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

    12Go introduces Japan Rail Passes to enhance travel accessibility for international travellers

    For those who have travelled throughout Thailand, 12Go is a well-known provider of various trips, though the platform itself has a much wider reach. Ranging from buses to planes, 12Go is undoubtedly a leading booking platform for travel throughout the...

  • Alcohol misuse linked to death of Buriram man

    Alcohol misuse linked to death of Buriram man

    A 54 year old man was found dead in his home in the Chaloem Phra Kiat district of Buriram yesterday, January 12. The man, known as Vinai, had been drinking alcohol regularly from morning until night, according to his sister. Local police and emergency services responded to the scene. The deceased was discovered in a single-room concrete house, lying on…

  • South Korea to upgrade airport structures after Jeju Air crash

    South Korea to upgrade airport structures after Jeju Air crash

    South Korea is set to enhance the structures housing the antennas that facilitate landings at its airports, following the December incident where a Jeju Air aeroplane crashed after skidding off the runway. The Boeing 737-800 hit one such structure at Muan Airport, leading to a fire. The Transport Ministry has been assessing safety at airlines and airports since the crash…

  • Catamaran catastrophe avoided: Foreign tourists saved off Phuket

    Catamaran catastrophe avoided: Foreign tourists saved off Phuket

    Disaster was narrowly averted today as a catamaran carrying 38 foreign tourists capsized off the coast of Phuket, prompting a panicked scramble before nearby speedboats rushed to the rescue. At around 1pm today, January 13, the catamaran Emiray 888 found itself in deep trouble. As it set sail from Chalong Pier in Phuket’s Mueang district for a day trip to…

  • Chiang Rai hospital error leads to death of woman in dental surgery

    Chiang Rai hospital error leads to death of woman in dental surgery

    A family in the northern province of Chiang Rai is seeking compensation from a private hospital for the death of a Thai woman who suffocated during dental surgery. The deceased, 33 year old Katesuda Buanark, passed away at a private hospital in Chiang Rai on December 19 last year. Katesuda primarily resided in Singapore with her husband and nine year…

  • DoE warns against illegal job agencies after 10 million baht scam

    DoE warns against illegal job agencies after 10 million baht scam

    The Department of Employment (DoE) has advised those seeking overseas employment to verify agencies with the DoE to prevent falling prey to illegal operators. This caution comes after 50 individuals from Nakhon Ratchasima reported to the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (ATPD) that they were swindled out of 10 million baht by agents promising jobs in South Korea. Yesterday, January 12, DoE…

  • Rice to the occasion: Commerce Ministry fast-tracks SME trade talks

    Rice to the occasion: Commerce Ministry fast-tracks SME trade talks

    The Commerce Ministry is moving to accelerate the liberalisation of rice trade, with a meeting planned for January 17. This session aims to finalise strategies to assist small enterprises in becoming rice exporters, targeting concrete outcomes in the first quarter of the year. During a meeting on January 10 to discuss pressing policies, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan instructed all departments…

  • Frost warning: Phetchabun chills hit a cool -3 Celsius

    Frost warning: Phetchabun chills hit a cool -3 Celsius

    In Nam Nao district, Phetchabun province, temperatures have dropped to a chilling -3 degrees Celsius, with frost covering the ground and car rooftops. In 2023, the temperature reached a record low of -5 degrees Celsius. The provincial governor urged close monitoring of the situation. A Facebook user reported that today, January 13, they awoke at 4am to find the temperature…

  • Built-in loan apps raise data security fears for Oppo and Realme users

    Built-in loan apps raise data security fears for Oppo and Realme users

    The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society urged representatives of the electronics company Oppo and its subsidiary Realme to clarify allegations of illegal data collection from built-in loan apps found on their smartphones. A technology-focused social media influencer, known as คุณลุงไอที (Khun Lung IT, meaning IT uncle), took to his official Facebook page to warn Oppo and Realme smartphone users…

  • Protesters accuse Thai govt of favouring Thaksin in hospital stay

    Protesters accuse Thai govt of favouring Thaksin in hospital stay

    A group of protesters plans to submit a letter to the government, criticising it for allegedly granting former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra special treatment at Police General Hospital last year. Thaksin, who was meant to be serving a prison sentence for abuse of power, was reportedly allowed to remain in hospital instead, according to former red shirt leader, 58 year…

  • Honda CR-V crash causes power outage in eastern Thailand

    Honda CR-V crash causes power outage in eastern Thailand

    A Honda CR-V collided with electricity poles, causing three to fall and damage a car, resulting in a widespread power outage. The driver is missing. The incident occurred at 9pm yesterday, January 12, when Police Lieutenant Colonel Nopadon Thaweecharat from Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao province, was informed of the accident in front of Grand Village on Sukhumvit Road, heading towards…

  • Forest fires in Pak Chong extinguished after eight-day battle

    Forest fires in Pak Chong extinguished after eight-day battle

    Forest fires on Khao Loi mountain in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima, have been extinguished after burning for eight days. Officials suspect the fires were initiated to facilitate a wildlife hunt. Chaiwat Chuenkosum, governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, stated that multiple agencies, including the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), the Royal Forest Department, and local administration, collaborated…

  • Thai police intercept pickup with illegal Burmese migrants

    Thai police intercept pickup with illegal Burmese migrants

    Thai police intercepted a pickup truck carrying six illegal Burmese migrants in Kanchanaburi province. Yesterday, January 12, a joint operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of two Myanmar nationals. They were allegedly paid 3,000 baht per person to transport the undocumented migrants. Police Major General Nakarin Sukonthawit, commander of Kanchanaburi provincial police, received a tip-off about…

  • Swimming, tourist boats banned at Phi Phi Island due to rough seas

    Swimming, tourist boats banned at Phi Phi Island due to rough seas

    Officials have temporarily banned swimming and tourist boats at Phi Phi Island due to strong winds and rough seas. Officials have placed red flags along the beaches in Koh Phai, Ao Nang subdistrict, Mueang Krabi district, and other marine tourist areas to ensure safety. This decision was made yesterday, January 12, following continuous strong winds in the afternoon. Emergency personnel,…

  • Belgian kite surfer’s final flight: Tragedy strikes in Khao Kalok

    Belgian kite surfer’s final flight: Tragedy strikes in Khao Kalok

    A Belgian kite surfer lost his life after being swept away by a massive wave and trapped headfirst in a rocky crevice at Khao Kalok near Pran Buri. Despite valiant rescue efforts, his life was tragically cut short as he remained pinned 4 metres deep amidst the unforgiving rocks. Pak Nam Pran Police Radio Centre today, January 13, received an…

  • Bangkok man arrested for motorcycle theft after licence plate swap

    Bangkok man arrested for motorcycle theft after licence plate swap

    A patrol unit from Phetkasem apprehended a 37 year old man for motorcycle theft, catching him in the act as he attempted to swap out the licence plate of the stolen motorcycle. The arrest occurred yesterday, January 12 at 3pm, in the Lak Song subdistrict, Bang Khae district, Bangkok. The suspect, 37 year old Chaiyot “Boy” Boonyawong, confessed to stealing…

  • 17 arrested: Phuket police roll the dice on illegal gambling

    17 arrested: Phuket police roll the dice on illegal gambling

    Phuket City police swooped down on an illegal gambling den in Phuket Town on 12 January, bagging 17 people in the process of a dramatic after-dark sting. The raid, executed with precision by officers in tandem with provincial police, caught the crooks red-handed at a residence on Soi Wichit Songkhram 4, just after 9pm. Upon arrival, officers immediately sensed something…

  • Police intercept over 200 motorbikes in Kanchanaburi for violations

    Police intercept over 200 motorbikes in Kanchanaburi for violations

    Over 200 motorbikes from the Nam Mai Arb gang were intercepted by police in Kanchanaburi for various legal violations. The gang, travelling from Nong Khao Police Station in Tha Mueang district towards Kanchanaburi City, was stopped by police at 7.10am yesterday, January 12, after receiving reports from locals about their noisy presence on Highway 324. Upon receiving the report, Police…

  • Nakhon Pathom police seize 79 kg of meth in drug bust

    Nakhon Pathom police seize 79 kg of meth in drug bust

    Police in Nakhon Pathom arrested two suspects and seized over 70 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine hidden in a secret room beneath a staircase. The drugs were intended for distribution, with one suspect denying all charges. Yesterday, January 12, at 11pm, senior police officers, including Police Major General Chomchawin Purathananon and Police Colonel Phongsakorn Uppapong, along with other local officials, conducted…

  • Thailand video news | Taxi driver slashes passenger in Bangkok, Japan’s ‘Cuddle Cafes’ combat loneliness

    Thailand video news | Taxi driver slashes passenger in Bangkok, Japan’s ‘Cuddle Cafes’ combat loneliness

    In today’s Thailand video news, Alex delivers a comprehensive roundup of stories from across Thailand and Asia. From a shocking altercation in Bangkok’s Silom district to a human skeleton discovery in Chon Buri, the coverage highlights key incidents making headlines. Other stories include an update on Thailand’s weather warnings, the lifting of Phuket’s building restrictions, and a lawsuit by Leicester…

  • Making waves: Miss Grand Roi Et turns up heat with sexy swimwear

    Making waves: Miss Grand Roi Et turns up heat with sexy swimwear

    The Miss Grand Roi Et 2025 beauty pageant ignited quite a stir, thanks to a daring choice of swimwear that sent social media into a frenzied meltdown. Contestants strutted their stuff in swimsuits that some deemed trendy but others branded as inappropriate because they aren’t practical to wear for a swim. Held on Saturday, January 11, the pageant didn’t shy…

  • Thailand and China unite to tackle call centre scams and trafficking

    Thailand and China unite to tackle call centre scams and trafficking

    Thailand and China have joined forces to combat call centre scams, human trafficking, and transnational crime, with a focus on locating missing individuals who have been deceived into travelling to neighbouring countries. A meeting was held yesterday, January 12 at the Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok, attended by senior officials from both nations. Police General Thatchai Pitanilabutr, the National…

  • Royal Thai Air Force selects Gripen jets in 19 billion baht deal

    Royal Thai Air Force selects Gripen jets in 19 billion baht deal

    The Defence Ministry is backing the Royal Thai Air Force‘s (RTAF) decision to select Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets over the American F-16 aircraft, as announced by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Phumtham, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, provided insights into the 19 billion baht (US$547 million) plan for acquiring four new fighter jets. The RTAF has opted for Gripen…

  • Phuket scam busted: Con artist’s mule accounts hit a dead end

    Phuket scam busted: Con artist’s mule accounts hit a dead end

    Phuket police slammed the brakes on a staggering 22 million baht scam operation, ensnaring a suspect accused of creating mule accounts for a crafty con gang, with one even masquerading as a top politician The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) revealed that the devious group duped unsuspecting victims by impersonating a well-known political figure, luring them into investing in a…

  • Foreign man found dead after fall from 23-storey Bangkok building

    Foreign man found dead after fall from 23-storey Bangkok building

    A foreign man was found dead after falling from a 23-storey building in the Phaya Thai area of Bangkok. The incident occurred at 5.30pm yesterday, January 12, with his body discovered inside a school’s perimeter. No identification documents were found on him. Police Lieutenant Weerachai Kaewsanga from Phaya Thai Police Station received a report about the fall near Si Ayutthaya…

  • Clearing the air: Bangkok takes a breather with work-from-home push

    Clearing the air: Bangkok takes a breather with work-from-home push

    Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt today is rolling out a novel work-from-home initiative alongside a push to expand the clean air shelter project in more schools, all in a bid to tackle the city’s relentless PM2.5 pollution problem. The 58 year old city chief noted a breath of fresh air yesterday, January 12, with improved air quality in Bangkok, as PM2.5 levels…

  • Thai transwoman caught with crystal meth while filing police report

    Thai transwoman caught with crystal meth while filing police report

    A Thai transwoman went from being a victim of theft to a drug suspect after unexpectedly presenting crystal methamphetamine to officers at Bang Lamung Police Station in Chon Buri. The 31 year old transwoman, Nattaphon, arrived at the police station at around 9.30pm on Friday, January 10, to report that a Thai man named Porramate had stolen the key to…

  • Myanmar driver hits pedestrian on Vibhavadi Rangsit, fatal accident

    Myanmar driver hits pedestrian on Vibhavadi Rangsit, fatal accident

    A Myanmar national driving a black Chevrolet pickup truck reportedly struck a pedestrian, resulting in a fatality, on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Pathum Thani, yesterday, January 12. The incident occurred near a previous bus fire tragedy that claimed 23 lives. Police and medical personnel responded promptly to the scene. The accident took place on the inbound express lane of Vibhavadi Rangsit…

  • Heartbroken Irish mum honours ‘special son’ lost in Thailand

    Heartbroken Irish mum honours ‘special son’ lost in Thailand

    The mother of a young Irishman paid tribute to her “special son” who died last week while scuba diving in Thailand. The heartbroken mother is now trying to repatriate the body of her beloved 21 year old son from County Clare, whose life was tragically cut short in Koh Tao. Robert “Robby” Kinlan, died unexpectedly on January 9 while on…

  • 15 year old British-Thai girl rescued after years of rape by mother’s lover

    15 year old British-Thai girl rescued after years of rape by mother’s lover

    The Be One organisation rescued a 15 year old half-Thai, half-British girl in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, after her Thai mother’s lover had raped her for four years since she was 11. Be One’s founder, Chalida “Ton Or” Palamart, accompanied the 15 year old British-Thai girl and her 41 year old aunt to file a complaint against the girl’s…

  • Two men arrested for cable theft in Bangkok’s Si Phraya area

    Two men arrested for cable theft in Bangkok’s Si Phraya area

    Two men were arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing communication cables in the Si Phraya area in Bangkok. The suspects were apprehended by police after suspicious behaviour was observed, including inconsistent explanations for their presence at the scene. The arrest was conducted by a team led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and several other senior officers, including Police Major General…