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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
-
Thai man slaps nurse in Rayong over child entry dispute (video)
A Thai man slapped a nurse at a hospital in the eastern province of Rayong after the nurse stopped his young child from entering the hospital ward for the child’s safety. The incident came to light after a Thai nurse, who uses the Facebook account Prang Tewika, posted about the event yesterday, February 17, seeking justice for her younger sister, who…
-
Road warriors: Speeding towards a smooth ride on Rama II Road
Motorists can get in gear for a smoother journey by the end of the year as major construction projects along Rama II Road, aka Highway 35, speed towards completion. According to the Transport Ministry, the Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Outer Ring Road expressway is nearly done, with 87% finished so far. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit confirmed on Monday that the project…
-
Thai durians remain China’s top choice amid safety upgrades
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has expressed confidence that Thai durians will continue to be the preferred choice in China, following enhancements to food safety and contamination screenings. Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat, after her recent visit to China, reported discussions with Sun Meijun, Minister of the General Administration of Customs of China, concerning Thai fruit imports. Thailand is the leading…
-
Thailand considers lifting train alcohol ban to boost tourism
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) intends to propose lifting the current ban on alcohol sales on trains at the upcoming meeting of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee scheduled for Friday, February 21. Previously, the committee, under the Public Health Ministry, had rejected a similar proposal due to concerns it could prove more detrimental than beneficial. Public Health Minister Somsak…
-
Severe storms forecast for 33 provinces in Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts significant storms with strong winds and potential lightning across 33 provinces in Thailand. Bangkok is expected to experience the most severe weather, with cool mornings and hot afternoons. The upper northeastern region will see a slight drop in temperature. For the next 24 hours, moderate high-pressure systems from the northeast and South China Sea…
-
American man arrested in Phuket for violating foreign business act
Police arrested an American man wanted on multiple warrants at a restaurant in Phuket Old Town on Valentine’s Day, February 14. Officers from the Phuket Immigration Bureau and Mueang Phuket Police Station sought a court-issued arrest warrant for the 67 year old American man, Ronald Ray, mainly for violating Section 8 of the Foreign Business Act: operating a business in…
-
NCSA watchdog warns delivery firms after major data breach
Thailand’s National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) sounded the alarm for logistics firms, urging them to step up customer data protection after a cyberattack exposed a major security flaw in one operator’s system. The warning comes as the Personal Data Protection Commission launches an investigation into the breach. Air Vice Marshal Amorn Chomchoey, Secretary General of the NCSA, stressed that delivery…
-
Thailand’s economic growth hits a snag but hope remains
Thailand’s financial fortunes took a slight dip as the latest economic figures failed to meet the lofty heights analysts had anticipated. Official data reveals a respectable 3.2% growth in the last quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year, which, while promising, didn’t quite hit the 3.9% growth mark predicted by a Reuters poll of analysts. The National Economic and…
-
Sex sales: China’s sex doll revolution with an AI-morous embrace
In a bold leap forward, China’s WMDoll is shaking up the sex toys industry with its cutting-edge, AI-enhanced creations, promising heightened interactivity and a surge in sex doll sales. With state-of-the-art technology behind the scenes, these sophisticated companions are transforming the market. It’s no secret that life’s little pleasures often come with a twist, and China’s WMDoll is adding quite…
-
Krabi police criticised for failing to arrest Turkish man who damages locals’ cars
Police officers in the southern province of Krabi allegedly allowed a Turkish man to remain at large, despite the foreigner damaging two locals’ cars in the area. A Thai scuba diving trainer sought assistance from Channel 7 after her complaint, filed at Ao Nang Police Station, was ignored. Police reportedly told her that they could not arrest the foreign suspect…
-
Pane and gain: Thai Airways lands safely amid cracked cockpit drama
In a high-flying drama with a smooth landing, Thai Airways ensured passenger safety remained sky-high after a Bangkok to Singapore flight returned due to a cracked cockpit window, forcing a swift aircraft swap and ensuring passengers reached their destination safe and sound. In an unexpected twist, travellers aboard Thai Airways’ flight TG401 experienced an unscheduled return to Bangkok after a…
-
Man attacks wife and relatives with knife in Kalasin, Thailand
A man attacked his wife and her relatives with a knife at a home in Hua Tum village, Kalasin province, leaving four people injured. The suspect fled the scene on a stolen motorcycle, prompting a police manhunt. Police were alerted to the violent incident at 9.30pm, yesterday, February 16. Police Lieutenant Pimpchanok Inthasan from Mueang Kalasin Police Station reported to…
-
Thailand faces worsening air pollution crisis in northern regions
The air pollution crisis in northern and northeastern Thailand has been exacerbated by hazardous PM2.5 levels, exceeding safety standards in 42 provinces. Forecasts for February 18 to February 24 predict worsening conditions in the north, with a potential increase on February 18. The Air Pollution Resolution Communication Centre reported today, February 17 that numerous provinces, including Pathum Thani, Bangkok, Nakhon…
-
Big bovine: Thailand’s King Kong crowned tallest buffalo (video)
There’s a new towering titan in town, Thailand’s own King Kong, a colossal water buffalo, has stomped its way into the Guinness World Records, casting a bewitching shadow over Nakhon Ratchasima as the globe’s tallest buffalo. In the tranquil fields of Nakhon Ratchasima, a giant walks, or rather, ambles. Enter King Kong, the towering water buffalo who’s just muscled his…
-
Last laugh: Frenchman arrested for laughing gas sale in Phuket
Police arrested a Frenchman at a house in the Patong sub-district, Kathu district, Phuket, yesterday, February 16, for selling nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. Officers from Patong Police Station posed as customers and ordered laughing gas from the 30 year old Frenchman, whose name has not been disclosed. The suspect directed the officers to collect the item from…
-
Thailand’s content creators on the rise as online ad spend soars
Move over, television, Thailand’s digital dawn is upon us as the nation experiences an explosive rise in online content creators, set to hit a staggering 3 million this year. That’s up from 2 million just last year, according to insights from the Media Intelligence Group Co. The burgeoning influencer economy now represents about 5% of the entire Thai population, observed…
-
Thai couple arrested for selling porn of themselves and their son
A Thai couple in the northern province of Phetchabun made and sold pornography videos of themselves and their 10 year old son online, leading to their arrest on Saturday, February 15. Officers from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division discovered child pornography videos on a website and in a LINE group chat and conducted a further investigation to trace the source…
-
Woman found dead in Samut Prakan canal after attempted swim
A 58 year old woman from Khlong Dan, Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan province, was found dead in Khlong Dan yesterday, February 16. The incident occurred opposite the Khlong Dan Health Promotion Hospital. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phonchai Kamkhuntod, an investigative officer at Khlong Dan Police Station, received the report and coordinated with Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital in Samut Prakan and…
-
Scam slam: Thais back power cut to con call-centres
A recent survey reveals a surge of support among Thai nationals for cutting utilities in Myanmar as a bold move to thwart call centre scams. With fingers pointing at possible collusion within Thai ranks, the government’s crackdown strategy is taking centre stage. In a striking revelation, a new survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) has shed…
-
Abbott wins 6 million baht lottery, plans temple development
Devotees gathered in large numbers at Wat Nong Tao in Mueang subdistrict, Nakhon Sawan province, to congratulate the abbot on his lottery win. The abbot, who won 6 million baht with the winning numbers 847377 from the February 16 draw, remained silent, only smiling as he walked around the temple grounds. The bustling atmosphere at the temple was heightened by…
-
Influenza cases soar in Thailand, nearly 100,000 infected
Influenza cases in Thailand have surged, with nearly 100,000 infections and three deaths reported over the past 15 days. The Ministry of Public Health announced a significant rise in cases, particularly in schools, and is deploying 4.5 million doses of vaccines to combat the outbreak. Since January 1, there have been 99,057 confirmed influenza cases, with nine fatalities. This is…
-
Pheu Thai dismisses calls to dissolve House over charter clash
The ruling Pheu Thai Party has dismissed the opposition People’s Party’s call to dissolve the House, with Pheu Thai MP Sutin Klungsang clarifying that differing views on a proposed charter amendment do not signify a rift serious enough to destabilise the coalition. “This will not affect the coalition’s stability. Business continues as usual despite the impasse.” Joint sittings to discuss…
-
Man arrested for fatal sledgehammer attack in Ayutthaya
A 28 year old man has been apprehended after allegedly breaking into the home of his 42 year old acquaintance and fatally striking him with a sledgehammer at 3am yesterday, February 16. The incident took place in front of the victim, Pichat’s two children, his 8 year old son and 10 year old daughter, in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province.…
-
5 Chinese arrested for 1 million baht scam on old Thai woman
Police arrested five Chinese nationals in the southern province of Yala for stealing 800,000 baht in gold and 150,000 baht in cash from an old Thai woman on February 12. The 71 year old victim, Jiraporn, filed a complaint with Betong Police Station after falling victim to the Chinese scammers. She reported that the scammers approached her outside an electrical…
-
Pickup truck plunges into sea at Rayong’s Maptaput estate
A pickup truck plummeted into the sea in Rayong, leaving bystanders helpless as they watched the vehicle and its occupant disappear beneath the waves. The incident was reported to the Mueang Rayong District Police Station today, February 17, when a local fisherman witnessed the accident near the coastal road at the Maptaput Industrial Estate. Upon arrival at the scene, located…
-
Thailand urged to target older tourists to boost tourism revenue
A scholar from Thammasat University is advocating for Thailand’s government to target older tourists, who are known for longer stays and higher spending, as part of its tourism strategy. The government has designated 2025 as the year of Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism & Sports, with the objective of drawing 40 million international tourists and generating a minimum of 3 trillion…
-
Teen soldier found dead in Sing Buri canal after visit home
A 19 year old conscript soldier, who had taken leave to visit his mother on Valentine’s Day, was found dead in a canal in Sing Buri province yesterday, February 16. Police Colonel Decho Kanha of the Bang Rachan Police Station received a report about the discovery of a man’s body in an irrigation canal along the Chan Yut-Bang Rachan road…
-
Puff, cuff, and rough: Thai cop busted for smuggling after crash
A Thai police officer got himself arrested for illegal cigarette smuggling after a car accident in the eastern province of Trat yesterday, February 16, and sustained serious injuries. Officers from Ban Tha Luan Police Station responded to the accident on Sukhumvit Road at 6.30pm yesterday. They found the police vehicle crashed into a roadside lamp post. The driver was identified as…
-
Bangkok highlights urgent need for pedestrian safety at crossings
Road safety measures at pedestrian crossings in Bangkok are being highlighted as essential, following findings that most road accidents occur near schools and hospitals. Chamaipan Santikarn, who manages the Social Mobilisation for Motorcycle Safety Project at ThaiHealth, emphasised the need for improved safety after a recent incident where a 68 year old South Korean tourist was struck by a motorcycle…
-
Racing sedans crash in Chon Buri, 12 vehicles damaged (video)
An accident involving a group of modified sedans racing on the Chon Buri motorway resulted in damage to 12 vehicles. Emergency services suspect intoxication as a factor. Police are currently questioning those involved after the incident, which occurred yesterday, February 16 at 3.30am. The event was widely shared on social media, showing the cars speeding, weaving, and overtaking recklessly before…
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.