News
Stay up-to-date with the latest news from across Thailand and beyond with The Thaiger. Our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from this stunning part of the world, covering a diverse range of topics, including local politics, business, culture, and tourism. Keep yourself informed about the Kingdom’s rich history, stunning landscapes, and thriving expat communities, as well as updates on events, attractions, and transportation.
The Thaiger is your essential resource for staying connected with Thailand’s captivating blend of tradition and modernity. To remain in the loop with the country’s most trusted news source, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
-
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?...
-
Nemo’s profit party: Clownfish breeding makes 1 million baht splash
The Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Centre in Trang has successfully bred over 20 species of clownfish, commonly known as Nemo fish, this year, resulting in sales surpassing those of the previous year and generating nearly 1 million baht in revenue. Trang Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Centre director Patcharee Soonsan announced yesterday, September 23, the achievement of breeding 20…
-
Gold rush gone wrong: Buyer & seller clash over counterfeit claims
A heated dispute erupted between a seller and a buyer over allegations of selling fake gold online. The seller insists the gold is genuine, while the buyer claims a loss of faith and calls for legal action. Yesterday, September 23, at Maleenont Tower on Rama IV Road, Khlong Toei District, Bangkok, Mae Tuck, Kornkanok Suwannabut, along with her husband Beer,…
-
Freelancers in the frame: Thailand mulls welfare for all, even in the sex trade
The government is contemplating extending welfare protections to freelance workers, including those in the sex industry, akin to those available to employees registered with the Social Security Fund (SSF), contingent on their payment of income taxes. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong revealed that discussions are underway with multiple agencies to establish a welfare system to safeguard freelance workers, including…
-
Phuket flea market feud turns fiery: Shooting leaves two injured
The owner of the Koh Beng Ban Pon Flea Market in the Thalang district of Phuket engaged in a fierce argument with his former business partner, resulting in a shooting that left two people injured. Officers from Thalang Police Station investigated the shooting at Koh Beng Ban Pon Flea Market at approximately 7.30pm yesterday, September 23. The two injured individuals…
-
Four injured in chaotic Phatthalung street shootout
A shootout between two rival youth gangs on a street in Phatthalung left four individuals injured, including a 17 year old boy in critical condition with a bullet lodged in his chest. According to police reports, the incident occurred around 2am yesterday, September 23 on the Khlong Muay-Kong Ra Road in Village 7, Khlong Sai Khao subdistrict, Kong Ra district.…
-
Thailand car makers must shift into gear for EV production by 2026
In a bold move that’s set to shift gears in the automotive world, the Excise Department declared that car manufacturers cashing in on the government’s electric vehicle (EV) incentives must start cranking out key components right here in Thailand by 2026. That’s the word from Excise Department Director-General Ekniti Nitithanprapas. Ekniti has laid down the law, insisting that the electric…
-
Man arrested for snatching gold necklaces, attempts to ordain
After trying to escape to a temple, a man has been arrested for a series of gold necklace snatchings in Nong Khai and Bueng Kan provinces. Originally from Udon Thani, 31 year old Anurak was living with his wife in Bueng Kan. On September 10, Anurak targeted a female government employee at the Bueng Kan Government Complex, attempting to snatch…
-
Chula university cancels launch of book critical of Thai military
Chulalongkorn University cancelled plans to host a seminar and book launch for a publication by one of its scholars, Doctor Puangthong Pawakapan, which discusses the role of the Thai military. The event, originally scheduled for this upcoming Friday, September 28, has been moved to the Jim Thompson Museum instead of being held on campus as originally planned. Dr Puangthong, an…
-
Almost 1,000 Thai military officers reassigned in major reshuffle
The Government of Thailand announced the transfer of 808 military officers to new posts in this year’s annual military reshuffle, including the new chiefs of the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy. These changes come as the current leaders are set to retire at the end of this month. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra submitted the list for royal…
-
Confrontation of teenage gangs quickly escalates to armed chaos
A dispute erupted in Kamphaeng Phet after a man confronted a noisy group of teenage gangs outside a shop, leading to a chaotic scene. The teenagers later returned with a firearm, causing panic and scattering the crowd. Footage from CCTV cameras shows groups of teenagers causing a ruckus outside a restaurant near Kamphaeng Phet Bus Terminal in Nakhon Chum, Kamphaeng…
-
Burmese man condemned for preaching Christianity to Buddhist novices
A Thai Buddhist academic criticised a Burmese man and a Thai woman for posing as English language teachers to preach Christianity to novices at a temple in the central province of Ang Thong. Thai academic Jaturong Jong-asa shared pictures posted by the Burmese man on Facebook on Friday, September 20. The pictures showed a group of young novices raising their…
-
Thailand seeks ITU extension for satellite orbital slot until 2025
Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is seeking a one-year extension from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to continue using the 50.5° East satellite orbital slot beyond its expiration on November 27. The request is part of a broader effort to finalise the awarding of rights for two unsold orbital slot packages, including the 142° East slot and a…
-
Pheu Thai Party bets on casino plan to cash in on tax revenue
The ruling Pheu Thai Party defended its proposed casino-entertainment complex project, asserting that it will legalise underground gambling activities and enable the government to collect tax revenue. A statement on Pheu Thai’s webpage released yesterday, September 22, indicated that legalising underground gambling and taxing the project could contribute more than 50% of GDP, thereby boosting the economy and funding education…
-
Family demands justice after fatal accident by Thai policewoman remains unsolved
A Thai man is desperately seeking justice for his father, who tragically lost his life in a Bangkok car crash caused by a policewoman. With the case making no headway since August, the grieving son has turned to the media to pressure police into action. The deceased’s son, 37 year old Phuriwit Jongnirak, urged Channel 3 to highlight his family’s…
-
Baht-boom fallout: Thai economy in choppy waters after Fed slash
The economy is teetering on the edge as the surging Thai baht causes ripples across the nation. In the wake of a significant rate cut by the US Federal Reserve (Fed), local industries are now urging the Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to take swift action. For over a year, the MPC has held interest rates steady, but…
-
Caught in a pickle: Pattaya thief bites off more than he can chew
A man in Pattaya found himself in deep trouble after breaking into a restaurant and stealing cash, only to discover it was owned by a narcotics officer. Bang Lamung police arrested 23 year old Kittichai Sukthanom at a residence in Soi Nong Hin, Nongprue sub-district, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Police seized a stolen Bluetooth speaker and a blue…
-
Burmese man found tied up and seriously injured in Rayong
Police are searching for an attacker who brutally assaulted a Burmese man, tied him up, and abandoned him in the eastern province of Rayong. A local in the Pluak Daeng district of Rayong discovered the injured man yesterday, September 22, near Pa Sawai Market and called the Pluak Daeng Rescue Foundation to the scene. Rescuers reported that the man’s arms…
-
ETDA unveils new rules to combat subpar e-commerce products
The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) implemented new guidelines to tackle the issue of substandard products on digital platforms, particularly focusing on the influx of inferior imported items. The agency aims to bolster regulatory frameworks to boost consumer confidence. Titled Management of the Sale of Products Requiring Standards on Digital Platform Services, these guidelines took effect yesterday, September 22, under…
-
Road-blocking complaint leads to Thai taxi driver arrest for drug use
A complaint by a homeowner in Bangkok about road blocking led to the arrest of a Thai taxi driver using drugs in his vehicle. Officers from Bang Sue Police Station were called to Soi Pradiphat 15 in the Phaya Thai district of Bangkok at 9.10pm on September 20 to remove a taxi that was blocking access to a home. Upon…
-
New facial scan system leaves elderly Thai couple without welfare
An elderly couple in Buriram, who are heavily reliant on their state welfare cards, faced a significant hurdle with the new system requiring facial scans for verification. The couple, Lom Chaisuwan who is bedridden, and his 87 year old wife, anxiously await the outcome as their monthly welfare is a crucial part of their livelihood. Yesterday, September 22, Lom, residing…
-
Monk with sword causes stir in Bangkok’s Lad Ya area (video)
A monk wielding a sword caused a commotion in the Lad Ya area, Bangkok, late last night. Residents alerted the police, leading to a tense situation before the individual was taken into custody for questioning. A startling incident unfolded yesterday, September 22, when a man dressed as a monk was seen walking in the middle of Lad Ya Road, brandishing…
-
Thai man seriously injured by motorcycle on Bangkok zebra crossing
A Thai man suffered serious injuries after a motorcycle rider hit him on a zebra crossing in Bangkok. The rider also sustained a leg injury. CCTV footage of the accident, which occurred on September 19, was shared by several media outlets and Thai netizens. The victim, aged around 50, was seen waiting to cross the road from the footpath at a…
-
Sketchy business: Cops arrest last suspect in decade-old human trafficking case
Police officers from the Anti Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) triumphantly captured the last suspect in a gruesome decade-old human trafficking case, ending an exhaustive month-long chase. Their breakthrough? A single clue: a sketch of an unidentified woman, said Police Major General Sarut Kwaengsopha, the ATPD commander after the suspect was arrested in Samut…
-
Teacher with air gun causes chaos at Chumphon college
A dramatic incident unfolded today at a vocational college in Chumphon, where a teacher brandishing a gun threatened students and faculty members. Police were called to de-escalate the situation, which took over an hour before the teacher calmed down. The emergency call was received at 8.30am, today, September 23, reporting a disturbance at the college located on the Chumphon-Pathio Road…
-
New law mandates urine, blood tests for driver alcohol checks
The Thai Government Gazette published a new ministerial regulation to include urine and blood tests for measuring alcohol levels in drivers when breathalyser tests are not possible. This regulation aims to enhance road safety and ensure accurate alcohol detection in drivers. The regulation, dated today, September 23, was issued under the authority of the Road Traffic Act of 1979, which…
-
Missing Thai teen last seen with 2 suspicious men in Nonthaburi
Thai parents are desperately searching for their 14 year old daughter, who disappeared on September 18 after leaving school. CCTV footage captured the girl, identified as Noey, walking along a roadside in the central province of Nonthaburi with two suspicious-looking men. To aid in the search, the Facebook news page Social Hunter 2022 stepped in to help the distressed parents…
-
Throttle trouble: Thai motorists hit the brakes on new car buys
Thai motorists are hitting the brakes on new car purchases due to economic jitters, revealed in a new report by Differential (Thailand) Co Ltd, a data analytics, technology, and research firm. The 2024 Customer Experience Report, which polled over 2,500 Thai car buyers from November 2020 to December 2022, found that a whopping 70% of respondents intend to buy a…
-
Chiang Mai police bust online booking scam, arrest key suspect
Chiang Mai police swooped on a fraudulent online accommodation booking scam gang, arresting a key figure in Sa Kaeo. The operation aimed to boost tourist confidence during the high season by targeting tech-based crimes. The Chiang Mai Tourist Police, under the directive of Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phuak-am, focused on dismantling mule accounts used by criminals to scam tourists. Police…
-
Thai woman caught after fleeing arrest to join call centre scam gang
Police arrested a Thai woman after she stole cash and valuables worth about 200,000 baht from her boyfriend in July and fled arrest to work as a call centre scammer in a neighbouring country. The 27 year old Thai man, named Ton, took to social media on July 24 to expose the criminal behaviour of his girlfriend, 21 year old…
-
Thailand explores salary reforms amid rising civil service costs
The Comptroller-General’s Department, the Budget Bureau, and the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) are actively exploring reforms to salaries and benefits across all government sectors. Patricia Mongkhonvanit, Director-General of the Comptroller-General’s Department, highlighted the urgency of addressing the issue due to the substantial budget allocated for these expenses. She noted that the government’s fiscal health and long-term fiscal…
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.