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

    What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?

    The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...

  • Heavy rain warning for three Thai regions, Bangkok to see showers | Thaiger

    Heavy rain warning for three Thai regions, Bangkok to see showers

    The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning for heavy rain in three regions, with the northern region expected to face 70% rainfall. Bangkok will experience heavy showers from afternoon to evening. Residents are advised to be cautious of potential flooding and flash floods. The weather forecast for today indicates a possibility of heavy rainfall in the northern, upper…

  • Puff the magic danger: Letting kids vape could land you in hot water | Thaiger

    Puff the magic danger: Letting kids vape could land you in hot water

    Allowing your little ones to puff away on e-cigarettes or even just breathing in that vapour at home might land you in hot water warned a government official. Child health and rights experts are sounding the alarm, warning that such actions could be a serious breach of child protection laws. Sapphasit Khumpraphan, a member of the National Child Protection Committee, called…

  • Thailand ministry urges public to stop giving money to beggars | Thaiger

    Thailand ministry urges public to stop giving money to beggars

    The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is set to launch a major new campaign this Friday, and it’s urging the public to stop giving money to beggars and halt the shocking surge in the number of beggars across Thailand. The big reveal will kick off at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in Pathumwan district. Expect a star-studded…

  • Thailand govt addresses TEMU’s impact on local SMEs | Thaiger

    Thailand govt addresses TEMU’s impact on local SMEs

    Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce raised concerns over the impact of the global e-commerce platform TEMU on Thai SMEs. Immediate protective measures are being discussed with eight agencies to curb the influx of online goods into the country. Phumtham Wechayachai shared his views on Facebook, stating that while international e-commerce platforms bring opportunities, they also present significant…

  • Hat Yai in southern Thailand hailed Asia’s most affordable travel destination | Thaiger

    Hat Yai in southern Thailand hailed Asia’s most affordable travel destination

    One of the globe’s most popular online travel platforms hailed Hat Yai district in the southern province of Songkhla as the most affordable travel destination in Asia. Agoda released a ranking of cities that offer the most affordable stays in Asia, providing suggestions for users seeking budget-friendly holidays or those wishing to extend their trips within a limited budget. The…

  • Vitamin C and shrimp myth debunked by Thai authorities | Thaiger

    Vitamin C and shrimp myth debunked by Thai authorities

    Fake news about the dangers of consuming vitamin C with shrimp, claiming it causes sudden death, has caused widespread panic online. The Anti-Fake News Centre in Thailand previously debunked this myth, confirming it as false information. The online community is once again abuzz with panic over the false information that eating shrimp with vitamin C causes sudden death due to…

  • Thailand’s tourism boom: Revenue set to soar to 2.8 trillion baht | Thaiger

    Thailand’s tourism boom: Revenue set to soar to 2.8 trillion baht

    Hold onto your sun hats! Thailand’s tourism sector is on the brink of a massive surge in the latter half of the year, with an eye-popping revenue forecast of 1.46 trillion baht. That’s set to push the annual total to a whopping 2.8 trillion baht—up a staggering 25% from last year, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The…

  • Rubber plantation worker shot dead near home in Songkhla | Thaiger

    Rubber plantation worker shot dead near home in Songkhla

    A rubber plantation caretaker was fatally shot in Songkhla’s Sadao district while riding his motorcycle home, just 20 metres from his house. Police are actively investigating to apprehend the perpetrator. The Deputy Inspector at Sadao Police Station, Phongsakon Paochanarong, today, August 13, revealed the incident. The shooting occurred at about 8pm yesterday at the entrance of Ban Rai Tok Dan…

  • Technician crushed to death while repairing lift at Bangkok airport | Thaiger

    Technician crushed to death while repairing lift at Bangkok airport

    A technician, believed to be a Thai national, tragically lost his life today while repairing a lift at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. The technician’s death was reported today, August 13, by several Thai news agencies. It was stated that he was conducting repairs at the bottom of the lift within a domestic passenger terminal of Suvarnabhumi Airport when the…

  • Chinese-owned smelting plants raided for hazardous aluminium waste | Thaiger

    Chinese-owned smelting plants raided for hazardous aluminium waste

    Police raided two illegal aluminium smelting plants owned by a Chinese investor in the central provinces of Pathum Thani and Samut Sakhon on Sunday and Monday, August 11 and 12, after discovering potential negative impacts on human health and the ecosystem. The raids on the two plants were carried out following the discovery of aluminium dross, a dangerous waste product…

  • Thailand aims to be global tech talent hub by 2030 | Thaiger

    Thailand aims to be global tech talent hub by 2030

    Thailand is on the brink of becoming a global hub hotspot, thanks to its strategic location, abundant resources, and savvy policies aimed at drawing in young professionals, according to industry bigwigs. The strategy, highlighted at the Techsauce Global Summit 2024 Home for Tech Talent panel, seeks to boost knowledge transfer and export future talent. Karndee Leopairote, chief of foresight and…

  • Thai man caught for Bangkok rape after 3 week-manhunt (video) | Thaiger

    Thai man caught for Bangkok rape after 3 week-manhunt (video)

    Police arrested a Thai man who evaded capture for three weeks after raping a 59 year old woman at an apartment in the Srinakarin neighbourhood of Bangkok. The suspect, 38 year old Surapong, also known as Bang Pakchong, escaped arrest after sexually assaulting the victim on July 23. Surapong reportedly sneaked into the victim’s apartment and placed a pillow over…

  • Support floods in for social activist battling costly illness in Thailand | Thaiger

    Support floods in for social activist battling costly illness in Thailand

    Residents in Kanchanaburi, West Thailand, have rallied to help aid a social activist suffering from severe illness due to a lack of protein caused by a stomach disease. The activist, Mint, appealed for help as her medical expenses reached 4,000 baht per day. Mint, the owner of the Facebook page “ชื่อ’อ มิ้น’น,” posted a heartfelt plea for donations to cover…

  • Ministry tackles chemical waste crisis with 14.9 million baht cleanup | Thaiger

    Ministry tackles chemical waste crisis with 14.9 million baht cleanup

    The Ministry of Industry initiated a collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other relevant agencies to address areas recently contaminated with chemical waste. The Permanent Secretary of the Industry Ministry, Nattapol Rangsitpol, informed the media of the coordinated efforts yesterday, August 12. Nattapol acknowledged the issues arising from the illegal dumping of hazardous substances in Rayong,…

  • Thai teen allegedly shoots himself in face while playing with gun | Thaiger

    Thai teen allegedly shoots himself in face while playing with gun

    A Thai teenager in the southern province of Phattalung allegedly shot himself in the face while playing with a gun, but his father doubts this, believing that his son may have been attacked by someone. Officers from Kong Ra Police Station rushed to a wooden hut in the Kong Ra district of Phattalung after being notified of the shooting at…

  • MG to produce hybrid electric vehicles in Chon Buri next year | Thaiger

    MG to produce hybrid electric vehicles in Chon Buri next year

    Thailand’s hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) market is set to witness heightened competition as automakers roll out investment plans. The Chinese-Thai joint venture SAIC Motor-CP and MG Sales (Thailand) announced their intention to produce HEVs under the MG brand in Chon Buri by next year. MG is capitalising on a burgeoning domestic market for HEVs, spurred by the Board of Investment’s…

  • Myanmar worker feared drowned in Samut Songkhram river | Thaiger

    Myanmar worker feared drowned in Samut Songkhram river

    A young Myanmar worker disappeared while swimming with friends near the central pillar of the Somdej Phra Sri Suriyen Bridge in Samut Songkhram. Despite rescue efforts, strong currents forced a pause in the search, which will resume today. The 24 year old Myanmar worker, Hen Min Ko Ko, was enjoying a swim with three friends to cool off when he…

  • Transgender caretaker suspected after camera found in air-con | Thaiger

    Transgender caretaker suspected after camera found in air-con

    A transgender caretaker of an apartment in Chon Buri has become the prime suspect after a Thai woman found a hidden camera in the air-conditioning unit within her room. The transgender woman vanished from the apartment shortly after the discovery. The victim, identified only as Noon, shared the story on the Facebook group Volunteer Lawyers, Free Consultation in Groups by…

  • Thailand launches new double-track railway, enhancing logistics | Thaiger

    Thailand launches new double-track railway, enhancing logistics

    Thailand’s double-track railway on the State Railway of Thailand’s southern line, spanning from Nakhon Pathom to Chumphon, has officially started operations. The announcement was made yesterday, August 12, by the agency. The head of the SRT governor’s office, Ekarat Sri-arayanpong, stated that the new track will enhance logistical operations along the 421-kilometre route. The upgrade is set to reduce journey…

  • Ringing in trouble: Bangkok thief swaps gold for cold hard cash | Thaiger

    Ringing in trouble: Bangkok thief swaps gold for cold hard cash

    Police arrested a man for stealing a gold ring by posing as a customer. He swapped the real ring with a fake one while the staff were distracted and later confessed to selling the ring for money. Police yesterday, August 12, arrested 33 year old Sakda following a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on August 1. He was apprehended…

  • Russian-Canadian arrested for overstaying, begging on Koh Pha Ngan | Thaiger

    Russian-Canadian arrested for overstaying, begging on Koh Pha Ngan

    Residents on Koh Pha Ngan island in the southern province of Surat Thani alerted the Tourist Police to a Russian-Canadian man found overstaying his visa and begging for food from locals. Residents on the island reported to the Tourist Police that they witnessed a foreign man begging for food from various households and sleeping on a footpath. The foreigner’s begging…

  • New law proposed for quick tech crime recovery in Thailand | Thaiger

    New law proposed for quick tech crime recovery in Thailand

    A special law to protect victims of technology crimes and expedite their recovery of losses will be introduced by the government, Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong announced yesterday. The new legislation aims to address the surge in technology-related crimes and was agreed upon during a recent committee meeting focused on suppressing and preventing these offences. The committee…

  • People’s Party confirmed legal despite petition threat | Thaiger

    People’s Party confirmed legal despite petition threat

    The People’s Party (PP), emerging from the recently disbanded Move Forward Party (MFP), has been confirmed by the Election Commission (EC) as having established the necessary party branches legally. The announcement followed a statement by Warong Dechgitvigrom, leader of the Thai Pakdee Party, who indicated his intention to file a petition against the PP. His contention revolves around the predecessor,…

  • Thai fisherman sees South Korean discard cash, jump into river | Thaiger

    Thai fisherman sees South Korean discard cash, jump into river

    A resident in the northern province of Chiang Mai discovered the body of a South Korean man in the Ping River after he scattered cash and jumped into the water in front of a Thai fisherman on Sunday. A fisherman alerted officers from Chang Phueak Police Station after seeing a foreigner, later identified as 44 year old South Korean man…

  • Thailand’s ‘call’ for scam help at Mekong meeting | Thaiger

    Thailand’s ‘call’ for scam help at Mekong meeting

    The Government of Thailand will leverage the upcoming Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) meeting to seek regional support in tackling call centre scam gangs. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin tasked Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa with addressing this issue during the meeting and exploring effective strategies to combat cross-border crimes, including these scams. The 9th MLC meeting is set for Thursday and Friday in…

  • Bangkok taxi driver slashes passenger’s head after overcharge (video) | Thaiger

    Bangkok taxi driver slashes passenger’s head after overcharge (video)

    A shameful Thai taxi driver surrendered himself yesterday after trying to overcharge a passenger by 500 baht and subsequently attacking her with a knife on a footpath near Soi Lat Phrao 42/2 in the Huai Khwang district of Bangkok on Saturday, August 10. The victim’s sister, 29 year old Supawadee Khamsa-nga, met with Ekkaphop Luangprasert, the founder of the non-profit…

  • Billion baht boatloads: Bangkok’s big splash in water transport | Thaiger

    Billion baht boatloads: Bangkok’s big splash in water transport

    Thailand’s Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP) announced an ambitious plan to invest 8.87 billion baht to enhance water transport networks in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. This comprehensive development plan aims to bolster public transport by boat, spanning from 2024 to 2032. Panya Chupanich, Director-General of the OTP, confirmed that the Transport Ministry approved the project, which…

  • Phuket your plans: Steer clear of roadwork zones at night | Thaiger

    Phuket your plans: Steer clear of roadwork zones at night

    Motorists are being urged to steer clear of Thepkrasattri Road, Dibuk Road, and Phuket Road in Phuket Town during nighttime due to ongoing construction work aimed at installing power cables underground. Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas announced that this project, which started on November 14 last year and is set to conclude by November 7 this year, aims to enhance…

  • MPs demand answers from PM over delayed financial bills | Thaiger

    MPs demand answers from PM over delayed financial bills

    The House Committee on Political Development, Mass Communications, and Public Participation is seeking answers from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin after his delayed endorsement of 16 financial legislation bills. The committee, led by People’s Party (PP) list-MP Parit Wacharasindhu, has called on the Thai premier, his Secretary-General Prommin Lertsuridej, and Acting Pol. Sub. Lt. Arphat Sukanan, the House of Representatives Secretary-General,…

  • Student activists campaign against judges at Thai universities | Thaiger

    Student activists campaign against judges at Thai universities

    Student activists at Thammasat and Chulalongkorn universities launched campaigns targeting two Constitutional Court judges who also serve as guest lecturers at their institutions. This action follows the court’s recent ruling that led to the disbandment of the Move Forward Party (MFP). Thammasat University Student Council Rangsit Campus and the committee of students from the Faculty of Law posted an open…