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
Travel vs international health insurance: Which coverage do you need overseas?
The Thaiger key takeaways Travel insurance is ideal for short-term trips, covering emergencies, cancellations, and lost luggage, but not routine care. International health insurance suits expats and long-term residents, offering full medical coverage, including checkups, maternity, and chronic care. Choosing...
-
Storm topples high-voltage poles, obstructs road in Chanthaburi
A violent storm with strong winds toppled six 12-metre high-voltage electricity poles, obstructing a road and damaging a vehicle in Chanthaburi province. Police are working urgently to clear the area and restore normalcy. Heavy rain and thunderstorms battered many parts of Chanthaburi province yesterday, with strong winds causing extensive damage. A fierce storm led to the collapse of six high-voltage…
-
Cult blamed for deadly killing rampage in Surat Thani
Police reported that a strange cult allegedly led a Thai man to go on a killing rampage yesterday, taking the life of his niece and injuring her daughter at a palm plantation in the southern province. The violent rampage was reported at approximately 2pm yesterday, July 25, at a palm plantation in the Phrasaeng district of Surat Thani. Officers from…
-
Elderly man found dead 1 kilometre from Udon Thani home
The discovery of a missing elderly man’s body, just 1 kilometre from his home after a four-day search, has left his family and neighbours in Udon Thani province bewildered. The incident sparked discussions among the local community, with some attributing his disappearance to supernatural causes. News surfaced yesterday, July 25, that 76 year old Saengthong Burapha, a resident of Dong…
-
MFP introduces bills to reduce military power, prevent coups
The Move Forward Party (MFP) introduced three significant charter amendment bills aimed at mitigating the impact of the military regime’s orders, preventing future coups, and abolishing the junta-supported 20-year national strategy. An MFP list-MP, Parit Wacharasindhu, emphasised that although the Pheu Thai-led government has committed to rewriting a new charter, this process could take up to two years. The MFP…
-
Polish man arrested for ganja LED grow lights theft in Chiang Mai
Chon Buri Provincial Immigration Office officers arrested a Polish man for the theft of LED lights from a ganja farm in the northern province of Chiang Mai as he was about to renew his visa. The owner of a cannabis farm in the Sansai district of Chiang Mai filed a complaint against the farm’s former consultant, 37 year old Polish…
-
Invasive fish in Thailand causes 100 million baht annual damage
Thammasat University research reveals that the blackchin tilapia has caused economic damage to the Praek Nam Daeng community, amounting to at least 100 million baht per year. The SROI TU Centre for Social Return on Investment Research and Development recently posted a study detailing these impacts. The research, conducted between 2018 and 2019 by SROI TU, part of the Puey…
-
SAT-1: Suvarnabhumi Airport lounge launch hits a delay
The newly opened satellite terminal at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, known as SAT-1, has seen limited activity in its lounges and day rooms due to a lack of international flights, according to Miracle Group, an operator of airport lounges and hotels. The chairman of Miracle Group, Aswin Ingkakul, noted that large international airlines have not utilised the SAT-1 terminal as expected.…
-
Lost Buddha statue found in Sakhon Nakhon dam after 20 years
A Buddha statue lost for years was miraculously found in the middle of Nam Oun Dam by a fisherman during the Buddhist Lent. The statue, now safely returned to Wat Doi Thep Nimit, had been missing for over 20 years. A Facebook user named Wut Sut posted images of the Buddha statue in the water, showing its transportation on a…
-
2 Pakistani men arrested in Phuket after scamming Thai vendors
Police have arrested two Pakistani men at a residence in Phuket after they repeatedly defrauded several Thai vendors. The men claimed that their criminal actions were unintentional and resulted from being under the influence of alcohol. The owner of a drugstore in the Kamala sub-district of Phuket filed a scam complaint with Kamala Police Station after a foreign customer, later…
-
Burglar hits six homes in one night, Pattaya residents on alert
Two villages in Pattaya are on edge after a burglar broke into six homes in a single night. The incidents occurred yesterday, July 25, prompting The Pattaya News reporters to visit the affected areas near a motorway in the Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Residents lodged complaints about a burglar entering their homes at night and…
-
CPF no show slammed as blackchin tilapia talk goes fishy
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) faced criticism from a House committee for failing to attend a meeting to address questions regarding the importation of blackchin tilapia for research purposes back in 2010. The Move Forward Party MP for Bangkok, Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, who also serves as the deputy chairman of the subcommittee investigating the spread of the invasive species, stated that CPF…
-
Strategist shares HIV journey from Thailand at AIDS 2024
A 39 year old strategist working with Hiv-Sverige/HIV-Sweden, a national organisation dedicated to the welfare of people living with HIV, revealed he contracted the virus in Thailand in 2012. Emanuel Karlstrom expressed gratitude to the Thai Red Cross Society’s Anonymous Clinic for providing him with HIV medication and essential guidance on maintaining a healthy life while living with the virus.…
-
Thailand eases visa rules to attract long-term visitors
New visa regulations issued by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have made it significantly easier to visit and stay in the country long-term. The number of countries eligible for visa-free entry has increased from 57 to 93, now including India and China. Visitors from these countries will receive a 60-day entry stamp, which can be extended for another 30 days…
-
Homeless Thai couple caught having sex in temple in Isaan (video)
A Thai monk caught a homeless couple having sex in a temple in the Isaan province of Surin and called the police to the scene to stop them from continuing the dirty deed. Officers from Mueang Surin Police Station were called to the temple in the middle of the night after the monk found the homeless couple engaging in sexual…
-
Thai teens to make Olympic history at Paris 2024
A 12 year old skateboarder and an 18 year old sprinter will lead Thailand as flag bearers for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Get ready for a wave of national pride as these young athletes lead the charge at the world’s grandest sporting stage tomorrow, July 26. Thana Chaiprasit, head of the Thai Olympic delegation, broke the news today amid a…
-
Thailand joins forces with Cambodia to tackle call centre gangs
Top police officials from Thailand and Cambodia have declared war on call centre gangs, vowing to put an end to their reign of terror. The two nations agreed to collaborate during a high-stakes teleconference held today, sparking hope for millions affected by these scams. The critical agreement was struck between the Royal Thai Police, led by Commissioner-General Police General Torsak…
-
Thaksin’s birthday bash: Alms, lunch, and A-list guests
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to mark his 75th birthday with a private yet lavish celebration at his Chan Song Lar mansion in Bangkok. According to his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin will offer alms to Buddhist monks and host a lunch for a select group of close friends tomorrow. Paetongtarn revealed that her father plans to make…
-
Songkhla raid uncovers smuggled goods worth 8 million baht
Songkhla police raided a warehouse used to store smuggled goods, including e-cigarettes and foreign alcohol, with an estimated loss of 8 million baht. Investigations are underway to apprehend all involved parties. Chamleng Buasong, a Songkhla excise officer, led a coordinated operation with officers from the Excise Department, Region 9 Excise Office, Hat Yai Police Station, and Hat Yai District Administrative…
-
Thai woman killed, girl injured in rampage in Surat Thani
Phrasaeng Police Station officers have surrounded a palm plantation in the southern province of Surat Thani after a Thai man went on a rampage, killing one woman and injuring a young girl. Police were notified about the rampage at approximately 2pm today, July 25, and rushed to the scene along with a rescue team. Officers reported to KhaoSod that the…
-
Ex-police officer foiled in Phatthalung gold shop robbery attempt
A former police officer, dismissed from service, attempted to rob a gold shop in Phatthalung’s central market. Armed with a gun and a hammer, the suspect was thwarted by the shop owner who noticed the gun was fake and managed to apprehend him. Phatthalung City Police Station received a report at around 11.30am from a concerned citizen about a robbery…
-
Thai police crack down on ecstasy disguised as cartoon figurines
An alarming rise in a new form of ecstasy, resembling cartoon figurines, has been reported on social media, particularly in Chiang Rai. This new trend makes the drug more appealing and accessible to youth, prompting immediate police action. Police General Kittirat Phanpet, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, addressed the issue of ecstasy disguised as cartoon characters. He acknowledged…
-
Thailand’s SME D Bank offers interest-free loans to entrepreneurs
Thailand’s Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank (SME D Bank) has partnered with the National Innovation Agency (NIA) to offer interest-free loans for up to three years to entrepreneurs developing innovative products and services. Phichit Mitrawong, Managing Director of SME D Bank, announced this initiative following the signing of a cooperation agreement with the NIA yesterday. The agreement aims to…
-
Former Thai official arrested for 2011 corruption in Sakon Nakhon
Officials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) arrested a former public works official involved in corruption related to three projects from the 2011 fiscal year. The official was taken into custody for legal proceedings yesterday, July 24. Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, Secretary-General of the NACC, and Prateep Jutasorn, Deputy Secretary-General of NACC Region 4, directed the Region 4 anti-corruption investigation team to…
-
Thai woman accuses ex-husband’s wife of killing him for fortune
A Thai woman in the southern province of Krabi accused her ex-husband’s wife of killing him for his 10 million baht fortune. The wife admitted to killing her husband but did not mention her husband’s assets. Officers from Khao Phanom Police Station were alerted to the death of 52 year old Thai man Preecha at 9pm on July 22. He…
-
Sudden bus route changes spark chaos for Bangkok commuters
Chaos ensued for bus commuters in Greater Bangkok, as route changes implemented this morning left many passengers bewildered and stranded. The unannounced alterations disrupted the usual morning commute, resulting in longer wait times and confusion over the new routes. Passengers overwhelmed the Facebook pages of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), the Transport Ministry, and Bangkokbusclub.com with complaints. The sudden…
-
Indian tourist drowns at Surin Beach despite red flag warning
A 27 year old Indian tourist drowned at Surin Beach after getting entangled in a rip current during an early morning swim with friends yesterday, July 24. A red flag, indicating dangerous water conditions, was posted on Surin Beach. Despite this warning, the Indian tourist, Kapoor Manav and his friends ventured into the sea. Thalang Police Station received notification at…
-
Thai motorcycle taxi rider survives stabbing, robbery in Pattaya
A 60 year old motorcycle taxi rider managed to escape from an armed robber who posed as a passenger before stabbing him in the neck and an attempt to steal from him on Soi Thung Klom Tanman 13 in Pattaya. The motorcycle taxi rider, Sakchai, sought help from a rescue team in the early hours of yesterday, July 24, after…
-
Highways Department’s tree-mendous tribute for king’s birthday
The Department of Highways, District 16, recently launched a tree-planting initiative in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 72nd birthday. The event took place at Highway 44, between the kilometre markers 132+700, in Kanchanadit district, Surat Thani. The event saw the participation of over 700 individuals, including executives, highway department officials, employees, and contractors. Led by Paijit Saengthong, Director…
-
Chao Phraya bridges to shine for King’s 72nd birthday celebrations
Three iconic bridges over the Chao Phraya River will be illuminated starting tomorrow as part of the nationwide celebrations for the 72nd birthday of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua. The Rural Roads Department announced this festive display, which will continue until next Tuesday, July 30. Decorative lights will adorn the Bhumibol 1 and 2 Bridges, which connect Bangkok…
-
Rainy morning crash in Chaiyaphum injures four
A road crash in Chaiyaphum province this morning resulted in three heavily damaged pickup trucks and four injuries. A white Toyota Hilux Revo lost control and veered into oncoming traffic, colliding with two other pickups. Chaiyaphum City Police Station received a report at 7.05am today, July 25, of a multi-vehicle collision in front of Chaiyaphum Radiator Shop on the Chaiyaphum-Si…
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.