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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    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....

  • Good Samaritan returns lost wallet with 12,860 baht

    Good Samaritan returns lost wallet with 12,860 baht

    A heartwarming incident unfolded when a Good Samaritan returned a lost wallet, containing a significant amount of money, to its owner after nearly two months of searching. The event took place near a market square next to Plutaluang, Sattahip district, Chon Buri. On this occasion, the community was abuzz with excitement as the wallet, which contained cash and important documents,…

  • Thai woman confronts bus pervert after third sexual assault (video)

    Thai woman confronts bus pervert after third sexual assault (video)

    A Thai woman defended herself by kicking a pervert who sexually assaulted her on a public bus on November 29 and handing him over to the police. Unfortunately, the suspect was temporarily released. A fellow passenger, 23 year old Adiwan, witnessed the incident and recorded a video to warn others. In the footage, the victim, identified as 25 year old Ploychompoo…

  • Teenage kicks: Phuket teen nabbed in firearms face-off

    Teenage kicks: Phuket teen nabbed in firearms face-off

    In a dramatic turn of events on Saturday night, police in Wichit swooped in to arrest a teenager following a tense showdown involving unregistered firearms among a group of youths in Saphan Hin, Phuket. The night-time drama led to two firearms and ammunition being seized. The chaos erupted around 10.20pm, November 30, when police received urgent reports of teenagers causing…

  • PAO chairman gunman found in Khon Kaen

    PAO chairman gunman found in Khon Kaen

    The gunman who shot the chairman of the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) in Pho Sawan district, Nakhon Phanom Province was tracked down to Khon Kaen. The victim, PAO Council Chairman 56 year old Winai Maneerat was critically injured and is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Nakhon Phanom Hospital. The shooting occurred in front of his residence at…

  • Dealerships pivots to showroom leasing amid EV market surge

    Dealerships pivots to showroom leasing amid EV market surge

    A major car dealership and previously an official Mitsubishi car dealer located in Rangsit, has decided to pivot its business strategy, opting to lease its showroom space due to the rising trend of electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand. This decision comes as the company faces rapid changes in the automotive market and a decline in car sales, coupled with increasing…

  • Grounded: Thai AirAsia denies ticket fraud, blames airline app

    Grounded: Thai AirAsia denies ticket fraud, blames airline app

    Thai AirAsia denied allegations of ticket fraud, stating that the issue stemmed from its application, which was managed by its supplier. The alleged ticket fraud came to light after the local news Facebook page, Esor News, shared the story on December 1. The page posted the following message: “Abscess pops! A renowned airline deceives clients, offering ticket reservations and collecting payments…

  • Intoxicated driver kills three siblings in Sisaket crash

    Intoxicated driver kills three siblings in Sisaket crash

    A tragic accident involving a drink driver in a pickup truck and a motorcycle resulted in the death of three siblings in Sisaket province, Thailand. The driver, who was reportedly intoxicated, claimed to have no recollection of the crash that occurred yesterday, December 1. The incident took place on the road in Khun Han district. Upon receiving a report of…

  • German punch: Israeli soldier’s Thai holiday takes a hit

    German punch: Israeli soldier’s Thai holiday takes a hit

    A 22 year old Israeli soldier was allegedly assaulted by a group of German tourists while on a trip in Thailand after the group took exception to his involvement in his nation’s military operations in Gaza. According to PressTV, the Israeli soldier, Ilay, found himself on the wrong side of an altercation in northern Thailand as he walked past four…

  • Thailand debates Cambodia MoU to avoid political unrest

    Thailand debates Cambodia MoU to avoid political unrest

    The Bhumjaithai Party pledged its support for a proposal by Pheu Thai list MP Noppadon Pattama to convene a general debate on the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Thailand and Cambodia concerning joint development in the Gulf of Thailand. This proposal aims to preempt political unrest by allowing open discussions among MPs and senators during the upcoming Parliamentary session.…

  • Bangkok’s snack attack bandit caught red-handed in food heist

    Bangkok’s snack attack bandit caught red-handed in food heist

    Police in Bangkok apprehended a notorious thief known locally for repeatedly stealing food items from local shops. The suspect, identified as 57 year old Suthin, was arrested following a warrant issued by the Criminal Court. The arrest occurred yesterday, December 1, at the entrance of Soi Pracha Uthit 10, Huai Khwang district, marking the culmination of a spree that had…

  • Thai PM criticised over southern flood response, husband remark

    Thai PM criticised over southern flood response, husband remark

    The Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn “Ing” Shinawatra, came under criticism after denying accusations of neglecting the flood crisis in southern Thailand by citing her husband’s southern heritage as evidence of her concern for the region. Today, December 2, marked the 11th day that residents in southern Thailand have been battling severe flooding. According to the Post Today, 10 provinces…

  • Poker-faced fraudster nabbed in million-baht investment scam

    Poker-faced fraudster nabbed in million-baht investment scam

    In a dramatic turn of events, a key figure in a jaw-dropping multi-million baht investment scam has been collared by the law in Phuket. Nattapol, the slippery suspect, was rounded up by officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) working in tandem with the Highway Police, after slipping through the net on four separate arrest warrants for his alleged role…

  • PAO council chairman critically injured in shooting

    PAO council chairman critically injured in shooting

    The Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) council chairman has been targeted in a shooting right outside his home in Nakhon Phanom. The suspect, a well-known gunman, remains at large, prompting a police manhunt. The victim, 56 year old Vinai Maneerat was shot outside his home in Ban Sai Kham, Phon Sawan district, Nakhon Phanom province, earlier yesterday, around 7.30am. His wife,…

  • Thailand’s tourism triumph as Bangkok tops Agoda charts (video)

    Thailand’s tourism triumph as Bangkok tops Agoda charts (video)

    Bangkok is stealing the spotlight as Agoda crowns it as the No.1 most-booked destination globally for 2025, while Thailand itself clinches the No.2 spot on the list of top tourist destinations. This thrilling announcement from deputy government spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan underscores Thailand’s soaring popularity as a must-visit hotspot. The revered American travel magazine, Travel + Leisure, has also showered accolades…

  • Convenience store employee arrested for robbing own workplace

    Convenience store employee arrested for robbing own workplace

    A young convenience store employee was arrested after robbing his workplace on his day off. He used a knife to threaten his colleagues, who recognised him and promptly alerted the police. At 8am yesterday, December 1, the police, led by Peerapong Yotsurang, Deputy Investigation Inspector of Chalerm Phra Kiat Police Station in Nakhon Si Thammarat, apprehended the suspect involved in…

  • Bangkok in a chokehold: Smog blankets the city (video)

    Bangkok in a chokehold: Smog blankets the city (video)

    Bangkok is on high alert this week as residents prepare for a choking blanket of smog set to engulf the city and its surrounding areas. The Pollution Control Department (PCD) sounded the alarm, warning that from today, December 2, until Friday, December 6, a thick haze will shroud the capital, thanks to smoke billowing from nearby farmland and stagnant air…

  • Thailand Post to overhaul framework in modernisation efforts

    Thailand Post to overhaul framework in modernisation efforts

    Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Ministry tasked Thailand Post with overhauling the outdated Postal Act of 1934. The initiative aims to enhance the regulation of postal and logistics services, aligning them with the current business environment. The Postal Act of 1934 was the first comprehensive piece of legislation governing postal services in Thailand. It established the framework for the operation…

  • Phuket parade: Carnival rolls out beach carpet for tourists (video)

    Phuket parade: Carnival rolls out beach carpet for tourists (video)

    Phuket is gearing up to roll out the red carpet for tourists worldwide with the eagerly anticipated Phuket Carnival at Patong 2024. This annual spectacle, a hallmark of the island’s high tourist season, promises to be bigger and better than ever with its theme, Phuket Memories of a Lifetime. Taking place from December 8 to 10 at the bustling Bang…

  • Ferry capsizes on Chao Phraya River after on-board altercation

    Ferry capsizes on Chao Phraya River after on-board altercation

    A dramatic incident unfolded yesterday on the Chao Phraya River when a ferry capsized following a confrontation on board between a group of ten teenagers and a single passenger. The chaotic scenes saw passengers jumping overboard to escape the sinking vessel. At approximately 11.30pm, yesterday, December 1, rescue volunteers received a distress call about a ferry sinking near the pier…

  • Laos factory owner arrested in methanol poisoning tourist tragedy

    Laos factory owner arrested in methanol poisoning tourist tragedy

    In a chilling case that has sent shockwaves across the globe, police in Laos arrested the owner of a factory believed to be the source of a deadly methanol poisoning incident that tragically claimed the lives of six foreign tourists. The factory, situated on the outskirts of Vientiane, the capital city, is suspected of producing toxic batches of the local…

  • Heavy rainfall warning for nine Thai provinces

    Heavy rainfall warning for nine Thai provinces

    The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a weather warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall impacting nine provinces, with sea waves expected to rise over 2 metres. The upper regions of Thailand are experiencing cooler temperatures, with the northern part witnessing lows of 16 degrees Celsius (°C). The weather forecast for the next 24 hours highlights a weakening high-pressure…

  • Pattaya horror: Young Thai woman killed in early morning crash

    Pattaya horror: Young Thai woman killed in early morning crash

    In the early hours of this morning, a devastating collision in Pattaya claimed the life of a young Thai woman, leaving the community reeling in shock. At precisely 3.20am, today, December 12, Bang Lamung police received a distress call alerting them to a catastrophic crash on the railway road within Soi Nongprue. Responding with urgency, the police, along with the…

  • Thai truck driver walks away unscathed from Sukumvit smash

    Thai truck driver walks away unscathed from Sukumvit smash

    A Thai truck driver miraculously emerged unscathed from a jaw-dropping accident on Sukhumvit Road in Sattahip, in a scene straight out of a disaster film. The jaw-dropping incident occurred yesterday, December 1, at the stroke of 10.25am, prompting a swift response from the intrepid team at the Sawang Rojonthammasathit Foundation. Chaos descended as rescue squads raced to the scene, discovering…

  • Rama II Road congestion eased with reversible lane after collapse

    Rama II Road congestion eased with reversible lane after collapse

    Measures have been implemented to ease the traffic congestion on Rama II Road following a road collapse on November 29. An elevated road section under construction collapsed, leading the Highways Department to open a reversible lane today, December 1, to manage the outbound traffic more effectively. Efforts are underway to clear the site where precast concrete segments fell. However, the…

  • Thai fisherman drowns, 31 detained and shot at by Myanmar navy

    Thai fisherman drowns, 31 detained and shot at by Myanmar navy

    A Myanmar navy patrol boat recently engaged with Thai fishing vessels off the coast of Ranong province, resulting in the tragic drowning of one fisherman and the detainment of 31 crew members. The Thai Ministry of Defence reported that the altercation occurred when two out of 15 Thai fishing boats were found operating between four and 5.7 nautical miles inside…

  • Thief poses as courier, steals Rolex watches worth 615,000 baht

    Thief poses as courier, steals Rolex watches worth 615,000 baht

    A seller of vintage goods experienced a distressing incident when a thief impersonated a courier to retrieve a package containing two Rolex watches valued at 615,000 baht. Despite reporting the crime to the police three times, they were less than helpful and the case was dismissed as a civil matter, leaving the victim without recourse. The victim, 36 year old…

  • Oh, cock! Police arrest nearly 50 major cockfighting raid

    Oh, cock! Police arrest nearly 50 major cockfighting raid

    Police in Nakhon Phanom arrested nearly 50 people involved in illegal cockfighting, following a tip-off about a large gathering of gamblers in a rural area. The operation, carried out by a team of over 30 officers, highlighted ongoing illegal gambling activities in the region. Officers swiftly moved to take action after receiving a complaint via the Damrongdhama Centre regarding an…

  • Thailand to finalise free-trade deal with EFTA by January

    Thailand to finalise free-trade deal with EFTA by January

    Thailand is set to finalise a free-trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) by January next year, aiming to boost its export market and draw European investors. This announcement from the Ministry of Commerce emphasises a strategic step forward in Thailand’s economic expansion. Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan confirmed the completion of negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA)…

  • M81 motorway opens free for new year travel in Thailand

    M81 motorway opens free for new year travel in Thailand

    Bang Yai district in Nonthaburi and Kanchanaburi province will soon be connected by a new motorway, offering motorists a cost-free travel experience over the new year holiday period. This initiative comes as a gesture from the Department of Highways, which announced that the 96-kilometre route, designated as M81, will be open for free from December 26 to January 2. Since…

  • Four million young Thais hooked on online gambling, experts warn

    Four million young Thais hooked on online gambling, experts warn

    More than four million young Thais have been lured into the world of online gambling, a growing concern that experts warn could evolve into addiction, affecting their mental and physical health. This pressing issue was brought to light by Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, director of the ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation, during the annual conference of the Centre for Gambling Studies (CGS) held recently…