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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
-
Saraburi’s new police station faces scrutiny over service gaps
A newly constructed police station at Hin Kong, Nong Khae, Saraburi, despite having a 10 million baht (US$279,466) budget, faces criticism for not providing police services to residents. Police Colonel Surachet Saenwong Na Ayutthaya, the chief of Nong Khae Police Station, responded to the concerns, explaining the situation and the steps being taken towards a resolution. Villagers in the Hin…
-
Thai customs halt import of Chinese elephant-patterned trousers
A directive to halt the importation of Chinese elephant-patterned trousers has been issued by the Thai Customs Department, following the registration of the pattern’s copyright, according to statements from Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Monday. The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) is presently conducting an inquiry into the ongoing imports from China, as shared by Phumtham. The issue surrounding this…
-
DSI seizes over 1,000 million baht from ‘Gofug’ lottery scam
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) made a significant breakthrough in a high-profile case involving an online lottery scam and tax evasion, seizing assets from the Gofug network, including luxury vehicles and gold. The seizure came after coordinated raids across Bangkok and several provinces today uncovering a financial flow exceeding 1,000 million baht within the network. During a press conference,…
-
Light’s out: Motorcyclist targeted in bold daylight heist
A brazen daylight heist unfolded at a traffic light when a black sedan pulled up, and its occupant, armed with a gun, struck a motorcyclist in the face and held him at gunpoint before fleeing with his motorcycle. The incident, part of a string of similar crimes, left 33 year old Tirakun without his new Yamaha XMAX, valued at 130,000 baht,…
-
Barking up the auction tree: Military dogs find new homes
A military dog auction in Nakhon Ratchasima attracted significant interest as 54 dogs, deemed unsuitable for military service, were sold to the highest bidders. The event, held at the Military Dog Center in Pak Chong district, saw a white Labrador named Lee-Ann fetch the auction’s highest price of 95,000 baht. The auction, which took place yesterday, featured a selection of…
-
Bus and truck collide on Highway 7, 13 injured, severe traffic
A collision between a passenger bus and a truck on a busy motorway resulted in 13 injuries and severe traffic congestion. The incident occurred at 1.25pm today when a bus, carrying approximately 30-40 passengers from Ekkamai to Pattaya, struck a trailer truck. The accident on the motorway (Highway 7) at the 37.6-kilometer mark towards Map Ta Phut prompted Highway Police…
-
Drunk Thai man killed after lying on road in Phuket (video)
A Thai man died after lying on the road drunk outside a nightclub in Phuket in the early hours of February 2. A video of the accident was shared on social media as an example and warning to partygoers. The video showed the deceased, who was wearing a black T-shirt, sitting on the road and then lying down. The street…
-
Cambodian PM’s visit to Thailand aims to resolve maritime dispute
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is set to visit Thailand for a one-day official discussion on Wednesday, with a crucial focus on the protracted joint development of natural resources within the disputed maritime boundary shared by both nations. This was announced on Monday by both the Foreign Ministry and Government House. The visit, which is anticipated to include a meeting with…
-
Bangkok court fines activists 11,200 baht issues suspended
The Pathumwan District Court in Bangkok handed down a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, to prominent political figures Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, Pannika Wanich, Pita Limjaroenrat and Pairatthachot Chanthakachorn along with four others, in connection with their involvement in a flash mob protest in December 2019. Each defendant was also fined 11,200 baht for violating public assembly laws and using…
-
Former Thailand athlete turns scammer, stealing from woman
Police in Bangkok arrested a former national athlete for allegedly befriending a Thai woman on a dating app and stealing her valuables after spending a few days together. The thief confessed that he resorted to theft due to his need for money to fuel his online gambling habit. The victim, a Thai woman from the Isaan province of Buriram, filed…
-
Thai cow-napper foiled: Sedan heist leads to moo-ving mishap
A Thai thief was apprehended by police after he attempted to steal a cow in his sedan. The animal managed to free itself and caused an accident in the southern province of Narathiwas. Su-ngai Padi Police Station officers were alerted to the car accident on the Ban Pawai-Ban Igubu Road in the Su-ngai Padi district of Narathiwas on February 2.…
-
Ganja overuse: Chinese man deported for causing chaos in Chiang Mai
Immigration police deported a Chinese man allegedly under the influence of excessive ganja use for causing chaos by walking shirtless, threatening locals, and destroying reflective traffic signs in Chiang Mai province. A motorist travelling along Liab Khlong Chonlapatarn Road in the Suthep sub-district of Chiang Mai province shared a video on social media on February 1, capturing the shirtless Chinese…
-
Police coordinate heart transport from Chanthaburi to Siriraj
A life-saving mission unfolded as police expedited the delivery of a heart from Chanthaburi to Siriraj Hospital within a critical four-hour window. The high-stakes relay kicked off at 9.30am from Prapokklao Hospital in Chanthaburi, employing a specific route through major highways to ensure the organ’s timely arrival. The FM91 Trafficpro page’s call for public cooperation reverberated across social media, urging…
-
Girl injured by classmate in Buriram schoolyard seeks justice
A dispute between parents over a schoolyard incident in Buriram escalated after a fourth-grade girl was kicked in the throat by a male classmate. The 38 year old girl’s mother, Euaengkham, from Isaan Khet, Chaloem Phrakiat district, is demanding justice following the attack that left her daughter with a swollen neck, chest pain, and vomiting, requiring two hospital visits for…
-
Bangkok technician arrested for jealousy-fuelled murder of romantic rival
A 43 year old printing technician has been apprehended in Bangkok for fatally stabbing his ex-wife’s partner in a fit of jealousy. The incident occurred early in the morning today (February 5) The suspect, identified only by his first name, Pongphan, was arrested at a nameless rental room on Suwicharn Damri Road, Bang Yi Khan, Bang Phlat District. The arrest…
-
Technician faces ethical test over damaged iPhone repair plea
A dilemma unfolded today when a technician was torn between two conflicting requests regarding a damaged iPhone brought in for repair. A woman, the owner of the shattered screen iPhone, was willing to pay any amount to have the device fixed. Contrarily, her boyfriend secretly handed the technician a note pleading for the phone to remain inoperable, offering money for…
-
Tak beauty Pai Mai Soruda crowned at 25th Miss Tiffany Universe
A momentous victory unfolded at the Tiffany Show Theatre in Pattaya, Chonburi, where the 25th Miss Tiffany Universe pageant crowned its winner. On the evening of February 4, Saruda Panyakham, a stunning transgender beauty from Tak, emerged as the competition queen, marking a legendary achievement in the pageant’s history. The 25th edition of the Miss Tiffany Universe pageant, a milestone…
-
Thai monk exposed for sending dick pic to transwoman, asks for sex
A 19 year old Thai transwoman exposed the inappropriate bad boy behaviour of a Thai monk from a temple in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok after the monk allegedly sent her a photo of his penis and asked her for sex. The president of the Nonthaburi Provincial Audit and Monitoring Committee of Police, Chaimate Chaipatcharakunpong, told Channel 3 that he received…
-
Suspect with mental health issues found dead in Khon Kaen cell
A 42 year old suspect was found dead in his cell at a police station in Manchakhiri, in the southern part of Khon Kaen province, northeastern Thailand. The deceased had been detained following a disturbance caused by intoxication, and his relatives had requested police intervention. The incident has highlighted concerns about handling individuals with a history of mental health issues and substance…
-
Explore Thailand top cannabis tourist hotspots
Thailand has emerged as a beacon for cannabis enthusiasts, transforming Bangkok into a hotspot for those keen to explore the world of legal cannabis. With innovative policy shifts, the country now welcomes tourists to indulge in everything from smoking to edibles, setting the stage for an unparalleled cannabis tourism experience. Dubbed the Amsterdam of Asia, Thailand offers a unique blend…
-
Chon Buri homeowner catches couple in intimate act
A homeowner in Chon Buri province, Thailand, was confronted with an unexpected and steamy situation when he discovered a couple engaging in sexual activity in their car parked on his property. The incident escalated when the car’s driver attempted to flee, nearly hitting the property owner in the process. The incident occurred late at night when the 48 year old…
-
Astrologer predicts February fortune for top five zodiac signs
Astrological enthusiasts are buzzing with excitement as the month unfolds, with notable astrologer Thosaporn Sritula, popularly known as Mor Chang, revealing his top five zodiac signs set to experience a stroke of good fortune in February. The astrologer’s insights have not only captivated those who keenly follow their horoscopes but have also garnered attention from the entertainment industry and fans…
-
Thai teen’s tragic demise: Knife throw turns road into deadly game
A 14 year old Thai boy died in hospital after two teenagers threw a knife at him on a road in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani last Thursday, February 1. An altercation between two groups of Thai teenagers on Khutkhaopun-Pathummarat Road was reported to Kut Khaopun Police Station at about 8pm on February 1. A 14 year old victim…
-
Scottish woman’s cliff plunge in Thailand sparks insurance debacle: Scot left hanging
An insurance company left a Scottish woman hanging after they refused to pay out after she almost plunged 20 metres to her death off a cliff on Ko Lanta island in West Thailand. Glasgow-born NHS nurse Kerry Hughes almost fell to her death after renting a scooter on the West Thailand island. Despite the swift action of an emergency rescue…
-
BDMS and AstraZeneca partner for AI-driven lung cancer battle in Thailand
The Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited (BDMS) recently announced a partnership with AstraZeneca (Thailand) Co Ltd. The partnership aims to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the fight against lung cancer, with the potential to significantly reduce mortality rates. The collaboration will initially be piloted at the Bangkok Cancer Hospital Wattanosoth, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding…
-
Thailand could curb climate change impact with forest expansion
The severe consequences of climate change could potentially be curbed in Thailand by the expansion of forest coverage on unused lands, asserted a water expert. Royon Jitdon, who provides advice to the Hydro-Informatics Institute under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, expressed confidence in the climate change mitigation capabilities of forest plantations, particularly in terms of reducing…
-
Social security snag: NHRC accuses sso of toothless rights infringement
The Social Security Office (SSO) is being accused by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of infringing human rights, by enforcing a yearly cap of 900 baht (US$25) on dental treatment expenses. The complaint was instigated in January 2023 by an insured individual leading to an inspection by the NHRC. The individual pointed out that the 900 baht limit is…
-
Swedish and British nationals die in separate falls in Pattaya City
Pattaya City, located in Chon Buri, Thailand, was the unfortunate scene of a tragedy as two foreign men – a Swedish national and a British resident – plummeted to their deaths in seemingly unrelated incidents just 30 minutes apart early Sunday. An official statement from Pattaya City Police Station, delivered by Police Inspector Police Lieutenant Aniruj Jeroh, confirmed the incidents…
-
Rayong gym owner found dead under tree in Thanyaburi
Tragedy struck a family from Rayong when they received a call from the police informing them of a grim discovery in Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani. The body of a young gym trainer and gym owner was found under a tree, marking a sombre end to his known journey. The 28 year old man, recently separated from his wife, had left his…
-
Balcony collapses at Chiang Mai resort injuring 13
A tragic incident unfolded at a popular resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand, at 7.30am today, where a newly constructed balcony collapsed, leaving several attendees of a seminar injured amidst chaos and cries of pain. Rescue teams from Ban Waen and Hang Dong swiftly responded to the scene at the Rom Mai Ruean Ngam Resort, situated behind the Ban Waen Subdistrict…
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.