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....

  • Snubbed middle-income retirees look beyond Thailand to SE Asia

    Snubbed middle-income retirees look beyond Thailand to SE Asia

    For decades, Thailand has been the quintessential destination for retirees seeking an affordable, beautiful, and culturally rich new home. With its golden beaches, vibrant cuisine, and famously welcoming population, the Land of Smiles has lured hundreds of thousands of Westerners to spend their golden years soaking up its tropical hospitality. Yet, a quiet transformation is taking place beneath the palm…

  • Driver falls asleep, causing fatal Rayong-Surat Thani bus crash

    Driver falls asleep, causing fatal Rayong-Surat Thani bus crash

    A bus accident occurred in the early hours of this morning, when the driver fell asleep, causing the Rayong-Surat Thani bus to veer off course and crash into a guardrail. The incident today, June 4, at 4.30am, resulted in two fatalities and several injuries among the 28 passengers. The yellow passenger bus, operating on the Rayong-Mukdahan route, bore Chon Buri…

  • Manhunt in Surat Thani for suspect in shooting incident

    Manhunt in Surat Thani for suspect in shooting incident

    A manhunt is underway for a 36 year old man from Surat Thani after he allegedly shot and killed his ex-girlfriend’s new partner. The incident occurred at 7.30pm yesterday, June 3, at house number 55, village number 4, Si Wiat subdistrict, Tha Chang district, Surat Thani province. Police Lieutenant Suriyan Rueangnui, deputy inspector (investigation) of Sawiat Police Station, was notified…

  • Thailand video news | Economic woes could undermine Thai coalition’s stability, Wild elephant ransacks Thai shop for snacks

    Thailand video news | Economic woes could undermine Thai coalition’s stability, Wild elephant ransacks Thai shop for snacks

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcfBnb1v5x0 Today we’ll be talking about some wild animals running amok, a tourist getting KO’d after assaulting a woman in Phuket, and a little later a urinating Thai man’s rejected bribe landing him in hot water in Singapore. Phuket Tiger Park Denies Attack Claims, Slams Misinformation Phuket’s Tiger Kingdom has denied claims that a tourist was attacked by a tiger…

  • Samut Songkhram man accused of assaulting stepdaughter for years

    Samut Songkhram man accused of assaulting stepdaughter for years

    In Samut Songkhram province, a 33 year old father is accused of sexually assaulting his stepdaughter since she was in fifth grade, resulting in her having a four year old child. The girl’s mother allegedly knew about the abuse but attempted to sever ties with her daughter instead of addressing the issue. Chalida “Ton Aor” Palamat, an advocate for the…

  • Thailand taxman’s 2-year sweetener to lure overseas millions home

    Thailand taxman’s 2-year sweetener to lure overseas millions home

    The taxman in Thailand is having a rethink and it could mean a big win for globe-trotting Thais with cash stashed abroad. In a bid to woo back an estimated 2 trillion baht in overseas investments, the Revenue Department is planning a two-year tax holiday on foreign-earned income, so long as it’s brought back into the country pronto. Revenue Department…

  • American arrested in Pattaya for using fake US dollars

    American arrested in Pattaya for using fake US dollars

    Police in Pattaya arrested a 66 year old American for attempting to exchange counterfeit US dollars for Thai baht. The incident yesterday, June 3, took place at the TT Currency Exchange booth on Jomtien Beach Road in Chon Buri province. Police Colonel Anek Sathongyu, along with Deputy Police Colonel Arus Saphanon and Pattaya’s investigation team, led the operation. The suspect, Jeffrey…

  • High stakes and hash: British mum busted in German airport sting

    High stakes and hash: British mum busted in German airport sting

    A young British mum has landed in hot water after allegedly trying to smuggle cannabis from Thailand into Germany, in the latest twist in a growing trend of globe-trotting ganja girls. Cameron Bradford from Knebworth, Hertfordshire, was arrested at Munich Airport on April 21 after raising red flags with border cops. The 21 year old reportedly changed her flight at…

  • British Onlyfans mum nabbed at Spanish airport with £200k in weed

    British Onlyfans mum nabbed at Spanish airport with £200k in weed

    A British OnlyFans model has swapped lingerie for lockdown after allegedly trying to smuggle over £200,000 (8.82 million baht) worth of cannabis into Spain in her luggage. Clara Wilson, a mum-of-four from Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, was busted by the Civil Guard at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport on January 20 after stepping off a Qatar Airways flight from Doha. But her real…

  • Suspect dies after ingesting 50 meth pills in police custody

    Suspect dies after ingesting 50 meth pills in police custody

    A man suspected of drug possession ingested approximately 50 methamphetamine pills before his arrest, eventually leading to his death after being sent to hospital. Yesterday, June 3, police received a report regarding Thiranai, a detainee in Nakhon Pathom City Police Station’s holding cell. He had collapsed and experienced convulsions for unknown reasons. Police promptly transferred him to Nakhon Pathom Central…

  • Full Moon tragedy: British tourist found dead on Koh Pha Ngan

    Full Moon tragedy: British tourist found dead on Koh Pha Ngan

    A British tourist has been found dead and half-naked on a beach just days before the island’s notorious Full Moon Party, sending shockwaves through the Thai holiday hotspot. The 54 year old was discovered face-down in the sand by a local villager at around 6.30am today, June 4, wearing nothing but an orange bra. Her underwear was later found washed…

  • 17 year old student shot dead in Bangkok motorcycle attack

    17 year old student shot dead in Bangkok motorcycle attack

    A 17 year old student was tragically shot and killed while riding as a passenger on a motorcycle driven by a friend in Bangkok. The incident occurred today, June 4, at 1.35am, near the under-construction market area by Hathaimit intersection on Hathairat Road. Police and forensic teams are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the gunman. At the scene, the body…

  • Heavy rainfall warning for 37 provinces in Thailand

    Heavy rainfall warning for 37 provinces in Thailand

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued another warning for heavy rainfall affecting 37 provinces due to a moderate southwest monsoon. Bangkok is expected to experience significant rainfall, covering 60% of the area. Residents are advised to remain cautious. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours predicts thunderstorms and heavy rains in certain areas across Thailand. This is attributed to…

  • Pattaya police stunned as boy, 13, caught dealing with druggie

    Pattaya police stunned as boy, 13, caught dealing with druggie

    Pattaya police cracking down on narcotics in a seedy corner of Jomtien were left stunned when they nabbed a drug dealer, only to find a 13 year old boy helping her peddle meth. The shock bust happened yesterday, June 3 during a raid led by Chon Buri Provincial Police in Jomtien Soi 2. Officers arrested 39 year old Bang-on, also…

  • Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge repairs proposed with 50bn budget

    Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge repairs proposed with 50bn budget

    The Ministry of Transport plans to propose the commencement of repairs on the fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge to the Cabinet on June 4. The proposal includes a budget of 50 billion baht aimed at boosting the economy. A ministry source revealed that the economic stimulus project, with a budget framework of 157 billion baht, has been reallocated from the digital…

  • Wild elephant causes chaos in Thai shop, damages shelves

    Wild elephant causes chaos in Thai shop, damages shelves

    In Nakhon Ratchasima, a wild elephant from Khao Yai National Park surprised a local shop in Pak Chong district yesterday, June 2, causing chaos as it rummaged around for food, damaging shelves in the process. The shop, located approximately one kilometre from a park entrance in Ban Tha Maprang, tambon Mu Si, witnessed the unexpected visit of the elephant, known…

  • Tourists attacked in Patong after assaulting local woman (video)

    Tourists attacked in Patong after assaulting local woman (video)

    Two tourists were rendered unconscious following an altercation with a group of Thai men in Patong, Phuket. The incident reportedly followed an alleged assault on a local woman by the intoxicated tourists. The altercation, which was captured on video and widely circulated on social media yesterday night, June 2, took place on Bangla Road, a well-known nightlife district in Patong,…

  • Patong police probe suspicious foreign car with hidden plates

    Patong police probe suspicious foreign car with hidden plates

    Police in Patong are currently investigating a suspicious vehicle left by a foreign national near Paradise Beach, with its license plates intentionally hidden. The situation came to light around 9am today, June 3, when members of the Patong Crime-Free Community Project LINE group reported the incident. They informed the police that a foreign man had parked a sedan opposite an…

  • R12, newly proposed route to boost Thailand-Vietnam trade

    R12, newly proposed route to boost Thailand-Vietnam trade

    Plans are underway for the construction of Route R12, a new trade corridor in Laos, which will connect Thailand, Vietnam, and China. Perames Vudthitornetiraks, President of the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), stated that the route will begin in Thakhek, Khammouane province, Laos, 17 kilometres from Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom border checkpoint. The route will link the towns of…

  • Udon Thani couple resolve engagement dispute with 100,000 baht agreement

    Udon Thani couple resolve engagement dispute with 100,000 baht agreement

    A dispute over a postponed engagement ceremony in Udon Thani has been resolved, with both parties agreeing not to pursue financial claims further. The couple will continue residing in the family home, and the bride’s side has agreed not to make additional demands. The incident, involving 43 year old Saengduan, the groom’s mother, and a woman, A, unfolded at Saengduan’s…

  • Baan Khao Din checkpoint stays open amid Cambodia closure rumours

    Baan Khao Din checkpoint stays open amid Cambodia closure rumours

    The permanent border checkpoint at Baan Khao Din, Khlong Hat district, Sa Kaeo province, remains open amidst increased security measures by immigration and military personnel. This follows rumours in Cambodia about a potential border closure on June 2. The Thai-Cambodian border trade market, known as Sri Phen Market, continues to operate with Cambodian traders arriving as usual, albeit in fewer…

  • Icomos experts to assess Wat Phra Mahathat for World Heritage status

    Icomos experts to assess Wat Phra Mahathat for World Heritage status

    Experts from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) are set to visit Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat province this week. They will assess the site for potential recognition as a World Heritage Site. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment recently received a report from Chayanan Pakdeejit, secretary-general of the Office of Natural Resources and…

  • Motorbike clash in Pattaya leads to serious assault

    Motorbike clash in Pattaya leads to serious assault

    Two women on a motorcycle allegedly exited a side street, leading to an altercation that resulted in a serious assault. The incident, which involved a man being attacked with a bottle, occurred in the early hours of June 3. Emergency services from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan in Pattaya and police from the Nong Prue station responded to the scene in Soi…

  • State Audit Office scandal: 25.8m baht contract under scrutiny

    State Audit Office scandal: 25.8m baht contract under scrutiny

    Renewed attention has focused on the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building after a recent report highlighted ongoing irregularities in its construction beginning in 2009. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) found evidence last year supporting allegations against former Auditor-General Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka and others, concerning a 25.8 million baht design contract related to the project. The building was originally intended…

  • Five arrested in Customs electronic cigarette theft investigation

    Five arrested in Customs electronic cigarette theft investigation

    The investigation into the theft of electronic cigarettes from the Customs Department is progressing, with five people arrested and one suspect still at large. Police Major General Witthawat Chinkham, commander of Division 5, confirmed that there is no police involvement, although it is suspected that insiders may have provided information regarding the stolen goods. The suspects, who all know each…

  • Cambodia to escalate Thai border dispute to World Court

    Cambodia to escalate Thai border dispute to World Court

    Cambodia plans to escalate its border dispute with Thailand to the World Court after a recent exchange of gunfire between the countries’ soldiers. As reported by the Khmer Times, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet informed the National Assembly that the government intends to file a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to address the persistent issue. “Cambodia would…

  • Tourists overpay 22,000 baht for coffee, cafe resolves issue (video)

    Tourists overpay 22,000 baht for coffee, cafe resolves issue (video)

    Two foreign tourists inadvertently paid over 22,000 baht for two coffees at a café in Nakhon Ratchasima province, but the situation was amicably resolved. A still image from the Mount Wind Tree Cafe’s Facebook page shows a foreign cyclist unintentionally overpaying by nearly 22,000 baht. This incident took place on May 31 at the Mount Wind Tree Cafe, located in…

  • Drug conspiracy arrest: aspiring Ratchaburi village headman detained

    Drug conspiracy arrest: aspiring Ratchaburi village headman detained

    A 41 year old man, aspiring to be the village headman in Bang Phae district, Ratchaburi province, was arrested at his residence. On June 1 at 3pm, police apprehended Sunan under a warrant issued by Ratchaburi Provincial Court, dated May 15, for his involvement in a drug-related conspiracy. The arrest operation was led by Police Major General Wachiraphong Amornapitak, Ratchaburi…

  • Elderly man allegedly stabs wife in Bangkok home after argument

    Elderly man allegedly stabs wife in Bangkok home after argument

    A tragic incident unfolded when an elderly couple’s argument led to a fatal stabbing in their Bangkok home. A 69 year old man, in a fit of anger, allegedly stabbed his 77 year old wife, who suffered from dementia, following a dispute in their residence on Charan Sanitwong 37 in the Bang Khun Si subdistrict. Police Lieutenant Virat Menthakul from…

  • Fire at Chanthaburi resort damages fitness building and equipment

    Fire at Chanthaburi resort damages fitness building and equipment

    A fire broke out at a renowned resort hotel in Chanthaburi, damaging fitness equipment and a fitness building after a golf cart caught fire. The incident occurred at 9.30pm yesterday, June 2, in Mueang district, Chanthaburi province. Police coordinated with the Phatthavee subdistrict municipal fire department and rescue teams to extinguish the blaze. Upon arrival, the fire was rapidly consuming…