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...
-
Thai health initiative nears target with 18 million educated on carbs
The Ministry of Public Health announced that its initiative encouraging Thai citizens to monitor their carbohydrate intake has achieved notable success. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin revealed that over 18 million people have been educated on carbohydrate counting, nearing the project’s target of 20 million by March 20. With assistance from village health volunteers across the country, 445,791 individuals monitored…
-
Bangkok ping pong show art goes viral, raises funds for Phuket elephants
A foreign Instagram sensation is selling exclusive T-shirts featuring an elephant sketch drawn by a Thai woman, using her vagina, during a ping pong show in Bangkok. Every 100 baht from the shirt sale will go to an elephant sanctuary in Phuket. A ping pong show is a form of adult entertainment available in the red light districts of Bangkok…
-
Labour Ministry under scrutiny for 7 billion baht office purchase
The Ministry of Labour confirmed its willingness to cooperate with a panel investigating claims that the Social Security Office (SSO) spent an excessive 7 billion baht on acquiring the SKYY9 Centre on Rama IX Road, despite its appraised value being 3 billion baht. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn stated that the ministry is committed to ensuring transparency throughout the investigation. He…
-
All systems go: Bangkok’s new Red Line to be greenlit in April
The eagerly anticipated extension of Thailand’s Red Line from Siriraj Hospital to Salaya is racing towards Cabinet approval this April. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that the colossal 15.17 billion baht project has cleared all the necessary bureaucratic hurdles. The Finance Ministry, Budget Bureau, and National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) have all rendered their blessing, sending the proposal…
-
Busted! Bangkok officials caught in bogus 2.8m baht bus repair scam
Seven officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have been detained for their alleged involvement in a corruption scheme concerning fabricated repairs to five buses, resulting in costs of 2.8 million baht. Their arrest followed an inspection of a repair garage yesterday morning, March 12. This inspection was conducted by senior officials, including Phumwisan Kasemsuk, Secretary General of the Public…
-
Thai and stormy: 48 provinces brace for wild weather, and hail
Weather conditions in 48 provinces across Thailand are expected to include thunderstorms, with some areas experiencing hail and strong winds. Despite these conditions, the overall weather remains very hot, according to the Thai Meteorological Department‘s (TMD) forecast for the next 24 hours. Northern Thailand will experience very hot weather with thunderstorms in 20% of the area, strong winds, and hail in…
-
Police reopen British teacher’s chilling murder case from 2012
West Yorkshire Police detectives are once again on the hunt for clues connected to the brutal murder of a British teacher in Thailand 12 years after the chilling attack that ultimately claimed his life. Adam Pickles, a former head of English at the Regents International School in Pattaya, tragically died in West Yorkshire in January 2021. His demise followed a…
-
Drug-fuelled taxi rage: Man arrested with gun and meth in Phuket
A man was arrested after allegedly threatening a taxi driver with a pen gun near Mae Somchit Kata Fresh Market, only for police to discover he was also carrying crystal meth. The dramatic incident unfolded at 6pm on Monday, March 10, when Wichit Police received a report of a man menacing a taxi driver with a concealed weapon on Kata…
-
Illegal foreign workers busted in Pattaya villa scam crackdown
Tourist Police in Pattaya arrested 25 foreign nationals working illegally at pool villa construction sites, exposing a growing network of illegal foreign-run property developments. The operation, led by Police Colonel Man Rotthong, targeted Chinese investors suspected of developing villa rentals that function as illegal hotels. Acting on a tip-off about 40 Chinese and Myanmar workers, officers raided four construction sites…
-
Nurse on track: Off-duty hero saves passenger on Bangkok BTS (video)
A nurse garnered praise for assisting a passenger who fainted on the BTS train in Bangkok, even though she was on her way to work. Yesterday, March 11, TikTok user @sittiaew shared a video capturing the commendable act, highlighting the nurse’s dedication to her profession. The video depicts the nurse and a BTS security officer helping a passenger who had…
-
Luxury v law: Phuket crackdown targets beachfront land grab
Officials in Phuket are ramping up efforts to reclaim Bang Tao Beach from unauthorised developments, with high-end hotels and businesses facing potential demolition after illegally encroaching on public land. Yesterday, March 11, officials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Phuket branch, led by Director Suwat Saowarun, launched their second crackdown on beachfront encroachments in Cherng Talay. Joined by Thalang District…
-
Thai man faces jail time after dropping Yaba pill in front of officials
A Thai man absent mindedly forgot that he had hidden some methamphetamine, better known in Thailand as Yaba, in his wallet and accidentally dropped six tablets in front of government officials. According to a new law, anyone found in possession of less than five Yaba tablets will be encouraged to attend rehabilitation. After rehab, suspects can waive a jail term…
-
Ruff justice: Thai neighbour threatens to silence barking dog for good
A woman received a threatening letter from a neighbour, warning that her dog would be killed due to its excessive barking. The neighbour claimed the dog barked all day and night, but the woman refuted this, stating the dog only barked sporadically. Yesterday, March 11, a Facebook user posted a photo of the threatening letter in a group called Adorable…
-
Uthai Thani housekeeper loses 12 lottery tickets, seeks public help
A housekeeper in Uthai Thani is desperately appealing for help after losing 12 lottery tickets, just a day after celebrating her birthday. What was meant to be a stroke of luck has turned into a nightmare, leaving her hoping for a miracle. Yesterday, March 11, 46 year old Vilairat Wichienrat, a resident of Khao Kwang Thong subdistrict, Nong Chang district,…
-
Delivery truck overturns onto pickup, injuring driver in Chumphon
A six-wheel delivery truck veered off its lane and overturned onto a pickup truck, severely injuring its driver, who was trapped inside. The truck driver admitted to dozing off after leaving Chon Buri late at night to deliver parcels to Surat Thani, despite taking several rest breaks. At 11.30am yesterday, March 11, Police Lieutenant Kriengchai Choomkaew, deputy inspector of Sawi…
-
Rent, steal, sell: Couple busted in Pattaya car theft scam
A couple accused of running an elaborate car theft scam were arrested in Pattaya after allegedly renting vehicles, disabling GPS trackers, and selling them on the black market. The operation spanned multiple provinces, with victims reporting losses in Chon Buri, Pattaya, Nonthaburi, and Kanchanaburi. On March 9, Chon Buri Highway Police arrested 48 year old Thanakrit and 29 year old…
-
Police seize 520 kilogrammes of crystal meth in freezer bust
The Central Investigation Bureau announced the seizure of 520 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine hidden in freezers, aimed for distribution in southern Thailand. Police also disrupted a significant e-cigarette trade, arresting numerous suspects and confiscating thousands of products. Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembutr, commander of the Provincial Police Region 1, along with Deputy Commander Police Major General Chokchai Ngamwong and other…
-
Opposition urged to revise censure motion excluding Thaksin
The opposition has until March 19 to revise its position and exclude any references to external parties to ensure the censure debate proceeds as planned on March 24, according to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha. The speaker’s remarks pertain to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is perceived as the influential figure behind the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Wan…
-
Man shot dead at home in Phatthalung after electricity cut
A 38 year old man was killed at his home in Phatthalung. The gunman, who had been released from prison two years ago for drug charges, cut the electricity before the fatal shooting. At 12.05am today, March 12, Police Lieutenant Athipat Maisuk from Khuan Khanun district station in Phatthalung province received a report of a shooting. The incident resulted in…
-
Jomtien Beach revamp nears completion, flooding fix underway
Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach transformation is well underway, with more than 80% of the project completed as the city works to tackle persistent flooding and modernise its landscape. Set for completion by the end of this year, the massive upgrade promises better drainage, improved footpaths, more parking, and enhanced lighting—a game-changer for residents and tourists alike. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet recently inspected…
-
Chon Buri woman found dead, police investigate suspicious circumstances
A 58 year old woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her bedroom. Her husband claims she fell and could not be saved in time. Police are interviewing witnesses to investigate the incident further. Officers from Don Hua Lo Police Station were alerted to a death in a condominium in Don Hua Lo subdistrict, Mueang district, Chon Buri, at 10pm…
-
Thai casino plans put on ice as Cabinet refuses to roll the dice
The bill proposing a casino-entertainment complex was not taken up for deliberation by the Cabinet as anticipated, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. A public hearing is awaited before further action can be taken. The 38 year old Thai PM emphasised the importance of not rushing the bill into law. She highlighted the need for public opinion and dissenting views…
-
Tragic karaoke bar shooting in Phatthalung leaves woman dead
A 40 year old Laotian woman was tragically shot and killed inside a karaoke bar on Phetkasem Road between Phatthalung and Hat Yai at 9pm yesterday, March 11. Police Colonel Chan Narong Sangsang from Khao Chaison Police Station, Phatthalung province, received the report and promptly arrived at the scene with an investigative team and local rescue volunteers. Inside the karaoke…
-
Lottery hiss-teria in Songkhla as king cobra slithers into family car
A routine afternoon turned into a heart-stopping moment for a Songkhla family when a 3-metre-long king cobra slithered into a parked car’s engine, sending locals into a frenzy. While officials rushed to capture the venomous intruder, superstitious residents had their eyes on something else—the car’s registration number for the upcoming lottery draw. The dramatic encounter took place in Ban Khlong…
-
Heartbroken Thai woman directs men from dating app to neighbour’s homes
A Thai woman deceived several men she met on a dating application by directing them to her neighbours’ homes in Bangkok, causing chaos in the community. The suspect claimed she carried out the deception as an act of revenge. Three families living in Mueang Pracha Village on Hathairat Road in the Khlong Samwa district of Bangkok filed complaints with Nimitmai…
-
Puff and cuff: Pattaya Teen’s e-cigarette hustle goes up in smoke
A 19 year old girl’s online side hustle took a dramatic turn when she was caught red-handed selling illegal e-cigarettes in a police sting operation in Pattaya. Bang Lamung district chief Patcharapath Sritanyanon ordered a Special Operations Unit to take down online sellers of illegal vapes. Police set up a sting after discovering the young suspect had been advertising e-cigarettes…
-
Wake-up call: Snoozing Thai driver startled by cop’s ‘wife’ threat
A sleepy driver in Thailand got the shock of his life when police threatened him with a visit from his wife if he didn’t wake up and get a move on. A 40 year old Thai man fell asleep at the wheel, his pickup truck idling at a red light in bustling Nan City, at 12.30am today, March 12. The…
-
Luxury car driver apologises after slapping 14 year old motorcyclist
A recent incident involving a luxury car driver and a 14 year old motorcyclist in Phak Hai district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, has gained attention. The driver, a 42 year old man known as A, admitted to slapping the teenage motorcyclist after an alleged traffic dispute. Despite the motorcyclist’s apology, the driver proceeded with the assault. The event, captured…
-
Russian wheeler-dealer busted for shady bike rentals in Krabi
Police arrested a Russian man for illegally operating motorcycle rental shops in the southern province of Krabi, using Thai nationals as nominees. Officers from the Krabi Immigration Office, the Revenue Office, and Tourist Police received a tip-off about multiple illegal vehicle rental shops in the province. These shops were reportedly operated by foreign nationals. The officers spent more than three…
-
Overstayed and overplayed: German man nabbed in Thai drug bust
A German man is behind bars in Maha Sarakham following a dramatic arrest for drug possession and a whopping 377-day visa overstay. Immigration police swooped yesterday, March 11, after a local resort owner reported odd behaviour from a foreign guest in Room 2. The suspect, 53 year old Thomas, looked startled and suspiciously fiddled with the door lock when officers…
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.