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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
-
Ubon Ratchathani teen negotiates fine with community service
A 19 year old woman in Ubon Ratchathani faced a hefty fine of 6,300 baht (US$177) for driving without a license. Lacking the funds to pay the fine, she humorously asked the police if she could borrow money. The officer’s playful response was an offer to lend her the money if she agreed to feed his catfish every night, a…
-
Alzheimer’s and miscommunication revealed after missing British man rescued
Dong Yen Police Station officers rescued a British man who claimed he was abandoned at a temple in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. His wife later clarified the situation and revealed that he suffers from Alzheimer’s. A police officer at the Kam Chanote Temple in the Ban Dung district of Udon Thani province accompanied the 82 year old British…
-
Teenager had motorcycle stolen after leaving it for 10 minutes
A teenager had his motorcycle stolen after parking it outside a condo in Pattaya for a mere 10 minutes on January 27. The 16 year old victim, Panupong, reported the theft to Pattaya police at 5.30pm. The black Honda PCX, purchased by Panupong’s mother for his daily commute and delivery gigs, was snatched from its spot outside the apartment. Panupong…
-
7-Eleven addresses expired food safety concerns after query
Concerns over the consumption of expired food products have recently been addressed by the official 7-Eleven account, following a query posted by a consumer on Pantip.com. The question raised was whether a packet of fried rice purchased from 7-Eleven, which had passed its expiration date by just a few days, was still safe to eat. A forum member on Pantip.com,…
-
Significant drop in forest fires in Chiang Mai and northern region
Protected Areas Regional Office 16 Director Kritsayam Kongsatree revealed an unprecedented 79% drop in blazes across Chiang Mai and its northern neighbours. Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) Chief Kritsayam manages a colossal 7.8 million rai encompassing 19 forests in Chiang Mai and Lamphun. His proactive patrolling initiatives have slashed the number of hotspots from the ominous…
-
Adultery suspected in murder of Thai man in Chachoengsao
Police suspected adultery as a motive for the murder of a Thai man whose body was found on the roadside of a motorway in the central province of Chachoengsao on January 29. The man asked his wife for a divorce and told her that he had a child with another woman before he disappeared. The lifeless body of the 33…
-
Royal Thai Air Force plans 19 billion baht for new fighter jets acquisition
The commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), Punpakdee Pattanakul, announced a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year totalling 19 billion baht (US$537 million), intended for the acquisition of new fighter jets. These could potentially be the US F-35 or Sweden’s Gripen E/F. Despite the recently instated government offset policy, Punpakdee’s comments suggest the RTAF’s determination to secure…
-
German tourist’s beachside stumble turns vacation into footsie disaster
A German tourist stumbled over construction wire mesh at a beachfront construction site in Pattaya on January 27, leaving him with a serious foot injury. Eyewitnesses revealed that the incident occurred as 24 year old Nils Gleissner ambled along the footpath near the beach. The treacherous mishap transpired at a spot undergoing renovations, with the unsuspecting tourist tripping over the…
-
14 year old student stabs peer to death in Bangkok school tragedy
The tragic event of a 14 year old student allegedly stabbing his peer to death at Matthayom Naknawa- upatham School in Suan Luang district unfolded on Monday. The incident has prompted the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to step in, minister Varawut Silpa-Archa yesterday, January 30 confirmed. The accused student reportedly attacked his classmate after the school assembly,…
-
Chinese tourist drowns on Rayong’s Koh Samet
A Chinese tourist drowned at Ao Tubtim, Koh Samet, Rayong at 5pm on on January 27. Phe police officers rushed to the accident scene following a report of a Chinese tourist drowning. Local rescue and Rayong medical teams were also dispatched. Clad in a blue swimsuit, the 46 year old Chinese tourist lay lifeless. Despite the immediate deployment of first…
-
Teen dies in Bangkok after motorcycle chase ends in horror crash
A tragic accident in Bangkok claimed the life of a 17 year old teen after a motorcycle chase ended in a violent collision with a garbage truck. The incident occurred at around 3.15am today on Kanjanapisek Road, Bang Khae District. The police, forensic experts, and emergency medical teams were called to the scene, where they found the young victim dead.…
-
Thai food vendor sparks debate after giving free food to foreign backpacker (video)
A Thai food vendor sparked a debate on social media after giving free food to a foreign backpacker in the southern province of Surat Thani. Many netizens hailed the vendor’s gesture while others said the foreign woman just took advantage of Thais’ kindness. The food vendor shared a video of the foreign backpacker eating food at her restaurant on her…
-
Royal project scam exposed with six arrests and 270 million baht loss
An illicit operation, exploiting the name of royal projects to defraud unsuspecting investors, has been exposed. Six individuals implicated in the scheme have been apprehended, with damages resulting from the con estimated at a staggering 270 million baht (US$7.6 million). The arrests followed a comprehensive search operation spanning Bangkok, Lop Buri, Chachoengsao, Songkhla, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, confirmed Police Major…
-
Drastic fivefold rise in e-cigarette use among Thai schoolchildren
E-cigarette usage amongst Thai schoolchildren has witnessed a drastic fivefold rise over the last seven years, with the majority of users starting their vaping journey during their primary school years, reveals a newly conducted study. The study was carried out amongst 6,700 students and the findings were shared at a seminar, the collective effort of the Centre for Tobacco Control…
-
Driver perishes as 22-wheel truck overturns in Si Racha
A tragic incident unfolded yesterday as a 22-wheel trailer truck lost control on a curve and overturned in the Si Racha district of Chon Buri, resulting in the driver’s death. The driver was trapped in the wreckage, and it took rescue workers over three hours to extricate the body. The accident occurred near the Burapha Golf Course in Si Racha.…
-
Songkhla community faces steep rent hike from temple land
Residents of the community surrounding Wat Khuan Mit in Songkhla raised concerns as the temple, which owns the land they reside on, dramatically increased the rent by twelvefold. The escalation in rental fees has led to severe hardship for the locals, many of whom have lived there since their ancestors’ time. Negotiations with the temple’s caretakers have not yielded any…
-
Phuket Airport’s got trunks: Viral sensation as tourists make splash in speedos
A Facebook user sparked viral attention after sharing an image in the Thai Tourism group, Du Lịch Thái Lan, capturing the unusual sight of two foreign tourists clad in tiny speedo trunks at Phuket International Airport. The social media post, by Bui Thi Huong, which rapidly garnered over 500 likes, featured a caption in Vietnamese saying, “Heard that Phuket Airport…
-
Uthenthawai campus halts admissions amid escalating student gang violence
The Uthenthawai Campus of the Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-Ok has been directed by Supamas Isarabhakdi, the Minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation, to halt admitting new students and expedite its relocation. This decision aims to curb the escalating violence resulting from clashes between student gangs from the Uthenthawai Campus and the nearby Pathumwan Institute of Technology. During…
-
Bangkok leverages Boys Love series for global Thai product boost
Bangkok’s commerce scene is set to undergo a transformative boost as the Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, revealed a groundbreaking initiative to elevate Thai products and services to the global stage through the popular and increasingly recognised medium of television and films. Slated to reach an audience of three million across 100 countries, the scheme aims for…
-
Thai man takes legal action against boyfriend for stealing 35,000 baht and iPhone (video)
A Thai man took legal action against his boyfriend for stealing a mobile phone and 35,000 baht from his bank account. The victim said he still loved his boyfriend and would drop the charge if he returned his valuables. The victim, 24 year old Jitpanu Sa-ardluan, took to social media after his boyfriend, 21 year old Boonlong, stole his mobile…
-
Stray bullet injures man in Bangkok car park incident
A stray bullet hit a man in the leg as he sat in his car in a Bangkok car park last night. The incident was reported to the Thonglor police around 8.50pm by the victim, Voraset Klueniam, a 53 year old man. Voraset was in his vehicle, stationed in a parking area on Rama 4 Road, when a bullet, originating…
-
Bangkok singer arrested for 2 million baht luxury theft spree
An up-and-coming singer was apprehended by Bangkok’s Metropolitan Police on allegations of stealing over 2 million baht worth of luxury branded goods. The arrest of 29 year old Thanandon Ramasutha, was the culmination of a meticulous police investigation following a burglary at a celebrity manager’s home in January 2024. On January 29, in front of a house in the Lat…
-
Taiwanese man arrested in Pattaya on overstay and money laundering charges
Pattaya police yesterday arrested a Taiwanese man on charges of money laundering. Additionally, they discovered that he had overstayed his visa validity by over 430 days, equivalent to approximately a year and five months. Officers from the Sub-division 2 Tourist Police Division 1 and Chon Buri Provincial Immigration Office were alerted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand…
-
Off-duty officer thwarts armed assault at Tak gas station
A quick-thinking police officer has been praised for his decisive actions in averting a potential assault at a gas station in Tak. The incident, which occurred today, January 30, saw the officer, identified as Police Lance Corporal Patiphan Kachewapha, thwart an armed man’s attempt to assault a woman in the ladies’ restroom. The event unfolded when Patiphan Kachewapha, an officer…
-
Foreign man in Phuket caught on TikTok video damaging police wheel clamp
A video featuring a foreign man, using a stone to smash a lock and chain on his motorcycle after it got clamped by police in Phuket, has gone viral in Thailand. Thai netizens called on the police to clarify the charges the foreigner faces. The video was shared by a TikTok user, @_neung132, who appears to be a traffic police…
-
Rayong solar company lays off 800 amid financial woes
A prominent solar cell manufacturing company in Rayong has been forced to lay off a significant number of employees, totalling 800, affecting both day and night shifts. The layoffs come as a consequence of several months of financial strain where the company had deferred paying 75% of wages. The Chon Buri-Rayong News Page today reported that the company decided to…
-
Chiang Mai lottery fever spikes with lucky numbers for Chinese New Year
The bustling city of Chiang Mai is witnessing a surge in the popularity of lottery tickets as locals eagerly seek out auspicious numbers for the upcoming draw on February 1. The demand is particularly high for numbers associated with Chinese New Year, which aligns with the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese calendar. In the early hours of…
-
Thai man and transwoman arrested on child porn charges
Police arrested a Thai man and a transwoman for making and selling child porn. Three female victims were rescued, the youngest was only 13 years old. Officers from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) and Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) reported two successful crackdowns on the production and sale of child pornography to the media yesterday, January 29. The suspect in…
-
Thai gold prices drop at market open, gold bars at 34,050 baht
Gold prices in Thailand saw a decline at the opening of the market, comparing the last price from January 29. The Gold Traders Association (GTA) reported the selling rate for gold ornaments at 34,550 baht per baht-weight (a traditional Thai unit of measurement for gold, equating to 15.16 grammes) for today, marking a decrease of 100 baht from the previous…
-
Thai student allegedly raped by police officer over fine fracas in northern Thailand
A Grade 11 Thai student was allegedly raped by a police officer after she failed to pay a 2,000 baht fine for failing to produce a driving licence in the Isaan province of, northern Thailand. The story began when the well-known page Saimai Survive shared the student’s distressing story after she was stopped by officers for not possessing a driving…
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.