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 Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you
Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...
-
Bangkok’s Grand Palace shuts down for royal birthday
Bangkok’s iconic Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (or Temple of the Emerald Buddha) will close their gates completely on Tuesday, June 3, as the nation honours the royal birthday of Her Majesty Queen Suthida. The Bureau of the Royal Household announced the closure yesterday, May 29, urging visitors and tourists to plan accordingly. Ahead of the full closure, a…
-
Thaksin holds firm as Pheu Thai plans Cabinet shake-up
June is shaping up to be a stormy month in Thai politics, with tensions boiling over amid protests and courtroom drama targeting Pheu Thai’s spiritual leader, Thaksin Shinawatra. Despite rumoured flight and political chaos, Thaksin made a rare public appearance on Tuesday, May 27, dismissing speculation that he had fled the country. His keynote speech at a narcotics control event…
-
Thailand’s telecom giants clash amid spectrum auction concerns
Thailand’s multibillion-baht telecom war is heating up as the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) officially opens bidding for high-demand mobile spectrum licences. The auction, scheduled for June 29, could reshape the country’s digital future—but not without controversy. Today, May 30, telecom giants True Move H and Advanced Info Service (AIS) submitted their applications to compete for spectrum licences in…
-
Police’s son accused of brutally assaulting Thai actress surrenders
The son of a retired high-ranking police officer surrendered himself at Phra Khanong Police Station on Wednesday, May 28, after being accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, a Thai actress. The actress, Bell, came forward last week to seek justice after suffering repeated physical abuse at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Kongla. He reportedly threatened her not to report the assaults…
-
Waterspout hits near Phuket and Phang Nga, officials warn tourists
A rare waterspout was spotted this morning near Koh Khai Nok and Koh Khai Nai, right on the border between Phuket and Phang Nga provinces. The swirling vortex, whipped up by a severe thunderstorm, lasted 10 to 15 minutes and was visible from the shore, leaving many stunned by nature’s raw power. Fishermen and holidaymakers in the area reported the…
-
Missing Pattaya woman’s Dutch boyfriend says red-hair skull likely unrelated
The skull with red hair, which was found in the central province of Chachoengsao, may not be linked to the missing woman in Pattaya, according to statements from her friend and her Dutch boyfriend. A 15 year old Thai teenager named Krittapas discovered the skull of an unidentified woman on May 27 while jogging around a pond in the Saen…
-
Pattaya’s PR blitz falls flat as expats warn of scams
Despite a glossy City Hall campaign to “reinvent safety one step at a time,” long-term foreign residents in Pattaya say the city’s image makeover is little more than smoke and mirrors. While officials boast about new CCTV cameras, more tourist police, and road repaints, expats claim these gestures barely scratch the surface of deep-rooted problems that continue to plague the…
-
Thai business closures rise 8.3% amid economic concerns
Thailand’s business landscape is facing stormy skies as nearly 4,000 companies shut their doors in just the first four months of 2025 — an 8.3% increase from the previous year, according to the Department of Business Development (DBD). This surge in closures, with a combined registered capital of almost 16 billion baht, has alarmed lawmakers during this week’s heated budget…
-
Chiang Mai locals rush to buy lottery tickets before draw
In Chiang Mai, as the lottery draw approaches, locals are eagerly purchasing lottery tickets, especially in the bustling morning markets and areas like Mahidol Road and Mueang district. Prices remain steady with single tickets at 100 baht, two-ticket sets at 200 baht, and five-ticket bundles priced between 650 and 700 baht. Pannee Lu Poo Ngern, a lottery vendor from Chiang…
-
Thailand braces as new Covid variant NB.1.8.1 rises fast
Thailand’s health experts are keeping a sharp eye on a new Covid-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, which is rapidly gaining ground and is expected to become the dominant strain in the country soon. Dr Yongyot Thummavudhi, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC), revealed yesterday, May 29, that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is actively monitoring multiple Omicron variants. Among these,…
-
Bus driver found dead inside vehicle in Ayutthaya
Employees were left waiting as their bus failed to arrive, later discovering the driver deceased inside the vehicle. It is suspected he may have suffered a shock the previous night. Two lottery tickets were found in his bag. Police are expediting the autopsy to determine the cause of death. Today, May 30, Police Lieutenant Colonel Pleng Phankaew, deputy investigator at…
-
Thailand video news | Bangkok Bank shuts door on short-term foreign accounts, Amad Diallo’s middle finger was a response to personal abuse, not fans
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. News stories include Bangkok Bank tightening rules for foreign account holders amid a fraud crackdown, and a Bulgarian hacker arrested for installing malware in Thai ATMs. The program also covers a British family’s holiday nightmare in Phuket, a tragic police helicopter crash raising…
-
Food poisoning outbreak in Udon Thani school affects 200 students
An incident involving nearly 200 kindergarten students from a school in Udon Thani province being rushed to Somdet Phra Yupparat Ban Dung Hospital has caused the emergency room to overflow. The children exhibited symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting, suggesting food poisoning. Medical professionals are working diligently to uncover the exact cause. The students began experiencing symptoms during the evening of…
-
Bangkok man arrested for possessing child pornography on LINE app
Yesterday, May 29, the Metropolitan Police apprehended a 32 year old man for possessing explicit images and videos of minors under 18. The investigation revealed he accessed and stored such content on the LINE app at his residence in the Thawi Watthana district of Bangkok. The arrest followed a tip-off from the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)…
-
Mentally ill inmate brutally attacks 2 guards at Bangkok prison
A mentally ill inmate attacked two prison guards with a baton at Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok on Wednesday, May 28, leaving one of the victims with serious injuries. The director of Klong Prem Central Prison filed a complaint with Prachachuen Police Station on the same day following the physical assault on two prison guards, identified as Sombat Phantamas…
-
Udon Thani temple funeral turns violent as monk and man fight (video)
A confrontation occurred at a renowned temple in Udon Thani’s Mueang district, where a monk and a local man engaged in a physical altercation. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media, prompting public concern. The video shows a man in a black shirt restraining another man, while a monk uses his feet and fists against him.…
-
Thai police arrest Chinese suspect linked to billion-baht scam
On the evening of May 28, Thai police successfully apprehended 41 year old Chinese national, Wu Feng Ma, also known as Amah or Afei, in Din Daeng district, Bangkok. Ma is a major suspect in a call centre gang operation, allegedly defrauding fellow Chinese citizens of over 10 billion baht (US$306 million) and suspected of facilitating illegal Chinese migration into neighbouring…
-
Chinese tourist rescued after rooftop water tank swim in Pattaya
A surreal rescue unfolded yesterday afternoon when Pattaya authorities scrambled to save a 26 year old Chinese tourist who jumped into a water tank atop an eight-storey condominium. The unusual incident took place at 5pm yesterday, May 29, at a condo on Soi 17 off Thepprasit Road, leaving rescuers grappling with the challenge of extracting the man from the cramped…
-
Chiang Mai man with dissociative identity disorder goes missing
A Thai woman appealed to an online community for help after her husband, who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), also known as multiple personality disorder, went missing from their home in the northern province of Chiang Mai on Monday, May 26. The wife, Runglamai Jaisooksern, took to Facebook to urge netizens to assist her and her daughter in locating…
-
Pickup truck driver killed in collision with truck on Phetkasem Road
A tragic accident occurred when a pickup truck collided with a 10-wheel truck making a U-turn, resulting in the death of the pickup truck driver. Rescue workers took over an hour to extract the body. The incident was reported at 9.12pm yesterday, May 29, when Police Lieutenant Colonel Jiraphorn Phoolpipat, deputy inspector of Mueang Phetchaburi Police Station, received a report…
-
Phuket dominates southern Thailand tourism
Phuket continues to crush the competition as Thailand’s top southern tourism hotspot, raking in a staggering 188.9 billion baht in revenue in just the first four months of 2025. Leaving rivals in the dust, this “Andaman Pearl” proves why it remains the go-to destination for beach lovers and luxury seekers alike. The Public Relations Office Region 6 has released the…
-
Motorcycle collision with truck in Ratchaburi leaves one dead
A tragic accident occurred involving two women on a motorcycle returning from the market. While carrying bags of rice and dried food, they collided with a trailer truck, resulting in one fatality and critical injuries. The incident took place at 5pm yesterday, May 29, on Phetkasem Road, near the entrance of Wat Don Sai, Mueang subdistrict, Photharam district, Ratchaburi province.…
-
Thailand rights commission probes ex-Stark exec’s hospital perks
The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) has requested clarification from the Police General Hospital (PGH) regarding the treatment of a former executive and significant shareholder of the embroiled Stark Corporation, who reportedly received special treatment at the facility. Yesterday, May 29, an NHRC source revealed that a letter was sent to the hospital’s chief medical officer seeking further…
-
Over 10 assailants attack Narathiwat Police Station with M60s
Over 10 armed assailants launched an attack on the Chanae Police Station in Narathiwat using two M60 machine guns, as revealed by the Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 9. The violent incident saw 30 year old Sergeant Major Abdullor Makaseng, bravely respond to the attack but was fatally shot. Meanwhile, 33 year old Police Lance Corporal Jesada Promrat, sustained severe…
-
Couple arrested for embezzlement in Thai temple fair scandal
A financial scandal has rocked Wat Rai Khing temple in Nakhon Pathom, with a couple linked to the former abbot arrested over a massive embezzlement scheme involving the temple’s annual fair auction. The investigation has revealed an astonishing web of corruption, money laundering, and online gambling worth hundreds of millions of baht. Police detained Patcharaporn “Toey” and 32 year old…
-
Teenager swept away after fall into Chaiyaphum weir
Yesterday, May 29, a 13 year old girl tragically fell into a weir in Chaiyaphum province and was swept away by strong currents. Police from Ban Duea station responded to the incident at the village weir in Baan Nong Bua Noi, Kaset Sombun district. Divers from Luang Siri Rescue and Mangorn Rescue, Nong Bua Daeng district, joined in the search.…
-
Thailand to continue US talks despite court blocking Trump’s tariffs
Thailand will continue negotiations with the US despite a US trade court’s decision to block President Donald Trump’s extensive tariffs on imports, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The 38 year old Thai premier stated that the court’s ruling on Wednesday, May 28, is perceived as an internal US issue, adding that it remains unclear how Trump might proceed. Despite…
-
University lecturer arrested for illegal firearm import in Thailand
A prominent university lecturer has been detained in connection with the illegal importation of firearms into Thailand, bypassing customs at ports. The suspect, 41 year old Visut, allegedly acquired up to 24 firearm permits and operated a gun shop within a military camp. Yesterday, May 29, police in Nakhon Si Thammarat intensified their investigation into a network suspected of smuggling…
-
Heavy rain forecast for 47 Thai provinces, warns of flash floods
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecast heavy rain across 47 provinces, affecting three regions and Bangkok, with the heaviest rainfall covering 70% of the area. Residents are advised to prepare for potential flash floods and landslides on May 30. The TMD predicts that northern and northeastern Thailand will experience particularly severe weather, urging locals in these regions to stay…
-
Managing stress naturally with Thai practices
Are you looking for natural relaxation methods but are sick and tired of the same old advice? You know the type: “Just take deep breaths.” “Find a hobby you love.” “Get more active.” Sure, these tactics work, but what if you’re looking for something different, something new that could act as natural stress management while also exposing you to a…
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.