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 is the 5 year visa for the digital nomad in Thailand?
The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is a great option for digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers who want to stay in Thailand for a long time. This multiple-entry visa is valid for five years, allowing stays of up to 180...
-
Thai woman falls off building while fleeing mentally ill neighbour
A Thai woman fell from the third floor of a building in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok while she was fleeing from a mentally ill neighbour who attempted to stab her. Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station officers were called to rescue a Thai woman, 63 year old Chamaiporn, who fell from her room on the third floor to an awning on the…
-
Young firefighter steals hearts and extinguishes flames
Capturing the internet’s attention, six year old Peerapat, a kindergarten student at Wat U-Tapao Kindergarten in Chon Buri, has become a viral sensation after a video of him extinguishing a forest fire alongside adult firefighters surfaced on social media. The video, shared on Thai social media on December 18, has amassed over 2 million views, turning Peerapat into a symbol…
-
Explosive growth in Thai insurance industry predicted for 2024
The Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) has foreseen an unprecedented surge in the insurance industry, with premiums expected to skyrocket to 303 billion baht in 2024. The TGIA president, Somporn Suebthawilkul, revealed the industry’s trajectory, unveiling that premiums for the initial nine months of this year already hit a whopping 210 billion baht, marking a staggering 5.2% rise from the…
-
Illegal meatball factory raided, dirty products flood Bangkok and surrounding areas
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police conducted a raid at an illegal meatball factory in the central province of Pathum Thani on December 18. The substandard and dirty products were found to be shipped throughout Bangkok and surrounding provinces. CIB officers launched proactive measures and operations against illegal food producers in the country after six children suffered dizziness and rapid…
-
2 drunk police and former police injured in fight over female waitress
A drunk police officer and a former Border Patrol Police officer suffered injuries after they fought each other over a female waitress at a restaurant in the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum. One was shot in the legs while the other was hit in the head. Mueang Chaiyaphum Police Station received a report of a shooting at a restaurant on the…
-
Marriage equality bill final draft to be submitted to Parliament
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared yesterday, December 19, that the Cabinet is set to propose the Marriage Equality Bill final draft to Parliament tomorrow, December 21. Expressing unwavering confidence in the bill’s potential, Srettha envisions a future where same-sex couples bask in the same marital rights as their heterosexual counterparts, pending parliamentary consideration. The final draft of the bill, an…
-
Thailand warned of escalating PM2.5 dust levels: GISTDA
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) issued an urgent warning about PM2.5 dust particles exceeding safe levels in various parts of Thailand. Samut Sakhon saw the worst conditions with PM2.5 levels reaching 76.7 micrograms per cubic meter, more than double the standard limit of 37.5 micrograms. In Bangkok, 22 districts experienced PM2.5 levels exceeding the standard limit, with…
-
Uncle Phol receives 20-year sentence in Mukdahan for toddler’s death
A 20-year sentence has been handed down to Chaiphol Wipa, also known as Uncle Phol, in the Mukdahan Provincial Court for his role in the death of a 3 year old girl, Chomphoo, who disappeared from her home in the Gok Kok village, Dong Luang district, Mukdahan province on May 11, 2020. Accompanied by his legal team, Wipa, along with…
-
Double fatality at Hat Yai luxury condo shakes up Songkhla province
A shocking double fatality took place at a luxurious condominium in the heart of Hat Yai, Songkhla province, yesterday evening. A 40 year old Subdistrict headman, from Saphan Mai Kaen, Chanar, Songkhla, was found dead alongside a 40 year old woman, a well-known truck dealer. The incident occurred in a room on the 25th floor of the upscale condo. Musdee…
-
Bangkok BTS Skytrain extends service hours to 2am on December 31
Bangkok BTS Skytrain will extend moments of happiness for the passengers with extended service hours from midnight to 2am on the last day of the year December 31. The board director of the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company, Surapong Laoha-unya, announced yesterday, December 19, that the BTS Skytrain will extend its operating hours at all stations and lines on on…
-
Pattaya visa scam leaves hundreds of tourists out of pocket and overstaying
Hundreds of victims have been financially swindled by an unscrupulous visa extension agency in Pattaya, with some foreign victims being illegally overstayed in the Kingdom. Today, 36 year old Chanidapha Thowasakul, represented a group of more than 30 victims, including foreign nationals, and brought 33 year old Suphawadee (surname withheld) to the Pattaya City Police Station. The victims, with 40…
-
Eco-friendly e-pedicabs revolutionise Vientiane’s transport scene
In a groundbreaking move towards a greener, quieter Vientiane, the Laos-Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project has unveiled an innovative non-motorised initiative set to transform the city centre. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport’s Department of Transport, the project aims to combat air and noise pollution. Introducing a novel addition to the bustling streets of Vientiane, the project…
-
Thai military launches early retirement scheme funded by 600 million baht
The Defence Ministry is advancing with an initiative to streamline the Thai military, proposing the allocation of 600 million baht from the central budget to facilitate an early retirement scheme over the next three years. Defence Minister, Sutin Klungsang, unveiled the strategy as a crucial part of the plan to reduce and optimise the military force, with the initial phase…
-
Fatal collision at Talat Phlu intersection: motorcycle hits taxi
A 21 year old man riding a motorcycle against the traffic flow collided with a taxi on a bridge crossing Talat Phlu intersection, resulting in a fatal accident. The cab driver recalled the shocking moment, noting that he had to regain composure before alerting the police. The incident took place around 1am today. The Talat Phlu police station received a…
-
Thai driver evades arrest after crashing and killing nursing student
A Thai driver evaded arrest after crashing his pickup into a motorcycle on a bypass road in the central province of Ratchaburi, killing a nursing student and injuring her mother. Officers from the Mueang Ratchaburi Police Station and Ratchaburi Hospital rushed to the accident scene to rescue two victims. A 55 year old woman named Chuanpit was a motorcycle rider.…
-
Thai AirAsia X sets sights on Kazakhstan: New route sparks tourism frenzy
In a bold move set to revolutionise travel, Thai AirAsia X is gearing up to launch direct flights between Bangkok and Almaty, the thriving heart of Kazakhstan. Riding high on the unprecedented influx of tourists from Kazakhstan this year, the airline, under the visionary leadership of Tassapon Bijleveld, the executive chairman of Asia Aviation, the holding company of Thai AirAsia,…
-
Chilling forecast for northern Thailand while south braces for heavy rain
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a level 4 warning, forecasting a sharp drop in temperatures across northern Thailand and heavy rainfall in the southern region. The warning, which came into effect from 5am today, is expected to last until December 25. The cold spell is due to a high-pressure system from China that is set to cover Thailand and…
-
Phatthalung highway police intercept 58 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh
Highway police in Phatthalung intercepted three pickup trucks carrying 58 illegal Bangladesh immigrants. The migrants were being smuggled into Hat Yai to work. The drivers confessed to receiving 1,500 baht per person, a higher income than transporting goods or vegetables. Today, Deputy Superintendent Chamnan Suwanchatree, along with seven officers, set up a checkpoint on the southbound Asia Highway between Nakhon…
-
Thai police investigate human skeletons found in container from US
Thai police are investigating human skeletons found in the cubes of compressed recycling cardboard shipped in a container from the US to a company in Bang Phra district, Chon Buri province. A logistics company reported the discovery of a human leg bone to Sriracha Police Station officers at about 1pm yesterday, December 19. The leg was compressed together in the…
-
China’s deadliest earthquake in years leaves 127 dead in Gansu (video)
Northwest China is reeling from the aftermath of a monstrous 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Gansu province, marking the country’s deadliest seismic event since 2014. The toll stands at 127 lives lost, with fears that the numbers may surge as icy conditions and treacherous terrains impede rescue efforts. As President Xi Jinping mobilises thousands of rescue crews to the impoverished…
-
Phuket to host luxury boat show: Multi-billion baht yachts and jets
In a dazzling display set to elevate Phuket‘s status on the global luxury stage, the Thailand International Boat Show A Luxury Lifestyle Event is gearing up to showcase a spectacular line-up of yachts, private jets, and more. This high-profile event is poised to inject a staggering 500 million baht into Phuket’s economy, drawing in a crowd of High Net Worth…
-
Thailand’s tripartite committee to reconsider new minimum daily wage
A pivotal meeting is set to take place on Tuesday, led by the tripartite committee on minimum daily wages in Thailand. The discussion is centred around the possibility of revising the new daily wage rate that was established on December 8. This comes in the wake of comments made by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin criticising the newly determined rate as…
-
Air Arabia soars to new heights: Inaugural flight to Phuket unveils sky-high perks for budget travellers
Air Arabia, the leading low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, has launched its maiden flight to Phuket, Thailand, lifting off from the iconic Sharjah International Airport in the UAE. Air Arabia Group Chief Executive Officer Adel Al Ali, was beaming with pride as he celebrated this milestone, emphasising the airline’s unwavering dedication to making travel accessible and…
-
Thai man murders 2 year old stepdaughter while intoxicated
A Thai man admitted to murdering his two year old stepdaughter at a house in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok while he was intoxicated. Police suspected a 16 year old caregiver of involvement in the murder. Medical professionals reached out to officers from Phra Pradaeng Police Station at night on December 17 after an unconscious girl, 2 year old Focus,…
-
Halal holidays: Malaysia lifts ban, allowing Christmas greetings on Muslim cakes
Malaysia‘s halal-certified bakeries are breaking free from a three-year ban on Christmas greetings. The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) declared yesterday, December 18, that businesses can now sprinkle some Yuletide joy on their cakes. The change came after a viral uproar over a leaked internal memo from Berry’s, a popular bakery chain, instructing staff to steer clear of Merry…
-
Investigation into Thai student’s fatal fall over parking dispute
The investigation speeds up in the case of a postgraduate student from Kasetsart University, who tragically fell from the sixth floor of a mansion. The police probe is focused on multiple witnesses, including the man believed to have initiated the incident due to a parking dispute. Today Police Lieutenant Colonel Witthaya Ruangthep, deputy investigation chief at Chokchai police station, provided…
-
State-owned company officer accused of age fraud to prolong retirement
A group of people calling themselves the State Enterprise Lover Club accused a deputy executive director of a state-owned telecommunications company in Thailand of committing age fraud to extend his retirement. The State Enterprise Lover Club urged a renowned Thai lawyer, Sittha Biabangkerd, to expose the matter to the public as they filed a complaint with the relevant government agencies, but…
-
The hidden struggle of Thailand’s overlooked workforce
Thailand’s National Statistical Office (NSO) Director, Piyanut Wuthison, has exposed the stark reality of the nation’s labour force where 21 million workers in the informal sector constitute a staggering 52.3% of Thailand‘s workforce. “Our annual survey sheds light on the silent warriors of the informal labour sector, a staggering 21 million strong. These workers, often grappling with irregular hours and…
-
Thai lottery vendor accused of fraud in refusal to pay 18,000 baht prize
A Thai woman filed a complaint against a lottery vendor accusing her of fraud after the seller refused to pay a prize of 18,000 baht on the December 1 draw. The 51 year old real estate business operator, Aramsri Hathongkham, filed a complaint with the officers at Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani on…
-
West Thailand: Tiger cubs spotted in secret jungle hideout
Hidden cameras deep within Kanchanaburi‘s Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary have snapped jaw-dropping photos of two tiger cubs. Trail cameras, strategically placed by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, recently struck gold, capturing never-before-seen snapshots of the tiger cubs on August 3. These heart-melting images reveal the untamed beauty of nature’s fiercest felines. Officials from the Department collaborated with…
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.