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

    Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?

    Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...

  • Police officer damages woman’s motorcycle, leaves note, pays for repair

    Police officer damages woman’s motorcycle, leaves note, pays for repair

    A 29 year old woman named Supapan was angered when she returned home to find her motorcycle damaged but was pleasantly surprised to discover a letter of responsibility from a local police officer. His sincere gesture has drawn public praise and demonstrated a shining example of accountability within the police force. The incident occurred at a convenience store opposite the…

  • PTTEP plans Middle East expansion for greater petroleum output and renewable energy

    PTTEP plans Middle East expansion for greater petroleum output and renewable energy

    PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) announced its strategic plans to centre business operations in the Middle East to expand petroleum output and explore opportunities for innovative energy enterprises, revealed Montri Rawanchaikul, PTTEP’s Chief Executive and President. On the domestic front, the company aims to escalate gas production at the Erawan gas field to 800 million standard cubic feet…

  • Spark to action: Villagers shaken by Narathiwat firework explosion ignite legal action for justice

    Spark to action: Villagers shaken by Narathiwat firework explosion ignite legal action for justice

    In the aftermath of the catastrophic firework warehouse explosion that rocked a rural hamlet in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district on July 29, a contingent of the beleaguered villagers from Muno have decided to take legal recourse. The devastating incident claimed the lives of 12 and left an alarming 389 casualties, with three schools reduced to ruins and a mind-numbing 682…

  • Flood prevention measures secure Phetchaburi for monsoon season

    Flood prevention measures secure Phetchaburi for monsoon season

    The province of Phetchaburi is preparing in advance this year for monsoon-induced flooding from September to October, with measures in place to minimise damage and inconvenience to locals. Key to these flood prevention efforts is the Kaeng Krachan and Mae Prachan dams, both currently low and ready to absorb the impending rainfall. Each year, Phetchaburi experiences flooding during the rainy…

  • Rainfall reign: 46 provinces under threat as TMD predicts deluge and Bangkok braces for flash floods

    Rainfall reign: 46 provinces under threat as TMD predicts deluge and Bangkok braces for flash floods

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns that increased rainfall poses a threat to 46 provinces today, forecasting heavy rainfall in 70% of the areas while Bangkok is also at risk, with an abrupt flash floods warning issued due to tormenting forest runoffs. The TMD claims that a tropical storm flowing over the northern and upper northeastern regions of the country,…

  • Thai woman murdered on street outside restaurant in Germany

    Thai woman murdered on street outside restaurant in Germany

    Local police officers are hunting for a suspect who murdered a 61 year old Thai restaurant owner on Kantstrasse Road in the city of Berlin in Germany. German police officers reported on Friday, August 18, that they discovered the dead body of a Thai woman, 61 year old Siliya Saiwongpanya on a footpath near Fuggerstrasse Road in the Schoeneberg neighbourhood…

  • Teenage gang violence: Perpetrators accused of fatal schoolboy killing in Nakhon Phanom road chase

    Teenage gang violence: Perpetrators accused of fatal schoolboy killing in Nakhon Phanom road chase

    A gang of six teenagers have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in the death of a 14 year old boy, who was attacked with weapons on August 19. The teenage gang violence incident took place by the roadside of a dual carriageway in Nakhon Phanom province of northeast Thailand. News reports advancing the teenage gang violence case details reveal…

  • Celebrity split: Keng Lai Phong and Joy Jirawan’s separation shock fans, infidelity rumors arise

    Celebrity split: Keng Lai Phong and Joy Jirawan’s separation shock fans, infidelity rumors arise

    The announcement of the high-profile celebrity split between the previously much-loved couple, Keng Lai Phong and Joy Jirawan, has shocked many fans, causing palpable heartache. The couple’s marital strife was revealed when Joy took to social media to announce her singlehood, three days after she had posted a problematic photo that provoked controversy. Keng, known for his playful nature, has…

  • EV sales in Thailand to hit 50,000 despite auto loan regulations

    EV sales in Thailand to hit 50,000 despite auto loan regulations

    The Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI) anticipates a surge in electric vehicle (EV) sales to 50,000 units this year. This comes despite challenges such as diminishing purchasing power, rampant household debt, and the implementation of stricter auto loan regulations by banks. Last year, local EV sales in Thailand saw approximately 20,000 units sold. The popularity of EVs in the country can…

  • Awaiting arrest, ex-Prime Minister Thaksin returns to Thailand amidst political unrest

    Awaiting arrest, ex-Prime Minister Thaksin returns to Thailand amidst political unrest

    As Thailand anticipates the arrival of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, fresh from a self-imposed exile, arrest warrants are ready for viewing and inevitable jail time awaits him. His expected return is scheduled for tomorrow, incidentally, coinciding with parliamentary proceedings to elect the country’s 30th leader. His daughter, Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra, a former prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu…

  • Influenza infection cases triple in a year, topping 970,000 with one fatality reported

    Influenza infection cases triple in a year, topping 970,000 with one fatality reported

    In an alarming public health update, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) noted that the annual influenza infection figures have exceeded 970,000 this year. A stark increase from last year’s number at this point, this figure is triple the magnitude, conveying the highly contagious nature of seasonal flu. A fatality has been reported among the infected individuals. The unfortunate case…

  • Food delivery driver apologizes after refusing overweight customer due to bike damage

    Food delivery driver apologizes after refusing overweight customer due to bike damage

    Maligned for rejecting an overweight customer due to breaking his motorcycle suspension, a food delivery driver has issued a heartfelt apology. Initially voicing his frustration by sharing images of a broken motorcycle shock absorber, attributing its damage to heavy passengers, his comments now sit at the heart of a heated online debate. As reported, images appeared on the Red Skull…

  • Three Bangkok drug traffickers caught with 503,005 meth pills and 12 kilogrammes of ice

    Three Bangkok drug traffickers caught with 503,005 meth pills and 12 kilogrammes of ice

    In a recent police operation, three drug traffickers were arrested in Khlong Sam Wa district, Bangkok. The bust saw the seizure of drugs, including 503,005 methamphetamine pills and 12 kilogrammes of crystal meth or ice. The report indicated that the trio had been involved in previous drug-related incidents. Around 9am today, directed by Colonel Sarawut Jindakam, commander of the 3rd Border…

  • Student lunch budget allocated for Nakhon Ratchasima’s Kulno School

    Student lunch budget allocated for Nakhon Ratchasima’s Kulno School

    Students at Kulno School in Nakhon Ratchasima province no longer need to bring packed lunches from home. This follows a speedy allocation of school lunch funding by the Phimai Sub-district Municipality, which was confirmed in a letter to parents yesterday. Previously, a delay in allocating this budget led the school to ask parents to provide food for their children from…

  • Electrician turned conman sold fake amulets online, manipulated meters

    Electrician turned conman sold fake amulets online, manipulated meters

    An electrician was recently nabbed for one of several illegal side hustles – conning people into buying religious amulets online. The 28 year old electrician was previously been a normal repairman who also illegally manipulated electricity meters before being picked up by police. He confessed he hadn’t anticipated the police would catch up to him. This arrest today followed Lieutenant…

  • Century-old In Buri market: fire crews struggle to control flames

    Century-old In Buri market: fire crews struggle to control flames

    A blazing fire has plagued the 100-year-old In Buri market, with the latest reports indicating that around 15 fire trucks have not yet been able to control the flames. An initial assessment reveals damage to approximately 12 residences. The fire crisis at the In Buri market was reported yesterday evening. Located in the ancient commercial district of Sing Buri province,…

  • Child seat vehicle laws go into effect in Phuket: 2,000 baht fine

    Child seat vehicle laws go into effect in Phuket: 2,000 baht fine

    Buckle up kids! The public, particularly parents, have once again been reminded about the new safety regulations regarding child seats in vehicles within Phuket. As relayed by the Phuket Info Centre today, the National Police Agency’s legislation demands the use of industry-approved child safety seats. The fledgeling law, enforced from August 17, mandates that all children below the age of…

  • Phetchabun karaoke bar raided for suspected child exploitation, owner arrested

    Phetchabun karaoke bar raided for suspected child exploitation, owner arrested

    Police conducted a raid on a karaoke bar in Phetchabun, arresting a 39 years old woman, for allegedly running a service offering underage girls catering to customers’ pleasures. The bar, advertised under the Facebook account E ลำยองโอ้ลั้นล้า, allegedly allowed teenagers under 18 years old to engage with customers in a salacious manner. The bar raid was conducted as part of…

  • Stabbing: Ex-lover murders woman at hotpot over 1,000 baht

    Stabbing: Ex-lover murders woman at hotpot over 1,000 baht

    Last night, a 40 year old man reportedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in a rage. The stabbing took place in front of a grocery store near a table used for hotpot and beer, located in a residential area of Samut Sakhon, Thailand. The 37 year old woman was sitting with her friends when the brutal act was committed. Police Colonel…

  • ATM theft: Police nab debt-driven man who stole 400,000 baht

    ATM theft: Police nab debt-driven man who stole 400,000 baht

    Police in Nakhon Si Thammarat successfully apprehended a lone desperate man responsible for the theft of a Krungthai bank ATM. The incident took place in front of the Rajaprajanukroh 8 School, a secluded area in the Ban Na Thap community. The arrest was made following an investigation into the theft from August 16, where the culprit made away with almost 400,000 baht.…

  • Exat toll hike on key expressways pauses by Ministry of Transport

    Exat toll hike on key expressways pauses by Ministry of Transport

    The Progressive Ministry of Transport has issued a directive to the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) to maintain the current toll charges for Chalong Rat and Bang Na expressways for another six months, running through February of next year. This development will stave off the proposal by Exat to implement a 10% increase in tolls on both routes. The toll…

  • Chinese resurgence transforms Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district into new Chinatown

    Chinese resurgence transforms Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district into new Chinatown

    Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district, home to a rising number of Chinese expatriates, is reinforcing its reputation as the city’s second Yaowarat or New Chinatown. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a temporary withdrawal of Chinese vendors from the district, but with the Chinese government deciding to lift border restrictions earlier this year, investors appear to be flocking back. The district’s pulse…

  • Nearly extinct Eastern Sarus Crane eggs discovered in rice field

    Nearly extinct Eastern Sarus Crane eggs discovered in rice field

    In a significant win for wildlife conservation, eggs of the Eastern Sarus Crane – also known as Thai Cranes – were found in a rice field adjacent to the Huai Talat Reservoir Non-Hunting Area in the Mueang district of Buriram, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The cranes were believed to be mostly extinct…

  • Thailand Consumer Council appeals for higher elderly pension

    Thailand Consumer Council appeals for higher elderly pension

    In a recent online forum, the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) voiced a call to the new government the reconsideration a policy that restricts certain elderly individuals from obtaining monthly grants, advocating instead for the reinstatement and enhancement of the universal pension scheme to pay 3,000 baht each month. Nimit Tienudom, the vice-chair of TCC and the representative of the People’s…

  • Songkhla mother alleges neighbour tricked son into drug use

    Songkhla mother alleges neighbour tricked son into drug use

    A mother in the province of Songkhla has filed a complaint with the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Women and Children, claiming that her 10 year old son has recently been showing signs of drug abuse. His erratic behaviour included destructiveness, verbal abuse towards family members, and attempting to harm a cat. The distressing behavioural shift came to a head when…

  • Online fraud declines as Thais embraces digital safety measures

    Online fraud declines as Thais embraces digital safety measures

    Chaiwuti Thanakamanusorn is confident that online crime measures are effective, as statistics of online scams show a decline. The public is also increasingly aware and cautious, preventing themselves from becoming victims of online fraud. Chaiwuti, the Thai Minister of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), is urging the public to adopt measures to protect themselves from becoming victims of organized cybercriminal…

  • Khai Huang international drug trafficking gang busted in Bangkok

    Khai Huang international drug trafficking gang busted in Bangkok

    A sophisticated cross-border drug trafficking gang named Khai Huang led by four prominent figures was busted in a luxurious house in the heart of Bangkok. The gang had been smuggling crystal methamphetamine concealed within the axle rods of trucks for international shipment. The head operatives, 34 year old Chen Yu Ning and 26year old Li Ming Zhen, were arrested today at…

  • 12 year old girl duped into sending explicit photos by school fraudster

    12 year old girl duped into sending explicit photos by school fraudster

    Soliciting explicit images under the guise of a teacher, a person online commanded a 12 year old girl to capture and send revealing photos of herself. After these images were posted on social media, they were discovered by the girl’s mother who was shocked to stumble upon her daughter undressing. A plea for help yesterday was submitted to the Nakhon…

  • Prachinburi print shop overcharges customer, shocking Internet

    Prachinburi print shop overcharges customer, shocking Internet

    A disheartening incident unfolded when a woman was charged 500 baht for scanning four documents, at a print shop in the area of Ban Rabao Phai, Sri Maha Pho District, Prachinburi. The shop owner extended his apologies due to a lack of knowledge about appropriate pricing and offered a reimbursement, which the woman declined. Upon scanning the documents, the customer,…

  • Cockroach’s thrilling 2,000-km journey rivets Chinese plane passenger

    Cockroach’s thrilling 2,000-km journey rivets Chinese plane passenger

    An exciting in-flight encounter with a stowaway cockroach caught the attention of social media after a female Chinese passenger on a flight from Shibaoshan to Ningbo noticed the critter. The insect’s surprising endurance while clinging onto the aeroplane window during a 2,000-kilometre journey at high altitudes added a thrill to the passenger’s air travel experience. The passenger, who opted for…