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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    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • Navy conscript arrested for attempting to assault teen in Chon Buri

    Navy conscript arrested for attempting to assault teen in Chon Buri

    A 22 year old navy conscript, known as Bank, has been arrested after allegedly impersonating a police informant to lure a 14 year old girl from her home in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province. On June 8 at approximately 11.30pm, the suspect is said to have threatened the girl with arrest over possessing an e-cigarette, leading her into a banana…

  • Teenagers assault Thai actor after Bangkok market row

    Teenagers assault Thai actor after Bangkok market row

    Police arrested two Thai teenagers for allegedly physically assaulting a well-known actor near Khlong Thom Plaza in Bangkok yesterday. One of the suspects reportedly said, “I know I’m just a child, but I would never have acted this way if the adult hadn’t started it.” Officers from Phlapphla Chai 1 Police Station accompanied the 69 year old actor, Saphatchanon Cespedes,…

  • Police seize firearms after arrest in Chon Buri condominium

    Police seize firearms after arrest in Chon Buri condominium

    Police apprehended a 22 year old man at a condominium in Chon Buri, discovering an M16 assault rifle along with numerous other firearms and over 100 rounds of ammunition. The suspect claimed to have purchased the weapons online. Yesterday, June 11, Na Jomtien Police Station in Chon Buri received a tip-off from a concerned citizen about a suspicious man parked…

  • Thailand to launch direct flights to the US after aviation boost

    Thailand to launch direct flights to the US after aviation boost

    Thailand is gearing up to reconnect with the United States through direct flight routes, as part of the government’s ambitious plans to turn the country into Southeast Asia’s aviation hub. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced accelerated efforts to establish non-stop services between Thailand and the US, a move that could significantly enhance the country’s global standing. Currently, no airline offers…

  • Round 2: Thai and Filipina transwomen clash again in Soi Sukhumvit 11

    Round 2: Thai and Filipina transwomen clash again in Soi Sukhumvit 11

    A group of Thai and Filipina transwomen clashed once again last night in Soi Sukhumvit 11, Bangkok. The Thai nationals accused the foreigners of initiating the conflict. A Thai transwoman shared videos of the altercation on her Facebook account, Naeya Umar, yesterday, June 11. The footage showed several Thai ladyboys physically assaulting two Filipina transwomen dressed in black and grey…

  • Roi Et rocket crashes into Yasothon school as festival chaos erupts

    Roi Et rocket crashes into Yasothon school as festival chaos erupts

    A lively rocket festival turned into a terrifying ordeal after a massive homemade rocket crashed through the roof of a school in the northeastern province of Yasothon, narrowly missing teachers during a lesson. At around 9am yesterday, June 11, a 6-inch wide, 4-metre long Saen Tho rocket, launched as part of the annual Bun Bang Fai Festival in Roi Et…

  • Austrian man hospitalised in Bangkok with 255 meth pills

    Austrian man hospitalised in Bangkok with 255 meth pills

    An Austrian man was urgently transported to Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital from Don Mueang Airport after suffering seizures and passing out. A CT scan revealed multiple suspicious packages, with 255 methamphetamine pills initially found. At 1am yesterday, June 11, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, along with Deputy Commissioner Police Major General Pallop Aermla and Police…

  • Thai-Cambodia border tensions rattle SET index

    Thai-Cambodia border tensions rattle SET index

    Tensions at the Thailand-Cambodia border have unsettled investors, with the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index declining by 4.8% since May 15. Krungsri Capital Securities (KCS) reported that cross-border commerce disruptions and shaken confidence in sectors linked to Cambodia, such as beverages, food, cinemas, and hospitality, are contributing factors. Carabao Group, which generates 10% of its sales from Cambodia, and…

  • Man with chainsaw storms Government House over unpaid wages

    Man with chainsaw storms Government House over unpaid wages

    A furious man armed with a chainsaw caused chaos outside Government House this morning, demanding justice over unpaid wages linked to a state hospital construction project. The drama unfolded at 8.20am today, June 12, when 53 year old Chalerm, from Nan province, stormed Gate 4 of Government House in Bangkok. Wearing an orange reflective vest and gripping a buzzing electric…

  • Thai-Cambodia border hours cut amid tensions over disputes

    Thai-Cambodia border hours cut amid tensions over disputes

    The border crossing at Ban Khlong Luek in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, has seen changes in its opening hours due to ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. The adjustments, now in their fifth day, aim to address disputes in the Chong Bok area of Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province. Brigadier General Benchapol Dej-atiwong Na Ayudhya, commander of the…

  • Fishy business: Mutant fish found in the Mekong River

    Fishy business: Mutant fish found in the Mekong River

    A growing contamination crisis is threatening the lifeblood of northern Thailand after another mutant pla kae fish was pulled from the Mekong River, the latest in a string of blighted catches leaving fishermen broke, rivers poisoned, and locals fearing for their food supply. The Rivers for Life Association, monitoring the alarming surge in sick fish across the region, confirmed on…

  • Bangkok doctor suspended over sedative scandal

    Bangkok doctor suspended over sedative scandal

    A doctor at Police General Hospital in Bangkok has been suspended following her arrest over allegations of procuring large quantities of sedatives. A disciplinary investigation is underway. Police Colonel Doctor Anchulee Theerawongpaisal, a psychiatrist, is accused of using her credentials to obtain tens of thousands of alprazolam pills and other psychotropic substances from the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA).…

  • Teen grandson suspected in 500,000 baht theft from family

    Teen grandson suspected in 500,000 baht theft from family

    An 80 year old woman, and her 35 year old son, from Ban Makkhaeng, reported a theft by a teen grandson to Police Lieutenant Theeraphan Kaewphornyo at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station at 10.20am yesterday, June 11. The woman victim, Chalo, and her son, Cha, claimed that gold jewellery weighing a total of 9 baht, valued at approximately 453,798 baht (US$13,990),…

  • Thai student suffers life-threatening muscle injury from school punishment

    Thai student suffers life-threatening muscle injury from school punishment

    A Thai student in Bangkok suffered kidney failure and a rare muscle injury after being punished by a teacher with 200 sit-ups. A doctor who treated the student urged the Facebook page Drama-addict to publicise the incident to highlight the life-threatening consequences of extreme punishments in schools, especially to raise awareness among teachers. The doctor revealed that the high school…

  • Illegal slaughterhouse uncovered in Nakhon Sawan City

    Illegal slaughterhouse uncovered in Nakhon Sawan City

    The Department of Livestock Development in Nakhon Sawan recently uncovered an illegal slaughterhouse operating in the city. Officials seized eight pig carcasses weighing over 700 kilogrammes. Doctor Somchuan Ratanamangkalanon, Director General of the Department of Livestock Development, reported that yesterday, June 11, officials from the Nakhon Sawan animal quarantine station, along with the provincial livestock office, inspected a suspected location…

  • Monkey sterilisation drive ramps up in Lopburi crackdown

    Monkey sterilisation drive ramps up in Lopburi crackdown

    Efforts to control the monkey population in Lopburi city centre are ongoing, with macaques being trapped, sterilised, and relocated to shelters. A new facility is being built to accommodate more of these monkeys, which have been causing disruptions in the area. The operation is managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant…

  • Man walks 700km to overcome cannabis addiction in Ratchaburi

    Man walks 700km to overcome cannabis addiction in Ratchaburi

    A Thai man is making headlines for his extraordinary attempt to turn his life around by walking more than 700 kilometres to escape cannabis addiction. Piya, a 46 year old man from Ratchaburi, has spent the past 20 days trekking towards Chiang Mai in a personal mission to overcome his dependency on cannabis. Armed with nothing more than a single…

  • Pattaya couple cuffed for meth deal with toddler in tow

    Pattaya couple cuffed for meth deal with toddler in tow

    A Pattaya couple have been arrested in a major drug sting, after allegedly turning up to a meth deal with their two year old son sat on the motorbike. Pattaya police reported that 42 year old Wirot Ratloi, nicknamed “Ting,” and his 27 year old wife, Ployphan Mueangdit, known as “Pin,” were caught with over 1,000 Yaba pills, just moments after…

  • Thai Journalists Association urges PM’s team to stop intimidating media

    Thai Journalists Association urges PM’s team to stop intimidating media

    The Thai Journalists Association urged officials working closely with the Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to refrain from any intimidating behaviour towards journalists following a recent confrontation between the PM and a reporter. The Thai premier was seen expressing irritation towards a journalist during an interview on June 4 regarding the ongoing conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. The 38 year…

  • Hotel boss eyes Thai tourism slump as golden opportunity

    Hotel boss eyes Thai tourism slump as golden opportunity

    Thailand’s tourism sector may be cooling off, but one hotel boss is turning up the heat — and he’s betting big on local travellers. Despite a slowdown in international arrivals, Koko Global Hospitality (Thailand) Co Ltd (KGH), the operator behind the Kokotel hotel chain, is expanding its footprint across the region. The company’s chief executive, Rei Matsuda, believes the current…

  • Thaksin skips Supreme Court hearing over hospital jail stay

    Thaksin skips Supreme Court hearing over hospital jail stay

    Thaksin Shinawatra will not attend the Supreme Court tomorrow, as it reviews whether he served his prison sentence during his extended stay at Police General Hospital (PGH). According to his lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree, the former Thai prime minister was not required to appear for the hearing at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Case Division for Persons Holding Political Positions tomorrow, June…

  • Visa Las Vegas: Cops bust illegal workers in Chon Buri

    Visa Las Vegas: Cops bust illegal workers in Chon Buri

    A massive crackdown on illegal foreign workers has rocked Thailand’s party province of Chon Buri, with multiple raids, social media tip-offs, and a string of arrests hitting everything from restaurants to racy nightlife venues. A joint task force yesterday, June 11, stormed businesses in the Bang Lamung district, rounding up eight undocumented workers at a company in the Huay Yai…

  • Teenagers injured in Bangkok shooting incident at home

    Teenagers injured in Bangkok shooting incident at home

    Two teenagers were injured in a shooting incident today at their residence on Soi Veluwanaram 21, Don Mueang district, Bangkok. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jarukit Janrada, Deputy Inspector of Don Mueang Police Station, responded to the scene at 2am today, June 12, alongside the 191 patrol unit and Don Mueang patrol officers. The incident occurred at a single-storey townhouse, where two…

  • Tragedy strikes: Missing granny found dead in Phuket canal

    Tragedy strikes: Missing granny found dead in Phuket canal

    A peaceful afternoon in Phuket turned tragic after the body of a 72 year old woman was discovered in a canal, more than 24 hours after she reportedly vanished. The elderly woman was reported missing yesterday afternoon, June 11, when her family raised the alarm, fearing she may have fallen into the Bang Yai Canal in Phuket Town. Rescue workers…

  • Wife blames ghost possession for car crash by drug-addicted husband

    Wife blames ghost possession for car crash by drug-addicted husband

    A Thai woman claimed her husband was possessed by a ghost after he crashed his sedan into an electric bicycle and a sidecar motorcycle in the northeastern province of Loei on Sunday, June 8. Two Thai women, 39 year old Arnutsara and 33 year old Orrawan, urged Channel 3 to help ensure justice for their family members, who were injured…

  • Splash warning: Thailand braces for monsoon madness

    Splash warning: Thailand braces for monsoon madness

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued an urgent alert for the northeast of Thailand, warning of torrential downpours and thunderstorms set to drench the entire nation. Locals are urged to stay on high alert for flash floods and landslides, especially in those tricky hilly regions and low-lying areas. Farmers, take heed, it’s time to shield those crops from the impending…

  • Thai man finds wood in leg wound after reckless treatment in Nakhon Sawan

    Thai man finds wood in leg wound after reckless treatment in Nakhon Sawan

    A Thai woman took to social media to condemn Ladyao Hospital in the central province of Nakhon Sawan after her brother discovered two pieces of wood embedded in his wound three months after receiving reckless treatment there. The victim’s sister, using the Facebook account “N’Mim Mimja, shared pictures on Tuesday, June 10, showing the bloodied wooden fragments that were removed…

  • Chinese man arrested for running unlicensed VVIP tour in Bangkok

    Chinese man arrested for running unlicensed VVIP tour in Bangkok

    A Chinese man has been arrested for operating a luxury VVIP programme for Chinese tourists in Bangkok’s historic Rattanakosin Island, despite not having the required permit. The suspect, identified as 25 year old Ling Zixiang, was detained near Tha Chang Pier on Maharat Road. The arrest was the result of a detailed investigation by tourist police, led by Police Major…

  • Historic deal brings all Thai football leagues to screens

    Historic deal brings all Thai football leagues to screens

    In a game-changing move for Thai football, Gulf Development Plc, alongside Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS) and Jasmine International Plc (JAS), has partnered with the Football Association of Thailand to revolutionise the country’s football broadcasting landscape. The trio has secured exclusive rights to broadcast all major football leagues across Thailand for the next four years, cementing a new era of…

  • ‘Dead’ man comes back to life, cries for help in Nonthaburi canal

    ‘Dead’ man comes back to life, cries for help in Nonthaburi canal

    Emergency responders in Nonthaburi were left stunned when a man, presumed dead and floating in a canal, suddenly cried out for help. The shocking turn of events left police and volunteers scrambling to rescue the man, who was later identified as 70 year old Kosem. Police from Bang Bua Thong station and Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers responded today, June 11, to…