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.

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    What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?

    The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...

  • Army commander accuses Cambodia of staged border provocation | Thaiger

    Army commander accuses Cambodia of staged border provocation

    The Commander of the Second Army Area has stated that his forces are prepared for continuous combat operations, vowing to protect all Thai territory and planning to recover the contested Ta Kwai and Khana temples. Lieutenant General Weerayut Raksin announced this after visiting troops along the Thailand–Cambodia border in Surin province to assess their readiness and welfare amid ongoing tensions.…

  • Pheu Thai challenges Bhumjaithai charter draft on public role | Thaiger

    Pheu Thai challenges Bhumjaithai charter draft on public role

    The Pheu Thai Party has raised concerns over the Bhumjaithai Party’s charter amendment draft, citing a lack of public involvement. They suggest that their draft should serve as the primary version for Parliamentary deliberation. This upcoming week, on Tuesday and Wednesday (October 14 and 15), three drafts from Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai, and the People’s Party (PP) are set for their…

  • Heavy rain forecast for 30 Thai provinces, including Bangkok | Thaiger

    Heavy rain forecast for 30 Thai provinces, including Bangkok

    Today, October 8, 2025, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecasted increased rainfall, with heavy rain expected in approximately 30 provinces, including Bangkok. The TMD has issued a warning due to a persistent monsoon trough that is currently affecting the northern, central, and eastern regions of the country. The conditions are a direct result of the monsoon trough coupled with…

  • Bhumibol Bridges to shine bright on Nawamintharathirat Day | Thaiger

    Bhumibol Bridges to shine bright on Nawamintharathirat Day

    Tomorrow, on October 13, Thailand remembers His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a revered monarch whose seven-decade reign shaped the nation’s modern history. Born in Massachusetts in 1927, King Bhumibol, Rama IX, ascended the throne in 1946 following the untimely death of his brother, King Ananda Mahidol. Though never destined to rule, his reign became a symbol of compassion, stability, and…

  • Girl, 10, tragically dies from electric shock in Buriram | Thaiger

    Girl, 10, tragically dies from electric shock in Buriram

    A tragic incident occurred in Buriram’s Nong Teng subdistrict, Krasang district, when a ten year old girl passed away from an electric shock yesterday, on October 11. The girl’s grandmother, Kaewnapa, 48, a local resident, was grieving as the child was found holding a hairdryer tightly in her right hand. Kaewnapa usually works in Bangkok selling goods and had promised…

  • Flooding impacts 17 provinces in Thailand, affecting 340,000 residents | Thaiger

    Flooding impacts 17 provinces in Thailand, affecting 340,000 residents

    Flooding persisted across 17 provinces today, on October 12, predominantly affecting the Central Plain and the North. Suphan Buri experienced rising water levels, while other areas saw levels remain steady or decrease. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation indicated that residents in eight provinces in the central plain, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya,…

  • American man, 70, dies in fall from Chon Buri condo | Thaiger

    American man, 70, dies in fall from Chon Buri condo

    A 70 year old American man died after falling from a condominium in Jomtien, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province today, on October 12 at 2.16am. The police, led by Police Lieutenant Chaiyanaret Phengkan from Mueang Pattaya Police Station, responded to the incident alongside a police investigation team and Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan rescue volunteers. The incident occurred…

  • Israeli nationals arrested in Koh Samui for counterfeit currency scam | Thaiger

    Israeli nationals arrested in Koh Samui for counterfeit currency scam

    In Koh Samui, Surat Thani, police arrested two Israeli nationals accused of exchanging counterfeit US dollars, causing a loss of 21,840 baht. Both individuals face severe legal action as authorities investigate further to prevent economic disruption. On October 11, officers from Bo Phut Police Station, in collaboration with the Surat Thani Immigration Office (Samui), detained the two Israelis following a…

  • Thai army finds anti-tank mine in Sa Kaeo border area | Thaiger

    Thai army finds anti-tank mine in Sa Kaeo border area

    An anti-tank mine of unidentified type was discovered in a border area of Khok Sung district, Sa Kaeo province, yesterday afternoon. The Thai army’s explosive ordnance disposal team, utilising an armoured bulldozer, found the mine at Ban Nong Ya Kaeo around 2pm. It appeared recently placed, with suspicions it might have been planted by individuals from across the Cambodian border.…

  • New RTAF chief to train female pilots and boost drones | Thaiger

    New RTAF chief to train female pilots and boost drones

    Thailand’s new air force commander announced plans to train female fighter pilots and enhance drone capabilities as part of a modernisation strategy. Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sakesan Kantha outlined his 2026 strategy at the Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Thai Air Force Academy in Muak Lek district, Saraburi. His speech came amid rising border tensions with Cambodia and set the tone for…

  • New bus link connects Thailand to Vientiane in just 4 hours | Thaiger

    New bus link connects Thailand to Vientiane in just 4 hours

    Thailand and Laos launched a new international bus route connecting Khon Kaen and Vientiane to enhance tourism, trade, and cross-border transport links. The service, launched yesterday, October 10, was unveiled in a ceremony at Khon Kaen Bus Terminal 3, presided over by Phanthep Saokosol, Deputy Governor of Khon Kaen province. The new route marks the fifth international bus connection between…

  • Thaksin may teach English in prison instead of hard labour | Thaiger

    Thaksin may teach English in prison instead of hard labour

    Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, currently serving a prison sentence, may be assigned to teach English to inmates due to his age, officials confirmed. Police Lieutenant Colonel Prawut Wongseenin of the Department of Corrections confirmed that officials are considering a teaching role for Thaksin due to his age, making physical labour unsuitable. “At his age, it’s more appropriate to assign…

  • Phuket cracks down on vapes with schoolyard smoking ban | Thaiger

    Phuket cracks down on vapes with schoolyard smoking ban

    Phuket officials launched a campaign in local schools to ban smoking and vaping, aiming to protect students’ health and raise community awareness. The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) has launched a new campaign to make local schools entirely smoke-free and e-cigarette-free, starting with five pilot institutions. The initiative was officially rolled out at Baan Mai Riab PPAO School (Tantikowit Bamrung),…

  • Bangkok shopper says staff ignored her after fall broke bone (video) | Thaiger

    Bangkok shopper says staff ignored her after fall broke bone (video)

    A shopper in Bangkok claimed she broke a bone after slipping on a wet car park floor and accused staff of refusing to help despite being asked directly. A social media user has accused staff at a popular department store in Bangkok’s Chidlom area of ignoring her pleas for help after she slipped and fell in a waterlogged car park,…

  • Thai Airways revamp board with zero-tolerance corruption vow | Thaiger

    Thai Airways revamp board with zero-tolerance corruption vow

    The Ministry of Finance has confirmed that all 17 nominees for Thai Airways International’s board of directors are seasoned professionals, as the airline prepares for a major leadership shake-up following its return to the stock market. Lavaron Sangsnit, the ministry’s permanent secretary and chairman of the Thai Airways board, assured the public yesterday, October 10, that the selection process is…

  • Wrong-way rider killed in fatal Phuket motorbike crash | Thaiger

    Wrong-way rider killed in fatal Phuket motorbike crash

    A man has died following a head-on collision between two motorbikes in the Pa Khlok area of Thalang, Phuket, as the island’s road death toll continues to rise. The crash occurred around 4.30pm on Thursday, October 9, on the Mueang Mai–Pa Khlok Road, directly in front of the SuperCheap store. Thalang Police received the emergency report and dispatched officers and…

  • Fire erupts in Bangkok hotel room, guests evacuated safely (video) | Thaiger

    Fire erupts in Bangkok hotel room, guests evacuated safely (video)

    A fire broke out in a hotel room on the 11th floor of a high-rise in Bangkok’s Phra Khanong district, prompting a swift emergency response and evacuation. The incident occurred at around 3pm yesterday, October 10, when smoke was spotted billowing from a window on one of the middle floors of the 29-storey hotel. Khlong Toei fire crews arrived promptly…

  • Pattaya eyes extreme sports fame to woo global thrill-seekers | Thaiger

    Pattaya eyes extreme sports fame to woo global thrill-seekers

    Pattaya officials held a meeting with extreme sports leaders to discuss hosting international events aimed at boosting tourism and economic growth. In a recent high-level meeting, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, City Secretary Phumpipat Kamolnath, and Acting Director of the Tourism and Sports Bureau Wipawadee Wongsuwan met with Apichat Rutnin, President of the Asian Extreme Sports Federation, and Pascal Filippi, Managing…

  • Foreigner escapes blazing car inferno on Phuket roadside | Thaiger

    Foreigner escapes blazing car inferno on Phuket roadside

    A foreign man was hospitalised after his car caught fire on a roadside in Phuket, prompting a late-night emergency response from local firefighters. The incident unfolded around 10.50pm on Thursday, October 9, on Wiset Road in Rawai, when residents spotted a Ford sedan engulfed in flames along the roadside and quickly alerted emergency services. Rawai Municipality firefighters dispatched two water…

  • Raids expose illegal migrant schools in Samut Sakhon | Thaiger

    Raids expose illegal migrant schools in Samut Sakhon

    Police, education, and administrative officials raided two illegal schools in Samut Sakhon where hundreds of migrant children were being taught by unqualified staff without permission. Over 900 migrant students and dozens of unauthorised teachers were discovered during a major raid on two illegal schools in Samut Sakhon province on Thursday, October 9. The operation targeted two buildings in Krathum Baen…

  • Thunderstorms loom as monsoon lashes central Thailand | Thaiger

    Thunderstorms loom as monsoon lashes central Thailand

    Heavy rain and storms are forecast across central and southern Thailand as the monsoon intensifies, prompting warnings for residents and travellers nationwide. The monsoon trough continues to stretch across the lower central region, the upper South, and the East of Thailand, while the southwest monsoon maintains its grip over the Andaman Sea, the southern region, and the Gulf of Thailand.…

  • Baby turtles make a break for it on Koh Thalu Beach | Thaiger

    Baby turtles make a break for it on Koh Thalu Beach

    Over 100 endangered hawksbill sea turtles hatched on a beach at Koh Thalu Beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Bang Saphan Noi district, marking a significant win for marine conservation efforts. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) confirmed that 101 hatchlings were born, following 65 days of careful monitoring by rangers and marine conservation teams. The eggs…

  • Drunk driver kills boy, 13, in wrong-way crash in Sattahip | Thaiger

    Drunk driver kills boy, 13, in wrong-way crash in Sattahip

    A fatal collision occurred when a drunk driver travelling the wrong way on a main road crashed into a motorbike ridden by a teenage boy, killing him instantly. A 13 year old schoolboy lost his life in a devastating crash on Sukhumvit Road in Sattahip after a drunk driver sped the wrong way into oncoming traffic. The accident occurred at…

  • Bangkok beauty shop sacks worker who kicked cat on video | Thaiger

    Bangkok beauty shop sacks worker who kicked cat on video

    A company dismissed an employee who was filmed kicking a cat, after a video sparked outrage online. The man is due to appear in court to face charges. A male employee of a beauty company in Don Mueang has been dismissed after a video surfaced of him violently kicking a cat. The clip, which shows the man setting up a…

  • Teen gunmen shoot 13-year-old in back in Hat Yai revenge raid | Thaiger

    Teen gunmen shoot 13-year-old in back in Hat Yai revenge raid

    A teenage gang attacked a rival’s home in Hat Yai, shooting a 13 year old boy in the back when they failed to find their intended target during the raid. Police from Thung Lung Police Station were alerted at 11.20pm yesterday, October 9, and rushed to the scene near a railroad crossing on Kanchanawanit Road in the Ban Phru subdistrict.…

  • Chinese factory in Chon Buri defies court order, told to halt work | Thaiger

    Chinese factory in Chon Buri defies court order, told to halt work

    Officials in Chon Buri held a high-level meeting to address a dispute over a Chinese-backed factory allegedly built without permits and in defiance of a court order. The tense situation unfolded during a multi-agency meeting on Wednesday, October 8, at the Bo Kwang Thong Subdistrict Municipality Office in Bo Thong District. The meeting aimed to resolve the growing conflict over the…

  • Thailand’s biggest book fair hits the right note in Bangkok (video) | Thaiger

    Thailand’s biggest book fair hits the right note in Bangkok (video)

    Thailand’s biggest book expo has opened in Bangkok, inviting readers of all ages to explore literature, music, and creativity through free daily events. Book lovers across Thailand are invited to immerse themselves in a world of literature, music, and creativity at the 30th Book Expo Thailand, now open daily from 10am to 9pm until October 19. The event is being…

  • British biker killed in horror crash on Chiang Mai highway | Thaiger

    British biker killed in horror crash on Chiang Mai highway

    A British man died in a road accident in Chiang Mai after falling off his motorbike and being struck by multiple vehicles during a late-night ride. Craig Davies, who was just days away from celebrating his 51st birthday, was killed instantly in the early hours of yesterday, October 9, following a high-speed crash in Chiang Mai. Originally from Wakefield, West…

  • American tourist knocked out in late-night Pattaya clash | Thaiger

    American tourist knocked out in late-night Pattaya clash

    An American tourist was assaulted by a motorcyclist while walking with family near a popular nightlife area in Pattaya, prompting a police investigation. The attack took place on the evening of Wednesday, October 8, while 50 year old Quincy Nguyen Tran was walking back to his accommodation with family after dining along Pattaya South Beach Road. As they passed Soi…

  • Phuket seaplane plan aims to jet-set luxury tourism sky-high | Thaiger

    Phuket seaplane plan aims to jet-set luxury tourism sky-high

    Officials and private stakeholders met in Phuket to discuss a proposed seaplane project aimed at boosting luxury tourism and improving regional connectivity. A bold proposal by Thai Seaplane Co Ltd aims to introduce seaplane operations in Phuket Bay to boost the island’s luxury tourism sector while meeting strict environmental standards. The public forum, held yesterday, October 9, at a multipurpose…