News

Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.

  • Sponsored

    Travel vs international health insurance: Which coverage do you need overseas?

    The Thaiger key takeaways Travel insurance is ideal for short-term trips, covering emergencies, cancellations, and lost luggage, but not routine care. International health insurance suits expats and long-term residents, offering full medical coverage, including checkups, maternity, and chronic care. Choosing...

  • Thai police chief hits back at claims RTP is crime syndicate | Thaiger

    Thai police chief hits back at claims RTP is crime syndicate

    Thailand’s police chief has defended the force after facing accusations from outside critics who claimed it operates as a large-scale criminal organisation. Police General Kittirat Panphet, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), has fiercely defended his organisation against allegations that it operates as a “large-scale criminal organisation.” Speaking yesterday, November 6, Big Tai, as he’s widely known, addressed the…

  • Thai man found dead hanging from electric pole in Chon Buri | Thaiger

    Thai man found dead hanging from electric pole in Chon Buri

    A Thai man reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a roadside electric pole in Samet sub-district, Chon Buri. His motives currently remain under investigation. Officers from Samet Police Station, together with rescuers from the Trikunatham Foundation, investigated the death of the 48 year old Thai man in the Sajja Suan Luang community at around 5am today, November 5, following…

  • UK mum’s Thailand trip ruined over son’s passport sticker mark | Thaiger

    UK mum’s Thailand trip ruined over son’s passport sticker mark

    A British mum claims her family was barred from flying to Thailand after airline staff said a faint sticker mark had damaged her son’s passport. Meghan Law, a 33 year old NHS nurse from Aberdeen, was due to fly from Edinburgh to Phuket with her two children on October 8 for a two-week, £3,000 (approximately 133,000 Thai baht) family getaway…

  • Police pose as joggers to catch foreigners hosting drug party in Koh Pha Ngan | Thaiger

    Police pose as joggers to catch foreigners hosting drug party in Koh Pha Ngan

    Police officers disguised as joggers yesterday, November 6, arrested two foreign men for hosting a drug party at a house on Koh Pha Ngan, and seized cocaine from the suspects. Officers from Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police received a tip-off about suspicious behaviour at a rented house on the island. The informant reported that several foreigners were making loud noises…

  • Vietjet goes green with SAF as jet delivery hits more delays | Thaiger

    Vietjet goes green with SAF as jet delivery hits more delays

    A budget airline has begun using sustainable aviation fuel on select routes while facing delays in new aircraft deliveries due to external disruptions. Vietjet Thailand has kicked off its first flights using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), becoming the latest low-cost carrier to go green while grappling with delayed aircraft deliveries. The airline launched SAF-powered operations on its…

  • Officials raid Chon Buri plant over foul stench complaints | Thaiger

    Officials raid Chon Buri plant over foul stench complaints

    Officials inspected a recycling plant in Chon Buri after residents complained about foul odours, uncovering waste violations and environmental concerns. The inspection, carried out on November 5, was led by Ploylapas Singtothong, adviser to the industry minister, as part of the “Full Throttle” mobile inspection campaign. The facility, located in Bo Kwang Thong subdistrict, handles industrial waste processes including sorting,…

  • Thai royals to make historic China visit for golden friendship | Thaiger

    Thai royals to make historic China visit for golden friendship

    Thailand’s monarchs will make a state visit to China following an invitation from the president, to mark a key diplomatic anniversary between the nations. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida will embark on a historic state visit to China from November 13 to 17, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit commemorates 50 years of diplomatic ties…

  • 4 foreign tourists rescued after speedboat stranded off Phuket | Thaiger

    4 foreign tourists rescued after speedboat stranded off Phuket

    Four foreign tourists were safely rescued after their speedboat became stranded on rocks near Maiton Island in Phuket yesterday. Vice Admiral Weerudom Muangjeen, Commander of the Third Naval Area Command, ordered officers from the Third Naval Area Command and the Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre Region 3 to rescue the four tourists after receiving a report that their speedboat was hit…

  • Typhoon lashes coast as Thailand braces for flooding risk | Thaiger

    Typhoon lashes coast as Thailand braces for flooding risk

    Thailand braces for severe weather as a typhoon moves inland, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and flood risks to several regions across the country. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of widespread rainfall, strong winds and isolated heavy to very heavy downpours across the northeast, especially in provinces such as Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Sisaket, and Surin. Residents in…

  • Thai senator sues ex-news anchor over Facebook post about alleged theft | Thaiger

    Thai senator sues ex-news anchor over Facebook post about alleged theft

    A Thai senator is taking legal action against a former news anchor for defamation after she shared a Facebook post about his alleged theft on an expressway in 2021. The 40 year old former news anchor, Natthasinee “Kwan” Pinyopiyavid, visited Na Jomtien Police Station in Chon Buri yesterday, November 5, to acknowledge the defamation accusation made by a senator whose…

  • UK sanctions hit Thai firms over Russia war links | Thaiger

    UK sanctions hit Thai firms over Russia war links

    The UK has sanctioned four Thai companies for allegedly aiding Russia’s war in Ukraine, prompting Thai authorities to warn businesses of reputational risks. Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade (DFT), under the Ministry of Commerce, confirmed the development following an announcement by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The UK’s latest round of designations targeted 39 individuals and entities…

  • Bangkok hauls in 390k krathongs after quieter festival night | Thaiger

    Bangkok hauls in 390k krathongs after quieter festival night

    City Hall workers in Bangkok collected over 390,000 krathong floats after the Loy Krathong Festival, marking a notable drop from the previous year’s total. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials collected a total of 391,027 krathong floats from canals, rivers and lakes across the capital following last night’s (November 5) Loy Krathong festival, a 24% drop compared to the same event…

  • Thai tourism chiefs urge bold fixes to win back visitors | Thaiger

    Thai tourism chiefs urge bold fixes to win back visitors

    Tourism experts gathered in Bangkok to discuss how Thailand can regain traveller confidence, adapt to new demands, and boost its global tourism standing. Thailand must move quickly to restore tourist confidence, enhance safety, and offer modern, meaningful experiences if it wants to remain a top global destination, experts said during The Nation Visionary Club’s latest roundtable, Rebuilding Thai Tourism Trend:…

  • Trusted transwoman helper accused of stealing gold from elderly woman | Thaiger

    Trusted transwoman helper accused of stealing gold from elderly woman

    Police arrested a Thai transwoman for stealing a gold necklace from a 68 year old woman in Sattahip, Chon Buri province. The 68 year old victim, Maew, filed a complaint with Sattahip Police Station on November 3 after her gold necklace, worth around 31,000 baht, went missing. Maew told officers she suspected the transwoman, later identified as 48 year old…

  • Thai man arrested in Pattaya for sawing off police wheel lock | Thaiger

    Thai man arrested in Pattaya for sawing off police wheel lock

    A man was arrested in Pattaya after he attempted to saw off a police wheel lock in a public area following a parking violation and a domestic dispute. The incident unfolded on November 4 along South Pattaya Road, where 37 year old Watcharapong Phangnamdam, a native of Kalasin province, parked his Yamaha Filano motorcycle in a restricted zone. Police responded…

  • Phuket braces for floods as storm lashes Andaman coast | Thaiger

    Phuket braces for floods as storm lashes Andaman coast

    Phuket officials have warned residents to prepare for flash floods, heavy rain, and strong winds as a powerful monsoon system moves across the island. Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra has issued an urgent public warning as intensified southwesterly monsoon winds fuel extreme weather across the Andaman coast. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts continuous rainfall from November 5 to 10, with…

  • Thai tourism shines in London with wellness-themed showcase | Thaiger

    Thai tourism shines in London with wellness-themed showcase

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) led 50 Thai businesses to the World Travel Market (WTM) 2025 in London, aiming to court high-spending long-haul travellers with a strong focus on health and wellness tourism. Held from November 4 to November 6 (today) at ExCeL London, WTM is one of the world’s premier travel trade shows. Thailand’s pavilion this year was…

  • Chon Buri man threatens neighbour with gun in cat-related dispute | Thaiger

    Chon Buri man threatens neighbour with gun in cat-related dispute

    A Thai man threatened his neighbour with a gun on Tuesday, November 4, after the neighbour’s cat ate grass in front of his home in Chon Buri province. The 53 year old victim, Yongyot, reached out to several news agencies out of concern for himself, his family members, and his cat named Panda. The incident occurred on Tuesday night in a…

  • Anutin brushes off Hun Sen’s 500-year border closure jibe | Thaiger

    Anutin brushes off Hun Sen’s 500-year border closure jibe

    Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed pointed remarks made by Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, who claimed Cambodia could withstand a closed Thai-Cambodian border for “500 years.” Speaking to reporters, Anutin played down the comments. “I haven’t read them.” Hun Sen had taken to Facebook to assert that Cambodia never asked Thailand to reopen any crossings, stating that it was…

  • Thai girl, 12, rescued after getting trafficked to Tokyo by mother | Thaiger

    Thai girl, 12, rescued after getting trafficked to Tokyo by mother

    A 12 year old Thai girl has been rescued from a Tokyo massage parlour where she was forced to serve dozens of customers in a month-long trafficking ordeal orchestrated by the establishment’s owner and her own mother. The girl was forced to work in a massage parlour, serving approximately 60 customers in just one month whilst generating 627,000 yen (around…

  • People’s Party hits back at salary deduction smear claims | Thaiger

    People’s Party hits back at salary deduction smear claims

    Thailand’s opposition People’s Party has denied claims it used MP assistants’ salaries to fund memberships, calling the allegations politically motivated. The allegations were raised by Klatham Party MP Phai Lik, who suggested such deductions could constitute money laundering. In response, People’s Party deputy leader Rangsiman Rome dismissed the claims as baseless and legally flawed. “Diverting salaries to pay for party…

  • Boy, 5, electrocuted on school swing in Northeast Thailand | Thaiger

    Boy, 5, electrocuted on school swing in Northeast Thailand

    A five year old boy in Northeast Thailand died after being electrocuted while playing on a school swing, prompting questions over campus safety. The incident occurred on Tuesday, November 4, at a school in Non Suwan district, Buriram province, while the child was playing in the school’s outdoor playground during school hours. Relatives have identified the victim as Atsawin, a…

  • Bank of Thailand to roll out new 50 and 100 baht polymer banknotes | Thaiger

    Bank of Thailand to roll out new 50 and 100 baht polymer banknotes

    The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is set to introduce new 50 and 100 baht polymer banknotes, which will officially enter circulation on November 21. BOT Governor, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, said the new banknotes, made from a special polymer material, are more durable and resistant to moisture and dirt. The change aims to keep banknotes cleaner, longer-lasting, and more environmentally friendly. The…

  • Thailand to slap import duties on all low-value online goods | Thaiger

    Thailand to slap import duties on all low-value online goods

    Thailand’s Customs Department will begin imposing import duties on low-value online goods to boost revenue and support fair competition for local businesses. The move, aimed at levelling the playing field for local businesses, will target goods previously exempt from import duties and applies to any item valued under 1,500 baht, even those costing just 1 baht. Phanthong Loykulnanta, director-general of…

  • Bangkok private school to close after 50 years of service | Thaiger

    Bangkok private school to close after 50 years of service

    A long-standing private school in Bangkok will close after decades of operation, citing low enrollment caused by Thailand’s declining birth rate and economy. Udomsuksa School, located in the Wang Thong Lang district, announced it will officially close at the end of the 2025 academic year, citing a sharp decline in student enrolment as the key reason. The final day of…

  • Patong tunnel will be built, says transport minister amid backlash | Thaiger

    Patong tunnel will be built, says transport minister amid backlash

    Thailand’s transport minister has confirmed a long-delayed tunnel project will proceed as planned, following public backlash and confusion over recent changes. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn moved swiftly to calm the storm, releasing multiple statements through Phuket’s Public Relations Department late Sunday, November 2, to reassure residents and business leaders that the government remains committed to the…

  • Thai woman claims rape by three Chinese men in Pattaya home | Thaiger

    Thai woman claims rape by three Chinese men in Pattaya home

    A Thai woman has accused three Chinese men of raping her at a private residence in Pattaya after a night out at a karaoke bar. The men reportedly met the woman at a pub before inviting her to the house, where the alleged assault took place. The 21 year old woman, identified only as May, filed a complaint with officers…

  • Bangkok warehouse erupts in fireball and explosions overnight | Thaiger

    Bangkok warehouse erupts in fireball and explosions overnight

    A fire broke out at a warehouse in Bangkok during the early hours, causing explosions and thick smoke as firefighters rushed to contain the fast-spreading blaze. The inferno occurred at around 1.45am today, November 6, in Soi Rat Burana 29, in the Rat Burana district of Bangkok. Thick black smoke and intermittent blasts terrified locals as firefighters scrambled to contain…

  • Thai woman killed and dumped in canal over alleged love affair | Thaiger

    Thai woman killed and dumped in canal over alleged love affair

    Police are searching for the suspects involved in the murder of a Thai woman whose body was found dumped in a canal in the central province of Nakhon Pathom. Adultery is suspected to be the motive behind the killing. A local fisherman alerted officers from Bang Len Police Station after discovering the body of the woman, later identified as 49…

  • Russian QR code drug runner found hiding in Koh Samui hotel | Thaiger

    Russian QR code drug runner found hiding in Koh Samui hotel

    A Russian man wanted for promoting drugs via QR codes was arrested by immigration police after fleeing Phuket and hiding at a hotel on Koh Samui. The suspect, 27 year old Semen Kasparian (also reported as Semian Gaspayan) was arrested by Surat Thani Immigration Police today, November 6, after fleeing an arrest warrant issued in Phuket. The Russian national is…