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...
-
Referendum bill set to pass initial House test
According to Chart Thai Pattana Party list-MP Nikorn Chamnong, who leads a sub-committee on the charter referendum, the government-sponsored referendum bill will pass its initial test. Nikorn stated the bill, which aims to revise the Referendum Act 2021 as part of the charter rewrite process, is ready for House deliberation following a meeting with opposition whips. Deputy Prime Minister and…
-
Shifting gears: Thai auto parts makers urged to spark new path in medical devices
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is urging local auto parts manufacturers to adapt to the technological disruption caused by electric vehicles (EVs) and transition to producing medical devices, which are projected to have a promising future. According to the FTI, auto parts makers accustomed to internal combustion engines are finding it difficult to adapt to electric mobility technology, as…
-
Ministry seeks 1billion baht tourism budget for new routes
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to request a 1 billion baht budget from the central emergency reserve fund to develop new tourism routes linking major cities to 55 notable destinations in a move to establish long-term tourism strategies. The proposed budget aims not only to organise events but to also develop new tourism routes and enhance infrastructure. Specifically,…
-
France loses top spot as Europe’s largest equity market to UK
France’s political turbulence has resulted in the nation losing its position as Europe’s largest equity market, a title it claimed from the UK less than two years ago. President Emmanuel Macron’s unexpected announcement of a snap election triggered a significant sell-off, erasing about US$258 billion from the market capitalisation of French companies. Major banks such as Societe Generale SA, BNP…
-
Rocket mishap at Roi Et festival injures 37 attendees
A homemade rocket explosion at a traditional festival in Roi Et left 37 people injured, several of them seriously. The incident occurred yesterday, June 17, at Ban Sang Bu in Tambon Sri Sawang, Phon Thong district, during a rain-seeking rocket event. The Bang Fai rocket, designed for traditional ceremonies to invoke rain, malfunctioned during its launch around 5pm. Initially, the…
-
Ukraine peace summit show different priorities for Asian leaders
The Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Switzerland on June 15 to address the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, saw limited participation from Asian nations. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, one of the few Asian leaders in attendance, called for global collaboration to establish a “fair and lasting peace” in Ukraine. Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s appeal for broader Asian leader…
-
Foreign man captured on CCTV stealing Thai woman’s motorcycle
A Thai woman is seeking help on social media after a foreign man stole her motorcycle, which was parked near Soi Ta-iad in the Chalong district of Phuket today. The woman shared screenshots of the foreign thief from CCTV footage on her social media account today, June 17, and urged local news agencies to spread her story. “A foreigner stole…
-
Monkey mayhem: Lopburi targets macaques at historic landmarks
Efforts to control the monkey population in Lopburi are now focusing on the notorious trouble spots: the 13th-century Phra Prang Sam Yot and Phra Kan Shrine. Following successful operations in other downtown areas, the city’s macaque catchers are gearing up to address the primary problem at these historic sites. Lopburi Mayor Chamroen Salacheep announced that the primary focus is shifting…
-
Thai baht leads Asian currency declines amid holiday trade
Emerging Asian currencies experienced declines in holiday-thinned trade today, with the Thai baht leading the fall as the US dollar remained firm and Chinese economic data highlighted an uneven recovery trajectory. Markets were notably quiet across Asia due to closures in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. The Thai baht declined by up to 0.5%, influenced by weaker gold…
-
Cancer patient narrowly avoids death after hospital’s negligence
A major Thailand hospital’s negligence nearly led to a patient’s death after some gauze was left inside her uterus during cancer treatment, causing severe infection. The patient’s son called for an explanation and accountability from the hospital. The incident came to light when the patient‘s son, revealed on Facebook that he had to urgently rush his mother back to the…
-
Thai intern uses Muay Thai to beat off hospital sexual assault
A Thai woman used Muay Thai skills, taught by her grandfather, to escape a sexual assault attempt by a male nursing assistant while interning at a hospital in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The victim, Baitong, shared CCTV footage of the incident on Facebook on June 14. She revealed that the incident occurred about a year ago. She later learned that…
-
Thai PM Srettha Thavisin tests positive for Covid-19
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has taken sick leave after testing positive for Covid-19. The announcement came yesterday evening through his Facebook page, where he revealed experiencing fatigue and a slight fever, which led him to undergo testing. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke reported that the Bangkok-born prime minister consulted a doctor last Friday upon noticing the symptoms. The test results confirmed…
-
Phuket accountant arrested for involvement in call centre scams
A woman accountant in Phuket has been apprehended by officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on charges linked to multiple call centre scams. Identified only as Kanraya, the alleged scammer has been implicated in five separate arrest warrants for her involvement in fraudulent activities, including opening bank accounts used by scam gangs. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phongsak Meemusik led the…
-
Ambassadors from Islamic Cooperation visits South Thailand
A delegation of ambassadors from eight Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries recently visited Thailand’s southern border provinces, aiming to understand the region’s multicultural society and assess potential areas for trade, investment, tourism, and education. The delegation included ambassadors from Brunei, Egypt, and Iran, along with chargés d’affaires from Malaysia, Nigeria, and the Maldives. Deputy chiefs of mission from Indonesia…
-
Pattaya bar brawl brews: Owner and tourist fight over last call
A Thai bar owner and a foreigner got into a bout of fisticuffs in Pattaya after the latter pushed the owner’s girlfriend in the chest for refusing to serve him because the bar was closing. Mueang Pattaya Police Station officers intervened in the altercation between the Thai man and the foreigner outside a bar in Soi Pattaya 8, about 150…
-
Contractor arrested in Rayong for series of theft and fraud
Following a warrant by the Rayong Provincial Court earlier this month, Bangkok police arrested a contractor in Ramkhamhaeng yesterday for a series of thefts and fraud extending to government contracts. Investigations revealed that the 50 year old construction company owner, Thanik, who had been operating in Rayong since 2018, reportedly had a history of abandoning projects. In 2019, he allegedly…
-
Thai police arrest four after ambush knife attack in Phuket
Thalang police apprehended four individuals in connection with a knife attack on a teenager in an ambush at the Heroines Monument in Phuket last Thursday. A resident of Cherng Talay, Natthakorn Kantaphong, recounted the events leading up to the attack. According to his statement, he was at the Saphan Hin gymnasium with his friends when he noticed his nemesis, Kandit…
-
Finance Ministry to fast-track NPL debtor blocklist removal
The Finance Ministry is set to engage in discussions with the Bank of Thailand and the National Credit Bureau (NCB) to address the issue of non-performing loans (NPLs) caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically targeting Code 21 debtors. The aim is to expedite the removal of these debtors from the bureau’s blocklist, enabling quicker access to credit. Deputy Finance Minister…
-
Puffball mushroom prices plummet to 30 baht as season ends
As the mushroom season approaches its end, the price of puffball mushrooms (Barometer Earthstar) has dropped drastically to as low as 30 baht per litre, with only the older variants featuring black interiors remaining available. Reports today confirm the winding down of the 2024 puffball mushroom season. These sought-after mushrooms, prized for their soft, white interiors and sweet, fragrant taste,…
-
Cave of Titans unearthed: Phayao locals make bone-chilling find
Locals in the Dok Kham Tai district of the northern province of Phayao discovered the Cave of Titans, where they believe a titan couple once lived, after discovering a rock filled with white bones inside. Although the exact date of the cave’s discovery remains unknown, multiple news agencies have recently reported the finding. Situated approximately 5 kilometres from the residential…
-
BTS gears up for electrifying bus race in Bangkok’s BRT expansion
Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC), the BTS Skytrain operator, is in a race to supply Bangkok’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) electric buses and have them operational by the September 1 deadline. BTSC signed a contract with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday, June 16, to procure 23 electric vehicles (EV) buses for the BRT system and to operate them…
-
Thai govt extends free flu vaccinations for insured seniors
The Thai government urges individuals insured under Sections 33 and 39 of the Social Security Act who are 50 years old and above to receive free influenza vaccinations until December 31. Karom Polpornklang, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, reported that from January 1 to June 1, the number of influenza cases reached 139,326, with an incidence rate of…
-
Father shoots two sons, younger child dead, elder critical
A tragic incident unfolded in Sukhothai when a father shot his two sons following a family altercation with his wife, resulting in the death of the younger child and leaving the elder in critical condition. The father, identified as Danai attempted to harm himself following the shooting. The event took place in a village in Ban Na Subdistrict, Si Samrong…
-
3 year old girl found dead after disappearing from nursery in Isaan
A three year old girl disappeared from a nursery in the Isaan province of Sisaket before her dead body was found in a swamp 800 meters away. Her devastated parents suspect foul play. The body of the young girl, Bee, was found in a swamp in the middle of a rice field in the Yan Chum Noi district of Sisaket…
-
Krabi Airport’s runway to riches, a 941-million-baht taxiway twist
The Department of Airports (DoA) is pushing forward with a 941-million-baht project to build a parallel taxiway at Krabi Airport. Currently, the project is over 76% complete. DoA Deputy Director-General Wittawas Pakdesontiskul recently inspected the site and attended a meeting to monitor progress. The meeting included representatives from the contractor, Nawarat Patanakarn Public Co. Ltd., along with consultancies We Engineering…
-
Match madness: Football fans ignite flares, burn car at Bangkok uni
An intense football match ended in chaos when fans set off flares, causing a vehicle to catch fire at the Thammasat University, Rangsit Centre. The incident left the car’s owner devastated, as the vehicle was uninsured and essential for daily work. The fire occurred at 9pm yesterday, June 16, following the conclusion of the Revo Cup final between Muangthong United…
-
Buzzing battle: Bangkok unites businesses to combat dengue fever
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Department of Disease Control (DDC) are actively collaborating with businesses to combat the rising incidence of dengue fever, a situation exacerbated by the expanding range of dengue-carrying mosquitoes due to climate change. To commemorate ASEAN Dengue Day, which occurs on June 15, BMA and DDC, in partnership with Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Takeda…
-
South Koreans injured in Pattaya motorbike crash with Bolt rider
A South Korean tourist, livestreaming his motorbike ride around Pattaya with a friend, sustained injuries in a collision with a Thai Bolt rider early Sunday morning. The speeding Bolt rider suffered serious injuries. The incident took place at 2.20am yesterday at Soi Chaloem Phrakiat 9 on Pattaya Third Road, Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province. Responding swiftly, the Sawang…
-
Thailand to explore AANZFTA ties and new economic partnerships
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has committed to strengthening collaboration under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), maintaining current markets, and forging new economic partnerships, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke announced yesterday. Delegates from the Commerce Ministry and the Department of Trade Negotiations (DTN) participated in the 21st AANZFTA Joint Committee Meeting held in Auckland, New Zealand, from May 26 to…
-
Thunderstorms and weather alerts issued for 53 provinces
A weather forecast from the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reported a southwest monsoon currently covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand, with 53 provinces warned of heavy rain, especially in the eastern and southern regions. The Andaman Sea is experiencing waves up to 2 metres high, while Bangkok has a 60% chance of rain. The forecast noted…
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.