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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
-
Thai economy loses steam: UTCC’s growth forecast trims to 3%
With an anticipated dip in exports and a delay in state budget preparation, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) revised its economic growth forecast for the current year to 3%, a decline from the previously estimated 3.6% in December last year. The revised growth forecast is reflective of new government measures aimed at lowering the cost of…
-
Severe flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima sparks fears of 1980 disaster repeat
Torrential rains triggered severe flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima causing residents to hastily evacuate their homes. The situation has raised concerns of a repeat of the devastating floods of 1980. The Thai authorities are closely monitoring the situation, especially in the Lam Takhong area. Khao Yai National Park Head, Chaiya Huay Hongs Thong, reported that the depression storm has led to…
-
TV host left scarred after beauty treatment botch-up at popular Thai clinic
A beauty clinic client shared her traumatic experience after a beauty procedure went wrong, resulting in severe burns on her face. The beauty treatment was carried out by a new employee who apparently adjusted the equipment incorrectly. The client, named only as Am, works as a TV show host. She has been left in agony, unable to work, and facing…
-
Taxi turmoil on Pattaya Beach Road: Bangkok driver’s threatening encounter
In the early hours yesterday, Pattaya City Police received a complaint from a Bangkok taxi driver alleging that he was threatened by an unidentified man he believed to be a Pattaya taxi driver. The incident took place on Pattaya Beach Road, where Chanai Waisuwan was trapped in a traffic jam while heading back to Bangkok after dropping off a passenger…
-
Phuket set for 148 billion baht infrastructure boost to uplift tourism
The renowned resort island of Phuket is set to undergo a significant infrastructural facelift, courtesy of a proposed budget of 148 billion baht by the Transport Ministry. The ambitious Phuket infrastructure upgrade plan includes the addition of a second airport on the island, a move aimed at transforming Phuket into a prime regional tourism hub. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit disclosed the…
-
Thailand’s lucky L6: Your shot at 180 million baht lottery jackpot begins October 1
The Government Lottery Office of Thailand announced the launch of a six-digit lottery, referred to as L6, with the first draw set for Sunday, October 1. This new lottery offers the chance to win up to 180 million baht. This L6 will be sold in paper form as well as digital format, according to the announcement. The sale of L6…
-
Mother Kali ceremony: Devotees flock to Kamphaeng Phet hoping for luck
Hundreds of devotees today gathered at the residence of Mother Kali, a famous spiritual medium in Kamphaeng Phet, to participate in a sacred ceremony. Believers consider Mother Kali, a Hindu deity, as a transformation of the terrifying goddess Uma Devi. Despite her fearsome appearance, Kali is believed to be compassionate and benevolent, helping those who pray with sincerity to achieve…
-
Lotus’s go pet-friendly shopping paw-tnership in 100 stores in Thailand
Popular supermarket chain Lotus’s announced the trial of a pet-friendly mall model allowing customers to shop alongside their beloved pets in 100 stores across the country. The global trend of pet humanisation is growing, driven by pet owners who view their furry companions as family members or see themselves as their pets’ parents. These devoted pet parents spare no effort, both…
-
Thailand and Cambodia to boost bilateral trade
Thailand’s commitment to deepen ties with Cambodia has been firmly established, with both nations aiming to boost bilateral trade volume to US$15 billion (551 billion baht) by 2025. This was confirmed by government spokesman, Chai Wacharonke, following a significant meeting between Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet. The meeting, which took place in Phnom Penh,…
-
Thai-UAE free trade agreement 80% finalised, may boost Thai GDP
Progress is being made in the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Thailand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with discussions now reportedly 80% finalised. This update comes from Thailand’s Commerce Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, who recently held talks with the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. Phumtham revealed agreements have been made in…
-
Fraudulent scheme: Thai model Emmy Maxim and secretary sentenced
A prominent 37 year old model and her personal secretary have been ordered by the court to serve two-month and 40-day detention respectively for their involvement in a fraudulent share scheme. Their victims included ten individuals who collectively filed a lawsuit after suffering significant financial losses. The initial court ruling dismissed the charges, which prompted the plaintiffs to appeal. The appellate…
-
Mastering patience: How Thai Buddhism and poker share wisdom
Poker can be a ritualistic practice for its most dedicated players. The very best to step up to the poker table will have set rules, practices, and traditions on how to approach the game. As such, their actions can resemble the deeply religious. So what elements can Thai Buddhism teach us poker site players? What is Thai Buddhism, Again? The…
-
Thai authorities uncover illegal e-waste importation at three factories in central Thailand
An illegal importation of electronic waste, or e-waste, was uncovered during a raid by the Department of Industrial Works and the Pollution Control Department. They discovered over a thousand tonnes of the waste in three factories located in Pathum Thani and Chachoengsao provinces. The inspection took place today, initiated by Police Lieutenant General Puthidech Bungrapheu, of the Office of the…
-
Torsak Sukvimol approved as Thailand’s new national police chief
The Police Commission officially approved the appointment of Deputy National Police Chief General Torsak Sukvimol to the position of national police chief. Torsak will take over from Police General Damrongsak Kittiprapas, who is set to retire on Saturday, September 30. The decision was made during a meeting of the Police Commission, chaired by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, at the Royal…
-
Two dead in Nakhon Phanom-Rayong bus crash: Sleep-deprived driver suspected
A bus crash on the Nakhon Phanom-Rayong route resulted in two fatalities and two injuries. The incident occurred at about 10.30am today. The bus veered off the road and crashed into a concrete barrier on the edge of the motorway. Traffic investigator Prakarn Pladech from Huay Yai Police Station reported the incident and emergency response units from several agencies rushed…
-
Thai university student arrested over illicit child content trade on Line platform
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) forwarded a case involving a well-known university student who administered a covert group sharing explicit child content. The individual circulated the illicit material and advertised it for sale to minors under 18 years of age on the Line platform, with prices ranging from 150 to 500 baht (US$4 to US$14). This information was revealed…
-
Tee turmoil: Husband’s golf caddy ‘mistress’ request sees wife slice wildy
A Thai man almost found himself on the fairway to heaven after he asked his wife if he could take his golf caddy as a mistress – she stabbed him three times in Chon Buri province. Officers from Don Hua Lor Police Station swung into action today, September 28, heading to a rented room in Mueang Chon Buri district, Chon…
-
Dams draining, Ubon drowning: PM voices dual flooding woes in Thailand
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin voiced concerns regarding the diminishing water levels in major reservoirs and dams across the nation, even as the province of Ubon Ratchathani endures severe flooding. The prime minister, accompanied by the agriculture minister, Captain Thammanat Prompow, was apprised of the situation at the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) on Wednesday. In the briefing, the 61 year old…
-
LAO officer’s pill-fering antics: Trafficking two million amphetamine pills
A senior officer from a Local Administrative Organisation (LAO) in Lopburi province has been apprehended for trafficking two million amphetamine tablets. The officer, who confessed to having been involved in 12 such operations, was paid 150,000 baht per job. Police officers from Chiang Rai’s Provincial Police Division, Pan Police Station, Border Patrol Police Division 5, Northern Border Drug Prevention and…
-
Thai woman linked to fatal scam arrested at Cambodia border
A 22 year old woman was apprehended at the Aranyaprathet immigration checkpoint in Sa Kaeo while returning from Cambodia for her involvement in a fatal scam. The arrest was made yesterday, September 27, shortly after the woman, Jirapinya Naeyued, crossed the border through the Ban Khlong Luk checkpoint from Poipet town in Cambodia. The woman was arrested on charges of…
-
Frisky fruits found in Thai village: Locals amused by nature’s naughty creations
A 70 year old local from Thung Kachai, Kuea Wiang, Dok Khamtai, Phayao, Thailand, discovered two uncommon fruits, one from a local jackfruit tree and the other from a lime tree, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a penis and a vagina. The jackfruit, although small and brown, similar to a duck’s egg, had an odd protrusion in its centre, bearing…
-
Salesman hospitalised after pickup truck collides with parked trailer in northern Thailand
A major traffic collision left a salesman hospitalised and rocked the Mae Sot District community in the early morning hours of this morning on Chalerm Thep Road, Tak Province, northern Thailand. The unfortunate incident at 6am involved a pickup truck, under the control of a 29 year old salesman, which collided with the rear of a parked trailer. The impact…
-
Batwoman’s viral revelation: 20 new bat coronaviruses raise alarm bells
A groundbreaking study spearheaded by Batwoman recently brought to light over 20 new strains of coronaviruses harboured by bats, all of which embody a high risk of transmission to humans. This is no blood-sucking joke. The discovery has sparked global apprehension regarding the looming threat of subsequent outbreaks. Dr Shi Zhengli, director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at…
-
Baht-tered and bruised: Bahraini’s pocket picked by Pattaya transwoman
In a twist of misfortune, a Bahraini man ended up at Mueang Pattaya Police Station seeking assistance after falling victim to a Thai transwoman pickpocket in Pattaya, leaving him 10,000 baht lighter The foreign victim, 55 year old Hasan Almuqahwi, reported the incident to Thai police at 1am today, September 28. He explained that a Thai woman and a transwoman…
-
Central Thailand’s ‘high’ note: Historic drug bust lands four in cuffs
A significant drug bust occurred in Nakhon Pathom province late last night, resulting in the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of the largest amount of narcotics ever recorded in a single operation in Thailand. The operation, part of an ongoing drug suppression mission, took place at a house in the Mueang district of Nakhon Pathom, where yesterday, September…
-
Cat-astrophe: Ayutthaya homeowner’s pet swallowed by python
A large python was found in a house in Ayutthaya province after it fell through the ceiling. The snake had consumed a rare breed of cat, known as a Khao Manee, before being captured by rescue workers and returned to the wild. The house owner, 33 year old Chonisara Rujinath, was shocked to discover the snake in her home, particularly…
-
Thailand’s DES ministry launches Anti Online Scam Centre amid rising fraud
Amidst growing concerns over online fraud, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), in unison with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) police and other associated agencies, is launching an Anti Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC). The AOC, which begins its operations on November 1, is set to function as a war room, implementing technology to provide intelligent assistance,…
-
Pickpocketing pair pinched: Cambodian couple confesses to Bangkok crime spree
Police arrested a Cambodian couple for more than 100 pickpocketing offences in different areas of Bangkok. The Khmer couple confessed to their crimes and revealed that they had learned their dishonest skills from Vietnamese thieves in Thailand. Pickpocketing complaints from both Thais and foreigners in various business districts of Bangkok, such as Sukhumvit, Nan, Silom, and Sathon, started pouring into…
-
Gemstone caper: DSI rocks the boat, suing 32 scammers in 227 million baht bluff
The Special Case Investigation Department (DSI) filed a lawsuit against a scammer and her 31 associates for soliciting fraudulent investment in precious gemstones, causing damages exceeding 227 million baht. The case encompasses over 50,000 documents and the suspects will be handed over to the prosecutor on September 28. The DSI revealed that the Financial Business Crime Division had been investigating…
-
Prachin Buri villages soaked as forest stream’s overflow leads to distress in central Thailand
Rapid rainfall across Prachin Buri province in central Thailand caused a forest stream from Thap Lan National Park to overflow into Khlong Lam Phaya Than, resulting in the flooding of five villages. It has been reported that residents are greatly distressed by the event, and schools have been ordered to close for one day. The stream, originating between Wang Nam…
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.