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...

  • Air Cambodia relaunches Bangkok-Sihanoukville flights

    Air Cambodia relaunches Bangkok-Sihanoukville flights

    Air Cambodia has restarted its connection between Sihanoukville and Bangkok, resuming twice-weekly flights on May 22. The airline now operates this route every Thursday and Sunday using an Airbus A320 with 180 seats, providing much-needed convenience for travellers heading to Cambodia’s southern coast and its idyllic islands. While Air Cambodia already offers daily services between Phnom Penh and Bangkok, it…

  • Charity turns violent: homeless man punches food donor in Nakhon Sawan

    Charity turns violent: homeless man punches food donor in Nakhon Sawan

    A Thai man’s act of kindness took an unexpected turn when he was punched in the face by a homeless man while handing out food in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan. The incident came to light after the Facebook news page Jmoi V+ (เจ๊มอย v+) shared a video of the incident yesterday, May 29. In the caption, the page…

  • Phuket youths arrested for reckless beach gunfire (video)

    Phuket youths arrested for reckless beach gunfire (video)

    Phuket’s pristine beaches were rocked by outrage after a video showing youths recklessly firing guns at Surin Beach went viral, stirring fears over tourist safety and law enforcement lapses on the island. The explosive 21-second clip, shared by the Facebook page Phuket Exposed (แฉยับ ภูเก็ต) yesterday, May 29 just after midnight under the hashtag #ThisIsPhuket, showed several young men discharging…

  • Thai transwoman fatally stabbed for alleged sexual assault on teen

    Thai transwoman fatally stabbed for alleged sexual assault on teen

    A Thai man stabbed a transwoman to death and abandoned her body in a roadside forest in the Isaan province of Roi Et, claiming that the victim sexually assaulted him. The 18 year old Thai man, Anuwat, confessed to the community leader in the Pho Chai district of Roi Et that he fatally stabbed 32 year old transwoman Phuwanon Kamonphard.…

  • Thaksin holds firm as Pheu Thai plans Cabinet shake-up

    Thaksin holds firm as Pheu Thai plans Cabinet shake-up

    June is shaping up to be a stormy month in Thai politics, with tensions boiling over amid protests and courtroom drama targeting Pheu Thai’s spiritual leader, Thaksin Shinawatra. Despite rumoured flight and political chaos, Thaksin made a rare public appearance on Tuesday, May 27, dismissing speculation that he had fled the country. His keynote speech at a narcotics control event…

  • Thailand’s telecom giants clash amid spectrum auction concerns

    Thailand’s telecom giants clash amid spectrum auction concerns

    Thailand’s multibillion-baht telecom war is heating up as the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) officially opens bidding for high-demand mobile spectrum licences. The auction, scheduled for June 29, could reshape the country’s digital future—but not without controversy. Today, May 30, telecom giants True Move H and Advanced Info Service (AIS) submitted their applications to compete for spectrum licences in…

  • Police’s son accused of brutally assaulting Thai actress surrenders

    Police’s son accused of brutally assaulting Thai actress surrenders

    The son of a retired high-ranking police officer surrendered himself at Phra Khanong Police Station on Wednesday, May 28, after being accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, a Thai actress. The actress, Bell, came forward last week to seek justice after suffering repeated physical abuse at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Kongla. He reportedly threatened her not to report the assaults…

  • Chinese arrested for molesting intern at Chiang Mai aquarium

    Chinese arrested for molesting intern at Chiang Mai aquarium

    A brazen act of sexual harassment has rocked Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium, as a Chinese tourist was caught on camera groping a female intern before being swiftly apprehended by staff and police. The disturbing incident has sparked outrage and a firm promise from police to prosecute the offender to the fullest extent of the law. The incident occurred today, May…

  • Missing Pattaya woman’s Dutch boyfriend says red-hair skull likely unrelated

    Missing Pattaya woman’s Dutch boyfriend says red-hair skull likely unrelated

    The skull with red hair, which was found in the central province of Chachoengsao, may not be linked to the missing woman in Pattaya, according to statements from her friend and her Dutch boyfriend. A 15 year old Thai teenager named Krittapas discovered the skull of an unidentified woman on May 27 while jogging around a pond in the Saen…

  • Pattaya’s PR blitz falls flat as expats warn of scams

    Pattaya’s PR blitz falls flat as expats warn of scams

    Despite a glossy City Hall campaign to “reinvent safety one step at a time,” long-term foreign residents in Pattaya say the city’s image makeover is little more than smoke and mirrors. While officials boast about new CCTV cameras, more tourist police, and road repaints, expats claim these gestures barely scratch the surface of deep-rooted problems that continue to plague the…

  • Thai business closures rise 8.3% amid economic concerns

    Thai business closures rise 8.3% amid economic concerns

    Thailand’s business landscape is facing stormy skies as nearly 4,000 companies shut their doors in just the first four months of 2025 — an 8.3% increase from the previous year, according to the Department of Business Development (DBD). This surge in closures, with a combined registered capital of almost 16 billion baht, has alarmed lawmakers during this week’s heated budget…

  • F1 fever hits Bangkok: Street race plans rev up

    F1 fever hits Bangkok: Street race plans rev up

    Thailand is gearing up for a high-octane future as Tourism and Sports Minister Surawong Thienthong revealed plans to host the F1 World Championship on a street circuit rather than investing in a dedicated racetrack. This bold move aligns with Formula One’s preference and the private sector’s eagerness to back the event, signalling an exciting chapter for Thai motorsport. Minister Surawong…

  • Thailand braces as new Covid variant NB.1.8.1 rises fast

    Thailand braces as new Covid variant NB.1.8.1 rises fast

    Thailand’s health experts are keeping a sharp eye on a new Covid-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, which is rapidly gaining ground and is expected to become the dominant strain in the country soon. Dr Yongyot Thummavudhi, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC), revealed yesterday, May 29, that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is actively monitoring multiple Omicron variants. Among these,…

  • Bus driver found dead inside vehicle in Ayutthaya

    Bus driver found dead inside vehicle in Ayutthaya

    Employees were left waiting as their bus failed to arrive, later discovering the driver deceased inside the vehicle. It is suspected he may have suffered a shock the previous night. Two lottery tickets were found in his bag. Police are expediting the autopsy to determine the cause of death. Today, May 30, Police Lieutenant Colonel Pleng Phankaew, deputy investigator at…

  • Thailand video news | Bangkok Bank shuts door on short-term foreign accounts, Amad Diallo’s middle finger was a response to personal abuse, not fans

    Thailand video news | Bangkok Bank shuts door on short-term foreign accounts, Amad Diallo’s middle finger was a response to personal abuse, not fans

      In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. News stories include Bangkok Bank tightening rules for foreign account holders amid a fraud crackdown, and a Bulgarian hacker arrested for installing malware in Thai ATMs. The program also covers a British family’s holiday nightmare in Phuket, a tragic police helicopter crash raising…

  • Thai-Cambodian tensions ease as leaders seek peace

    Thai-Cambodian tensions ease as leaders seek peace

    Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are anticipated to ease as both nations engage in talks to address recent conflicts, said Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra yesterday. The Thai PM’s comments follow a Facebook statement by Hun Sen, Cambodia’s former prime minister and father of the current leader, after a brief gunfight on Wednesday, May 28, resulted in the death of a…

  • Bangkok man arrested for possessing child pornography on LINE app

    Bangkok man arrested for possessing child pornography on LINE app

    Yesterday, May 29, the Metropolitan Police apprehended a 32 year old man for possessing explicit images and videos of minors under 18. The investigation revealed he accessed and stored such content on the LINE app at his residence in the Thawi Watthana district of Bangkok. The arrest followed a tip-off from the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)…

  • Mentally ill inmate brutally attacks 2 guards at Bangkok prison

    Mentally ill inmate brutally attacks 2 guards at Bangkok prison

    A mentally ill inmate attacked two prison guards with a baton at Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok on Wednesday, May 28, leaving one of the victims with serious injuries. The director of Klong Prem Central Prison filed a complaint with Prachachuen Police Station on the same day following the physical assault on two prison guards, identified as Sombat Phantamas…

  • Udon Thani temple funeral turns violent as monk and man fight (video)

    Udon Thani temple funeral turns violent as monk and man fight (video)

    A confrontation occurred at a renowned temple in Udon Thani’s Mueang district, where a monk and a local man engaged in a physical altercation. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media, prompting public concern. The video shows a man in a black shirt restraining another man, while a monk uses his feet and fists against him.…

  • Austrian man arrested for cannabis theft in Phuket

    Austrian man arrested for cannabis theft in Phuket

    Police arrested an Austrian man for stealing cannabis from a shop in Phuket on Sunday, May 26, after the shop owner took to social media to report the incident. The shop owner, Chatchai Tanamas, posted pictures and CCTV footage of the theft on his Facebook account on Monday, May 27, one day after the incident. He urged netizens to help…

  • Chinese tourist rescued after rooftop water tank swim in Pattaya

    Chinese tourist rescued after rooftop water tank swim in Pattaya

    A surreal rescue unfolded yesterday afternoon when Pattaya authorities scrambled to save a 26 year old Chinese tourist who jumped into a water tank atop an eight-storey condominium. The unusual incident took place at 5pm yesterday, May 29, at a condo on Soi 17 off Thepprasit Road, leaving rescuers grappling with the challenge of extracting the man from the cramped…

  • Chiang Mai man with dissociative identity disorder goes missing

    Chiang Mai man with dissociative identity disorder goes missing

    A Thai woman appealed to an online community for help after her husband, who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), also known as multiple personality disorder, went missing from their home in the northern province of Chiang Mai on Monday, May 26. The wife, Runglamai Jaisooksern, took to Facebook to urge netizens to assist her and her daughter in locating…

  • Pickup truck driver killed in collision with truck on Phetkasem Road

    Pickup truck driver killed in collision with truck on Phetkasem Road

    A tragic accident occurred when a pickup truck collided with a 10-wheel truck making a U-turn, resulting in the death of the pickup truck driver. Rescue workers took over an hour to extract the body. The incident was reported at 9.12pm yesterday, May 29, when Police Lieutenant Colonel Jiraphorn Phoolpipat, deputy inspector of Mueang Phetchaburi Police Station, received a report…

  • Three arrested for concealing murder in Nakhon Sawan reservoir

    Three arrested for concealing murder in Nakhon Sawan reservoir

    Police have detained three men accused of concealing a murder by placing the body in a barrel and disposing of it in a reservoir in Nakhon Sawan province. The suspects, including 35 year old Paravee or Game, Chalerm or Mam, and Prasong or Beer, confessed to their involvement in hiding the body after shooting the victim, Chutapet or Uan. Yesterday,…

  • Motorcycle collision with truck in Ratchaburi leaves one dead

    Motorcycle collision with truck in Ratchaburi leaves one dead

    A tragic accident occurred involving two women on a motorcycle returning from the market. While carrying bags of rice and dried food, they collided with a trailer truck, resulting in one fatality and critical injuries. The incident took place at 5pm yesterday, May 29, on Phetkasem Road, near the entrance of Wat Don Sai, Mueang subdistrict, Photharam district, Ratchaburi province.…

  • Thailand rights commission probes ex-Stark exec’s hospital perks

    Thailand rights commission probes ex-Stark exec’s hospital perks

    The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) has requested clarification from the Police General Hospital (PGH) regarding the treatment of a former executive and significant shareholder of the embroiled Stark Corporation, who reportedly received special treatment at the facility. Yesterday, May 29, an NHRC source revealed that a letter was sent to the hospital’s chief medical officer seeking further…

  • Over 10 assailants attack Narathiwat Police Station with M60s

    Over 10 assailants attack Narathiwat Police Station with M60s

    Over 10 armed assailants launched an attack on the Chanae Police Station in Narathiwat using two M60 machine guns, as revealed by the Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 9. The violent incident saw 30 year old Sergeant Major Abdullor Makaseng, bravely respond to the attack but was fatally shot. Meanwhile, 33 year old Police Lance Corporal Jesada Promrat, sustained severe…

  • Buriram man arrested with over 1,000 yaba pills

    Buriram man arrested with over 1,000 yaba pills

    Police apprehended a 29 year old man, identified as Saharat, in Buriram province for possession of over 1,000 methamphetamine pills, commonly known as yaba. The arrest occurred when Saharat was about to leave his residence on a black Honda Wave motorcycle yesterday, May 29. Saharat, from Ban Yang subdistrict, was detained following reports of his involvement in drug activities. Upon…

  • Teenager swept away after fall into Chaiyaphum weir

    Teenager swept away after fall into Chaiyaphum weir

    Yesterday, May 29, a 13 year old girl tragically fell into a weir in Chaiyaphum province and was swept away by strong currents. Police from Ban Duea station responded to the incident at the village weir in Baan Nong Bua Noi, Kaset Sombun district. Divers from Luang Siri Rescue and Mangorn Rescue, Nong Bua Daeng district, joined in the search.…

  • Thailand to continue US talks despite court blocking Trump’s tariffs

    Thailand to continue US talks despite court blocking Trump’s tariffs

    Thailand will continue negotiations with the US despite a US trade court’s decision to block President Donald Trump’s extensive tariffs on imports, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The 38 year old Thai premier stated that the court’s ruling on Wednesday, May 28, is perceived as an internal US issue, adding that it remains unclear how Trump might proceed. Despite…