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.
-
Burmese magnate Tun Min Latt walks free from drug trafficking trial
The Criminal Court acquitted Myanmar magnate Tun Min Latt and Senator Upakit Pacharirangkun’s son-in-law, Dean Young Gultula, of drug trafficking charges. The ruling cited insufficient evidence, leaving jaws dropping in disbelief. The charges were filed against Tun Min Latt, the Myanmar businessman, and Gultula, along with two others and the Allure Group (P&E) Co., Ltd., an electricity supply business. The…
-
Teenager detained for premeditated murder in Suan Luang school
A 14 year old schoolboy, recently detained at a juvenile detention centre, stands accused of premeditated murder and public possession of a weapon. This follows a tragic incident that occurred on Monday at a school in the Suan Luang district, where he allegedly stabbed and killed another student. Awaiting judgment, the teenager remains under the jurisdiction of the Central Juvenile…
-
Foam and scale: Dishwashing liquid divides netizens in fishy transport debate
A fish vendor’s unconventional method of using dishwashing liquid to keep fish alive during transportation has sparked intense online debate. A video went viral showing the vendor pouring the liquid into a fish transport container, claiming it helps provide oxygen to the fish, preventing them from water shock. However, Dr Jesada Denduangboripant, a biology lecturer at Chulalongkorn University and a…
-
Heroic bus driver’s honesty wins hearts: Returns lost wallets to French couple
A Thai bus driver is breaking the Internet with his virtuous act after returning the wallets of a French couple. Kanta Sridara, the 59 year old driver of Mini Bus No. 44 on the Kanchanaburi-Bangkok route, not only discovered misplaced wallets belonging to French tourists but also promptly returned their lifetime savings, earning praise and admiration across social media. According to…
-
Pattaya plight: Migrant beggars roam the streets
Migrant beggars, disabled individuals, and the elderly have been spotted roaming the streets near Pattaya Beach, raising eyebrows and causing discomfort among residents and tourists alike. The alarming scenes, particularly along Second Road and in front of the Wat Chai Mongkol Market in South Pattaya, triggered concerns about the city’s struggle to tackle street begging, leaving its impact on the…
-
Lottery frenzy hits Thailand ahead of Chinese New Year
As the festive season of Chinese New Year beckons, lottery fever grips Thailand, with enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the draw today, February 1. The blend of Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day sparked a surge in lottery ticket sales, with a particular focus on numbers associated with these celebrations. The government lottery office, however, has yet to commence its travelling draw…
-
4 year old boy falls to his death from 23rd floor of Bangkok condo
Tragedy struck the Jomthong district of Bangkok yesterday when a four year old boy fell to his death from the balcony of a 23rd-floor condominium on Rama II Road. The family had only just moved into the condo on the day of the heartbreaking incident. Bangmod Police Station officers visited the 26-storey condo at about 4pm yesterday after receiving reports…
-
Thai man arrested for repeated thefts at house of well-known celebrity manager
A well-known Thai celebrity manager filed a complaint against a local man for repeatedly stealing designer brand products from her home. The transwoman celebrity manager, Suppachai “A” Srivijit, filed a theft report with the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMB) in mid-January after designer brand items worth about 2 million baht were stolen. Officers investigated the matter and…
-
Thai Transport Ministry announces 652 billion baht for infrastructure projects
The Thai Transport Ministry recently announced a substantial investment of 652 billion baht (US$18,345,526,120). The funds are earmarked for around 150 transport projects to be initiated this year and the next, in a bid to bolster the country’s infrastructure. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit detailed the plans following a policy seminar held yesterday, January 31. According to him, 64 projects, with…
-
Potential rise in minimum wage to 400 baht in select provinces
The anticipated increase in the daily minimum wage to 400 baht in select provinces is set for review by the tripartite wage committee in April, according to Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. The committee’s chairman, Pairoj Chotikasathien, assigned a subcommittee to reassess the wage calculation formula and explore the potential for wage hikes in certain provinces and professions. The findings from…
-
Good Samaritan injured aiding crash victims in Pathum Thani
In the early hours of today, February 1, a good Samaritan tragically became a victim himself while assisting at the scene of a crash involving two motorcycles in Pathum Thani Province. A 38 year old man was struck by a speeding car, sustaining severe injuries. The accident, which initially left three people injured from the motorcycle collision, occurred on the…
-
Marine animal fossils from Permian period discovered near ancient Si Thep town
Unearthed in the vicinity of Si Thep ancient town, Phetchabun, a trove of marine animal fossils dating back over 250 million years have been uncovered, shedding light on the region’s ancient history. Apsorn Sardsud, leading the Geology Division Department of Mineral Resources Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, shared that the archaeological team discovered fossil remains in tambon Ban Phot,…
-
Man Fighting Shark sculpture to come to Hua Hin
In a meeting at the Chomsin Room of the Hua Hin Municipality Office on Monday, municipal authorities including Deputy Mayor Busaba Choksuchat discussed a sensational new landmark sculpture titled Man Fighting Shark. This assembly marked a pivotal moment in the rejuvenation of a beloved public space. The proposed sculpture, destined for a prime spot in front of the Chao Pho-Chao…
-
Thai wife injured by fruit knife during heated argument with British husband
A Thai woman was found with a serious hand injury sustained from a fruit knife in a condominium on Soi Wat Boonkanjanaram, near Jomtien Beach, Pattaya. Pattaya police and a rapid response unit responded to a distress call at 3am yesterday, January 30, stumbling upon a gruesome scene on the seventh floor: a 27 year old woman, identified as C,…
-
Bangkok drive-by drama: Thai man arrested for opening fire in his car
Police arrested a Thai man who fired a gun from his car, injuring the driver of a sedan parked nearby in a car park on Rama IV Road in the Khlong Toei district of Bangkok. The shooting took place at about 9pm on January 29, at a car park of the NiHonMaChi Japanese Mall on the Rama IV Road in…
-
Pink Line back on track: Monorail bounces back from holiday disaster
The Pink Line monorail, which suffered a dramatic collapse on Christmas Eve, resumes service tomorrow, February 1. Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote, after a meticulous inspection yesterday, announced that the Pink Line’s developer and operator, North Bangkok Monorail Co, has pulled off a miraculous recovery. “The conductor rail has been restored to its former glory, and the entire line has…
-
TAT urges government to extend tourist visas
Thailand is seeking to revolutionise its tourism sector, urging the government to extend visa-free stays for long-haul tourists, including those from the United States and Europe. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to elevate long-haul revenue to a whopping 40% of the country’s total in 2024. Thailand’s Deputy Governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, Siripakorn…
-
Thai court orders Pita and Move Forward Party to refrain from lese majeste law reform
The Constitutional Court ordered the advisor to the former leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), Pita Limjaroenrat, and the party to cease campaigns to reform Section 112 of the Criminal Law, also known as lese majeste law. Their efforts were deemed to pose threats to the monarchy of Thailand. During the General Election last year, one of the key policies…
-
PM Srettha sidelined by flu: Deputies step up as dinner plans go cold
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin took an unexpected backseat today, delegating his duties to deputies and abandoning plans for a high-profile dinner due to a bout of flu. The notorious influenza A, aka H1N1, has struck the 61 year old PM. Arriving at the Government House this morning, PM Srettha revealed that he is awaiting his doctor’s verdict on whether sick…
-
Phuket police hunt bus staffer after tourist’s restroom harassment claim
Phuket police are actively searching for a bus employee who allegedly sexually harassed a female foreign tourist in a restroom at the Phuket Bus Terminal. The incident, which took place today, January 31, was interrupted by a monk, who attempted to intervene before the suspect fled the scene. Police Deputy Inspector Surachart Thongyai of Phuket Mueang Police Station was notified…
-
British man arrested in Chiang Mai for abusing teen student
A British man, posing as an English teacher in Phuket for two years, has been arrested for sexually abusing a 16 year old foreign student twice at a private residence. The incidents, which took place on December 9, 2014, and April 2, 2015, came to light following an investigation by the school after the student’s guardians reported the matter. The…
-
David Beckham scores big with fans at Predator event in CentralWorld (video)
Football legend David Beckham held a meet & greet at CentralWorld shopping mall in Bangkok yesterday for the Adidas event, The Legend of Predator. The 48 year old soccer icon attended The Legend of Predator event held at the Central Court in CentralWorld yesterday January 30, organised by Adidas. At the event, more than 21 models of Adidas Predator football…
-
Golden cobra startles homeowner in Thailand kitchen
A homeowner was shocked to discover a large golden cobra in her kitchen in the Ang Thong province of Thailand. The snake, which was menacingly displaying its hood, caused two kittens to run in fright before the homeowner swiftly called for rescue services today, January 31. The Ang Thong Provincial Rescue Association was alerted to the presence of the large…
-
Thai activist gets suspended sentence for lèse-majesté
Activist Pasarawalee ‘Mind’ Thanakitvibulphol has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Bangkok South Criminal Court under Thailand’s lèse-majesté law, also known as Section 112. The sentence has been suspended for three years. This ruling stems from her involvement in a protest and speech at a rally held on March 24, 2021, by the Ratsadon group at the…
-
Disturbing behaviour of police officer who raped minor exposed by another student
Female students reportedly exposed the disturbing behaviour of the Patiew Police Station officer, who raped the 17 year old girl in the Isaan province of Yasothon. Ironically, the officer reportedly trained students on how to protect themselves from sexual abuse and assaults but, he now faces a rape charge. A Thai mother sought help from Saimai Survive after her 17…
-
Police raid exposes massive counterfeit cosmetics operation worth millions
The Thai authorities have cracked down on a colossal counterfeit cosmetics ring involving a Chinese investor and the illicit sale of beauty products worth millions. The Commissioner of the Police Consumer Protection Division, Police Lieutenant General Witthaya Sriprasertphap, along with relevant agencies, orchestrated a press conference on Monday, January 29 that marked the unravelling of a major illegal cosmetics empire. A…
-
Engineering student arrested for stealing iPhones and iPads in Nakhon Phanom
A 21 year old engineering student was apprehended in Mueang district, Nakhon Phanom, last night, following accusations of stealing iPhone smartphones and iPad tablet computers. The stolen goods, reportedly worth around 200,000 baht (US$5,640), were lifted from a branch of the Big C store. The incident occurred at the Nakhon Phanom branch of Big C around 3am yesterday, January 30.…
-
Southern Thailand to acquire new Andaman Airport
Envisioned as a direct long-haul flight hub, Airports of Thailand (AOT) is fast-tracking the construction of the much-anticipated Andaman International Airport. In a recent visit, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit inspected the airport’s progress in Phang Nga province, initiating transformative steps to bolster local transport infrastructure. The Andaman International Airport, currently in its second stage of development, is strategically crafted to…
-
Google reigns supreme: Thailand’s top talent magnet for sixth year running
WorkVenture revealed the most coveted companies in Thailand, and surprise, surprise: Google claims the top spot for the sixth consecutive year. Unveiling the Top 50 Companies in Thailand 2024, the survey, conducted among over 11,452 young professionals, offers a snapshot of the Thai job market’s evolving landscape. As the professional arena adapts to the changing tides, the new generation of…
-
Royal Thai Air Force faces job loss concern over golf course handover
The head of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) expressed concerns over potential job losses that could result from the return of two military golf courses to the government. The Kantrarat and Thupatemi golf courses, which provide welfare services to military personnel, are currently under the scrutiny of the military commission, which suggests that such facilities should be managed by…
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.