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. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
-
Sponsored Travel insurance vs digital nomad insurance: What’s the difference?
Travel insurance and digital nomad insurance protect travellers but cater to different needs. Travel insurance is for short trips, like vacations or business trips. It covers things like medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost bags. It works best for people...
-
Autistic Thai boy dies after parents leave him in car for party
A seven year old Thai boy with autism died in a car after his parents left him in the vehicle for more than five hours while attending a party with neighbours in the Isaan province of Sakaeo. Volunteers from the Aranyaprathet Rescue Foundation were called to a house in the Aranyaprathet district of Sakaeo to help the seven year old…
-
Phuket taxi driver tussle turns streets into a brawl zone (video)
The streets of Phuket resembled more like a battle scene today than a picturesque holiday resort after a furious brawl broke out between local taxi drivers and foreign tourists, raising fresh concerns about visitor safety. What started as a squabble quickly spiralled into a full-blown fight, drawing a large crowd of shocked onlookers. Wichit Police stepped in today, August 30,…
-
Thailand launches inclusive tourism project for disabled and elderly
The Architectural Tour for All People Foundation, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Network of Wheelchair Architects, launched the Tourism for All project. The initiative is designed to foster inclusive and sustainable tourism, particularly for the elderly, the disabled, and families of wheelchair users. These groups will actively participate in the project, collectively announcing the…
-
Commerce Ministry cracks down on hidden foreign ownership
The Commerce Ministry intensifies its scrutiny of businesses allegedly using Thai nominees to hide foreign ownership, focusing on sectors like tourism, real estate, and logistics. Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the Department of Business Development, stated that under the Foreign Business Act of 1999, foreign firms must secure permission as outlined in specific lists before starting operations. A Thai limited company…
-
Thai activist Panupong Jadnok seeks asylum in New Zealand
Political activist Panupong Jadnok aka Mike Rayong facing a lese majeste charge for a defamatory message about His Majesty the King last year, has appeared in New Zealand, where he is expected to seek political asylum and begin a new life. Eakapop Luara, also known as Tang Achiwa, an ex-member of the red-shirt movement and a political refugee who previously…
-
Krungsri’s card charge: Loan surge despite economic strain
The unsecured loan arm of Bank of Ayudhya, Krungsri Consumer, is predicting a spike in credit card loans in the second half of the year, despite the economy limping along and new rules raising the minimum payments. Currently, Krungsri’s non-performing loan (NPL) rate is a lowly 1.4%, far better than the industry average of 2.9%. Atis Ruchirawat, head honcho at…
-
Bangkok braces for river’s ride: Chao Phraya goes with the flow
Heavy flooding in northern Thailand is now wreaking havoc in Bangkok, with the capital bracing itself for the Chao Phraya River to burst its banks, according to the Royal Irrigation Department (RID). Floodwaters from the northern provinces are surging into Bangkok, spurred by a rushed discharge from the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat. This dam, crucial for regulating water…
-
Pattaya’s iconic sign gets a dazzling makeover
In a move set to reinvigorate Pattaya’s skyline, the City Council has greenlit a massive budget to restore the iconic PATTAYA CITY sign perched atop Pattaya Hill. This iconic landmark, which has greeted visitors for years, will soon shine brighter than ever thanks to a major overhaul. Deputy Mayor Manot Nongyai championed a proposal on Tuesday, August 27, to allocate…
-
New sinkhole swallows road in Malaysia capital
A fresh sinkhole has appeared in the heart of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, just 50 metres from where a woman vanished into the ground last week. The unsettling new collapse emerged yesterday on Jalan Masjid India, a bustling thoroughfare not far from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Officials have cordoned off the area as they investigate potential damage to the…
-
Bangkok governor assures city’s safety amid rising waters
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt takes charge as floodwaters loom large, inspecting vital levee repairs and boosting confidence in the city’s flood defence strategy. Chadchart, accompanied by Deputy Governor Wisanu Supsompol and top officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Drainage and Sewerage Department, yesterday conducted a crucial inspection of flood levee repairs along the Chao Phraya River in Yannawa district.…
-
CAAT debunks YouTuber’s aircraft maintenance claims
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has clarified the case where a pilot exposed aircraft mechanics using fake and expired parts for maintenance, causing concern that it could be life-threatening. The X account Aviation Knowledge (@aviknowledge) stated that another point that needs to be answered is the standard for issuing a Certificate of Airworthiness. CAAT Deputy Director of Civil…
-
Surin Elephant Museum trumpets into life next month
Surin province will unveil its majestic new treasure, the Surin Elephant Museum, on September 5. This monumental opening promises a trunk-load of fascinating insights and interactive exhibits dedicated to the grandeur of elephants. The Surin Elephant Museum, born from a partnership between the Surin Provincial Administrative Organisation and the Dr Thiam Chokwatana Foundation, is set to become a premier destination…
-
Thaksin visits flood-hit Chiang Rai in sensational homecoming
Thaksin Shinawatra, the once-exiled former Prime Minister of Thailand and father of current PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, made a sensational return to his homeland on Tuesday, August 27. Touching down at Mae Fah Luang Airport in Chiang Rai, he immediately set out to assess the devastation caused by severe flooding in the region—a crisis that has left hundreds struggling. Greeted warmly…
-
Thaksin’s taxing plan to tackle poverty in Thailand
Thaksin Shinawatra is making more waves to shake up Thailand’s social, economic and political scene. His latest pitch? A negative income tax (NIT) to shake up Thailand’s tax system. This isn’t the first time NIT has been floated in Thailand. Over a decade ago, the Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) proposed something similar, and it was included in the…
-
Former police chief and others arraigned in Red Bull hit-and-run
Former National Police Chief Police General Somyot Poompanmoung, former Deputy Attorney-General Nate Naksuk, and six others have been arraigned by public prosecutors in connection with the Red Bull heir hit-and-run case. The defendants face severe charges, including dereliction of duty. Prosecutor Suvej Chompong represented the Office of the Attorney-General at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, submitting…
-
Fencing queen and wheelchair racer selected as Thai flag bearers
Thai wheelchair fencer Saysunee Jana and wheelchair racer Athiwat Paengnuea were chosen as the flag bearers for the Thai contingent at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which kicked off yesterday, August 28. With 79 athletes competing in 15 sports, Thailand is gearing up for its 11th appearance at the Paralympic Games. This year, the honour of leading the team falls…
-
Democratic Party member slams leadership for joining rivals
In a scathing critique that’s sent shockwaves through Thailand’s political landscape, Watanya Bunnag, a high-profile member of the Democrat Party, condemned her party’s decision to align with the Pheu Thai-led coalition government. Watanya, also known as Madame Dear, labelled the move as a betrayal of the party’s faithful supporters. Taking to Facebook, Watanya accused the party’s leadership of shattering the…
-
Thai farmers set to grow demand for chemical fertilisers next year
The demand for chemical fertilisers and agricultural chemicals among Thai farmers is expected to rise between October and December next year. This increased need is crucial for crops such as oil palm, rubber, fruit trees, and ornamental plants, which require year-round agricultural inputs. Udom Srisomrong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, highlighted that the current fertiliser prices in…
-
Burmese victim confirmed dead in collapsed tunnel, 2 still missing
A rescue team confirmed the death of a Burmese victim trapped in the collapsed railway tunnel in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima. Meanwhile, the search for the other two victims, reported to be Chinese nationals, is still underway. Rescuers from multiple organisations were deployed to the Thailand-China high-speed railway tunnel in the Chan Thuek sub-district of Nakhon Ratchasima to…
-
Thai rock band Potato shares new lucky number prediction
Popular Thai rock band Potato has once again stirred excitement among fans with their latest lucky number prediction, tied to their recent concert at the Marathon Concert. Known for their energetic performances and accurate lottery number predictions, the band continues to captivate audiences both musically and through their uncanny knack for luck. Potato’s official Facebook page recently shared a snapshot…
-
Spanish star’s son sentenced to life for murder on Koh Pha Ngan
In a chilling case that shocked both Spain and Thailand, Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, son of prominent Spanish actors Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre and Silvia Bronchalo, has been sentenced to life in prison for the premeditated murder of Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga. The gruesome crime took place last August on the idyllic Thai island of Koh Pha Ngan. Originally handed…
-
Thai escort extorted by 4 fake cops over unfulfilled climax
A Thai escort reached out for help after four customers, claiming to be police officers, threatened her to return a service fee of 1,500 baht before extorting a further 20,000 baht, saying she could not make them climax. Non-profit organisation Saimai Survive accompanied the victim to Mueang Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Police Station to file a complaint against the four customers…
-
Kiwi becomes another unfortunate ‘Pattaya Flying Club’ victim
A holiday in Pattaya turned into a nightmare for the family of a 36 year old Kiwi man who plunged to his death from a hotel balcony in the early hours this morning. Pattaya police were alerted at approximately 6am today, August 29, to a shocking incident at a hotel near Beach Road in the Nong Prue subdistrict. Upon arriving at…
-
Thai mother appeals for help after monkey bites daughter
A Thai mother urged local government officials in the central province of Samut Sakhon to control the population of monkeys after one of the animals invaded her home and bit her two year old daughter. The mother took to social media on Tuesday, August 27, to share that her family and other locals in the community have been harassed by…
-
Thailand’s trade deficit with China rises 15.7% to US$20 billion
Thailand’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) raised alarms about the expanding trade deficit with China. Imports from China surged by 7.12% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, reaching US$37.6 billion (approximately 1.33 trillion baht). This spike resulted in a trade deficit of US$20 billion (around 720 billion baht), marking a 15.7% increase compared to the previous year. Smartphones,…
-
Burmese worker’s grief sparks axe rampage at Phuket camp
A Burmese worker’s grief over a friend’s death led to a chaotic rampage at a worker’s camp in Phuket, where he damaged a journalist’s car with an axe. The incident followed a fatal stabbing involving a Thai man and another Burmese worker. Yesterday, August 28, police in Thalang, Phuket, received reports of a man running amok and attacking a journalist’s…
-
Leap of irony: Cheating Thai husband attempts suicide after scam
A cheating Thai husband tried to end his life by leaping from a pedestrian bridge on Pattanakarn Road in Bangkok after his online affairs took a dramatic turn. Ironically, he was scammed out of less than 1,000 baht by the very women he was cheating with. A Facebook page shared a video of the man’s suicide attempt and a subsequent…
-
Teenager brandishes gun on Chon Buri beach, tourists flee in panic
Panic erupted on Krathing Lai Beach in Chon Buri as a teenager brandished a gun and threatened a crowd after seeing his ex-girlfriend with a new partner. Tourists, both Thai and foreign, fled in panic, seeking safety. Police Captain Suchart Dusadee of Bang Lamung Police Station received reports yesterday at 9.16pm of a young man threatening people with a firearm…
-
Myanmar man confesses to killing Khon Kaen taxi driver
A Myanmar man has confessed to killing a 63 year old taxi driver in a dispute over a 2,000-baht fare, claiming self-defence after being threatened with a knife. He expressed remorse and a desire to apologise to the victim’s family. Officers convened at the Bang Phli Police Station at 8.30pm yesterday, August 28, to announce the arrest of Maung Soe…
-
Driver severely injured in crash with truck in Chachoengsao
A 49 year old man driving a black Mazda sedan crashed into a stationary 22-wheel truck at a red light, sustaining severe injuries. The accident occurred around 2am today, August 29, in Chachoengsao province and was promptly attended by local police and rescue teams. Police Lieutenant Colonel Wanchai Prathom, who happened to be on patrol, coordinated with Lieutenant Rattanachai Niamkoaphet…
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.