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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    Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money

    Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...

  • Thailand’s Lampang province hits 42 degrees Celsius | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Lampang province hits 42 degrees Celsius

    The scorching heat has engulfed Thailand’s northern Lampang province, with temperatures peaking at 42 degrees Celsius in the Thoen district on Monday and yesterday, April 2, recording the highest temperatures of this year’s summer. The Mueang district also experienced soaring temperatures, with the mercury touching 41.8 Celsius, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). This heatwave in Lampang, which began…

  • Thai government considers recriminalising cannabis | Thaiger

    Thai government considers recriminalising cannabis

    Thai Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew conveyed his apprehension about the general public’s disagreement with the Pheu Thai Party’s plan to criminalise cannabis once again. This apprehension arose following Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s recent interview with France 24, a French state-owned news channel, where he revealed the government’s intent to control cannabis use, which has been decriminalised since 2022. In…

  • Thailand Video News | Police catch British pedophile after 25 years in Thailand, Health ministry warns against consuming geckos for sexual prowess | Thaiger

    Thailand Video News | Police catch British pedophile after 25 years in Thailand, Health ministry warns against consuming geckos for sexual prowess

    In this video, Alex unfolds the latest news across Thailand. From the arrest warrant for Deputy Police Chief “Big Joke” on money laundering charges to the capture of a long-time fugitive pedophile in the UK. Meanwhile, Bangkok’s Motor Show boosts electric vehicle sales, a Pattaya BBQ restaurant owner faces backlash for employee mistreatment, and preparations for the Songkran Festival include…

  • Knife-wielding Portuguese lady refuses to pay taxi in Phuket (video) | Thaiger

    Knife-wielding Portuguese lady refuses to pay taxi in Phuket (video)

    A Portuguese woman refused to pay a taxi fare and threatened the female driver with a knife at a hotel in the Rawai neighbourhood of Phuket on April 1. The female taxi driver, 35 year old Ladda Saengthong, shared a video of the incident on several social media platforms to warn other taxi drivers in the area. In the video, the foreign…

  • Disabled son of Premier League star in Muay Thai ring goal | Thaiger

    Disabled son of Premier League star in Muay Thai ring goal

    The disabled son of a former Premier League football star is poised to shake the ropes and rattle traditions while taking a bow at the home of Muay Thai in Thailand on Friday. Jake Peacock, son of former Newcastle United and Chelsea captain Gavin, gets into the ring on Friday, April 5, for ONE Friday Fights 58 in Thailand against…

  • UK and Thailand to boost scientific research and English proficiency | Thaiger

    UK and Thailand to boost scientific research and English proficiency

    The United Kingdom and Thailand are primed to sign two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) within the forthcoming three months. The objective is to enhance scientific education and research, as well as improve English language proficiency among Thai students. These MoU agreements are the result of the recent elevation of the Thailand-UK relationship to a strategic partnership. This information was disclosed…

  • Thailand’s Cabinet to review legalisation of casinos proposal | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Cabinet to review legalisation of casinos proposal

    The Thai Cabinet is set to review a proposal for the legalisation of casinos within the next fortnight, according to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. Speaking in his role as the chairman of the special committee of the House, mandated with assessing the feasibility of legalising casinos in Thailand, he revealed that the proposal had secured preliminary approval from the…

  • Lop Buri plans macaque control centre to tackle monkey menace | Thaiger

    Lop Buri plans macaque control centre to tackle monkey menace

    A macaque control centre is being planned in Lop Buri by Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. This initiative aims to sterilise the monkeys and relocate them to other areas, in a bid to address the issues they are causing within the town. Phatcharavat, following a Cabinet meeting yesterday, expressed the necessity of this control centre, given…

  • Foreign man asks netizens to weigh in on dowry conundrum | Thaiger

    Foreign man asks netizens to weigh in on dowry conundrum

    A foreign man sought opinions from netizens after paying a 230,000 baht dowry to his Thai wife‘s family. He posed the question, “Was I stupid to agree to the dowry?” Around two weeks ago, the foreigner took to Reddit to share his marriage experience, asking fellow users to weigh in on whether his decision was right or wrong. His post…

  • Massive fight in Pattaya sparked by dog bite incident | Thaiger

    Massive fight in Pattaya sparked by dog bite incident

    A dog bite sparked a massive fight involving over 20 people in Soi Kor Phai 14 in Pattaya’s Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province, on Monday night. The daily rental room was the site of the clash. At 9.36pm, Monday, April 1, Pattaya police received a call and officers arrived at the scene to find a large group embroiled in…

  • Thai govt considers sanctions against Bangkok monorail operators | Thaiger

    Thai govt considers sanctions against Bangkok monorail operators

    The Thai government is currently mulling over the enforcement of contractual remedies against Northern Bangkok Monorail and Eastern Bangkok Monorail, the operators of the city’s Pink and Yellow lines respectively. This move follows a series of incidents that have raised concerns over the safety standards of the monorail lines. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the Transport Minister, pointed out that the State Railway…

  • UK police catch British pedophile at London airport | Thaiger

    UK police catch British pedophile at London airport

    The UK police bullishly declared they “finally got their man” when arresting a British pedophile at a London airport after almost 30 years on the run for historic sex crimes. Alleged pedophile Richard Burrows, one of the UK’s “most wanted” fugitives, saw his 50-year reign of terror come to an end when he was apprehended on Thursday, March 28, at…

  • Man installs phone charger by shower, sparks safety debate | Thaiger

    Man installs phone charger by shower, sparks safety debate

    A quirky home improvement project captured the attention of the online world after a Facebook user shared an image of a newly installed phone charger—in the bathroom. The post, which quickly went viral, showed a man proudly displaying his handiwork: a charging station for his partner’s phone, strategically placed next to the showerhead. The social media community was immediately abuzz…

  • Salt of the laundry: Table salt sparks cleaning revolution | Thaiger

    Salt of the laundry: Table salt sparks cleaning revolution

    Table salt has emerged as a surprisingly effective aid in the laundry process, not only enhancing the cleanliness of the washing machine but also delivering dual benefits for the clothes themselves. This inexpensive, common condiment has proven to be a thrifty and straightforward solution for maintaining both machine and garment hygiene, offering much more than meets the eye. The use…

  • Thai government increases 2025 budget deficit for economic boost | Thaiger

    Thai government increases 2025 budget deficit for economic boost

    The Government of Thailand has sanctioned a rise in the 2025 budget deficit by an extra 153 billion baht, to instigate an economic boost. As a result, the budget will increase to 3.752 trillion baht, a significant hike from the previously planned 3.6 trillion, according to Chalermphol Pensoot, the Budget Bureau director at the Ministry of Finance. The budget deficit…

  • Crystal meth found floating in Thailand’s eastern seaboard waters | Thaiger

    Crystal meth found floating in Thailand’s eastern seaboard waters

    The coastal waters of Thailand’s eastern seaboard were recently afloat with 20 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine. This shocking find adds to the growing tally of illegal narcotics discovered in the region, with approximately 400kg of crystal meth found floating in the same area during the past month. The news broke today, April 2, when Thawatchai Kaewkhao, the mayor of Bang…

  • Thai man, not foreigner, fined for driving sedan on Kamala Beach | Thaiger

    Thai man, not foreigner, fined for driving sedan on Kamala Beach

    A motorist who flouted the rules by driving a black sedan on Kamala Beach in Phuket yesterday was a Thai man, not a foreigner, contrary to initial assumptions. He received a fine of 1,000 baht for his action. A local in Phuket posted a video of a black Toyota Camry Hybrid sedan on Kamala Beach on Facebook yesterday, April 1,…

  • Car bursts into flames in Thailand from dry tissues and toothpicks | Thaiger

    Car bursts into flames in Thailand from dry tissues and toothpicks

    A car parked under the scorching Thai sun burst into flames, nearly burning the entire vehicle due to the presence of dry tissues and toothpicks. The incident, which serves as a stark warning about the dangers of leaving combustible materials in a car exposed to intense heat, occurred at noon today, April 2. The vehicle’s owner revealed the harrowing moments…

  • Thailand waives tolls for Songkran festival to ease travel costs | Thaiger

    Thailand waives tolls for Songkran festival to ease travel costs

    The Thai Cabinet approved a toll exemption for vehicles on Motorway No. 7 and Motorway No. 9 during the seven-day Songkran festival period to alleviate traffic congestion and facilitate convenience for travellers. The exemption will be in effect from 12.01am on April 11 to midnight on April 17, in time for the country’s traditional new year celebrations. The decision was…

  • Big Joke woes: Warrant issued for money laundering | Thaiger

    Big Joke woes: Warrant issued for money laundering

    The Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road was the scene of significant legal developments as investigators sought an arrest warrant for Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, Deputy National Police Chief of Thailand, following three previously issued summonses. The request for his capture was rooted in allegations of money laundering and conspiring to commit a crime, related to an investigation into gambling websites.…

  • Gunman sparks terror in Sai Mai district, police on manhunt (video) | Thaiger

    Gunman sparks terror in Sai Mai district, police on manhunt (video)

    A gunman sparked terror through the Sai Mai district yesterday when he started firing shots at Nong Bua Temple before walking with a gun along the busy Sukhapiban 5 Road. Police are currently hunting for the suspect and investigating the motives behind the incident, which occurred at 2pm on April 2. At the initial stage of the investigation, Sai Mai police…

  • Thailand’s waste-fighting wave: InterceptorTM 019 makes a splash | Thaiger

    Thailand’s waste-fighting wave: InterceptorTM 019 makes a splash

    The fight against marine waste has taken a monumental step in Thailand with the official launch of the InterceptorTM 019, a solar-powered and fully automated device dedicated to capturing waste. This milestone is the result of joint efforts by The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch non-profit environmental engineering organisation, and its first global implementation partner, The Coca-Cola Company, along with a…

  • Govt bets big on Thai entertainment complex, stakes high | Thaiger

    Govt bets big on Thai entertainment complex, stakes high

    The stakes are high for each venue within the integrated Thai entertainment complex development project by the Government of Thailand, with investments expected to reach over a staggering 100 billion baht. The chairman of the ordinary committee of the House of Representatives and Deputy Finance Minister, Julapun Amornvivat, plans to present the results of a study on entertainment complexes and…

  • Paws for alarm: Thai woman’s wrong turn ends in tragic mauling | Thaiger

    Paws for alarm: Thai woman’s wrong turn ends in tragic mauling

    A dog tragically mauled a 74 year old Thai woman to death after she entered the wrong house in the Thawi Watthana district of Bangkok due to her Alzheimer’s condition. The incident was reported to Saladaeng Police Station and Por Teck Tung Foundation by a homeowner around 8pm on March 31. Police investigated the scene and found Prapaipit lying in…

  • Love con: Thai woman nabbed for 1.7 million baht romance scam | Thaiger

    Love con: Thai woman nabbed for 1.7 million baht romance scam

    Thai authorities have successfully apprehended a 24 year old woman in connection with a sophisticated romance scam operation that swindled a victim out of 1.7 million baht under the guise of a lucrative investment in London gold shares. The arrest of the woman identified only as Saovaluck, which took place yesterday in front of a convenience store in Samrong Klang…

  • Shocking surge: Thailand market sparks rise in EV loans | Thaiger

    Shocking surge: Thailand market sparks rise in EV loans

    The Thai market is seeing a rise in loans for electric vehicles (EVs), as they are projected to lead the expansion in auto lending this year. Krungsri Auto, a prominent auto loan provider and a Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri) unit, has projected new EV sales to climb to 100,000 units this year, a significant increase from 76,000 units the previous…

  • Thai man murders granddaughter and commits suicide | Thaiger

    Thai man murders granddaughter and commits suicide

    A 78 year old Thai man in the central province of Phetchabun murdered his 12 year old granddaughter and committed suicide because he allegedly had romantic feelings for her. The dead body of the girl, Natticha, was found in a pond by a roadside forest in the Nong Phai district of Phetchabu province on Saturday, March 30, after she disappeared from her…

  • Dust distress: Thailand choked by PM2.5 air pollution surge | Thaiger

    Dust distress: Thailand choked by PM2.5 air pollution surge

    Air pollution levels in parts of Thailand have surged into the red-coded category, indicating serious health risks. Particularly hard hit was Chiang Mai, where excessive PM2.5 dust levels were detected on today, April 4. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) revealed that 21 provinces were grappling with dangerous PM2.5 particulate levels – fine airborne particles measuring 2.5 micrometres…

  • Thai man’s arm severed outside liquor store after smoking dispute | Thaiger

    Thai man’s arm severed outside liquor store after smoking dispute

    Two suspects embarked on a barbaric act of severing the arm of a Thai man after the victim warned the attackers against smoking cigarettes outside his liquor store in the Sriracha district of Chon Buri last night. The Sriracha Police Station received reports of the knife attack at the liquor store at around 8am yesterday, April 1. They met a…

  • British backpacker murderers make fresh appeal against sentence (video) | Thaiger

    British backpacker murderers make fresh appeal against sentence (video)

    The British backpacker murderers have made fresh appeals against their sentence claiming they are innocent of beating an English couple to death in Thailand ten years ago Two Burmese bar workers were accused of murdering British couple David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on Koh Tao Island in 2014. The bar workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, who have consistently maintained…