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...

  • Thai teachers pierce lips of 36 kids over gum mischief

    Thai teachers pierce lips of 36 kids over gum mischief

    A committee is probing a case where a Thai teacher subjected 36 seven to eight year olds to an outrageous punishment of using a safety pin to pierce the inner lips of every child in the primary 3 class at Wat Dan Samrong School in Mueang district, Samut Prakan. The shocking act unfolded when a 27 year old Thai teacher,…

  • Young mother jailed due to ID theft scam sparks cybersecurity overhaul

    Young mother jailed due to ID theft scam sparks cybersecurity overhaul

    A mother tricked into providing her national ID card information which was subsequently used for fraudulent activities, finds herself and her six month old baby behind bars. The case has prompted an urgent call to action from authorities and the public alike, as the hunt for the criminal syndicate intensifies. A plea for assistance was lodged today, January 26, with…

  • House in Bangkok deemed to have supernatural powers up for sale

    House in Bangkok deemed to have supernatural powers up for sale

    A house in Bangkok, deemed to have supernatural powers, has garnered viral attention as it goes up for sale. The supposedly supernatural house costs 33.3 million baht (US$934,500) and claims to see the past and future. Furthermore, allegedly, it can warn of potential dangers and make lottery predictions. A black hole is also claimed to be seen. A Facebook post…

  • Fire engulfs recyclable waste mountain in northern Thailand

    Fire engulfs recyclable waste mountain in northern Thailand

    A fire erupted atop a mound of recyclable waste at the headquarters of Wongpanit International Co Ltd in Phitsanulok province. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Over 20 fire engines and a multitude of firefighters battled for hours to wrestle the flames under control in the northern province’s Mueang district. Wongpanit, a recycling centre boasting over 2,000 franchise branches nationwide, witnessed…

  • Thai pervert caught on CCTV stealing clothes and flipflops for masturbation (video)

    Thai pervert caught on CCTV stealing clothes and flipflops for masturbation (video)

    A CCTV camera in an apartment in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok caught a Thai man with a rubber shoe fetish, stealing clothes and flipflops for kinky masturbation purposes. Police believe the man has previous form for this. A 76 year old Thai woman, who lives in an apartment in the Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi province, reported the pervert…

  • Northeast monsoon brings storms and high waves to southern Thailand

    Northeast monsoon brings storms and high waves to southern Thailand

    A strong northeast monsoon has led to a continuation of stormy weather, with the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issuing a warning for heavy rainfall in parts of southern Thailand. Residents are urged to brace for potential dangers as high winds and waves exceeding 3 metres are expected, prompting advisories against small vessels setting sail until January 27. The TMD, in…

  • MFP Pita: Double standards in Thaksin investigation

    MFP Pita: Double standards in Thaksin investigation

    Move Forward Party (MFP) Chief Advisor Pita Limjaroenrat denied any intentional negligence in the Thaksin Shinawatra investigation, sparking controversy over alleged double standards. Despite rising criticisms, Pita insists his party is on a mission for justice, aiming to expose systemic unfairness rather than targeting individuals. The 43 year old former MFP leader refuted claims of deliberate oversight in the investigation into…

  • Thai father attacks suspect who sexually assaulted his daughter

    Thai father attacks suspect who sexually assaulted his daughter

    A Thai father in the southern province of Chumphon tied up and brutally attacked an alleged pedophile who reportedly sexually assaulted his 11 year old daughter. Police said they could not arrest the pervert until they got results from the victim’s medical examination. The physical assault against the 42 year old Thai man was reported to the Phutta Phratheep Lang…

  • Thai rural school fights educational inequality with single teacher for 19 students

    Thai rural school fights educational inequality with single teacher for 19 students

    A rural school overseen by the Primary Education Office of Nakhon Phanom in Nong Yat subdistrict has only 19 students with one single teacher looking after the class. Thanyalak Deechan, the only teacher at the Dong Choke Ratsadon-uthit school, revealed to Thai PBS that the establishment caters to 19 students ranging from kindergarten to primary 6. To compound the challenge, the…

  • Mysterious death in Udon Thani: Woman found in park pond

    Mysterious death in Udon Thani: Woman found in park pond

    A woman’s body was discovered floating in a pond in Udon Thani, sparking a police investigation into the mysterious death. Around 11.50am today, January 26, a student stumbled upon the grim find in Nong Prachak Park, not far from the city centre. The body, presumed to be of a woman aged between 40-45 years old, showed no signs of physical…

  • German reporter allegedly makes up story about Thai police corruption

    German reporter allegedly makes up story about Thai police corruption

    A German man arrested in Pattaya last year for having sex with an underage girl insisted that he had never paid a 1 million baht bribe to Thai police. The man said a German reporter distorted and sensationalised the story from his interview to attract public attention. Police raided a nightclub, Cobra Beer Bar, in Pattaya for human trafficking in…

  • Update: British teacher arrested for sexual assault in Thailand

    Update: British teacher arrested for sexual assault in Thailand

    More details have emerged on the international school teacher in Thailand who sexually abused four young students aged seven to eight. David Brown, a 49 year old teacher from Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear, stands accused of luring children into his office during dinner breaks for purported extra English lessons. The horrifying revelations claim that Brown engaged in sex acts with…

  • Man caught with fake red plate on Mercedes in Nakhon Pathom

    Man caught with fake red plate on Mercedes in Nakhon Pathom

    Highway police apprehended a man driving a new Mercedes Benz with a red license plate after they discovered the plate was counterfeit. The driver, identified only as Wanchai, admitted to ordering the attractive number plate online. The incident occurred today when Police Major General Phakaphon Suchon along with Pol. Lieut. Col. Kla Sombatphibun inspected the area under their jurisdiction. They…

  • Chinese foreign minister begins four-day visit to Thailand

    Chinese foreign minister begins four-day visit to Thailand

    Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will sign a Thailand-China visa exemption agreement during his much-anticipated four-day official visit to Thailand. Wang Yi and his Thai counterpart, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, are prepared to co-sign the Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption. This deal will reshape the travel landscape for ordinary passport holders and passport-wielding public figures starting March 1. Starting…

  • Astrologer warns Leos and Geminis of end-of-month financial strain

    Astrologer warns Leos and Geminis of end-of-month financial strain

    Toward the month’s end, financial caution is the word on everyone’s lips, especially for those born under two particular zodiac signs. Thosaporn Sritula, a renowned astrologer, issued a stark warning for those under the signs of Leo and Gemini, advising a temporary halt to travel plans and discretionary spending due to financial instability. Even though incomes are steady and not…

  • American tourist found with magic mushrooms at police checkpoint in Kamala

    American tourist found with magic mushrooms at police checkpoint in Kamala

    An American tourist has been arrested for the possession of magic mushrooms in Kamala, Patong, Phuket. At a traffic checkpoint, officers stopped a Honda Click motorcycle at around 5.30pm on January 23, with 27 year old Egyptian Khaled Mohamed Abobakr and an American woman named Karima Salah Mohamed onboard. A shoulder bag was searched and dried buffalo dung mushrooms were…

  • Thai FDA warns against unsafe online cosmetics containing banned substances

    Thai FDA warns against unsafe online cosmetics containing banned substances

    Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a startling revelation about unsafe cosmetic products sold online. After collecting samples today, the regulatory body found banned substances, including hydroquinone, retinoic acid, and steroids, in five cosmetic items from an online store. These findings have triggered an urgent public announcement to warn consumers about the potential dangers of these products. The online…

  • Indonesian pickpocket gang nabbed at Bangkok mall after stealing 310,000 baht

    Indonesian pickpocket gang nabbed at Bangkok mall after stealing 310,000 baht

    An Indonesian gang specialising in pickpocketing was apprehended at a well-known shopping centre in Bangkok and swiftly brought to justice by police following a report from a Japanese victim. The culprits were caught yesterday (January 25) at around 8am, shortly after their ill-fated heist. The swift police action led to the recovery of a cache of items and the confession…

  • DSI probes Aranyaprathet police for alleged torture and false confession

    DSI probes Aranyaprathet police for alleged torture and false confession

    The 56 year old man, who was allegedly tortured into a false confession by Aranyaprathet police, is now under the spotlight of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). The contentious case revolves around the murder of Panya Khongsaenkham’s mentally unstable wife, 47 year old Buaphan Tansu, where he was initially made a scapegoat. Aranyaprathet police have been accused of coercing Panya…

  • Monkey mayhem: Phuket officials tackle trespass trouble and rampaging macaques in Khao Toh Sae

    Monkey mayhem: Phuket officials tackle trespass trouble and rampaging macaques in Khao Toh Sae

    The Phuket vice governor chaired a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of trespassing on Khao Toh Sae, Phuket, and the increasing cases of macaques attacking tourists and locals alike. Held at the offices of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO), government officials including those from the Phuket Provincial Ombudsman’s Office and Phuket Forestry were in attendance. Complaints have…

  • Ukrainian found dead on durian plantation in Koh Samui

    Ukrainian found dead on durian plantation in Koh Samui

    A 32 year old Ukrainian man was found lifeless, hanging from a durian tree in Koh Samui. Police and forensic officials, led by Police Captain Rawi Na Boonno, arrived at the durian plantation in the remote village of Moo 3 in the Maret subdistrict. The steep terrain required a four-wheel drive pickup truck to transport the investigators to the crime scene.…

  • Bear necessity: Swiss man sacrifices arm in bear attack

    Bear necessity: Swiss man sacrifices arm in bear attack

    A Swiss man cut off his right arm as a bear locked his teeth onto his arm and stubbornly refused to release its grip while he was volunteering at a wildlife foundation in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The 32 year old Swiss man is in a private hospital in Chiang Mai province after being attacked by the Asian black…

  • Tourism boom in Thailand: Hottest trends and bold predictions for 2024

    Tourism boom in Thailand: Hottest trends and bold predictions for 2024

    The Thailand Tourism Forum 2024 (TTF 2024) recently revealed that the tourism industry will be revived despite the shadows of the pandemic, igniting hope among industry leaders. Jesper Palmqvist, Managing Director of STR Global, predicts a surge in Thailand’s hospitality sector with the addition of 10,000 new hotel rooms this year. These establishments, primarily upper-midscale and luxurious, signify a robust…

  • Tourists survive speedboat crash in Trat

    Tourists survive speedboat crash in Trat

    A tourist speedboat crashed into a reef 16 miles off the Laem Thian area on Koh Kut, Trat on January 24. The Trat Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Center (CARDC) dispatched three marine rescue speedboats at 2.30pm to the island with the aid of 12 tourists and three crew members who were stranded. However, at one point the rescue teams…

  • Thailand braces for rainstorms, Bangkok faces minor impact

    Thailand braces for rainstorms, Bangkok faces minor impact

    A significant weather warning has been issued today by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), cautioning of potent rainstorms expected to hit 12 provinces, including a minor impact on Bangkok. The upper parts of Thailand woke to a cool to cold morning with strong winds at 5am today, January 26, as a robust high-pressure system continues to dominate the country and…

  • Thai man arrested for attempted murder in Pattaya

    Thai man arrested for attempted murder in Pattaya

    Pattaya police collared a 19 year old Thai man for an attempted murder incident that unfolded on January 24. The Thai man, Yanarot Suthi, was apprehended under an arrest warrant issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court on January 17. The list of charges against him includes attempted murder, possession of explosives, illegal possession of firearms, and causing an explosion that…

  • Monks reveal details on vicious elephant attack in West Thailand

    Monks reveal details on vicious elephant attack in West Thailand

    Details have emerged regarding a fatal elephant attack that occurred on January 23 in the Sri Sawat district of Kanchanaburi. Reports flooded in when a village head received alarming news from locals that the lifeless body of 50 year old Phra Maha Bancha, a monk on a spiritual journey, had fallen victim to a brutal elephant attack. The gruesome scene unfolded…

  • Bueng Kan family mourns as man with kidney issues found dead

    Bueng Kan family mourns as man with kidney issues found dead

    A family in Bueng Kan province faced a tragic loss when a 47 year old man unexpectedly died at home. The man, who held a Master’s degree, was found unresponsive in his bathroom yesterday, January 25. The local police, led by Deputy Inspector Kritphak Muakswai, were alerted to the incident and arrived at the scene alongside medical personnel from Bueng…

  • Germany backs Thailand’s pursuit of becoming regional EV hub

    Germany backs Thailand’s pursuit of becoming regional EV hub

    Germany pledged to increase its stake in the electric vehicle (EV) sector in Thailand, paving the way for the nation to emerge as a regional EV hub, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. This announcement was made during a press briefing on Thursday, following a discussion with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany, who is on a three-day official visit to…

  • Spice heist: Thai raid uncovers fake seasoning factory, Chinese investor behind RosDee racket

    Spice heist: Thai raid uncovers fake seasoning factory, Chinese investor behind RosDee racket

    The Thai authorities swooped on a fake seasoning powder factory, arresting five suspects and revealing a Chinese investor behind the operation. The counterfeit goods, bearing the brand name RosDee, were seized across three provinces. A significant counterfeit seasoning operation has been dismantled by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Thailand, following coordinated raids across Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Ayutthaya provinces. The…