Thailand News

Discover the most recent and relevant news from across Thailand on The Thaiger’s National News page. Covering a wide range of topics, including politics, business, crime, and lifestyle, our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.

Stay informed about the latest developments in Thai society, economy, and culture, as well as updates on travel, tourism, and expat life. With The Thaiger, you’ll never miss out on the essential news that matters to you.

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    Top 10 reasons for expats to get a comprehensive health insurance in Thailand

    Moving to Thailand offers plenty of excitement and adventure, but the local healthcare system can be complex to navigate as an expat. From unique health risks to high costs at private hospitals, having a comprehensive health insurance plan is essential....

  • Growth in Thai exports expected in Q1 due to stable freight costs

    Growth in Thai exports expected in Q1 due to stable freight costs

    Thailand is set to experience a 1 to 2% growth in export value during the initial quarter of the year, fuelled by stable freight costs and rising shipments of key commodities such as rubber, rice, pet food, electronics, and automobiles. This positive forecast is shared by Keerati Rushchano, the permanent secretary of commerce, who anticipates a steady growth trajectory as…

  • University student found dead in Nan River, Phitsanulok

    University student found dead in Nan River, Phitsanulok

    A 23 year old university student who had been missing for two days was found dead in the Nan River in Phitsanulok, northern Thailand. The fourth-year student from a well-known university, identified only as Teeraporn (surname withheld) was found without any apparent injuries, suggesting a grim conclusion to her life. The initial report came yesterday when local authorities were alerted…

  • Northern Thailand’s persistent wildfires exacerbate air pollution

    Northern Thailand’s persistent wildfires exacerbate air pollution

    Wildfires persist in northern Thailand, contributing to a surge in air pollution despite recent downpours. As of Monday, Mae Hong Son recorded 6,646 wildfires this year, predominantly in the districts of Mueang Mae Hong Son, Pai, and Mae Sariang. This has led to Mae Hong Son exceeding safe levels of airborne particulates for 38 consecutive days. Mae Sariang district reported…

  • Pickpockets theft of Norweigian-Thai couple was karma, say cops

    Pickpockets theft of Norweigian-Thai couple was karma, say cops

    A Thai police officer dismissed a complaint from a Norwegian man and his Thai girlfriend who lost 30,000 baht in cash and a mobile phone to four pickpockets outside a shopping mall in Bangkok. The Thai cop allegedly told the foreigner it was his fault, a result of bad karma in their past lives. The Thai woman and her Norwegian…

  • Former prosecutor files lawsuit in Red Bull hit-and-run case

    Former prosecutor files lawsuit in Red Bull hit-and-run case

    A former senior prosecutor from the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) filed a lawsuit against Police Colonel Thanasit Taengchan, a former forensic officer for the infamous 2012 hit-and-run incident involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya, also known as Boss. Chainarong, accompanied by his lawyer Paisan Chuarphon, lodged the lawsuit at Bangkok South Criminal Court yesterday. The case accuses Pol. Col.…

  • Pork-smuggling mafia’s son arrested at Don Mueang Airport

    Pork-smuggling mafia’s son arrested at Don Mueang Airport

    The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) at Don Mueang International Airport yesterday apprehended Karin Piyapornpaiboon, the adopted son of a notorious Chinese pork-smuggling mafia figure, Li Sheng Jiao, known as Hia Kao (Brother Kao). The arrest took place at 7.40am as Karin’s plane from China touched down, with him being transported to the DSI headquarters by 9am, as disclosed by…

  • Minimum wage rises to 400 baht in 10 Thai provinces

    Minimum wage rises to 400 baht in 10 Thai provinces

    The minimum wage in selected areas of 10 Thai provinces is set to rise to 400 baht per day, as decreed by the tripartite wage committee yesterday. This new wage increase, which comes into effect on April 13, will apply to tourism-related businesses and four-star hotels with a staff of 50 or more. Pairoj Chotikasathien, the committee’s chairman and permanent…

  • Thailand forecasts 558 billion baht foreign investment in key sectors

    Thailand forecasts 558 billion baht foreign investment in key sectors

    Following a series of global roadshows led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, the Board of Investment (BoI) anticipates a surge of at least 558 billion baht (US$15 billion) in foreign investment inflows into Thailand. The funds are expected to be channelled primarily into four critical sectors – digital, electric vehicles (EVs) and components, electronics and semiconductors, and logistics. BoI’s Secretary-General,…

  • Thai govt assures no loss of Koh Kood sovereignty in future talks

    Thai govt assures no loss of Koh Kood sovereignty in future talks

    A reassurance has been issued by the Thai government, stating that the country will not surrender sovereignty over Koh Kood, located in Trat province, to Cambodia during future negotiations concerning the partitioning of marine resources in their shared Overlapping Claims Area (OCA). In a statement during the Senate’s general debate on Monday night, Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara referred to…

  • Friend of Thai comedian suspected of stealing from shoe collection

    Friend of Thai comedian suspected of stealing from shoe collection

    A close acquaintance of renowned Thai comedian Jazz Chuanchuen has been issued with an arrest warrant for making off with several items from Jazz’s extensive shoe collection, worth over 300,000 baht. Min Buri Police Station Chief, Police Colonel Kris Komnoi, stated that investigators had gathered evidence, particularly from a social media livestream by the individual claiming responsibility for the break-in and…

  • Parents of eye doctor killed in hit-and-run to receive 27 million baht

    Parents of eye doctor killed in hit-and-run to receive 27 million baht

    A court ruling yesterday determined that a 23 year old police officer must pay 27.3 million baht in compensation to the parents of a doctor he fatally hit while riding a motorcycle in 2022. The incident occurred when the officer, Norawich Buadok, who was travelling between 108 and 128 kilometres per hour on his Ducati Monster big bike, struck 33…

  • Hong Kong’s national security law: Foreign corporations

    Hong Kong’s national security law: Foreign corporations

    Corporate lawyers and consultants have revealed that foreign corporations operating in Hong Kong have been revisiting their strategies since the previous year in anticipation of the recently passed domestic national security law. Despite assurances from the city and central authorities that the legislation, dictated by Article 23 of the Basic Law, would neither disrupt operations nor negatively impact the city’s…

  • TikTok user draws from Chinese calendar for April lottery

    TikTok user draws from Chinese calendar for April lottery

    Lottery buffs remain undeterred in their search for lucky numbers, with the Thai government lottery draw scheduled for April 1, drawing considerable attention. As always, the quest for the winning digits is on, with participants scouring various sources for their preferred numbers. These sources range from celebrities’ suggestions to social media buzz, as well as tried-and-true methods like the Chinese…

  • Shooting and Molotov cocktails attack rocks Phuket Town

    Shooting and Molotov cocktails attack rocks Phuket Town

    Phuket City police are currently investigating a violent incident on the outskirts of Phuket Town which resulted in a young man being shot in the foot, with accompanying reports of Molotov cocktails being hurled. The authorities were alerted to the event by the staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital, who reported a patient admitted with a bullet wound in his left…

  • Court clears Thai lawyer’s remark against Thaksin

    Court clears Thai lawyer’s remark against Thaksin

    Thai lawyer and politician Chuan Leekpai’s controversial statement branding ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra as a “harbinger of doom” for the Deep South has been deemed fair game by the South Bangkok Criminal Court. The legal battle, which teetered on the edge of defamation, reached its climax today with a verdict that left both sides reeling. The lawsuit, initiated just three days…

  • Can Thailand achieve high-income status by 2037? (video)

    Can Thailand achieve high-income status by 2037? (video)

    As Thailand steers towards high-income status by 2037, a formidable obstacle looms large: rampant flooding wreaking havoc on its economy. In an exclusive interview with Thai PBS World, the World Bank unveils a groundbreaking strategy to expedite flood management, potentially transforming Thailand’s economic landscape. Read on to discover the game-changing insights and bold plans set to redefine Thailand’s future. Amid…

  • Russian graffiti vandals busted in Patong

    Russian graffiti vandals busted in Patong

    The two Russian men on a graffiti rampage after a booze-fuelled escapade in Patong, Phuket, have been arrested. Police Major General Saranyu Chamnarnrat, Deputy Chief of the Provincial Police Region 8, revealed the arrest of the Russian vandals today. Identified as 23 year old Evgenii Egorov and 22 year old Oleg Shirshov, the spray-painting mischievous pair were nabbed from a dormitory…

  • Beachside business caught red-handed with Pattaya city floats

    Beachside business caught red-handed with Pattaya city floats

    Pattaya officials swooped in on a beachside entrepreneur’s operation, seizing floats that were allegedly repurposed from government property for commercial gain. Residents raised eyebrows at the brazen use of what appeared to be city-owned pontoons for private enterprise on Krating Lai Beach in north Pattaya. The Deputy Mayor of Pattaya City, Manot Nongyai, spearheaded a team of city officials yesterday…

  • Tiktok tiff: Thai singer takes legal note after Filipino plagarises song

    Tiktok tiff: Thai singer takes legal note after Filipino plagarises song

    A Thai singer filed a lawsuit against a Filipino TikToker for plagiarising one of his songs. The Filipino, Shad, allegedly put a translated version of the song up for sale without giving credit or obtaining a license. Drama emerged on Thai social media after the Filipino TikToker offered a translated version of a song by Chetkit “Phon” Thunmark called พี่ชอบหนูที่สุดเลย (I…

  • Thailand’s car industry hits the brakes: Production plunges 20%

    Thailand’s car industry hits the brakes: Production plunges 20%

    With a significant decrease in production, Thailand’s car output experienced a 19.28% year-on-year slump in February, with the total units produced amounting to only 133,690, as reported by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The numbers, attributed predominantly to the reduced production of pickup trucks and increased imports of electric vehicles (EVs), starkly contrast the 12.46% dip recorded in January.…

  • Rare two-headed-like snake spotted in Sukhothai

    Rare two-headed-like snake spotted in Sukhothai

    A peculiar snake with an extraordinary appearance caused a stir on social media after it was found slithering into a home in Sukhothai in the middle of the night last night. The snake, with its unique black and purplish colour and distinctive white ring patterns, was unlike anything ever seen before by the residents and sparked an intense online debate…

  • Kenyan man claiming to be Jesus flees from crucifixion test

    Kenyan man claiming to be Jesus flees from crucifixion test

    A Kenyan man fled after villagers demanded a test of his claim to be Jesus Christ by suggesting he be crucified. Eliud Simiyu’s proclamation led to a viral social media frenzy, with the international media outlet Fatu Network reporting on the controversy that has now ensnared the small Kenyan town. Simiyu found himself at the centre of a potentially life-threatening…

  • Surin man travels 2,589 kilometres to witness snow in China

    Surin man travels 2,589 kilometres to witness snow in China

    A young man from Surin Province completed a daring journey from Thailand to China, spanning a staggering 2,589 kilometres. Riding a Honda Wave motorcycle through rugged terrain, the man embarked on this adventure to fulfil his dream of riding through snow, a quest that took seven days to complete, starting on March 17. The man who goes by the name…

  • Chauffeur poses as youth welfare officer to rape 13 year old girl

    Chauffeur poses as youth welfare officer to rape 13 year old girl

    A chauffeur of the Service Centre for Disabled People in the Isaan province of Udon Thani posed as a youth welfare officer to lure a 13 year old girl into a rape. He even sexually assaulted the girl in front of her two year old sibling. The victim’s mother, 31 year old Cat, urged Thai news agencies to help seek…

  • Uthai Thani homeowner gets 5,000 baht bill after meter upgrade

    Uthai Thani homeowner gets 5,000 baht bill after meter upgrade

    A homeowner in Uthai Thani was in for a shock when she received an electricity bill that surged to over 5,000 baht, a steep increase from the usual monthly payment of around 300 baht, following the installation of a new digital meter. Despite complaining to the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), the issue remains unresolved. A citizen from the Uthai Thani municipality…

  • Mae Hong Son village assistant assaults wildlife officer

    Mae Hong Son village assistant assaults wildlife officer

    Authorities in Mae Hong Son launched a severe disciplinary investigation against a village assistant for leading a group of 20 locals in a brazen attempt to free two suspects from wildlife officers. The incident, coupled with the seizure of firearms, methamphetamine, and animal remains, sparked a potential dismissal from the position of the village assistant involved. A bold confrontation erupted…

  • Rapid test kit set to combat kidney disease epidemic

    Rapid test kit set to combat kidney disease epidemic

    Chulalongkorn Hospital unveils the nation’s first rapid kidney disease test kit, a potential game-changer in battling a growing health crisis. A research team, spearheaded by Dr Nattachai Srisawat, unveils the ALB11 kit, designed to swiftly detect microalbuminuria, a crucial marker for kidney disease, in the comfort of one’s home. “An initial screening for the disease is pivotal for swift medical…

  • Policewoman’s battle with depression & suicide after police training

    Policewoman’s battle with depression & suicide after police training

    A policewoman took to social media to reveal the brutality of police training that left her with depression and thoughts of suicide. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) are investigating the matter. The policewoman, Chontaros Sukdayotin, posted pictures of herself in hospital on Facebook and revealed to her followers that she now battles depression and has recently experienced coughing up blood.…

  • US ambassador Godec to address town hall meeting in Phuket

    US ambassador Godec to address town hall meeting in Phuket

    The US Ambassador to Thailand is set to visit Phuket next week for a town hall meeting. The event will address issues concerning consular services and other matters impacting US citizens residing on the island. The town hall with US Ambassador Robert F. Godec gathering is scheduled to take place at The Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa on Thursday, April 4.…

  • Srettha fires back: Defends overseas trips amid criticism

    Srettha fires back: Defends overseas trips amid criticism

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin staunchly defended his international excursions and trips to neighbouring nations, asserting their vital role in ramping up foreign investment in Thailand and fostering stronger regional ties. Addressing critics head-on, the 62 year old PM justified his frequent forays into provinces to tackle local issues, such as combating the PM2.5 airborne pollution blighting Chiang Mai. Responding to…