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 Smooth travel to Belgium and the Netherlands: Visa tips & tricks!
Make Belgium and the Netherlands your next destination with the right visa in hand. Explore the iconic tulip fields, cruise through Amsterdam’s scenic canals, or stroll through the historic streets of Bruges. Don’t forget to enjoy some authentic Belgian chocolate...
-
Boat crash in Bang Khonthi claims life of pier owner’s son
Strong waves caused a boat crash in Bang Khonthi, Samut Songkhram, leading to the tragic death of a 34 year old man who was the son of a famous pier owner in Damnoen Saduak. The incident occurred yesterday, July 31, at a riverside pavilion, shocking his father, who fainted upon hearing the news. At 5pm yesterday, Chaiyachet Duangrat, Deputy Inspector…
-
Car wash cover-up: DSI finds football feed behind suds and soap
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) stormed a seemingly innocent car wash shop in Bangkok’s Khlong Sam Wa district. The shop turned out to be a front for a sophisticated network broadcasting overseas football matches illegally. This was just one of 21 locations nationwide linked to the syndicate, which is accused of running a staggering 100 mule accounts with over…
-
Thai lottery enthusiasts eye PM’s Lexus plate for luck
The upcoming lottery draw tomorrow, August 1, has enthusiasts eagerly searching for their lucky numbers. Many are turning to various sources for inspiration, including social media, popular figures, and well-known lottery tipsters. One particularly notable set of numbers this time comes from the licence plate of a new Lexus van recently purchased by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The 62 year…
-
Tang Rat app crashes amid rush for 10,000 baht digital wallet
The Tang Rat application crashed as numerous people rushed to download and verify their identities ahead of the registration for the 10,000 baht digital wallet set to begin tomorrow, August 1. It was reported today that the government, through the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) and the Ministry of Finance, will open the registration for the 10,000 baht…
-
Urgent call for O-negative blood donations in Phuket
A call for urgent blood donations has been issued by the RH-Emergency Donation group to aid a Frenchman in dire need of O-negative blood. The plea highlights the scarcity of this blood type among the Thai population, underscoring the importance of donations from Westerners. This urgent request was made through a Facebook post, emphasising the critical need for O-negative blood…
-
Ex-PM Thaksin’s Dubai dreams dashed: Medical treatment declined
The Criminal Court dashed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s hopes of jetting off to Dubai for medical treatment. The embattled ex-leader requested to travel to the UAE from August 1 to 16, citing a slew of health issues, including chronic pneumonia, respiratory and coronary symptoms, a torn right rotator cuff, and spinal disc herniation. Thaksin, who celebrated his 75th birthday last…
-
Phuket police seize nearly 3 kilogrammes of crystal meth in Rawai
Phuket police apprehended two men in possession of nearly 3 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine at a residence on Saiyuan Road in Rawai. The arrests, executed by the Crime Suppression Division of the Phuket Provincial Police, were led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phichit Thongto yesterday. A 47 year old man, Tribut Samaktalay, aka Tor, who is registered as living in Moo 4,…
-
BTSC demands 40 billion baht Green Line overdue debt payment
The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) declared itself ready to negotiate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Krungthep Thanakom (KT) over the staggering debt tied to the BTS Green Line extensions. This comes hot on the heels of a Supreme Administrative Court ruling on July 26, giving both parties a 180-day deadline to cough up nearly 12 billion baht…
-
Khon Kaen residents find bag of 134,000 meth pills by roadside
Residents in Khon Kaen stumbled upon a black bag containing 134,000 methamphetamine pills (meth) discarded by a roadside. Police are investigating fingerprints left behind to track down the drug trafficking network involved. Police Colonel Pichai Nakhundi, head of the Manchakhiri Police Station, explained that the drugs were found on the route between Ban Burana and Ban Nong Hai in Phon…
-
Crackdown reveals 2,000 fake vehicle registrations in Thailand
Royal Thai Police launched an operation titled Crackdown on Illegal Vehicles Flooding the City, leading to the search of four locations and the discovery of over 2,000 fake registrations, including a single registration number used on 26 vehicles. The operation, conducted yesterday, involved the Crime Suppression Division and the Department of Land Transport (DLT). Senior officers including Sopon Saraphat, Montri…
-
Thailand to send 900 workers to Finland for berry picking
Thailand’s Minister of Labour discussed with Finland’s Minister of Employment plans to send 900 Thai workers to pick wild berries. The safety, welfare, and benefits of the workers are guaranteed, with strict visa and work permit checks in place. Minister of Labour Pipat Ratchakitprakarn engaged in a video conference with Finland’s Minister of Employment Arto Satonen and his team. The…
-
Thai man hunts for ex-girlfriend after 200,000 baht theft (video)
A Thai man took to social media to search for his ex-girlfriend after she stole cash and valuables worth nearly 200,000 baht from his home in Bangkok. The victim, 27 year old Ton, shared security camera footage of the theft and a picture of his 21 year old ex-girlfriend named Ploy on his Facebook page on July 24 with a…
-
Tour bus crash in Pattaya injures Chinese tourists and motorcyclist
A tour bus filled with Chinese tourists collided with a truck while en route to Pattaya last night, resulting in multiple injuries. The incident occurred at 4.30pm, July 30, on Route 36 (Katinglai-Rayong) in the Nong Plalai sub-district of Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Responding swiftly to the scene were Bang Lamung Police, reporters, and rescue workers from the…
-
Thai Olympic boxer Somluck denies sexual assault charges in court
A Thai Olympic boxing hero arrived at Khon Kaen Provincial Court today, confident he could prove his innocence against sexual assault charges. The 51 year old boxer, Somluck Khamsing, and his close aide Pichet Chinaehantha, accompanied by their lawyer, attended court for the first hearing today, July 31, which involved the examination of evidence and witness lists. Prosecutors have indicted…
-
AirAsia launches direct flights from Phuket to India
AirAsia Thailand unveiled new direct flight routes from Phuket to Chennai and Kolkata, promising seamless travel to paradise from two of India’s major cities. Starting from October 27, these flights will offer travellers a convenient gateway to Phuket’s pristine beaches, vibrant cultural scenes, and delectable seafood. The Chennai-Phuket route will operate thrice weekly, while the Kolkata-Phuket connection will take off…
-
Thailand warns travellers as Oropouche fever spreads in Brazil
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is closely monitoring the spread of Oropouche fever in Brazil, where two fatalities have already been reported. The disease, transmitted by midges, has not yet been detected in Asia, prompting vigilance and travel advisories for those heading to Central and South America. The Brazilian Ministry of Health reported on July 25 that two women under…
-
Activist Parit Chiwarak sentenced to two years for lese majeste
The criminal court of Thailand sentenced political activist Parit Chiwarak, also known as Penguin, to three years in prison for lese majeste, later reduced to two years without suspension. An arrest warrant has been issued for him to serve the sentence within a 10-year statute of limitations. The verdict was delivered today, July 31, at 10am at Criminal Court Room…
-
Steel plate falls on car on Rama 2 Road, Bangkok, during storm
A steel plate fell onto a vehicle on Rama 2 Road, Bangkok, due to turbulent weather and strong winds, prompting a three-day suspension of work and compensation for those affected. The incident occurred on July 29 at approximately 11.45am. Sarawut Songsiwilai, Director-General of the Department of Highways, addressed the incident where a steel plate fell onto the bonnet of a…
-
Pathum Thani prosecutor’s fake certification scandal
Controversy erupted after a prosecutor in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani province, allegedly endorsed a fake prosecutor named Mongkol, granting him a rank equivalent to a level five prosecutor despite lacking the legal authority to do so. Reports emerged that a certification letter, signed on March 26 last year by the Thanyaburi prosecutor’s office on Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road, Pathum Thani, was…
-
2 Chinese men croc-ed in northern Thailand for wildlife trafficking
Officers at Mae Sot Customs in the northern province of Tak arrested two Chinese men for wildlife trafficking on Monday. Mae Sot Customs officers told Channel 7 that they stopped a suspicious pickup truck at the Huay Kralok community in the Mae Sot district of Tak at about 2pm on Sunday, July 28. The driver was a Chinese man named…
-
Gunman sought after shooting at molam singer’s car in Khon Kaen
A gunman has been issued with an arrest warrant after shooting at a molam singer’s car, peppering it with bullets. Police detained a woman who was in the car during the incident and questioned her for two hours. Tanadol Ballangsaprom, a 25 year old molam singer and owner of the band Sua Theeraphon Chailert, reported the shooting to the Khon…
-
Duty-free shutdown drama: Thai airports set to lose big bucks
Airports of Thailand (AOT) is bracing for a colossal monthly loss of 143 million baht after announcing the closure of all duty-free shops in the arrivals areas of five major airports. This shocking move, aimed at boosting domestic spending, was approved by the Cabinet on July 2 and will come into effect on August 1. The closure affects duty-free shops…
-
Chiang Rai officials seize six million meth pills, arrest two suspects
Officials in Chiang Rai intensified efforts to intercept drugs along the northern border, resulting in the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of six million methamphetamine pills, along with a pickup truck and a large motorcycle. Narit Thavornwong, Commander of the Drug Suppression and Prevention Command, yesterday, July 30, revealed that enhanced measures have been implemented along the borders…
-
Scottish former footballer jailed for Thailand child abuse
A former football star turned child sex offender Ian Heddle has been sentenced to four years in jail after a chilling discovery of his heinous crimes. Once a midfielder for Scottish clubs like Dunfermline Athletic and St Johnstone, Heddle’s fall from grace was steep and shocking. The disgraced 61 year old ex-footballer was arrested at Edinburgh Airport in February last…
-
Motorbike taxi driver assaults UAE tourists in Patong
Patong Police are still yet to confirm any action taken against a motorbike taxi driver who assaulted two tourists from the United Arab Emirates in Soi Saen Sabai on July 29. The incident took place in front of the Hallo Massage shop, leaving the two tourists injured. The police were alerted to the situation around 10pm. The victims, identified as…
-
Udon Thani noodle shop owner fined for pavement obstruction
Thai officials confirmed that the removal of tables and chairs from a noodle shop obstructing the pavement and road in Ban Dung district, Udon Thani province, was carried out in accordance with the law. The shop owner admitted to causing inconvenience and revealed that he and his nine year old daughter have been selling noodles since the early hours of…
-
Thailand-based Ling app scoops language learning Olympic gold
From the heart of Chiang Mai, the Ling App has carved a unique niche in the global market with its recent App Store spotlight for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This innovative language-learning tool from Thailand is not just another app, it’s a traveller’s essential must-have, crafted to enhance the Parisian adventures of athletes and spectators alike. Amidst a…
-
Pickup truck crash in Lampang kills one amid heavy rain
A pickup truck returning from Chiang Mai skidded off the road and crashed into a tree in Thoen, Lampang, due to heavy rain. Rescue teams rushed to the scene but despite their efforts, a 50 year old woman lost her life. Police from Thoen Police Station in Lampang received a report of the accident at 6.50pm yesterday, July 30. The…
-
Drunk driver in Ayutthaya leads police on high-speed chase
A man driving a red four-door pickup truck with blaring loudspeakers along Phahonyothin Road in Ayutthaya attempted to evade police, resulting in a high-speed chase. He was eventually apprehended and found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 234 milligrammes percent. Ayutthaya Police received reports from concerned citizens about a red pickup truck driving erratically and playing loud music on…
-
3 Chinese nationals arrested in Bangkok for call centre scam
Officers from the Provincial Police Region 2 Investigation Division arrested three Chinese nationals at a condominium in the Prawet district of Bangkok on July 19 for running a call centre scam using a SIM box to contact targeted victims. The Investigation Division of Provincial Police Region 2 explored the scammers who used the SIM boxes or GSM Gateways to remotely…
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.