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 Thailand vs. the West: What expats save on healthcare each year
Healthcare in Thailand is much cheaper than in Western countries, making it a great choice for expatriates looking for affordable medical care. Both public and private healthcare options offer high-quality services, with savings of up to 80% on procedures like...
-
Academy lecturer removed after lawsuit against Big Joke’s wife
There are no updates regarding the theft lawsuit filed by a police officer’s wife against the wife of former police chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, but the complainant is now facing multiple criminal accusations and has just been dismissed as a lecturer at the Royal Police Cadet Academy (RPCA). The 50 year old RPCA lecturer, Thanattha Yodyiam, accused Big Joke’s…
-
Fire torches Phichit warehouse, 10 million baht damage
A fire ravaged four connected buildings housing a second-hand Japanese goods warehouse in the heart of Phichit, causing 10 million baht in damages. The fire broke out around 12.30am today, October 29, with local police and emergency services scrambling to control the blaze. Police Lieutenant Natthaphon Netyim, deputy inspector of Mueang Phichit Police Station, received a report about the fire…
-
Bangkok Bank’s virtual gamble: A licence to thrill in digital banking
In a bold move set to shake up the banking scene, Bangkok Bank (BBL) is betting big on bagging a coveted virtual bank licence, boasting the might of its powerhouse partners as a strategic edge. The bank is convinced that its dream team will help it emerge victorious in the bustling virtual banking battleground. Kobsak Pootrakool, BBL’s senior executive vice-president,…
-
Motorcycle shooting in Samut Songkhram injures young man
A tense incident unfolded in Samut Songkhram when a young man on a motorcycle shot at a rival’s house, causing injuries but narrowly missing vital areas. Police have apprehended the suspect, who remains uncooperative. Around 9.30pm yesterday, October 28, Phonsuda, a police lieutenant at Mueang Samut Songkhram Police Station, received a report of a shooting with injuries behind Koo Thammasatit…
-
Car crash in Pattaya tunnel causes severe damage, minor injuries
A car lost control and crashed into a barrier in a Pattaya tunnel, causing severe damage. The driver claims another vehicle forced him off the road. Fortunately, he sustained only minor injuries. At 10.06pm yesterday, October 28, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre in Pattaya received a report of a car accident. The incident occurred on the road through the…
-
AirAsia takes off with five new international routes
AirAsia is ramping up its operations towards the end of the year with the launch of five new international routes. These include two routes from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport to Hyderabad, India, and Phu Quoc, Vietnam, and three routes from Phuket to Kolkata and Chennai in India, and Siem Reap, Cambodia. Supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Don…
-
Sisaket shooting leaves man dead, sparks drug crackdown
A tragic shooting incident in Sisaket has left a 24 year old man dead, with police investigating two potential motives. The victim, Kittisak, was found with 25 methamphetamine pills in his pocket, prompting a crackdown on local drug activities. The unfortunate event occurred at 11pm on October 26. Kittisak, from Nam Kliang district, Sisaket province, was critically wounded in a…
-
Mystery unbedded: Thai police dig into Canadian man’s death
Thai police are digging deep into the puzzling death of a 46 year old Canadian man discovered by a group of his friends after five days of silence. The alarm was raised in a quiet corner of Moo 8, Srisoontorn, alerting Thalang police officers to the scene at around 12.35pm, yesterday, October 28. The man’s body was found peacefully in…
-
Pattaya vendors protest daily fines and increased operating days
Vendors from the Thepprasit area market have petitioned the Pattaya City Mayor, claiming unfair treatment by the market owner. They face a daily fine of 1,000 baht for non-attendance and an extension of operating days from three days to daily. A group of vendors from the Thepprasit area market approached Pattaya City Hall, seeking justice from the Mayor of Pattaya.…
-
Sisters survive 10-metre fall after motorcycle crash in Phuket
Two sisters narrowly escaped death when their motorcycle, with faulty brakes, lost control and crashed into a roadside barrier, causing them to fall into a 10-metre-deep ravine. The incident occurred on a steep road in Patong, Phuket. At approximately 5.40pm yesterday, October 28, Police Lieutenant Pongpipat Kumchumpoo of the Patong Police Station received a report of a motorcycle accident on…
-
Chiang Rai enters second phase of post-flood restoration
Chiang Rai entered the second phase of its restoration process after recent floods, focusing on enhancing infrastructure, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The Office of Prime Minister’s spokesperson, Jirayu Houngsab, reported that Phumtham, along with several Interior Ministry officials, participated in a ceremony yesterday, October 28, to hand over flood-recovered areas in Mae Sai district.…
-
Thai police intercept 2 million meth pills in sedan bust
Thai police in Wang Noi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, arrested a major drug trafficker, seizing a significant quantity of methamphetamine pills hidden in a sedan. The arrest happened after a keen-eyed officer noticed the vehicle appeared heavily loaded, leading to a search that uncovered five sacks of drugs. Yesterday, October 28, at the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Police Headquarters,…
-
Thailand drones on: Flying tech to lift farmers’ fortunes
Thailand is ready to support the effort to boost farmer access to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), or drones, to improve the management of the nation’s agricultural land, Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong announced. Prasert made this commitment during a Senate meeting, responding to questions from Senator Premsak Piayura regarding the government’s strategies to enhance…
-
Bangkok cops reel in cunning Phuket light rail project con artist
The Metropolitan Police Investigation Bureau cops in Bangkok reeled in a cunning fraudster who duped victims into a sham Phuket light rail project investment scheme. The lady in question, only identified as 44 year old Ms Wongduean, was apprehended on Nawamin 70 Road in the bustling Bueng Kum district on Sunday, October 27. Ms Wongduean is accused of swindling over…
-
Pakistani vendors in Pattaya attack tourist for refusing their products
Pakistani vendors at Pattaya Night Bazaar brutally attacked a fellow countryman last night, leaving him unconscious after he refused to buy their herbal products. A Thai witness, Mit, and his friend shared a video of the unconscious Pakistani victim, Muhammad Abdullah, yesterday, October 28, on social media to seek justice for him. The video showed Abdullah lying on the ground…
-
Thailand weather: Cooler north, rain in central and southern regions
Thailand sees a shift in weather patterns, experiencing a noticeable drop in temperatures in the northern and northeastern regions, while the central and eastern parts continue to see scattered rain. The southern region faces strong winds and heavy downpours. The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecasts weather conditions for the next 24 hours, predicting cool mornings in the upper northern…
-
2 Bangkok cops injured in arrest of knife wielding Chinese man
Two policemen sustained facial injuries while arresting a Chinese man wielding a knife at a 7-Eleven convenience store in the Huay Kwang neighbourhood of Bangkok last night. A worker at the 7-Eleven store, located at the entrance of Soi Si Muang Anusorn, 400 metres from Sutthisan Police Station, called the police to address the situation at around 4pm yesterday, October 28.…
-
Thai-panic: AirAsia flight defies disaster over denied landing in India
A Thai AirAsia flight found itself in a death-defying situation straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster when it was denied permission to land at an airport in India. Passengers were left fearing for their lives as the aircraft was forced to circle for a staggering 45 minutes with only 30 minutes of fuel remaining in the tank. The drama unfolded…
-
Sky’s the limit: Suvarnabhumi Bangkok aims for a million flights in a year
An ambitious target set by Thailand’s government aims to handle one million flights nationwide next year, following the recent opening of Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s third runway. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced the objective, emphasising the move as part of Thailand’s strategy to become the region’s aviation hub and to stimulate tourism and economic growth. After the official opening of…
-
Jay Fai-ning appetite: Michelin Thai chef hangs up her apron (video)
Renowned Thai chef Jay Fai is set to close her one-star Michelin restaurant next year, 2025, due to the increasing price of ingredients and exhaustion after seven years of cooking. Jay Fai Pratu Phee restaurant ranks among the top must-try street food stalls in Bangkok, having earned a prestigious one-star award over its seven years of operation. A visit to this…
-
Exhausted Thai security guard tumbles off bike in Pattaya
A 42 year old Thai security guard has been rushed to hospital after collapsing from sheer exhaustion and tumbling off his motorcycle in South Pattaya. The shocking incident unfolded at around 9pm, yesterday, October 28, when the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre received frantic calls about an unconscious man sprawled on the road near Wat Thammasamakkee. Emergency responders, including medics…
-
Khao Yai park clarifies contractor resigned amid elephant concerns
Khao Yai National Park has clarified that Sutthiporn Sinka, known as “Phlai Su” resigned from his duties of pushing back wild elephants rather than being transferred. He faced numerous complaints for using inappropriate methods that posed risks to tourists. Sutthiporn, a contractor at Khao Yai National Park, was responsible for managing wild elephants that ventured onto visitor paths. As of…
-
Fatal shooting in Songkhla after heated altercation
A heated altercation led to a fatal shooting in Songkhla when an ice delivery man was shot dead by a rival. The confrontation occurred yesterday, October 27, in Singhanakhon district, Songkhla province, at around 7.30pm. CCTV footage revealed the confrontation between the victim, 23 year old Thanakorn and his assailant, 33 year old Kritnai. Thanakorn, riding a sidecar motorcycle, encountered Kritnai,…
-
Thai man arrested for attempted murder of sex worker over wallet dispute
Police arrested a Thai man for the attempted murder of a sex worker in Pattaya after he crashed his car into her and fired shots at her, following a misunderstanding over a suspected theft. Officers from Nong Prue Police Station apprehended the 51 year old man, identified as Wathin, at his home in the Isaan province of Sisaket at around…
-
Golden opportunity: Thai investors ‘mint’ to act as prices hold steady
In an unexpected twist for the Thai economy, the Gold Traders Association (GTA) announced a welcome bout of stability in today’s gold prices, prompting savvy investors to make their move. As of today, October 28, the glint of gold remains constant—keeping the market at a tantalising standstill. The GTA’s latest update, released at 9am, confirmed the price for gold ornaments…
-
Fowl play: Man busted for snatching rooster as pricey pet
A man was arrested for stealing a prized fighting rooster worth 100,000 baht, claiming he only wanted to keep it as a pet. Police from Sai Mai Station used CCTV footage to track and apprehend him along with the stolen rooster. Police were alerted to the theft by the caretaker of a rooster coop, who reported that a fighting rooster…
-
Thailand leads Southeast Asia in agricultural exports, 8th globally
Thailand emerged as the largest exporter of agricultural products in Southeast Asia and the eighth-largest globally, thanks to its free trade agreements (FTAs). The Trade Negotiations Department highlighted this achievement, with the Director-General, Chotima Iemsawasdikul, attributing the success to these agreements despite growing foreign competition and global economic uncertainties. Thailand’s agricultural export value reached US$19.8 billion (638 billion baht) in…
-
Revved-up reckoning: Bangkok teen bike bandits get comeuppance
In a dramatic takedown that reads like a crime thriller, a gang of young motorcycle thieves has been nabbed in Bangkok—shockingly, with a 14 year old among the culprits. This motley crew, responsible for filching over ten bikes across the capital, were flogging their ill-gotten wheels for a measly 1,000-1,500 baht apiece, spotlighting a worrying trend of young hooligans descending…
-
Viral video captures Phuket beach fight between Thai and foreigners
A viral video showed at least one Thai national and two foreigners fighting on Patong Beach in Phuket last night. The cause of the conflict leading to the altercation remains unknown. The news Facebook page shared pictures and a video of the clash between a Thai national and two foreign men today, October 28. The nationality of the foreigners was…
-
DJ’s dental dilemma: Online shop ‘bites back’ leaving him toothless
In a saga that had more ups and downs than a DJ’s mixing session, Buriram’s own DJ Odd Inter, real name Rewat Wongkamchan, found himself toothless after he took a costly bite out of online shopping. Seeking a snazzy set of dentures to fix his show-stopping smile, Rewat ended up with a child’s plaything instead, paying 699 baht for the…
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.