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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    Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?

    Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...

  • Fatal car accident in Chon Buri: BMW crashes, passenger killed

    Fatal car accident in Chon Buri: BMW crashes, passenger killed

    A fatal car accident in Chon Buri province claimed the life of a passenger and left the driver in critical condition after a BMW reportedly lost control and crashed into a bridge pillar. The incident occurred in the early hours of February 14, when the vehicle, driven by a 26 year old, veered off the road at high speed. The…

  • Roses lead, condoms surge: Grab reveals 5 best-selling products on Valentine’s Day

    Roses lead, condoms surge: Grab reveals 5 best-selling products on Valentine’s Day

    Grab Thailand unveiled its top five best-selling products during the Valentine’s Day festival with roses remaining the champion while condoms, although not in the top five, saw a 30% surge in sales. One of Thailand’s most popular superapps, Grab, gathered statistics from GrabMart users starting from February 1 before releasing a list of Thailand’s best-selling products on its application. The five…

  • Surat Thani police launch safety sweep for holidays

    Surat Thani police launch safety sweep for holidays

    Surat Thani Provincial Police mobilised a security sweep to ensure public and tourist safety during the Valentine’s Day and Makha Bucha Day holidays in 2024. The operation, fronted by high-ranking officers, aims to prevent sexual harassment, inappropriate behaviour, and crime in vulnerable areas. In a proactive measure to ensure public safety, Surat Thani Provincial Police launched a comprehensive crime sweep…

  • Nong Prue authorities rush to quell massive garbage pond blaze

    Nong Prue authorities rush to quell massive garbage pond blaze

    A fire tore through a vast garbage pond in Soi Thung Klom-Tan Man near Pattaya on Monday evening. The Nong Prue Municipal Disaster Mitigation Center sprang into action following reports of the inferno around 10pm, Monday, February 12, prompting a swift response from municipal officials across the region. Stretching across an expanse of over 10 rais and owned by Nong…

  • Surin’s Tha Tum district dazzles with traditional egg parade

    Surin’s Tha Tum district dazzles with traditional egg parade

    A time-honoured tradition in Surin province’s Tha Tum district, the annual egg parade ceremony to honour the town’s guardian spirits, has once again captured the imagination of locals and visitors alike. The event, which took place yesterday, February 13, is renowned not only for its cultural significance but also for the much-anticipated divination ritual where participants seek lucky numbers from…

  • 2 foreign men caught stealing 1,500 baht cannabis in Pattaya

    2 foreign men caught stealing 1,500 baht cannabis in Pattaya

    The owner of a cannabis shop in Pattaya yesterday filed a complaint against two foreign men who stole 1,500 baht worth of ganja from her shop. The Thai shop owner, 48 year old Sakun, told Mueang Pattaya Police Station officers yesterday, February 13, that her cannabis outlet is located in Soi Pattaya Klang 12, and she was in the shop…

  • Thailand News Today | Cannabis bill paused for public discourse, Ex-PM Thaksin to be released from jail early

    Thailand News Today | Cannabis bill paused for public discourse, Ex-PM Thaksin to be released from jail early

    Thailand’s jailed former Prime Minister is set to be released from prison early Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a pivotal figure in the country’s political landscape, is set to be released from prison following parole approval, just six months after ending his 15-year self-imposed exile. His return and subsequent sentencing to eight years for charges including corruption, which was…

  • Phuket’s property pandemonium: Foreign buyers drive real estate prices sky high

    Phuket’s property pandemonium: Foreign buyers drive real estate prices sky high

    Phuket’s property market has been catapulted to unprecedented heights, with foreign interest igniting a buying spree sending prices soaring. Phattarachai Taweewong, director of Research and Communications at Colliers International (Thailand), revealed that the allure of owning a slice of paradise in Phuket has pushed land prices to astronomical levels, hitting as high as 25 to 100 million baht per rai.…

  • Thailand zoo unveils new capybara print legwear

    Thailand zoo unveils new capybara print legwear

    Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri province is introducing its newest sensation: capybara pants, scheduled to be available in stores next month. Announced via the zoo’s buzzing Kha Moo and the gang Facebook page, the revelation of these quirky trousers has sparked a viral storm, amassing over 1,500 shares in merely five hours. Director General of The Zoological Park…

  • Myanmar businessman killed over black money deal in Bangkok

    Myanmar businessman killed over black money deal in Bangkok

    A violent altercation in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area led to the death of a 53 year old Myanmar businessman in the early hours of this morning. The incident occurred at 1.30am today, February 14, in a room in a Sukhumvit Soi 4 mansion, where the victim, Kayo Seya, was found with multiple injuries and significant blood loss. The businessman was reportedly…

  • Bail granted to reporter and photographer accused of supporting political activist

    Bail granted to reporter and photographer accused of supporting political activist

    The Criminal Court yesterday granted bail to a Thai news reporter from the Prachathai News Agency and a freelance photographer who were charged with covering the story of a political activist last year. Prachathai news agency reporter Nuttaphol Meksobhon and freelance photographer Nuttaphol Phanpongsanon were arrested on February 12. They were accused of supporting an action to damage the country’s…

  • Thai stepfather denies abusing 14 year old boy

    Thai stepfather denies abusing 14 year old boy

    A Thai man accused his ex-wife’s husband of physically abusing his 14 year old son. The accused stepfather defended himself, saying the boy suffers from a mental illness and often hurt himself to get attention. The boy’s biological father, identified only as A, on February 12, sought help from a social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet, accusing the stepfather of…

  • Activist Tantawan arrested for challenging royal motorcades

    Activist Tantawan arrested for challenging royal motorcades

    A 22 year old activist attracted attention when she found herself in the news for honking her car horn at a royal motorcade on February 4. Following this incident, Tantawan Tuatulanon conducted an opinion poll on February 10, questioning if royal motorcades were a cause of traffic issues. This action led to charges being filed against her for causing a…

  • Thunderstorm alert for Thai provinces with rising temps

    Thunderstorm alert for Thai provinces with rising temps

    The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a weather warning for thunderstorms across ten provinces, signalling a rise in temperatures for the upper parts of the country. Despite the warmer climate, mornings will continue to be shrouded in fog, retaining the chill, particularly in the northeastern regions. This forecast, released at 5am today, February 14, also highlights an ongoing concern…

  • Thailand braces for record-breaking summer heat in five provinces

    Thailand braces for record-breaking summer heat in five provinces

    Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a stark warning that this year’s summer season could bring even more intense heat than the previous year to five provinces, already topping the charts as the hottest in the country. The forecast, released on February 13, suggests a sweltering summer ahead with temperatures that could soar to a scorching 44.5 degrees Celsius. The five…

  • Thai Cannabis decriminalisation paused for further dialogue

    Thai Cannabis decriminalisation paused for further dialogue

    The push for cannabis decriminalisation in Thailand faced a hiccup as the Ministry of Public Health yesterday announced a pause in proceedings. The deferral was called for a dialogue with the public, and pro-cannabis interest groups, and to gather more views on the matter. The initial intention behind cannabis decriminalisation in Thailand was always medical, not recreational use. However, the…

  • Chon Buri’s Wonnapha Beach makeover sparks online debate

    Chon Buri’s Wonnapha Beach makeover sparks online debate

    The renovation of Wonnapha Beach in Chon Buri province sparked significant debate among the online community. The popular tourist destination, situated in the town of Saensuk, has undergone a facelift that has seen parts of its sandy stretch replaced with precast concrete slabs, resembling large tiles. This development has left little of the original beach visible, leading to a divided…

  • Ed Sheeran concert uproar prompts Paetongtarn to deny VIP noise

    Ed Sheeran concert uproar prompts Paetongtarn to deny VIP noise

    Concertgoers at Ed Sheeran’s recent performance in Bangkok were met with an unexpected disturbance emanating from the VIP section, leading to a heated debate across social media platforms. Amidst the furore, the leader of the Pheu Thai Party, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, addressed the issue today, staunchly denying involvement in the disruptive noise that prompted some audience members to leave the venue.…

  • Valentine trend: Banknote bouquets outsell roses in Trang

    Valentine trend: Banknote bouquets outsell roses in Trang

    Valentine’s Day in Trang witnessed an innovative gifting trend that has captured the hearts of many: beautifully crafted bouquets made not only with traditional roses but also with chocolate and banknotes. At Ari Flower Shop on Jermpanya Road, in the Thap Thiang district of Trang, the owner and her team are busy preparing these unique bouquets for the season of…

  • Flight disrupted by vibrating luggage reveals sex toy (video)

    Flight disrupted by vibrating luggage reveals sex toy (video)

    An embarrassing incident took place on a flight when a model faced the awkward, embarrassing situation of being asked to disembark due to her continuously vibrating luggage which turned out to come from a sex toy. The incident, which has since become a viral sensation with over 12 million views, was documented in a video posted by the model, Amanda…

  • Licence to vanish: British fraudster swaps UK for Thailand, leaves cops scratching heads

    Licence to vanish: British fraudster swaps UK for Thailand, leaves cops scratching heads

    A British fraudster swapped one resort town in England for another in Thailand to escape being charged with issuing fake driving licences in the UK, leaving the authorities puzzled about his whereabouts for over three years. Leon Childs, from Southend, found himself embroiled in a web of deceit when Paul Ridden, a 70 year old, allegedly confessed to peddling counterfeit…

  • Thai VietJet Air partners with global cargo giant for Asian expansion

    Thai VietJet Air partners with global cargo giant for Asian expansion

    Thai VietJet Air has announced a groundbreaking partnership with ECS Group, in a move to reshape its cargo operations across Asia. Under the terms of the agreement, ECS Group’s subsidiary, AVS GSA Thailand, will spearhead the cargo contract, leveraging the expansive network of ECS across the region. This landmark deal, sealed on February 1, empowers Thai VietJet Air with access…

  • German tourist’s night out in Pattaya turns into nightmare

    German tourist’s night out in Pattaya turns into nightmare

    In the dim-lit streets of Soi Buakhao, Pattaya, chaos erupted as a German national found himself entangled in a brutal altercation with Go-Go bar thugs in the early hours of yesterday, leaving him nursing injuries to his left ear. The 46 year old German tourist, Mike Groebiinghoff, accompanied by his Thai girlfriend, innocently sought a parking spot in front of…

  • Former PM Thaksin granted parole, walks free this weekend

    Former PM Thaksin granted parole, walks free this weekend

    It has been confirmed that Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister of Thailand, will walk free from prison this weekend. A source from Government House made the following announcement. “Convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to be released on parole this weekend, following confirmation from Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong on Tuesday (February 13).” Tawee disclosed that Thaksin was among…

  • The White Lotus season 3 to welcome Blackpink’s Lisa

    The White Lotus season 3 to welcome Blackpink’s Lisa

    Blackpink’s Lisa is poised to make waves in the world of Hollywood as she gears up for her acting debut in the acclaimed American series, The White Lotus. The K-pop sensation will follow in the footsteps of her bandmate Jennie Ruby Jane, stepping onto the HBO stage and igniting excitement amongst fans worldwide. According to Variety’s latest report, Lisa will…

  • Foreign man found lying unconscious with deep cuts in Pattaya

    Foreign man found lying unconscious with deep cuts in Pattaya

    A Thai man stumbled upon an unconscious foreign man with deep cuts to his throat and arms lying in a pool of blood in an abandoned plot of land in Pattaya this morning. The 23 year old Thai man, Nattaphon, contacted Bang Lamung Police Station officers today, February 13, after he discovered the injured foreigner. Nattaphon explained that he and Suriya…

  • Sunken secrets unveiled: Thai-US Navy joint mission to salvage Sukhothai corvette

    Sunken secrets unveiled: Thai-US Navy joint mission to salvage Sukhothai corvette

    In a bid to lay to rest the haunting echoes of the past, Admiral Adung Phan-iam, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), declared today the impending joint operation with the US Navy to probe the depths where the Sukhothai corvette now rests. Sinking beneath the waves on that fateful December 19 night in 2022, the Sukhothai corvette became a…

  • Thai stepfather denies abusing 4 year old boy despite visible injuries (video)

    Thai stepfather denies abusing 4 year old boy despite visible injuries (video)

    A Thai social media influencer solicited help from the police to rescue a four year old boy from his abusive stepfather, who denied allegations of abuse despite visible bite marks, bruises, and burns on the child’s body. A community leader in the Khlong Samwa district of Bangkok reported the child abuse to the Bangkok Metropolitan Council and social media influencer…

  • Pickup truck collides with golf cart at luxury Jomtien hotel

    Pickup truck collides with golf cart at luxury Jomtien hotel

    A collision at the entrance road of a lavish beach resort in Jomtien between a pickup truck and a golf cart left several injured, with some impaled by metal objects. Preliminary investigations reveal that Htet Naing Lin, a 20 year old Myanmar national, was delivering goods to the hotel when he encountered the golf cart emerging from a side street.…

  • Burmese woman stabs employer to steal cash and gold necklace

    Burmese woman stabs employer to steal cash and gold necklace

    Police arrested a Burmese woman who stabbed her Thai employer to steal 30,000 baht in cash and a gold necklace in a house in the northern province of Chiang Mai. Officers from the Chang Puak Police Station were alerted to the attack and theft in the middle of the night on February 10. They rushed to the incident scene at…