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.

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    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • British man loses 200,000 baht belongings to Thai transwoman (video)

    British man loses 200,000 baht belongings to Thai transwoman (video)

    A 24 year old British man filed a complaint against a Thai transwoman after belongings worth over 200,000 baht disappeared from his luxury hotel near Bangkok following her visit. The suspect was arrested yesterday, February 11. The victim, 24 year old Daniel, reported to Bang Yai Police Station, in the Nonthaburi province near Bangkok on February 10, that the Thai…

  • Thai, US officials to discuss cybersecurity following call scam outbreak

    Thai, US officials to discuss cybersecurity following call scam outbreak

    A cybersecurity discussion is on the agenda between Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, as a result of call scammers fraudulently using the names of Thai diplomats. This issue was brought to light during a meeting with Thai officials at the Thai embassy in Washington DC, according to the Thai ambassador to the United…

  • Deadly curve in Chon Buri claims two lives in high-speed crash

    Deadly curve in Chon Buri claims two lives in high-speed crash

    A tragic motorcycle accident in Chon Buri province claims the lives of two individuals, drawing attention to an infamous curve notorious for its high number of fatalities. In the early hours today, a Yamaha NMax motorbike veered off the road and into a tree on Jomtien Second Road, heading towards Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya. The emergency response teams, including the…

  • Samut Prakan police arrest 42 teens in street racing crackdown

    Samut Prakan police arrest 42 teens in street racing crackdown

    In Samut Prakan, an operation led by the police resulted in the arrest of 42 teenagers and the seizure of 49 motorcycles, following complaints from residents about noise and disruption caused by street racing. The teenagers were apprehended during a coordinated police action on Suk Sawat Road, from the Prasamut Jadee intersection to the Son Rom Yen junction. This crackdown…

  • Search continues for British man missing in southern Thailand

    Search continues for British man missing in southern Thailand

    A 24 year old British man went missing yesterday while kayaking in a canal near the Rajjaprabha Dam, also known as the Cheow Lan Dam, in the southern province of Surat Thani. Supot Juinark, the director of  Khao Sok National Park, reported to officers at Ban Ta Khun Police Station around 12:30pm yesterday, February 11, that 24 year old Englishman…

  • Social media debate ignites over adverse housing estate possession

    Social media debate ignites over adverse housing estate possession

    The legal concept of adverse possession, originally established to allow the utilisation of neglected or abandoned land, has recently sparked controversy on social media following a dispute involving a couple and an uninvited occupant on their property. The couple discovered that their wedding gift, a house in a housing estate, had been occupied and altered by someone claiming a long-standing…

  • Chinese man falls to his death at Pattaya condo after wife dispute

    Chinese man falls to his death at Pattaya condo after wife dispute

    A Chinese man yesterday joined the insensitively named “Pattaya Flying Club” when he reportedly committed suicide by jumping from the 18th floor of a condominium in the popular seaside resort. The motive for his tragic decision is believed to be a dispute with his wife. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station and the Sawang Borriboon Rescue Foundation visited The Base…

  • Thailand lottery fever heats up: Friday draw sparks fortune frenzy

    Thailand lottery fever heats up: Friday draw sparks fortune frenzy

    Thailand lottery fever heats up for enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the latest draw on Friday with various sources hinting at the numbers that may bring good fortune. The collective buzz around these predictions gathers momentum, capturing the imagination of those hoping to strike it lucky. Channel 3’s Chinese calendar lottery numbers are generating excitement this cycle. The calendar, featuring news presenters…

  • TasteAtlas triumph: Kanom Krok flips to victory as top ASEAN pancake

    TasteAtlas triumph: Kanom Krok flips to victory as top ASEAN pancake

    Online foodie travel guide TasteAtlas ranked Thai dessert Kanom Krok as the fourth best pancake in the world. Additionally, the delectable dessert was crowned champion in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). TasteAtlas last week released its list of Top 85 Pancakes in the World on its platform with one of Thailand’s much-loved desserts, Kanom Krok, high on the…

  • Naga’s eyes open wide: Cave ceremony stuns Thailand devotees

    Naga’s eyes open wide: Cave ceremony stuns Thailand devotees

    A ceremony to reveal the eyes of the Naga statues in the Ruesi Sombat Cave in the Phetchabun province caused astonishment among devotees. The event, led by the head monk of the Sombat Cave, Phra Ajarn Sakol Kosolo, and witnessed by over 300 participants, involved rituals to honour deities and sacred entities. The cave, with historical significance dating back to…

  • Thai workers invited to apply for high-paying oil rig jobs in Brunei

    Thai workers invited to apply for high-paying oil rig jobs in Brunei

    A Thailand government spokesperson announced a significant recruitment drive by the Department of Employment for 40 positions on oil rigs in Brunei, offering high annual salaries, free accommodation, and excellent benefits. The application window for these coveted roles opened on February 9 and will close on February 23, inviting experienced professionals with a minimum of eight years in the industry,…

  • Bangkok street food vendor dies after punch in card game dispute

    Bangkok street food vendor dies after punch in card game dispute

    A Bangkok street food vendor succumbed to injuries sustained from a single punch delivered by a friend during a drunken altercation over alleged cheating in a card game. The incident, which took place yesterday, February 12, resulted in the 49 year old vendor, Wichok, being found unconscious in his room with a swollen, bruised face and bleeding from the nose…

  • Cambodia registers most hotspots amid surge in Southeast Asia

    Cambodia registers most hotspots amid surge in Southeast Asia

    A flurry of nearly 6,000 hotspots was detected across several neighbouring countries on a recent Sunday, with Cambodia registering the most, at 4,056, as per the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). The Suomi NPP satellite images pointed out a total of 5,823 hotspots spread out in countries neighbouring Thailand. After Cambodia, Myanmar had the second-highest number with 979,…

  • Controversy over new water tunnel network plan in Kanchanaburi’s wildlife sanctuary

    Controversy over new water tunnel network plan in Kanchanaburi’s wildlife sanctuary

    The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) have come under scrutiny for their plan to build a new water tunnel network in the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanchanaburi. The project, designed to combat summer droughts, has sparked concerns among local conservationists due to its potential impact on the local ecosystem. The RID justifies…

  • US-Thailand talks focus on Myanmar crisis and regional connectivity

    US-Thailand talks focus on Myanmar crisis and regional connectivity

    The United States and Thailand are set to engage in high-level talks on Monday, with a focus on the Myanmar crisis, a strengthening of their security partnership, and regional connectivity through Thailand’s Land Bridge project. Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, who embarked on his official visit to the United States on Saturday, will meet with his American counterpart and other…

  • British man faces disability after motorcycle accident in Thailand

    British man faces disability after motorcycle accident in Thailand

    The tranquillity of a family vacation was shattered for Lee Francis, a 54 year old occupational therapist from Church Village, Rhondda Cynon Taf when a motorcycle accident in Thailand left him with paralysis from the waist down. The irony is not lost on Lee, who spent his career aiding disabled individuals to live independently, and now faces a similar struggle…

  • Forex trading fraudster detained in Songkhla after three-year evasion

    Forex trading fraudster detained in Songkhla after three-year evasion

    A 51 year old woman has been detained in Songkhla’s Sadao district, suspected of defrauding investors out of 300 million baht (US$ 8,354,220) via a deceptive foreign exchange trading scheme. The arrest, conducted by the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) police, brings to an end her near three-year evasion of justice. The warrant for her arrest was issued by the…

  • Thailand’s population sees slight drop to 66 million in 2023

    Thailand’s population sees slight drop to 66 million in 2023

    Thailand’s official population count witnessed a slight downtrend in 2023, marking a 0.06% decrease in comparison to the previous year’s figure, revealed the Interior Ministry. The recent civil registration documented Thailand’s population as 66,052,615 as of the close of 2023, marking a decline by 37,860 individuals from the conclusion of 2022. The data showed that out of the total population…

  • Royal Thai Air Force relinquishes Kantarat golf course for public projects

    Royal Thai Air Force relinquishes Kantarat golf course for public projects

    A recent decision by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) opened up new prospects for public project development. The RTAF consented to relinquish its Kantarat Golf Course, situated between the runways of Don Mueang Airport, for state project development, as revealed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. In a social media post, the prime minister expressed gratitude towards the RTAFforce’s initiative…

  • Public health ministry sets drug possession thresholds

    Public health ministry sets drug possession thresholds

    The Public Health Ministry issued a directive setting a threshold for the possession of illegal drugs. Individuals found with quantities below this threshold will be classified as drug users and will not face criminal charges. This directive was issued by Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew and was announced in the Royal Gazette on February 9. This initiative is a companion…

  • Dark web leak reveals 19.7 million Thai older persons’ personal data

    Dark web leak reveals 19.7 million Thai older persons’ personal data

    A dark web data leak has exposed the personal details of 19.7 million members of the Department of Older Persons (DOP) in Thailand, sparking the Thailand Consumers Council to prompt immediate action. The council has implored the DOP to enlighten its members about the potential risks they face and to devise strategies that will ensure the protection of their data.…

  • BioThai urges caution over EU’s eased restrictions on gene-editing crops

    BioThai urges caution over EU’s eased restrictions on gene-editing crops

    BioThai, a leading environmental organisation, called for the Thai government to tread carefully in the wake of the European Parliament’s decision to ease restrictions on gene-editing crops, also known as new genomic techniques (NGTs). The European Parliament’s decision was made on February 7 and was accompanied by stringent regulations. After a vote of 307 in favour and 263 against, the…

  • Phuket fraudster’s hotel booking scam leaves 40 victims high and dry

    Phuket fraudster’s hotel booking scam leaves 40 victims high and dry

    A man from Phuket has been apprehended in Mae Hong Son for allegedly duping over 40 unsuspecting victims in an elaborate hotel booking scam. With damages estimated to be a staggering 800,000 baht, this cyber criminal’s web of lies has left a trail of frustrated tourists in its wake. The Phuket Express reports that the Cyber Crime Police recently made…

  • Classical music world mourns death of renowned Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa

    Classical music world mourns death of renowned Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa

    Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa, renowned for his vibrant style and cultural fusion, passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on Tuesday, February 6. The music maestro, whose career spanned decades, left an indelible mark on the world of Western classical music. From Chicago to Boston to Vienna, Ozawa mesmerized audiences with his East Asian sensibility, infusing his performances with…

  • German passenger’s terrifying mid-flight death leaves Lufthansa plane splattered in blood

    German passenger’s terrifying mid-flight death leaves Lufthansa plane splattered in blood

    On a Lufthansa flight from Bangkok to Munich, a 63 year old German passenger sparked panic in the cabin when he began spurting an endless flow of blood. The German passenger boarded the plane visibly ill. As the flight progressed, his condition rapidly deteriorated, causing panic among the passengers. Fellow passenger Martin Missfelder described the scene as absolute horror, with…

  • Pheu Thai’s Paetongtarn hopeful for Thaksin’s release on parole

    Pheu Thai’s Paetongtarn hopeful for Thaksin’s release on parole

    Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, expressed wishes for the release of her father, convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on parole. With the possibility of his release looming, Paetongtarn remains uncertain if her father’s name will be included in the Department of Corrections’ (DoC) list of eligible inmates for parole and special parole. Special parole is typically…

  • Thailand takes lead in Myanmar crisis: Calls for active role in finding peaceful solution

    Thailand takes lead in Myanmar crisis: Calls for active role in finding peaceful solution

    Thailand’s plan to provide humanitarian aid to displaced persons within Myanmar has earned praise from the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Noppadon Pattama. Speaking exclusively to Thai PBS World, Noppadon emphasised the urgency for the current Srettha Thavisin government to step up its efforts in resolving the conflict in Myanmar. Dubbing it a good starting point, Noppadon…

  • Party chief Suwat celebrates 69th birthday with prime minister

    Party chief Suwat celebrates 69th birthday with prime minister

    Chart Pattana Kla Party chief Suwat Liptapanlop celebrated his 69th birthday by hosting the prime minister and lending his backing to the government’s highly debated digital wallet policy. Despite facing opposition from the central bank and various government agencies, Suwat firmly believes that the controversial plan to distribute 10,000 baht to nearly every Thai aged 16 and above is crucial…

  • Chinese New Year celebrations across Thailand: Golden dragons, vibrant attire, and mouthwatering feasts

    Chinese New Year celebrations across Thailand: Golden dragons, vibrant attire, and mouthwatering feasts

    Chiang Mai has been transformed into a mesmerising spectacle as lion and golden dragon dance troupes from Bangkok took to the streets for the Chinese New Year celebrations. Store owners eagerly invited them inside, hoping to bask in the good luck and prosperity they brought. Meanwhile, at the iconic Tha Phae Gate, Chinese tourists swarmed, dressed in Thai traditional attire,…

  • ‘Pattaya flying club’: Romanian tourist plunges to death from hotel balcony

    ‘Pattaya flying club’: Romanian tourist plunges to death from hotel balcony

    A 63 year old Romanian tourist became the newest addition to the “Pattaya Flying Club” when he met with a fatal end after falling from the balcony of a seven-story hotel in Soi 5, Pattaya. The incident, which occurred yesterday morning has left the local community in a state of shock. Authorities were alerted to the incident at approximately 9.30am…