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

    9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand

    Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...

  • South Korean woman wanted on Interpol notice hides in Thailand

    South Korean woman wanted on Interpol notice hides in Thailand

    Immigration Bureau officers are searching for a South Korean woman hiding in Thailand following an Interpol blue notice for her alleged involvement in a drug case. The woman is reportedly the ex-fiancée of a former member of the K-pop boy band TVXQ. The South Korean woman, 31 year old Hwang Hana, is a well-known socialite in her home country as…

  • Ex-army general open to Senate Speaker role amid security focus

    Ex-army general open to Senate Speaker role amid security focus

    General Kriangkrai Srirak, who received the highest votes in the public administration and security professional group in last week’s Senate election, responded positively to speculation that he might become the Senate Speaker. Kriangkrai expressed yesterday that if the majority of the Senate members trusted him with the position of Senate Speaker, he would not hesitate to accept the role. However,…

  • Justice goes home: Political suspects to get ‘house-cuffs’

    Justice goes home: Political suspects to get ‘house-cuffs’

    The Ministry of Justice is set to amend the regulations to allow suspects in political cases to be detained at home pending trial, provided they wear electronic ankle monitoring (EM) bracelets. In a recent announcement by Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, the ministry is currently reviewing Section 89/1 of a ministerial regulation to empower courts with the discretion to opt for…

  • Foreign Affairs Minister Maris to visit China for pivotal talks

    Foreign Affairs Minister Maris to visit China for pivotal talks

    Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa is set to visit China next week at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The visit, scheduled from Monday, July 8 to Wednesday, July 10, will see Maris and Wang co-chair the second Thailand-China Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting, aiming to strengthen cooperation and support between the two nations. Nikorndej Balankura, a spokesperson for…

  • Mid-air mayhem: Turbulence terror hits global flights

    Mid-air mayhem: Turbulence terror hits global flights

    Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 faced severe turbulence over Thai airspace, forcing an emergency landing in Bangkok. This incident, which occurred in late May, reignited concerns over the escalating problem of in-flight turbulence, especially following several other alarming episodes. Recent months have seen a spate of turbulence-related injuries on major airlines. Flights operated by Singapore Airlines Ltd., Qatar Airways, and Air…

  • Pattaya plunged! Streets submerged after heavy rain havoc

    Pattaya plunged! Streets submerged after heavy rain havoc

    Heavy rainfall early today in Pattaya City led to severe flooding, submerging streets and stranding numerous vehicles. The sudden downpour created chaos in various key locations, significantly impacting daily life. Many cars and motorcycles were unexpectedly caught as water levels rose swiftly, particularly affecting sedans parked along roadsides. Notable areas such as Third Road, the Mum Aroi Restaurant intersection in…

  • When it rains, it bugs: Phayao’s Jing Kung season is cracking good

    When it rains, it bugs: Phayao’s Jing Kung season is cracking good

    The rainy season brings a unique culinary delight to Phayao – the “Jing Kung” or egg-laden mole cricket, which is now in abundance. Prized for its delicious taste and high nutritional value, locals eagerly dig them up for consumption and sale. During the rainy season, the egg-laden mole cricket, also known as “Jing Kung” or “Ji Khrong,” becomes a sought-after…

  • Top cop controversy: PM Srettha denies misconduct

    Top cop controversy: PM Srettha denies misconduct

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin vehemently denied allegations of misconduct in the appointment of Police General Torsak Sukvimol as national police chief. The Thai premier stood firm against accusations that he had breached the Royal Thai Police (RTP) Act when appointing Torsak Sukvimol last year. The complaint was brought against him by Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn aka Big Joke, Torsak’s former…

  • Taking off: Really Cool Airlines CEO ready to revolutionise air travel

    Taking off: Really Cool Airlines CEO ready to revolutionise air travel

    After 14 years as the mastermind behind Nok Air, Really Cool Airlines CEO Patee Sarasin is back with a daring new venture promising to shake up the airline industry. At 62, Patee believes that the winds of change are about to sweep through the world of air travel. Having witnessed the tumultuous impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation…

  • Phuket officials inspect Chamcha Market for hygiene

    Phuket officials inspect Chamcha Market for hygiene

    Officials conducted a thorough inspection of Chamcha Market in Phuket Town yesterday, July 3, to ensure vendors adhere to food hygiene guidelines and display accurate prices. The inspection, led by Phuket Provincial Commercial Office Chief Woranit Apirat Jirawong, was a collaborative effort with the Sanitation and Environmental Health Department of Phuket City Municipality. Chamcha Market, also known as Lor Rong…

  • Poisoned soft drink suspected in death of Thai woman in Isaan

    Poisoned soft drink suspected in death of Thai woman in Isaan

    A Thai man suspects that his mother was fatally poisoned after drinking a green mixed fruit soft drink that was left outside their shared home in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. Officers from the Nong Wua So Police Station intervened in the funeral ceremony of the 52 year old Thai woman, Sarinee, at Tun Awang Temple. Officers requested Sarinee’s relatives…

  • Love bug: Rare blue beetle blooms in Phayao village

    Love bug: Rare blue beetle blooms in Phayao village

    A rare blue love flower beetle was discovered in Mae Sai Village, Phayao province, feeding on the leaves of a climbing plant. This small, shiny insect with distinctive features is increasingly hard to find. Phan Yudee from Mae Sai Village, Phayao Province, recently encountered a blue love flower beetle, a rare insect, feeding on the leaves of a climbing plant.…

  • Thailand to see heavy rain and thunderstorms until July 9

    Thailand to see heavy rain and thunderstorms until July 9

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather forecast for increased rainfall across Thailand from today, July 4 to Sunday, July 7. Heavy rain is expected in Bangkok and surrounding areas, as well as in the northern, northeastern, eastern, and southern regions. Thailand is set to experience a significant increase in rainfall with heavy showers in certain areas. The northern,…

  • Temple tantrum: Anarchist tag lands man behind bars for 8 months

    Temple tantrum: Anarchist tag lands man behind bars for 8 months

    A man who spray-painted an anarchist symbol and the number 112, referencing the lese-majeste law, on the wall of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, part of the Grand Palace last year has been sentenced to eight months in jail without suspension. The accused, 26 year old Suttawee Soikham, is appealing the Criminal Court’s ruling and has posted bail. The…

  • Lighting up history: Ubon Ratchathani’s grand candle sculpture shines

    Lighting up history: Ubon Ratchathani’s grand candle sculpture shines

    A grand candle sculpture in Ubon Ratchathani is set to be showcased this year, featuring the tallest, widest, and longest candle ever made, costing 1.2 million baht. The intricately carved candle tells the story of Buddhist history. With the Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani fast approaching, many temples are facing a shortage of new artisans, leaving older craftsmen to work…

  • Bike bandits busted: Samut Prakan theft spree ends in arrests

    Bike bandits busted: Samut Prakan theft spree ends in arrests

    Officers from Bang Kaew Police Station apprehended three suspects involved in a motorcycle theft spree in Samut Prakan province. The suspects were caught with stolen items and are now facing legal proceedings. Today, July 4, officers in Samut Prakan arrested 20 year old Teerapon, 19 year old Attaporn, and 18 year old Ekkarin for their involvement in nighttime theft using…

  • True Corporation’s emergency alert system unveiled

    True Corporation’s emergency alert system unveiled

    Thailand’s True Corporation (True) conducted a successful live test of its new emergency alert system, the Cell Broadcast Service (CBS), marking a major step forward in national security. True CEO Manat Manavutiveth declared that the system, developed in collaboration with key government agencies, signifies True’s commitment to building robust infrastructure for emergency communication. This innovative system has been crafted with…

  • Durian vendors reduce sizes to segments amid price surge

    Durian vendors reduce sizes to segments amid price surge

    Durian prices have surged in Nakhon Ratchasima, prompting vendors to adapt by selling the fruit in segments instead of whole, as local purchasing power dwindles and sales plummet more than 50%. At the fruit sale zone within a local market in Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima, durian sellers have shifted from selling the fruit by kilogrammes to selling it in segments, measured…

  • US government tempts RTA with fleet of F-16 fighter jets

    US government tempts RTA with fleet of F-16 fighter jets

    The US government has made a tantalising offer to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTA) – a loan to purchase an entire fleet of F-16 fighter jets. Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang revealed this intriguing development, shedding light on the high-stakes negotiations. In a meeting at the Defence Ministry, US Ambassador Robert Frank Godec presented the enticing proposition. Godec conveyed that…

  • Thailand and Malaysia aim for 1 trillion baht trade by 2027

    Thailand and Malaysia aim for 1 trillion baht trade by 2027

    Thailand and Malaysia have set an ambitious goal to boost bilateral trade to 1 trillion baht by 2027, with a focus on enhancing border economic connections through the Twin Cities initiative. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Phumtham Wechayachai outlined the plans following the third Thailand-Malaysia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Phumtham highlighted the strong relationship…

  • Thai family seeks help after meningitis scare in South Korea

    Thai family seeks help after meningitis scare in South Korea

    A Thai woman‘s family appealed to the public for financial support after she suffered meningitis while attending a company seminar in South Korea. The woman’s brother, Nakarin Rungthongkumkul, took to social media to share that his sister, Purima “Kim” Rungthongkumkul, was hospitalised at Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital in Busan City, South Korea, due to meningitis. According to Nakarin, Kim…

  • Car workshop owner accused of 10 million baht investment fraud

    Car workshop owner accused of 10 million baht investment fraud

    A renowned car workshop owner has been accused of defrauding investors of over 10 million baht by luring them into various investment schemes. The victims claim the owner led a luxurious lifestyle while they faced significant financial losses. At 10.30am today, July 4, a group of 15 victims, accompanied by lawyer Natthakorn Sutchaa, met with the Deputy Investigation Inspector at…

  • Three year old Thai girl rescued from busy road

    Three year old Thai girl rescued from busy road

    A three year old girl sprinted into a busy road but was saved in the nick of time by a quick-thinking bystander. The child’s mother, in tears, revealed that she had left her daughter asleep to quickly buy some items, unaware that the child would wake up and follow her. A Facebook user shared CCTV footage showing the three year…

  • Elderly woman in Samut Prakan assaulted by daughter-in-law

    Elderly woman in Samut Prakan assaulted by daughter-in-law

    An elderly woman was allegedly assaulted by her daughter-in-law, resulting in severe facial injuries that required 10 stitches. The incident was reported yesterday, July 3, and the police, along with the social service and health officials, intervened to assist at the 73 year old woman’s residence in Bang Sao Thong, Samut Prakan. Upon arrival, police discovered the elderly woman, Udom,…

  • Elderly man in Lampang loses winning lottery ticket

    Elderly man in Lampang loses winning lottery ticket

    A 74 year old man in Lampang found himself at the centre of a lottery ticket dispute after discovering his winning ticket was missing. Later, the ticket was found torn into pieces, raising questions about its authenticity. A reporter visited a home in Serm Sai Subdistrict, Serm Ngam District, Lampang Province, yesterday, July 3, following reports of a lottery ticket…

  • Thai man walks 4km for help after being stabbed by homeless man

    Thai man walks 4km for help after being stabbed by homeless man

    A Thai man walked 4 kilometres to seek help after a homeless man stabbed him to steal alms he collected from an ordination ceremony at a temple in Chon Buri. Sawang Boriboon Dhammasathan Rescue Foundation was called to Soi Photisan in the Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri to rescue the injured Thai man, Somchai. Bang Lamung Police Station also…

  • Mae Hong Son hit by 3.1 magnitude earthquake, mild tremors

    Mae Hong Son hit by 3.1 magnitude earthquake, mild tremors

    An earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale struck Mae Hong Son today causing mild tremors felt by residents. The quake, which occurred at 5.23am, today, July 4, had its epicentre in the Huai Pu Ling sub-district, Mueang district of Mae Hong Son. The Department of Mineral Resources’ Earthquake Operations Center, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, reported…

  • Police warn of AI scam using fake video calls in Lamphun

    Police warn of AI scam using fake video calls in Lamphun

    Police in Lamphun issued a public warning about con artists using artificial intelligence (AI) to create convincing video calls impersonating police officers. A recent incident involved scammers using the image of a female officer, Ploy, to deceive the public. The police reported that fraudsters took a still image of Ploy, who manages a social media page called Accountant Aspires to…

  • Buriram to celebrate King’s 72nd birthday with grand event

    Buriram to celebrate King’s 72nd birthday with grand event

    Buriram is gearing up for a grand celebration, marking the 72nd birthday of His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn with an extravagant event titled Breath of the Land. The event will span three days, from tomorrow July 5 to July 7, at the Chang Arena football stadium, featuring world-class musical performances and various charitable activities. The people of Buriram have…

  • Former Thai survey director arrested for illegal land deeds to resort

    Former Thai survey director arrested for illegal land deeds to resort

    Police apprehended the former director of the Land Survey Centre in Nakhon Ratchasima, accused of illegitimately issuing land title deeds to benefit investors, just two months before the statute of limitations regarding his case was set to expire. At 7am today, July 4, Secretary-General of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Phumvisal Kasemsuk, along with officers from the Anti-Corruption Division…