl. The child, now under the care of social services, was allegedly prostituted by her own aunt. Local law enforcement, led by Police Major General Watcharin Prasobdee, apprehended the suspects yesterday, September 13, following an…

  • Three arrested for drug use near monastery in Chumphon

    Three arrested for drug use near monastery in Chumphon

    Police in Chumphon province apprehended three individuals for drug use after concerned residents reported their suspicious activities. The trio, living with young children, admitted to drug use and expressed their intention to undergo rehabilitation. The incident took place near a monastery in the Song Phi Nong subdistrict, Tha Sae district. Local police, led by Wisit Samannmuang and supported by a…

  • Passengers on IndiGo flight to Phuket stranded for hours

    Passengers on IndiGo flight to Phuket stranded for hours

    Passengers on an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Phuket endured a travel nightmare yesterday, September 13, as their journey turned into a chaotic ordeal. The flight was unexpectedly diverted to Penang International Airport in Malaysia due to bad weather, leaving travellers stranded for hours with clogged washrooms, no food or water, and stuck on the tarmac for over three hours.…

  • Udon Thani child molester recaptured after escaping through vent

    Udon Thani child molester recaptured after escaping through vent

    Police detained a suspect in a child molestation case for a DNA test in Udon Thani, but he escaped through a bathroom vent. Fortunately, officers quickly recaptured him. The suspect claims he was framed and missed his family. Pattanawong Chanphon, Superintendent of Muang Udon Thani Police Station, received a report from the Udon Thani Provincial Forensic Office yesterday, September 13,…

  • Two-faced kitten in Phetchabun leaves locals feline lottery curious

    Two-faced kitten in Phetchabun leaves locals feline lottery curious

    A unique kitten with two faces, two mouths, and four eyes was discovered in Phetchabun province, sparking excitement and curiosity among locals. The kitten is alive and believed to bring good luck, leading many to seek out the owner’s house number for lottery purposes. A Facebook user posted about the unusual kitten born with two heads, four eyes, and two…

  • Mekong floods: Nong Khai residents urged to move belongings

    Mekong floods: Nong Khai residents urged to move belongings

    Residents of Nong Khai have been advised to move their belongings to higher ground as the Mekong River’s water level is expected to peak by tomorrow due to ongoing flooding. The flood situation in Nong Khai province remains concerning as the Mekong River continues to rise steadily. The water level at the Nong Khai Hydrology Station was recorded at 13.46…

  • Thai defence minister appoints ex-RTA expert as secretary

    Thai defence minister appoints ex-RTA expert as secretary

    Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai appointed General Trisak Indararusmi, a former expert with the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and a former classmate of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as his secretary. This appointment precedes Phumtham’s official commencement at the ministry, set for Monday. Gen. Trisak, an alumnus of Class 10 from the armed forces preparatory school, is expected to bring significant experience…

  • People’s Party urges urgent rewrite of 2017 constitution

    People’s Party urges urgent rewrite of 2017 constitution

    The opposition People’s Party (PP) called on the government to prioritise the rewrite of the 2017 constitution as an urgent policy. The party, formerly known as the Move Forward Party, expressed doubts about the promised changes, citing the minimal mention and low priority given to the charter rewrite in the government’s recent policy statement. Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, PP leader, criticised the…

  • Asia-Pacific to tackle Thailand’s ageing population crisis

    Asia-Pacific to tackle Thailand’s ageing population crisis

    Governments across the Asia-Pacific region are being urged to formulate strategies to address their ageing populations, with older people expected to make up nearly 20% of the region’s population by 2050. Around 500 delegates from 38 countries have gathered on the Indonesian island of Bali for the 2024 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) on Population Ageing. These delegates include experts, policymakers,…

  • Trucking scandal: Wife confronts sex worker in Saraburi showdown (video)

    Trucking scandal: Wife confronts sex worker in Saraburi showdown (video)

    A truck driver’s wife shared a video in which she had a heated argument with a Thai sex worker who persistently harassed her husband and other truck drivers in the central province of Saraburi by repeatedly offering sexual services to them. The video of the argument was shared on the news Facebook page, เจ๊ม้อย v+ (J Moi v+), on September…

  • Phuket on high alert as heavy rains and flash floods loom

    Phuket on high alert as heavy rains and flash floods loom

    Phuket is bracing for a weather onslaught as officials sound the alarm over impending flash floods, mudslides, and hazardous sea conditions. A stark warning has been issued by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, through the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Centre, urging all local officials to prepare for extreme weather set to batter the island this week. The Thai Meteorological Department…

  • Helicopter rescues flood victims in Chiang Rai after days without food

    Helicopter rescues flood victims in Chiang Rai after days without food

    A helicopter from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) rescued flood victims trapped in their homes in the Mai Lung Kon community, Chiang Rai, after being stranded without food and water for several days. Yesterday, September 12, reports surfaced about the ongoing rescue efforts for residents affected by flooding in Chiang Rai province, particularly in Mae Sai and…

  • Thai toddler trapped in idling car in Chon Buri saved

    Thai toddler trapped in idling car in Chon Buri saved

    In a heart-stopping incident on Wednesday, September 11, panic erupted at Rin Thong Kindergarten in Chon Buri when a two year old girl was accidentally locked inside her mother’s car, with the engine still running. The girl’s mother, 24 year old Pimlapas, was left in shock after her vehicle automatically locked itself, trapping her daughter Michel inside. Pimlapas had stepped out…

  • ETDA plugs in: Powering up Thailand’s digital economy for 2024

    ETDA plugs in: Powering up Thailand’s digital economy for 2024

    Thailand’s Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) unveiled plans to further its role as a co-creation regulator and promoter next year, aiming to boost the digital economy’s value and generate positive social impact. The ETDA intends to enhance the nation’s digital infrastructure, focusing on promoting e-document management, improving governance of digital platform services, and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for good governance…

  • Arcade foul: Teens slam pervert caught filming skirts in Rayong mall

    Arcade foul: Teens slam pervert caught filming skirts in Rayong mall

    Two teenage girls issued a warning to others after a pervert filmed under their skirts while they played a basketball arcade game in a shopping mall in the eastern province of Rayong on September 9. The 17 year old schoolgirls, B and C, gave an interview with Kom Chad Luek on September 12 about the incident. They explained that they…

  • Central Pattana invests 4.5 billion baht in Krabi development project

    Central Pattana invests 4.5 billion baht in Krabi development project

    Central Pattana Public Company Limited (CPN) is gearing up to shake up Krabi with a dazzling new mixed-use development, part of a massive 15 billion baht investment to turbocharge Thailand’s economy and tourism sector. The Central Krabi project, valued at a staggering 4.5 billion baht, will cover a sprawling 114 rai of land and promises to be a game changer.…

  • Thai Finance Ministry enhances data use for economic growth

    Thai Finance Ministry enhances data use for economic growth

    The Ministry of Finance is advancing its data utilisation efforts to develop comprehensive profiles of Thai citizens’ liabilities and assets, aiming to bolster economic development. Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit revealed that creating a data lake will enable the government to craft improved national development policies and identify regional strengths and weaknesses. This system will consolidate diverse information about citizens, including…

  • Grab Thailand launches new cash loans for partner merchants

    Grab Thailand launches new cash loans for partner merchants

    Grab Thailand announced a revamped portfolio of cash loans aimed at its partner merchants, offering three distinct loan products to cater to businesses of all sizes. The new offerings include loan amounts up to 10 million baht with interest rates capped at 1% per month for larger businesses. The initiative aims to boost working capital, enhance liquidity, and support entrepreneurs…

  • Digital wallet delay: No green light before year-end

    Digital wallet delay: No green light before year-end

    The highly anticipated second phase of Thailand’s digital wallet initiative is on ice, with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira revealing that it’s unlikely to roll out before the end of the year. In a brief meeting with the press today, Pichai highlighted the need for a cautious approach, stressing that factors like timing and continuity must be…

  • Thai woman falls from Nonthaburi bridge and lands on car below

    Thai woman falls from Nonthaburi bridge and lands on car below

    A Thai woman was riding her motorcycle at high speed on the Rama IV Bridge in Nonthaburi province, Bangkok, when she reportedly crashed into the edge of the bridge and fell onto the bonnet of a sedan below. The owner of the sedan, 23 year old Naphat Sookmak, visited Pak Kret Police Station yesterday afternoon, September 12, to report the shocking…

  • Crane collapses in Bangkok, injuring motorcyclist

    Crane collapses in Bangkok, injuring motorcyclist

    A crane unexpectedly toppled in Thonburi, injuring a motorcyclist who was passing by. The incident left one person injured. It is suspected that the crane’s collapse was due to soil subsidence. Police are urgently investigating the cause. A crane collapsed at around 2pm yesterday, September 12, at a construction site for an underground railway near Soi Taksin 9/3 on Somdet…

  • No more hogging the spotlight: Flood claims beloved Chiang Rai pig

    No more hogging the spotlight: Flood claims beloved Chiang Rai pig

    A beloved pig named Bamruea, who had been rescued as a piglet and survived four previous floods, succumbed to the devastating floods in Chiang Rai yesterday. The floods have wreaked havoc on both residents and animals, with the swift and powerful currents making escape nearly impossible. The floods in Chiang Rai have caused significant distress, trapping many residents and animals…

  • Fallen tree crushes cars on Banthat Thong Road in Bangkok storm (video)

    Fallen tree crushes cars on Banthat Thong Road in Bangkok storm (video)

    A large tree fell on Banthat Thong Road, crushing parked cars during a heavy storm. CCTV footage captured the dramatic incident, which occurred yesterday evening. Strong winds and rain swept through multiple areas of Bangkok, causing significant disruptions. A powerful storm hit several parts of Bangkok yesterday evening, September 12, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. In the Pathumwan district,…

  • Squat’s going on: Thai couple trash house in Chiang Mai

    Squat’s going on: Thai couple trash house in Chiang Mai

    Police officers are searching for a Thai ladyboy and her boyfriend after the couple took over a house in the northern province of Chiang Mai, living there like homeowners for nearly a month. The rightful owner of the house filed a complaint with Mae Rim Police Station after learning about the trespassing couple from his gardener yesterday, September 12. The…