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

    Thailand health insurance that covers chronic conditions: What expats need to know

    The Thaiger key takeaways Managing chronic conditions in Thailand requires health insurance that covers specialist visits, medications, tests, and hospital stays. Cigna offers high-coverage plans with access to top hospitals, direct billing, and telemedicine support for convenient long-term care. Expats...

  • Patong denies approval of Jewish New Year event on public beach | Thaiger

    Patong denies approval of Jewish New Year event on public beach

    Patong municipality has refuted claims of approving a public Jewish New Year celebration on Patong Beach, initially reported to occur tomorrow, between September 22 and 23. In a statement released on Saturday, the municipality clarified that no authorisation had been given for conducting religious activities on public property, due to the issue’s sensitivity. This announcement followed a letter from the…

  • Myanmar national arrested for father-in-law’s murder in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Myanmar national arrested for father-in-law’s murder in Chiang Mai

    Yesterday, September 20, police and local administrative officials apprehended a Myanmar national, accused of fatally shooting his father-in-law in Mueang Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai province. The suspect, 27 year old Bounthong, was captured while hiding in the mountainous region of Ban Pang Ung Kao, Mae Chaem district. The incident unfolded in the evening of September 18, when he allegedly shot…

  • Bangkok shooting: teenagers arrested after motorbike altercation | Thaiger

    Bangkok shooting: teenagers arrested after motorbike altercation

    Earlier yesterday, September 20, police from Yannawa Police Station received a report of a Bangkok shooting that left one individual injured, and subsequently informed their superiors. The incident occurred at Charoen Krung 42/1 Alley in Bang Rak district, Bangkok Upon investigation, the victim was identified as 20 year old Wanchai, who sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh while…

  • 25 year old foreign woman falls to death at Bangkok hotel | Thaiger

    25 year old foreign woman falls to death at Bangkok hotel

    A 25 year old foreign woman died after falling from a hotel balcony in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area, with police launching an investigation into the incident. The incident took place at around 2.30am today, September 20, in the Sukhumvit area of Wattana district. Police Lieutenant Chakrapong Pitakgornsakul of Lumpini Police Station received reports of the fall and dispatched officers to the…

  • Phuket plans wind power hub and eco-tourism at Phromthep | Thaiger

    Phuket plans wind power hub and eco-tourism at Phromthep

    The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) unveiled plans in Phuket to build new wind turbines at Phromthep Cape, aiming to expand renewable energy and create an eco-tourism and learning hub. The proposal was presented this week at Provincial Hall in a meeting chaired by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat. Attendees included Rawai Mayor Thames Kraitat, officials from the Phuket Provincial…

  • Thai rice steals the show at Australia food expo | Thaiger

    Thai rice steals the show at Australia food expo

    Thai rice gained fresh recognition in Australia after a government campaign at a major Sydney food expo drew thousands of visitors and strong consumer interest. The event, held in Sydney from September 8 to 11, attracted more than 2,000 visitors to the Thai booth, where the spotlight was firmly on Hom Mali rice. According to Department of Foreign Trade (DFT)…

  • Bangkok faces fare hike as 20 baht train cap set to end | Thaiger

    Bangkok faces fare hike as 20 baht train cap set to end

    Bangkok commuters may face higher costs when the government’s 20-baht train fare cap ends, as officials decide whether to extend or scrap the policy. The government’s policy capping electric train fares at 20 baht per ride is scheduled to end on September 30, leaving uncertainty over whether the measure will be extended by the new Cabinet. The fare cap, introduced…

  • Samut Prakan truck mishap triggers domino crash of 10 cars (video) | Thaiger

    Samut Prakan truck mishap triggers domino crash of 10 cars (video)

    More than 10 cars were damaged in Samut Prakan when a truck, started with its gear engaged, lurched forward and triggered a chain-reaction crash. The incident, caught on video and widely shared on TikTok by user @jikkosanfa, unfolded outside a residential building where vehicles had been parked in tight rows. The footage, captioned “A reminder from the housing community, unsure…

  • Thai army slams Hun Manet over false border dispute claims (video) | Thaiger

    Thai army slams Hun Manet over false border dispute claims (video)

    The Thai army accused Cambodia’s leader of spreading false claims in a border dispute, warning Malaysia against being misled and seen as taking sides. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has accused Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet of misleading his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, with “false narratives” over Ban Nong Ya Kaew in Sa Kaeo province, warning that Malaysia could appear…

  • 12 year old boy hurt after motorbike smashes into wall in Pattaya | Thaiger

    12 year old boy hurt after motorbike smashes into wall in Pattaya

    A 12 year old boy was injured in Pattaya after crashing a motorbike into a wall while riding home, prompting an emergency response and police inquiry. Emergency responders in Pattaya were called out yesterday morning, September 19, after a young boy crashed a motorcycle into a roadside wall, leaving him with multiple injuries. The accident happened at around 10.30am in…

  • Bogus dentist arrested after treating 1,000 patients in Rayong | Thaiger

    Bogus dentist arrested after treating 1,000 patients in Rayong

    An unlicensed dentist was arrested in Rayong after treating over 1,000 patients across four clinics, prompting a major investigation by Thai police. Officials in Rayong have arrested an unlicensed dentist who had been operating across four clinics in Pluak Daeng district, treating more than 1,000 unsuspecting patients in just six months. The announcement was made yesterday, September 19, at the…

  • Central Thailand monk probed over funds and woman scandal | Thaiger

    Central Thailand monk probed over funds and woman scandal

    Police have launched a probe into a senior monk accused of financial misconduct and improper relationships, following a complaint from a woman abroad. Thai police have launched an investigation into the financial activities of a senior monk from Wat Na Pahpong, a well-known temple in Pathum Thani, following allegations linked to the suspicious circulation of around 500 million baht and…

  • Knife fight at university concert in Bangkok leaves several injured (video) | Thaiger

    Knife fight at university concert in Bangkok leaves several injured (video)

    A violent brawl broke out during a university festival concert in Bangkok, leaving several people injured and prompting a swift police and rescue response. The incident unfolded at around 12.30am today, September 20, during the Bun Sart Duean Sib festival at Ramkhamhaeng University, located in the Huamak subdistrict of Bang Kapi district. The festival, known for drawing large student crowds…

  • Indian man plunges to death from Pattaya hotel balcony | Thaiger

    Indian man plunges to death from Pattaya hotel balcony

    An Indian man fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Pattaya, shocking diners below and prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding it. The fall occurred at around 7.36pm yesterday, September 19, prompting a swift response from Deputy Inspector Phupha Hongyakul of Pattaya City Police Station. Investigators and Sawang Boriboon rescue volunteers rushed to the scene following…

  • Thailand braces for floods and heavy rains amid monsoon trough | Thaiger

    Thailand braces for floods and heavy rains amid monsoon trough

    Heavy rain and rough seas are expected across Thailand as a monsoon system moves in, prompting warnings for residents and travellers to stay alert. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warned that residents in affected areas should be cautious of heavy to very heavy rainfall, which could lead to flash floods and overflows, particularly along foothills, near waterways, and in low-lying…

  • Thai king endorses Anutin’s new Cabinet of 36 ministers | Thaiger

    Thai king endorses Anutin’s new Cabinet of 36 ministers

    Thailand’s new Cabinet was officially endorsed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, allowing the prime minister and ministers to take office following a recent leadership change. The announcement was published in the Royal Gazette today, September 19, allowing the ministers to proceed with their oath-taking ceremony before the king and formally present their policy statement to Parliament: Thailand’s final step…

  • Pensioner’s 1 million baht scam foiled in central Thailand (video) | Thaiger

    Pensioner’s 1 million baht scam foiled in central Thailand (video)

    A man was caught by police after attempting to help a pensioner withdraw a large sum of cash from a bank account in suspicious circumstances. The attempted scam was stopped just in time thanks to quick-thinking bank staff who flagged suspicious behaviour and alerted police before the man could disappear with the cash. At around 3.30pm yesterday, September 18, officers…

  • Child with special needs found dead in Hat Yai canal | Thaiger

    Child with special needs found dead in Hat Yai canal

    A young boy with special needs was found dead in a canal in Hat Yai, southern Thailand, after going missing, prompting a desperate overnight search by police, rescue teams and family. The boy, known as Nong Inter, vanished on Wednesday afternoon, September 17, from a car repair shop in Hat Yai District 8. He was last seen wearing a camouflage…

  • Thailand finance chief vows to steady baht, probe gold trade | Thaiger

    Thailand finance chief vows to steady baht, probe gold trade

    Thailand’s incoming finance minister pledged to work with the central bank to stabilise the baht and investigate irregular capital flows and gold trading. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, who is set to take office as finance minister, made the pledge after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met with Thai Chamber of Commerce chairperson Poj Aramwattananont yesterday, September 18. Ekniti said he had already begun…

  • Pattaya cannabis vendor claims highway police extorted cash | Thaiger

    Pattaya cannabis vendor claims highway police extorted cash

    A young cannabis vendor reported to Bang Lamung police that highway officers stopped him on a motorway, assaulted him, and extorted tens of thousands of baht. The vendor, identified as 21 year old Khemudom “Boom” Fafueangwitayakul, filed a complaint with Bang Lamung Police on Wednesday, September 17. He alleged that between four and five highway officers pulled him over at…

  • Northern Thailand machete attack leaves teen with severed wrist (video) | Thaiger

    Northern Thailand machete attack leaves teen with severed wrist (video)

    Police arrested a machete-wielding suspect at a Lamphun checkpoint after a violent Chiang Mai clash left several teenagers seriously injured. The suspect, identified only as Mong, was caught at a drug checkpoint in Mueang Tha district while attempting to flee on a motorcycle. Police said Mong was wanted for his role in a violent clash earlier this year that left…

  • Bangkok steps up plans for 2025 SEA Games spectacle | Thaiger

    Bangkok steps up plans for 2025 SEA Games spectacle

    Bangkok officials met with Thailand’s sports authority to map out preparations and public relations plans as the capital readies to co-host the 2025 SEA Games. At a meeting yesterday, September 18, at Bangkok City Hall, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) outlined their joint public relations strategy for the event. Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanon…

  • Thai AirAsia X unveils 3 new routes for December takeoff | Thaiger

    Thai AirAsia X unveils 3 new routes for December takeoff

    Thai AirAsia X will launch three new international routes from Bangkok to destinations in Central Asia, Northern Asia, and the Middle East ahead of the holiday season. The budget long-haul carrier announced that it will begin services to Almaty, Sendai, and Riyadh, giving Thai travellers more choice for winter escapes while opening fresh gateways for inbound tourism. From December 1,…

  • Thailand video news Thai Forces Use Rubber Bullets After Border Dispute with Cambodians, Monk Arrested for Meth Hidden in Alms Bowls in Bang Lamung | Thaiger

    Thailand video news Thai Forces Use Rubber Bullets After Border Dispute with Cambodians, Monk Arrested for Meth Hidden in Alms Bowls in Bang Lamung

      Thailand has seen a week of intense headlines spanning security, crime, culture, and commerce — from border clashes with Cambodia and calls for tougher action on animal cruelty, to stricter penalties on late-night drinking and a monk’s arrest for hiding meth in alms bowls. Meanwhile, Phuket reels from a high-profile robbery, Thaksin’s daughters visit him in prison, Shopee posts…

  • Bang Lamung trains 150 volunteers for disaster response | Thaiger

    Bang Lamung trains 150 volunteers for disaster response

    Bang Lamung has launched a disaster training programme to equip volunteers with the skills needed to protect residents and tourists during future emergencies. The opening ceremony took place at the district office’s Civic Hall, where Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharapatch Srinthanyanon launched the 2025 Volunteer Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Training Programme. The initiative, named Enhancing the Efficiency of Disaster Prevention…

  • Pheu Thai hints at Thaksin’s son-in-law for PM race | Thaiger

    Pheu Thai hints at Thaksin’s son-in-law for PM race

    Pheu Thai is considering a family-linked business executive as a possible candidate for prime minister in the next general election, sparking fresh speculation. Nuttaphong Kunakornwong, husband of Thaksin’s eldest daughter Pintongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong, has drawn support from some within the party as a fresh face for leadership. Nuttaphong is currently the chief executive of SC Asset Corporation and has largely…

  • Taxi turf war erupts as Phuket drivers block cruise cab | Thaiger

    Taxi turf war erupts as Phuket drivers block cruise cab

    Police intervened at Phuket’s main cruise port after local taxi drivers blocked an outside cab from collecting tourists, sparking a tense standoff. The confrontation erupted at about 3pm at Phuket Deep Sea Port in Wichit, shortly after the Genting Dream cruise liner arrived with 4,200 foreign tourists. According to police, around 60 community taxi drivers gathered at the pier and…

  • Pattaya police bag award for teaming up with locals | Thaiger

    Pattaya police bag award for teaming up with locals

    Police in Pattaya have been honoured with a national award for launching a project that builds community cooperation to strengthen crime prevention efforts. The initiative, launched by Pattaya City Police Station, focuses on building a network where residents and police work together to tackle crime and improve safety in the city. It was singled out from more than 1,400 police…

  • Thailand battered by heavy rains as monsoon drags on | Thaiger

    Thailand battered by heavy rains as monsoon drags on

    Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of heavy rainfall across multiple regions, urging residents to brace for flash floods, runoff, and rough seas. The warning, issued yesterday, highlights a monsoon trough stretching across the central, eastern, and lower northeastern regions into an active low-pressure system over the South China Sea. At the same time, the southwest monsoon prevailing over the…

  • Phuket cracks down on illegal restaurants in protected park | Thaiger

    Phuket cracks down on illegal restaurants in protected park

    Officials in Phuket inspected Mai Khao Beach and confirmed that restaurants are operating illegally inside Sirinat National Park, prompting a renewed crackdown. The joint inspection took place yesterday, September 17, in Villages 3 and 4 of Mai Khao, where officers confirmed that several operators continue to run beachfront businesses despite the area being legally designated as part of the national…