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

    Moving with family? Here’s how to cut health costs in Thailand

    Relocating to Thailand with your family brings exciting new opportunities, but it also comes with the challenge of managing healthcare costs in a new system. Thailand has both public and private healthcare options, each offering different prices and quality of...

  • Yingluck Shinawatra’s return to Thailand faces unresolved issues

    Yingluck Shinawatra’s return to Thailand faces unresolved issues

    Efforts to facilitate the return of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to Thailand continue, as her brother, Thaksin, indicates that several considerations must still be addressed before her possible return. Thaksin initially committed to her return during an interview last November, suggesting it could occur around this year’s Songkran festival. The 75 year old former PM expressed optimism regarding the…

  • Bangkok defends bus shelter costs amid public criticism

    Bangkok defends bus shelter costs amid public criticism

    Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt defended the design and pricing of new bus shelters intended to replace approximately 3,000 bus stops throughout the city. He stated that the costs are justified considering the complexities involved in their construction. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration‘s (BMA) bus shelter procurement project has faced public criticism, with detractors arguing that the design does not justify the…

  • Thaksin ready to tackle censure debate accusations

    Thaksin ready to tackle censure debate accusations

    Former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra expressed his intention to address any inquiries or accusations made against him during the upcoming censure debate, anticipated to take place at the end of this month or early next month. Although he will not be physically present in the chamber to provide an immediate response, Thaksin assured reporters of his readiness to reply…

  • 85 year old Buriram woman revives 40 minutes after death

    85 year old Buriram woman revives 40 minutes after death

    Residents of Nang Rong district, Buriram province, were astounded by the miraculous revival of an 85 year old woman, who came back to life 40 minutes after being pronounced dead. The elderly woman, identified as Phua Sriphadung, surprised her family as she sat up during preparations for her body to be moved to a nearby temple for religious ceremonies. She…

  • Thailand’s capital relocation proposal faces opposition

    Thailand’s capital relocation proposal faces opposition

    A proposal by a lawmaker from the Pheu Thai Party for the relocation of Thailand’s capital to Nakhon Ratchasima has been met with opposition from a House study. The study suggests that such a move would require a significant budget and a referendum for decision-making. The Interior Ministry, tasked with forming a House committee to examine the proposal, indicated that the…

  • Car-truck collision in Chiang Mai injures 16 longan workers

    Car-truck collision in Chiang Mai injures 16 longan workers

    A collision between a car and a truck transporting longan harvest workers in Chiang Mai left 16 people injured, with two in serious condition. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation. Yesterday, February 9 at 8.35pm, investigators from San Pa Tong district in Chiang Mai received reports of a significant traffic accident on the San Pa Tong-Hang Dong…

  • Thailand video news | Brit beaten by Thai bar girls over unpaid bill, Three British nationals arrested for cocaine smuggling in Bali

    Thailand video news | Brit beaten by Thai bar girls over unpaid bill, Three British nationals arrested for cocaine smuggling in Bali

    Today’s Good Morning Thailand brings a roundup of major stories from across Thailand and the region. The program covers a dramatic incident in Pattaya, where a British tourist was assaulted over an unpaid bill, as well as corruption allegations at Phuket Airport. In Pathum Thani, an LGBTQ protest erupted after a violent attack, while a Russian beauty queen faces detention…

  • Thailand rolls out Valentine’s plan: Free condoms for teenagers

    Thailand rolls out Valentine’s plan: Free condoms for teenagers

    Today, at Government House, the Deputy spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office unveiled a bold initiative from the Department of Disease Control: free condoms for teenagers. Marking Valentine’s Day as more than just hearts and flowers, this campaign aims to hammer home the message of safe sex and promote access to essential sexual health services among teenagers and young adults.…

  • New Jurassic film set to boost Thai tourism and hotel bookings

    New Jurassic film set to boost Thai tourism and hotel bookings

    Tourism operators are optimistic that the new Jurassic franchise film, highlighting the natural attractions of southern Thailand, will draw tourists year-round. This has led to calls for a management plan to accommodate the expected visitor influx. The trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth showcases destinations in Krabi and Trang, including Koh Kradan and Khao Phanom Bencha National Park. The film is…

  • Ancient hyena fossils found in Krabi cave reveal savannah past

    Ancient hyena fossils found in Krabi cave reveal savannah past

    A recent discovery in a cave in Krabi has unearthed numerous hyena fossils, estimated to be over 200,000 years old, suggesting that Krabi was once a savannah. Yesterday, February 9, Assistant Professor Doctor Kantapon Suraprasit, a lecturer from the Department of Geology at Chulalongkorn University, alongside a team of geologists and the Krabi Cave Lovers Club, conducted an exploration in…

  • Thai police seize trucks in suspected drug-smuggling operation

    Thai police seize trucks in suspected drug-smuggling operation

    Thai police recently seized two pickup trucks intended for smuggling into Myanmar, allegedly linked to a scheme where Thai nationals steal vehicles in Thailand, exchange them for methamphetamine in Myanmar, and return to sell the drugs domestically. Yesterday, February 9, Police Colonel Yutthapong Klantakasuwan, commander of the Singhanath Task Force, directed Captain Sarawut Suwan, commander of Company 722, Singhanath Task…

  • Tragic murder-suicide in Phichit: Estranged couple found dead

    Tragic murder-suicide in Phichit: Estranged couple found dead

    A tragic incident occurred in Phichit province when a man fatally shot his estranged wife before taking his own life in a murder-suicide. The event unfolded in a dormitory on Phichit Bypass Road today, February 10 at 12.30am. Police were alerted to a shooting involving fatalities and injuries. Upon arrival, police found 22 year old Nutthaphon from Pa Makap subdistrict,…

  • Foreign TikToker goes viral for innocent mistake with Thai monks

    Foreign TikToker goes viral for innocent mistake with Thai monks

    A foreign man went viral on Thai social media for his TikTok video featuring an innocent mistake with two Thai monks at an airport in Thailand. The TikTok account @thibo_fockenoy shared a video of him requesting to take a picture with two Thai monks at the airport last week. The foreign man captioned the video, “Very loving people, though. #thailand…

  • Father’s drug-fuelled attack leaves son critically injured

    Father’s drug-fuelled attack leaves son critically injured

    A 25 year old father was reported to have assaulted his seven year old son at their home in Sri Bunrueng district, Nong Bua Lamphu province, after consuming drugs. The attack, yesterday, February 9, involved a wooden pestle, leaving the child with serious injuries, including bleeding from the ears. Rescue team leader Doctor Napasdon Saengklang detailed the incident, explaining that…

  • 2 Thai LGBTQIA+ university students arrested for soup attack

    2 Thai LGBTQIA+ university students arrested for soup attack

    Police arrested two LGBTQIA+ university students in a soup attack on another student in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok on Friday, February 7, and denied their bail requests. The victim, whose name remains undisclosed, filed a complaint with Khlong Luang Police Station on Friday following the attack at a restaurant, reportedly over financial issues. At the station, the victim happened…

  • Phuket police turn up the heat on Peach Hill Resort fire probe

    Phuket police turn up the heat on Peach Hill Resort fire probe

    Phuket City Police have launched a probe into a fierce fire that ignited at the Peach Hill Resort on Laem Sai Road in Karon on the evening February 7. The flames spurred a dramatic emergency response, with local police and fire teams racing to the scene shortly after being alerted at around 6pm. The alarm bells first rang for Police…

  • Russian tourist vows Pattaya return after cops catch thief

    Russian tourist vows Pattaya return after cops catch thief

    Na Jomtien officers have taken a bow after collaring a 40 year old Thai man accused of swiping a Russian tourist‘s valuables right from under his nose. The brazen beachside bandit targeted 45 year old Mr A, a Russian visitor enjoying a refreshing dip near a resort in the sunny enclave of Na Jomtien, Sattahip, Chon Buri. Mr A had…

  • DoE raid: Unlicensed foreign teachers schooled in surprise sweep

    DoE raid: Unlicensed foreign teachers schooled in surprise sweep

    Department of Employment (DoE) officials swooped into Bangkok’s Ratchada and Bang Na areas to check on foreign teachers without any certification in a surprise operation. Hot on the heels of last week’s shock arrest of eight South Korean nationals teaching without valid work documentation, officials are leaving no stone unturned to rectify the situation. “Search, Arrest, Fine, Deport” is the…

  • Suphan Buri crackdown uncovers illegal pharmacy selling Tramadol

    Suphan Buri crackdown uncovers illegal pharmacy selling Tramadol

    In Suphan Buri, a crackdown on illegal pharmacies selling dangerous drugs under the guise of cannabis shops resulted in arrests by local administrative and public health officials. The operation targeted the sale of Tramadol, a controlled substance, to youths and the public. Yesterday, February 8, Chaiyathat Jessadapakkorn, chief of the drug suppression and social order task force in the Mueang…

  • Thai hostages return home after release by Hamas

    Thai hostages return home after release by Hamas

    Today, February 9, at 7.35am, five Thai hostages released by Hamas returned to Thailand, welcomed by foreign affairs minister Maris Sengiamphong at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The emotional reunion saw families embracing with tears of joy at the return of their loved ones. Maris expressed deep satisfaction at witnessing such heartfelt family reunions, noting the difficult years apart. Families mentioned their…

  • Monitor lizard invades Bangkok home, elderly woman startled (video)

    Monitor lizard invades Bangkok home, elderly woman startled (video)

    A large monitor lizard unexpectedly entered a home, startling an elderly woman. Her daughter speculated the reptile was driven by a dog while attempting to steal eggs. The incident was captured on video and shared widely on social media. Yesterday, February 8, reporters visited the scene in the Bang Khun Thian coastal area of Bangkok, where the event occurred in…

  • Lion’s night roars in Chon Buri spark panic and police response

    Lion’s night roars in Chon Buri spark panic and police response

    Residents and tourists in Chon Buri’s Phra Tamnak Soi were left anxious after a two year old male lion roared throughout the night, causing widespread concern. The noise prompted locals to contact the Pattaya City Police Station following disturbances reported by those living in Mueang Pattaya district’s Nong Prue subdistrict, particularly between Sois 5 and 6, Phra Tamnak, across from…

  • Security guard killed in knife attack after altercation in Bangkok

    Security guard killed in knife attack after altercation in Bangkok

    A security guard was found dead following a confrontation with his estranged wife at an apartment complex in Thung Song Hong, Lak Si district, Bangkok, early today, February 9. The incident reportedly escalated when the man allegedly struck his wife with a gun, prompting her to retaliate with a knife, resulting in his death. The couple had been separated for…

  • Chiang Rai bans oil refueling into containers to combat crime

    Chiang Rai bans oil refueling into containers to combat crime

    Chiang Rai provincial officials issued an urgent directive prohibiting the refuelling of oil into containers such as jerry cans, with violators facing legal action. This measure aligns with the Thai government’s policy to combat call centre gangs. Yesterday, February 8, Deputy Governor Norasak Suksomboon, acting on behalf of the Chiang Rai governor, announced the directive dated February 7, stating that…

  • LGBTQ protest in Pathum Thani after violent soup attack

    LGBTQ protest in Pathum Thani after violent soup attack

    Yesterday, February 8, a large gathering of over 500 LGBTQ people assembled near a condominium in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani province, calling for accountability after an incident involving a hot soup attack. This confrontation followed a violent event on February 7, where a second-year student from a prominent private university was injured when hot soup was poured over him.…

  • Eight Thai provinces face unsafe ultrafine dust levels

    Eight Thai provinces face unsafe ultrafine dust levels

    Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported this morning that eight out of 77 provinces were experiencing slightly unsafe levels of ultrafine dust pollution. These provinces, predominantly located in the north, recorded orange levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, ranging from 38.3 to 48.6 microgrammes per cubic metre over a 24-hour…

  • Songkhla man arrested for 5 million baht gold theft after 4-day chase

    Songkhla man arrested for 5 million baht gold theft after 4-day chase

    A man from Songkhla who allegedly stole gold ornaments and bars valued at over 5 million baht from a gold shop in a Pathum Thani shopping mall has been detained in Bangkok following a four-day pursuit. Thapanas Nookate, a 38 year old resident of Hat Yai, was captured in front of a shopping mall in Bang Khae and subsequently taken…

  • Myanmar fishermen charged after entering Thai waters near Ranong

    Myanmar fishermen charged after entering Thai waters near Ranong

    Myanmar fishermen face charges after being apprehended in Thai waters near Ranong province. The 3rd Naval Area Command seized two fishing boats with Myanmar crew members on February 7 for intruding into waters southwest of Koh Khang Khao. Two Royal Thai Navy vessels escorted these boats to a local deep-sea port yesterday morning, February 8. Seven Myanmar nationals were found…

  • Uncontrolled landfill fire in Prachin Buri threatens nearby homes (video)

    Uncontrolled landfill fire in Prachin Buri threatens nearby homes (video)

    A landfill fire in Prachin Buri province remains uncontrolled, sparking concerns it might reach nearby residential areas. The fire ignited yesterday, February 8, at the Tambon Kabin administrative organisation’s landfill in Kabin Buri district. Five fire engines have attempted to extinguish the flames, but success has been elusive. The fire is engulfing a substantial waste pile exceeding 3 metres in…

  • Cold air mass from China hits Thailand, temperatures drop

    Cold air mass from China hits Thailand, temperatures drop

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning, highlighting the arrival of a moderately to fairly strong cold air mass from China affecting upper Thailand and the South China Sea. This weather pattern is causing temperatures to drop by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius across the area, accompanied by strong winds. In northeastern Thailand, the weather is cold to…