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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    9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand

    Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...

  • Seri Ruamthai quits coalition over police reform dispute

    Seri Ruamthai quits coalition over police reform dispute

    The Seri Ruamthai Party has withdrawn from the Pheu Thai Party-led government, following frustrations voiced by its leader, Police General Sereepisuth Temeeyaves. During a briefing at the Seri Ruamthai headquarters yesterday, Sereepisuth announced the party executive board’s decision to vote 7:4 on Tuesday, August 27, to exit the coalition government. Sereepisuth cited the desire to switch to the opposition bench…

  • Special vehicle registration numbers up for auction at DLT

    Special vehicle registration numbers up for auction at DLT

    The Department of Land Transport (DLT), through its Road Safety Fund, announced an upcoming auction of special vehicle registration numbers for private cars with a seating capacity of no more than seven. The auction, the eighth of its kind, will be held tomorrow, August 31, from 10am at the DLT’s Building 6, Floor 7. The event features the theme Special…

  • Essex man’s Thai holiday night out ends in tragedy

    Essex man’s Thai holiday night out ends in tragedy

    A dream holiday in Thailand turned into a nightmare for an Essex couple when a 27 year old British national from Romford was tragically found dead in a body of water after a night out. Theo Morgan, a former Met Police officer, had been enjoying a 10-day getaway in Surat Thani with his girlfriend when disaster struck. The couple had…

  • 7 Thai men arrested for buying sex from underage girls

    7 Thai men arrested for buying sex from underage girls

    Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested seven Thai men, including a kindergarten director and teacher, for buying sex from young girls in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The seven Thai suspects, arrested on Monday, August 26, are 57 year old Watchara, 57 year old Chitnarong, 52 year old Sirichai, 52 year old Sornphet, 39 year old Palat, 42 year…

  • Thai Parliament gives EU deal thumbs up: Partnership set to soar

    Thai Parliament gives EU deal thumbs up: Partnership set to soar

    The Thai Parliament unanimously endorsed a framework agreement on the EU-Thailand Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), set to come into force within 30 days. In a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate, 612 votes supported the agreement. Thailand and the European Union (EU) originally signed the PCA on December 14, 2022, in Brussels, with former foreign…

  • Thai man criticised over photoshoot on closed expressway

    Thai man criticised over photoshoot on closed expressway

    Criticism erupted on social media after a Thai man was seen taking photos with his car on a deserted expressway. The incident raised questions about the legality of such actions, with netizens speculating it might be the Bang Yai–Kanchanaburi route. Relevant officials are being urged to investigate the matter. A video clip showing the man posing with his car on…

  • Thailand Video News | Life Sentence for Spaniard in Koh Pha Ngan Murder Case, Southeast Asian Nations to Introduce Schengen-Style Single Visa to Boost Tourism

    Thailand Video News | Life Sentence for Spaniard in Koh Pha Ngan Murder Case, Southeast Asian Nations to Introduce Schengen-Style Single Visa to Boost Tourism

    In today’s Thailand video news, Alex covers the news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia countries. The stories include a Spanish chef sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a Colombian surgeon in Koh Pha Ngan, while former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra proposes a bold new tax reform aimed at reducing poverty. Public safety concerns rise after…

  • Thai woman survives after SUV collides with train at crossing

    Thai woman survives after SUV collides with train at crossing

    A Thai woman survived unscathed after being hit by a train while driving her SUV across a railway track in the central province of Samut Sakhon yesterday. The driver claimed she did not hear or see any warning. Officers from the Mueang Samut Sakhon Police Station investigated the accident on Soi Ekkachai 36 on Derm Bang Road at about 6am…

  • Transport bill vetoed in House amid conflict of interest concerns

    Transport bill vetoed in House amid conflict of interest concerns

    The House of Representatives vetoed a transport bill proposed by the People’s Party (PP), which aimed to grant local administrators the authority to operate transport services independently and approve other transport operations. The bill, introduced by PP list-MP Surachet Pravinvongvuth, was up for consideration during a meeting chaired by Deputy House Speaker Pichet Chuamuangpan. Initially discussed on Monday, the vote…

  • Bangkok’s homeless reselling donated food sparks fury

    Bangkok’s homeless reselling donated food sparks fury

    Homeless individuals in Bangkok’s Trok Sake have been accused of reselling donated food parcels, prompting social media outcry. Reports emerged yesterday, August 29, warning those planning to donate food to be cautious, as some homeless groups have been intercepting and reselling the food. A member of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) staff group shared photos and a message detailing the…

  • Thailand urged to prioritise elderly in smart city plans

    Thailand urged to prioritise elderly in smart city plans

    Smart cities in Thailand should prioritise the needs of the elderly, according to academics from Chulalongkorn University. They argue that as the country moves towards becoming a super-aged society by 2033, urban planning must adapt to ensure the safety and accessibility of facilities for older residents. Chulalongkorn University’s faculty of architecture, in collaboration with the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA),…

  • Thailand braces for heavy rain and potential flooding

    Thailand braces for heavy rain and potential flooding

    The Thai National Water Resources Office (ONWR) issued a nationwide water situation forecast yesterday at 7am. A moderate monsoon trough is expected to affect northern, northeastern, and central Thailand from September 1 to 3, merging with a strong low-pressure system over the central South China Sea. The southwest monsoon will also impact the Andaman Sea, southern, and eastern regions, as…

  • Pattaya City offers free health services to residents and pets

    Pattaya City offers free health services to residents and pets

    Pattaya City hosted the fifth mobile health service event to provide free medical care directly to the community. The event took place yesterday, August 29, at the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, with Deputy Mayor of Pattaya Wuttisak Rermkijjakarn inaugurating the occasion. Organised by the Pattaya City Public Health Department, the event aimed to offer residents health screenings and raise awareness…

  • Central Pattana reveals global expansion strategies at key event

    Central Pattana reveals global expansion strategies at key event

    Central Pattana (CPN) has showcased its strategies for business expansion on a global platform. The Head of Business Development Strategy at CPN, Kunayudh Dej-udon, presented at a session titled, A Playbook to Scale Up Beyond Borders. “Our core strength in developing physical space goes beyond merely developing new projects in prime locations. We consistently meet the needs of people and…

  • Truck collision on Pattaya’s Sukhumvit Road injures one passenger

    Truck collision on Pattaya’s Sukhumvit Road injures one passenger

    A major collision occurred early yesterday on Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya, involving a six-wheeler truck and a 10-wheeler truck, resulting in one passenger being injured. Emergency responders from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, alongside Pattaya police, arrived at the scene at 7am yesterday, August 29, near the Khao Talo intersection in the inbound lane towards Sattahip, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang…

  • Autistic Thai boy dies after parents leave him in car for party

    Autistic Thai boy dies after parents leave him in car for party

    A seven year old Thai boy with autism died in a car after his parents left him in the vehicle for more than five hours while attending a party with neighbours in the Isaan province of Sakaeo. Volunteers from the Aranyaprathet Rescue Foundation were called to a house in the Aranyaprathet district of Sakaeo to help the seven year old…

  • Thailand launches inclusive tourism project for disabled and elderly

    Thailand launches inclusive tourism project for disabled and elderly

    The Architectural Tour for All People Foundation, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Network of Wheelchair Architects, launched the Tourism for All project. The initiative is designed to foster inclusive and sustainable tourism, particularly for the elderly, the disabled, and families of wheelchair users. These groups will actively participate in the project, collectively announcing the…

  • Commerce Ministry cracks down on hidden foreign ownership

    Commerce Ministry cracks down on hidden foreign ownership

    The Commerce Ministry intensifies its scrutiny of businesses allegedly using Thai nominees to hide foreign ownership, focusing on sectors like tourism, real estate, and logistics. Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the Department of Business Development, stated that under the Foreign Business Act of 1999, foreign firms must secure permission as outlined in specific lists before starting operations. A Thai limited company…

  • All 3 victims confirmed dead in collapsed tunnel after 5-day rescue

    All 3 victims confirmed dead in collapsed tunnel after 5-day rescue

    Nakhon Ratchasima provincial governor today confirmed that all three victims in the collapsed railway tunnel were found dead at the scene. Rescue teams from Thailand and China worked for over five days to save the lives of the three victims trapped in the collapsed Thailand-China high-speed railway tunnel in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima. K9 dogs and other specialists…

  • Thai activist Panupong Jadnok seeks asylum in New Zealand

    Thai activist Panupong Jadnok seeks asylum in New Zealand

    Political activist Panupong Jadnok aka Mike Rayong facing a lese majeste charge for a defamatory message about His Majesty the King last year, has appeared in New Zealand, where he is expected to seek political asylum and begin a new life. Eakapop Luara, also known as Tang Achiwa, an ex-member of the red-shirt movement and a political refugee who previously…

  • Bangkok braces for river’s ride: Chao Phraya goes with the flow

    Bangkok braces for river’s ride: Chao Phraya goes with the flow

    Heavy flooding in northern Thailand is now wreaking havoc in Bangkok, with the capital bracing itself for the Chao Phraya River to burst its banks, according to the Royal Irrigation Department (RID). Floodwaters from the northern provinces are surging into Bangkok, spurred by a rushed discharge from the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat. This dam, crucial for regulating water…

  • Pattaya’s iconic sign gets a dazzling makeover

    Pattaya’s iconic sign gets a dazzling makeover

    In a move set to reinvigorate Pattaya’s skyline, the City Council has greenlit a massive budget to restore the iconic PATTAYA CITY sign perched atop Pattaya Hill. This iconic landmark, which has greeted visitors for years, will soon shine brighter than ever thanks to a major overhaul. Deputy Mayor Manot Nongyai championed a proposal on Tuesday, August 27, to allocate…

  • Foreign driver damages Thai woman’s car during dispute (video)

    Foreign driver damages Thai woman’s car during dispute (video)

    A Thai woman is taking legal action against a foreign man for damaging her car during a heated traffic dispute on a road in Phuket yesterday. The Thai woman, whose name remains undisclosed, shared the details of the incident with the Phuket Times today, August 29. She explained that the foreign motorist, whose nationality was unknown, followed her from an…

  • New sinkhole swallows road in Malaysia capital

    New sinkhole swallows road in Malaysia capital

    A fresh sinkhole has appeared in the heart of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, just 50 metres from where a woman vanished into the ground last week. The unsettling new collapse emerged yesterday on Jalan Masjid India, a bustling thoroughfare not far from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Officials have cordoned off the area as they investigate potential damage to the…

  • CAAT debunks YouTuber’s aircraft maintenance claims

    CAAT debunks YouTuber’s aircraft maintenance claims

    The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has clarified the case where a pilot exposed aircraft mechanics using fake and expired parts for maintenance, causing concern that it could be life-threatening. The X account Aviation Knowledge (@aviknowledge) stated that another point that needs to be answered is the standard for issuing a Certificate of Airworthiness. CAAT Deputy Director of Civil…

  • Surin Elephant Museum trumpets into life next month

    Surin Elephant Museum trumpets into life next month

    Surin province will unveil its majestic new treasure, the Surin Elephant Museum, on September 5. This monumental opening promises a trunk-load of fascinating insights and interactive exhibits dedicated to the grandeur of elephants. The Surin Elephant Museum, born from a partnership between the Surin Provincial Administrative Organisation and the Dr Thiam Chokwatana Foundation, is set to become a premier destination…

  • Chinese luxury property pitch in Bangkok angers Thai netizens (video)

    Chinese luxury property pitch in Bangkok angers Thai netizens (video)

    Thai netizens raised concerns and legal questions following the release of an advertising video featuring Chinese nationals selling luxury houses in the Rama 9 area of Bangkok, despite Thai law prohibiting land ownership by foreigners. A TikTok user, @thaiarya.party, shared the advertising video of the Chinese-owned residential project on Monday, August 26, with a caption that read, “We (Thai people)…

  • Thaksin visits flood-hit Chiang Rai in sensational homecoming

    Thaksin visits flood-hit Chiang Rai in sensational homecoming

    Thaksin Shinawatra, the once-exiled former Prime Minister of Thailand and father of current PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, made a sensational return to his homeland on Tuesday, August 27. Touching down at Mae Fah Luang Airport in Chiang Rai, he immediately set out to assess the devastation caused by severe flooding in the region—a crisis that has left hundreds struggling. Greeted warmly…

  • Former police chief and others arraigned in Red Bull hit-and-run

    Former police chief and others arraigned in Red Bull hit-and-run

    Former National Police Chief Police General Somyot Poompanmoung, former Deputy Attorney-General Nate Naksuk, and six others have been arraigned by public prosecutors in connection with the Red Bull heir hit-and-run case. The defendants face severe charges, including dereliction of duty. Prosecutor Suvej Chompong represented the Office of the Attorney-General at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, submitting…

  • Fencing queen and wheelchair racer selected as Thai flag bearers

    Fencing queen and wheelchair racer selected as Thai flag bearers

    Thai wheelchair fencer Saysunee Jana and wheelchair racer Athiwat Paengnuea were chosen as the flag bearers for the Thai contingent at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which kicked off yesterday, August 28. With 79 athletes competing in 15 sports, Thailand is gearing up for its 11th appearance at the Paralympic Games. This year, the honour of leading the team falls…