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.

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    Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you

    Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...

  • Puffing problems: Bangkok seminar on e-cigarettes perils

    Puffing problems: Bangkok seminar on e-cigarettes perils

    A pivotal seminar in Bangkok about the perils of e-cigarettes was attended by administrators from 437 educational institutions. The event was orchestrated by Dr Puangpetch Chunlaid, the minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, commencing precisely at 9am. The seminar’s aim was to bring into sharp focus the rising concerns about e-cigarettes within Thailand’s societal fabric, especially regarding their easy…

  • Thailand Video News | PM floats legalizing casinos to boost economy, Aussie arrested in Koh Pha Ngan after joyriding in stolen motorbike

    Thailand Video News | PM floats legalizing casinos to boost economy, Aussie arrested in Koh Pha Ngan after joyriding in stolen motorbike

    In this video, Alex captures news across the country. From the dismissal of an Air India pilot due to alcohol misconduct during a Phuket-Delhi flight, to the bold proposition by Thai Prime Minister Srettha for the legalization of casinos as a means to bolster the economy and tackle illegal gambling, the region grapples with issues spanning from aviation safety to…

  • Chiang Mai tourism expects rebound despite hotel booking slump

    Chiang Mai tourism expects rebound despite hotel booking slump

    Chiang Mai, once bustling with tourists, has been grappling with a slump in hotel bookings as recorded on Wednesday. The Northern Thai Hotels Association advisor, La-iad Bungsrithong, disclosed that the reservations were only 30% full compared to the beginning of April last year. However, she projected a silver lining in the looming clouds of despair. The occupancy would bounce back…

  • Koh Samui sees tourism surge as summer heats up

    Koh Samui sees tourism surge as summer heats up

    Foreign tourists have been descending in droves on Koh Samui, Surat Thani, with local media reporting that the island’s tranquil environment and idyllic beaches are proving irresistible to visitors. Wednesday saw Bangkok Airways completely booked for 43 flights throughout the month, suggesting a daily influx of over 4,500 individuals to the popular island. Koh Samui, known for its relaxing atmosphere,…

  • Naked Chinese saved after suicide attempt at Bangkok cop shop

    Naked Chinese saved after suicide attempt at Bangkok cop shop

    Officers successfully prevented a Chinese man from a suicide attempt at Lumpini Police Station after he was arrested for causing chaos while drunk at a hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 5 in Bangkok. Lumpini Police Station officers apprehended the 59 year old Chinese man, Fuyu Kinghai, at a hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 5 in the Wattana district of Bangkok because he…

  • Man arrested in Phuket for fatal stabbing

    Man arrested in Phuket for fatal stabbing

    Phuket police apprehended a man for the fatal stabbing of a server at a renowned Phuket city pub, citing self-defence and denying any intention to flee. The suspect was found with the weapon used in the attack. Phuket police tracked down and arrested a man linked to the death of a server from a well-known pub in the heart of…

  • Robot arm crushes worker to death in Chon Buri (video)

    Robot arm crushes worker to death in Chon Buri (video)

    In a heart-wrenching incident at the Vandapac factory in Chon Buri province on Wednesday, a routine day turned fatal when a robotic arm struck a worker, crushing him to death. The unsuspecting worker was going about his duties, laying out sheets of material, when tragedy struck most unexpectedly. Unsettling CCTV footage reveals the horrifying sequence of events, as the massive…

  • PTT plc eyes green methanol production

    PTT plc eyes green methanol production

    PTT Plc, a major national oil and gas conglomerate, is contemplating the construction of a green methanol production facility. The project, costing an estimated 3.1 billion baht, aligns with PTT’s initiative to curtail carbon dioxide emissions and manufacture methanol-derived fuels. Traditionally, methanol production relies heavily on fossil fuels. However, PTT’s proposed method utilises biomass or carbon capture techniques, paving the…

  • LiVE Fin Corp launches new S curve to capital market initiative

    LiVE Fin Corp launches new S curve to capital market initiative

    LiVE Fin Corp, under the aegis of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), has set in motion a new initiative that seeks to bolster the potential of 60 entrepreneurial entities, startups, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in high-growth sectors. The initiative, christened “New S Curve to Capital Market,” has been crafted in partnership with KPMG Thailand, the National Innovation…

  • Thailand mulls over legalising casinos to boost economy

    Thailand mulls over legalising casinos to boost economy

    Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin advocated for the establishment of entertainment complexes housing casinos in the country. The 62 year old prime minister stated his belief yesterday, March 28, that legalising casinos could potentially extinguish illegal gambling dens and divert gamblers’ money towards the state. The Thai PM further added that these complexes would operate under proper regulations, leading to…

  • Cabinet green lights bills to modify alcohol control law

    Cabinet green lights bills to modify alcohol control law

    The Cabinet has given initial approval to five proposed bills aiming to modify the current alcohol control law, a move that could potentially lead to extended selling hours and more relaxed advertising rules. This decision has, however, sparked controversy among anti-alcohol advocates. The legislation was introduced for its first reading in the House on Wednesday, March 27, and received a…

  • Youth gang violence in Pattaya escalates over jeans

    Youth gang violence in Pattaya escalates over jeans

    Violence erupted in Pattaya South at Laem Bali Hai Pier when a gang of approximately 30 youths descended on the area, wielding knives and seeking retribution over a pair of jeans. The confrontation left two young men injured, with one unconscious and the other with a severe head wound, prompting an urgent response from rescue services and local officials. Upon…

  • Woman finds roommate atop fridge at night

    Woman finds roommate atop fridge at night

    A young woman’s plea for help after witnessing her roommate’s bizarre behaviour on a fridge in the middle of the night has sparked online discussion about the challenges of shared living. The incident involved the woman waking up to a startling and somewhat eerie scene that left her reaching out to netizens for advice. Urban living often necessitates sharing accommodation…

  • Taiwanese and Thai nationals charged for heroin smuggling

    Taiwanese and Thai nationals charged for heroin smuggling

    Taiwanese aviation police have cracked down on an international drug cartel smuggling heroin which involved one Taiwanese and four Thai nationals. The cunning scheme involved smuggling a whopping 36.644 kilogrammes of heroin into Taiwan, with an eye-watering value of over US$3.1 million (approximately 113 million baht), as disclosed in a press release by the Aviation Police Bureau (APB) yesterday. According…

  • Police chief takes down lawyer for bribery charge

    Police chief takes down lawyer for bribery charge

    The legal team of Police Commissioner-General Police General Torsak Sukvimol is gearing up to take down a high-profile celebrity lawyer who pointed his finger at the police chief in the bribery case. Lawyer Suteepong Chevitcharoen, flanked by Atchariya Ruangrattanapong, chairman of the Crime Victims Assistance Club and a key member of Torsak’s legal defence squad, made the announcement. The target of…

  • Lamphun family hospitalised after toxic fungus ingestion

    Lamphun family hospitalised after toxic fungus ingestion

    A family in Lamphun province was hospitalised after consuming a toxic fungus, commonly known as Waan Jak Jan. The incident occurred after the husband, 60 year old Tui, collected fungus from a termite mound in his longan orchard, mistaking it for a recently deceased termite larvae which he thought was safe to eat. Tui, a resident of Thung Man, Pa…

  • Malaysian tourists inquire Thai immigration arrival card exemption

    Malaysian tourists inquire Thai immigration arrival card exemption

    Inquiries from Malaysian tourists have flooded hotel operators, eager for the inside scoop on Thailand’s immigration policy regarding the exemption of arrival cards for travellers from Malaysia. Songchai Mungprasitthichai, chairman of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association, revealed that Malaysians are particularly curious about potential extensions beyond the current expiry date of April 30. Travellers from all corners of the globe…

  • Phuket teenager triggers trouble with museum shooting

    Phuket teenager triggers trouble with museum shooting

    The Phuket authorities apprehended a 17 year old boy yesterday after he allegedly shot a 16-year-old boy near the Phuket Mining Museum. The incident was reported to the police around 1.35am, when the young victim was targeted whilst riding his motorcycle. An unidentified man in a white pickup truck approached him and fired a shot, hitting the teenager in his…

  • Thailand on anthrax alert after Laos outbreak sparks fear

    Thailand on anthrax alert after Laos outbreak sparks fear

    Thailand is on high alert as anthrax fears surge following a deadly outbreak in neighbouring Laos, warns government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke today. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew to intensify preventive measures, especially in border areas, in response to the escalating threat. Srettha asserted that increased monitoring is crucial to safeguard the health of Thai citizens,…

  • Red Ferrari crashes into Bangkok canal, driver unharmed

    Red Ferrari crashes into Bangkok canal, driver unharmed

    The driver of a Ferrari miraculously escaped with no injuries after crashing into a canal off Prasert-Manukitch Road in Bangkok. The incident occurred around 10.37am today shortly after the luxury sports car had been taken for a test drive following repairs. Emergency services, including police and volunteers from the Siam United Foundation, responded to the scene where the red Ferrari…

  • Worker fatally crushed by garbage truck in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    Worker fatally crushed by garbage truck in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    A tragic incident unfolded yesterday when a refuse collection worker, was fatally crushed by a garbage truck operated by the subdistrict administrative organisation (SAO) of Kamlon in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The accident occurred in the area of Moo 1, Kamlon subdistrict, Lansaka district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Despite desperate shouts for the driver to stop, visibility issues led to the…

  • Knife-wielding man apprehended in Pattaya

    Knife-wielding man apprehended in Pattaya

    Local law enforcement successfully subdued a disoriented man wielding a knife and displaying erratic and aggressive behaviour in Soi Thappraya 12, near Pattaya Park last Sunday, March 24. Initially caught off guard, unprepared municipal officers were swiftly reinforced by a specialised police task force armed with riot control gear. Eyewitnesses recounted tense moments as law enforcement closed in on the…

  • Two dead in Baltimore bridge collision

    Two dead in Baltimore bridge collision

    The bodies of two construction workers were discovered submerged in the frigid depths of Baltimore harbour, trapped in their pickup truck after a cargo vessel careened into the bridge they were repairing. Maryland authorities, grappling with the grim revelation, revealed at a press briefing that sonar imaging suggests additional vehicles lie entombed amidst the rubble of the Francis Scott Key…

  • Surat Thani police arrest duo for village headman’s murder

    Surat Thani police arrest duo for village headman’s murder

    Two suspects were apprehended in connection with the fatal shooting of a village headman who was killed outside his home in Surat Thani province. The assailants, apprehended along with firearms and clothing worn during the incident, are thought to have had a personal dispute with the victim. In the early hours of February 13, 36 year old Mae Mok village…

  • Bangkok police seize 10 million baht in bogus health supplements

    Bangkok police seize 10 million baht in bogus health supplements

    The Thai authorities have cracked down on a dietary supplement company for falsely advertising health benefits, using celebrities as endorsers, and selling products worth over 7 million baht in a significant consumer protection case. In a major operation, Bangkok’s Consumer Protection Police Division, alongside officers from the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), conducted raids on warehouses in Bangkok and the…

  • Young mother’s death in Phetchaburi forest raises doubts

    Young mother’s death in Phetchaburi forest raises doubts

    A young mother was found dead in a forest in Phetchaburi province with suspicious circumstances surrounding her demise. The woman’s husband expressed doubts about the official suicide ruling, pointing to unusual bindings on her wrists. Yesterday in the dense woods of Tha Yang district, Phetchaburi province, a tragic scene unfolded as the lifeless body of a young mother was discovered,…

  • Thai monk injured in car crash while abducting man he met on dating app

    Thai monk injured in car crash while abducting man he met on dating app

    A Thai monk sustained injuries in a car accident in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen on March 26 after he abducted a Thai man he met on a dating application. A local news reporter shared today, March 28, that a 32 year old monk, named Narin, crashed his black Toyota Fortuner SUV into a traffic island on Sri Chan…

  • Stainless steel recycling key to fighting climate change in Thailand

    Stainless steel recycling key to fighting climate change in Thailand

    Netherlands-based metals recycling powerhouse Oryx Stainless unveiled a study that could transform the climate change game in Thailand. A study commissioned by Oryx Stainless unearthed a remarkable potential for mitigating climate change through increased stainless steel recycling, shedding light on its societal and environmental benefits. Conducted by a collaboration of Thai and German scientists, with support from The Fraunhofer Center…

  • Thailand gold hits new high, crosses 38,300 baht

    Thailand gold hits new high, crosses 38,300 baht

    Gold prices in Thailand today surged in three rapid increments, hitting a new record high as the precious metal’s retail prices broke through the 38,300 baht mark. Amidst this upward trend, the Gold Traders Association (GTA) announced three price adjustments by mid-morning, each time increasing by 50 baht. At 11.14am, gold bullion with 96.5% purity was selling for 37,850 baht…

  • Donald Trump accused of ‘putting’ the ‘fore’ in ‘forefit’ by sports hack (videos)

    Donald Trump accused of ‘putting’ the ‘fore’ in ‘forefit’ by sports hack (videos)

    A United States sports hack pulled no punches when he said the former US President Donald Trump “cheats like a mafia accountant” after the ex-White House chief boasted he won a golf tournament this week. Trump yesterday claimed he triumphed in a club championship and senior club championship at the Trump International Golf Club in Florida. Sportswriter Rick Reilly, however, who…