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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    How much travel insurance should cost you in Thailand (By trip length)

    When planning a trip to Thailand, travel insurance is a smart investment that can save you from unexpected costs. Whether it’s medical expenses, lost luggage, or trip cancellations, the right coverage can provide peace of mind and financial protection against...

  • Drunk Thai driver faces extra charge for punching police at Bangkok station

    Drunk Thai driver faces extra charge for punching police at Bangkok station

    A drunk Thai driver repeatedly punched a police officer in the face while the officer was escorting him to a detention room at Bang Khen Police Station in Bangkok. The victim, Police Sub-Lieutenant Anucha Saowako, gave an interview to the media with a swollen face. An interview video on ThaiRath showed blood flowing from Anucha’s nose while speaking with journalists.…

  • Pattaya paint rage: Worker batters delivery lad over smudged lines

    Pattaya paint rage: Worker batters delivery lad over smudged lines

    A furious road worker launched a savage attack on a young delivery rider in Pattaya yesterday because he accidentally rode over freshly painted traffic lines. The shocking assault happened at 6pm, yesterday, July 1 outside a convenience store on Soi Naklua 12, after 20 year old Phattharadanai Phimthong returned from a delivery run and was confronted by a man now…

  • DLT warns against counterfeit licence plates sold on social media

    DLT warns against counterfeit licence plates sold on social media

    The Department of Land Transport (DLT) warned about the growing online trade of counterfeit licence plates. The warning, which targets the public, highlights the rising dangers posed by purchasing these fake plates, which are increasingly being marketed via live streams on popular social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok. DLT Deputy Director General and spokesperson Seksom Akraphand raised concerns…

  • Thai teacher arrested for drug use and weapon possession

    Thai teacher arrested for drug use and weapon possession

    Local officials, including district chief Rungreung Thimabut and Police Colonel Chaipol Kamnork, arrested a 44 year old teacher for taking drugs in Naklang district of Nong Bua Lamphu province. The suspect, Suphaksak, who has been a contract teacher for 20 years, yesterday, July 1, confessed to using methamphetamines for the same duration. Following the arrest, police searched Suphaksak’s residence in…

  • Wild weather alert: Thailand provinces brace for deluge

    Wild weather alert: Thailand provinces brace for deluge

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has sent shockwaves today with a severe weather warning for 47 provinces, including bustling Bangkok. Expect a drenching, as heavy rain is set to swamp 70% of these areas. Be on high alert for flash floods, forest runoff, and landslides. The weather forecast indicates thunderstorms and heavy rain in parts of the north and upper…

  • Splash ‘n’ grab: Floods wreak havoc as Pattaya bikes washed away

    Splash ‘n’ grab: Floods wreak havoc as Pattaya bikes washed away

    Tourists and locals in Pattaya were left soaked and stranded yesterday as a torrential downpour turned Thailand’s Sin City into a sodden swamp, with over 20 bikes washed away in raging floodwaters. The heavens opened for more than two hours last night, July 1, swamping Bang Lamung district and bringing traffic to a watery standstill. Water levels surged to between…

  • Barking mad: Boy rescued after being raised by dogs in drug den

    Barking mad: Boy rescued after being raised by dogs in drug den

    An eight year old Thai boy has been rescued from a squalid drug den where he was raised alongside six dogs and ended up barking instead of speaking. The boy, who had not been to school in two years, was found living in filthy conditions in Laplae district, Uttaradit province, with his drug-addicted mum and older brother. With no friends…

  • Bangkok minimum wage hits 400 baht: Boost for 700,000 workers

    Bangkok minimum wage hits 400 baht: Boost for 700,000 workers

    A historic pay boost is on the horizon for Bangkok’s workers, as the government acknowledges a major wage hike that will benefit hundreds of thousands. The Cabinet has officially confirmed a significant increase in Bangkok’s minimum wage, with the daily rate set to rise to 400 baht starting July 1. The wage increase, which will benefit approximately 700,000 workers, was…

  • Hungry bear shocks diners at restaurant in Khao Yai National Park

    Hungry bear shocks diners at restaurant in Khao Yai National Park

    A Thai TikToker shared a surprising moment with his followers after he and other tourists encountered an Asian black bear at a restaurant in Khao Yai National Park, located in the central province of Nakhon Nayok. The TikTok user and travel blogger posted a video of the bear on his account, @oatoatour, on Sunday, June 29, with the caption: “Bear…

  • 15 Chinese arrested in northern Thailand luxury home raid for scam

    15 Chinese arrested in northern Thailand luxury home raid for scam

    A significant police operation in Hang Dong, a district in northern Thailand, led to the arrest of 15 Chinese nationals and two Myanmar workers linked to an online scam network. Provincial Region 5 police conducted a raid on a luxury residence in the Ban Waen area of the district today, July 1, after receiving information that the house was being…

  • Tragic accident claims lives of mother and daughter in Chon Buri

    Tragic accident claims lives of mother and daughter in Chon Buri

    A tragic accident occurred yesterday, resulting in the deaths of a mother and daughter when their motorcycle collided head-on with a pickup truck. The incident happened around 3pm, yesterday, June 30, on Sukaphiban 8 Road, in the Khao Khayai community of Bo Win subdistrict, Si Racha district, Chon Buri province. Police Lieutenant Somporn Panjan, Deputy Inspector of Bo Win Police…

  • Bangkok Airways takes off with green fuel to slash carbon emissions

    Bangkok Airways takes off with green fuel to slash carbon emissions

    Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited is propelling its Low Carbon Skies by Bangkok Airways initiative with a major commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Starting today, July 1, the airline will officially introduce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on its commercial flights, marking a significant step towards a more environmentally friendly future for aviation in Thailand. Captain Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President of Bangkok…

  • Elderly man injured in Chanthaburi market altercation

    Elderly man injured in Chanthaburi market altercation

    In Chanthaburi province, a 61 year old man was seriously injured in a physical altercation with a younger man, reportedly about 30 years old. The incident occurred on June 29 in front of a market along Phakdi Ramphai Canal Road in Mueang district. The younger man was seen arguing and shouting at the older man while another person restrained him.…

  • Broke British dad busted smuggling £100k cannabis from Thailand

    Broke British dad busted smuggling £100k cannabis from Thailand

    A cash-strapped dad who feared for his life tried to smuggle £100,000-worth (around 4.47 million baht) of cannabis from Thailand — but his secret haul was busted by airport officers. Jason Horne, a 24 year old dad from Rycroft Avenue, Dringhouses in York, northeast England, narrowly avoided an immediate prison sentence after admitting he tried to import huge quantities of…

  • Thai man sells ‘floating durian’ for 300,000 baht at fruit festival auction

    Thai man sells ‘floating durian’ for 300,000 baht at fruit festival auction

    An 81 year old Thai man sold his homegrown durian, the first floating durian in Thailand, for 300,000 baht at an auction during the Thong Pha Phum Fruit Festival 2025 in the central province of Kanchanaburi. The elderly man, Pid Sinthao, is known for his famous floating homestay, Phae Malai, located in the Thong Pha Phum district of Kanchanaburi. He…

  • Chiang Mai official arrested for extorting migrant worker brokers

    Chiang Mai official arrested for extorting migrant worker brokers

    In Chiang Mai‘s San Sai district, the assistant chief has been detained for extortion, following allegations from brokers of migrant workers in the northern province. Boonyarit Nipawanich, who also serves as the head of the Registration Management Centre, Region 5, at the Chiang Mai branch, was apprehended by the Central Investigation Bureau’s Anti-Corruption Division. The arrest, involving charges of corruption…

  • Bangkok man arrested for stealing 52,000 baht gold bracelet

    Bangkok man arrested for stealing 52,000 baht gold bracelet

    A 23 year old man has been arrested for stealing a gold bracelet weighing 1 baht from a well-known shop in the Nawamin district. Officers from the Khok Khram Police Station conducted an investigation and reviewed CCTV footage, apprehending the suspect and the motorbike used in the crime within three hours. Yesterday, June 30, at around 11.25pm, police captured Korakot,…

  • Thaksin faces court over monarchy remarks in closed-door trial

    Thaksin faces court over monarchy remarks in closed-door trial

    Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra appeared at the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road today as prosecutors began presenting witnesses in his high-profile lese majeste case. The proceedings mark the first witness hearings since charges were filed accusing Thaksin of insulting the monarchy under Section 112 of the Penal Code and breaching the Computer Crime Act. The case centres on a…

  • Man charged with assault causing death after field confrontation

    Man charged with assault causing death after field confrontation

    A 48 year old man reportedly killed a younger man during a confrontation in a field in Non Suwan district on June 30. Police Colonel Kanasnan Suwansap, Police Lieutenant Suthon Krachangjit, investigators, a forensic doctor, and rescue services examined the scene in Bsan Khok Krabueang, Mueang Non Suwan district, after residents reported an assault. They discovered the body of Thawatchai,…

  • Transport minister takes over as audio scandal topples Paetongtarn

    Transport minister takes over as audio scandal topples Paetongtarn

    Thailand was thrown into political upheaval today as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was abruptly suspended over a leaked audio scandal, paving the way for Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit to seize the top job — at least for now. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya, a senior figure in the Pheu Thai Party, has been appointed acting PM following…

  • Dozing motorcyclist survives after slamming into truck on motorway

    Dozing motorcyclist survives after slamming into truck on motorway

    A Thai motorcyclist miraculously survived after dozing off while riding on a motorway in the central province of Ayutthaya and slamming directly into the back of a truck. A Thai woman witnessed the incident while travelling with her family and recorded a video, which she later shared on her Facebook account, Supattra Srithara, on Sunday, June 29. In the video…

  • Filipina killed in horror Patong crash as SUV ploughs into bikes

    Filipina killed in horror Patong crash as SUV ploughs into bikes

    A Phuket holiday turned into a nightmare after a Filipina woman was killed and several others injured when an SUV smashed into motorbikes in a horrific evening pile-up. A serious multi-vehicle collision claimed the life of a Filipina woman and left several people injured on the main road through Kalim, just north of Patong, last night. The crash occurred at…

  • Vietnamese man detained at Don Mueang for forged visa stamp

    Vietnamese man detained at Don Mueang for forged visa stamp

    Immigration officials at Don Mueang International Airport detained a 24 year old Vietnamese man for allegedly using a forged visa stamp to avoid overstaying. The suspect, Nguyen, was apprehended while preparing to board a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. The arrest was executed under the supervision of Police Lieutenant General Phanumas Boonyaluck, the Commander of the Immigration Bureau. Nguyen was detained…

  • ‘Half-Half’ travel scheme crashes, leaving thousands in limbo

    ‘Half-Half’ travel scheme crashes, leaving thousands in limbo

    The launch of the government’s eagerly awaited Half-Half Thai Travel programme descended into chaos this morning after both key registration platforms suffered catastrophic failures within minutes of going live. At 8am today, July 1, hopeful holidaymakers logged on to the Amazing Thailand app to secure discounted accommodation entitlements, but were instantly met with error messages reading, “An error occurred. Something…

  • Thai woman blames misdiagnosis in Isaan hospitals for her child loss

    Thai woman blames misdiagnosis in Isaan hospitals for her child loss

    A Thai woman is seeking accountability from hospitals in the Isaan provinces of Chaiyaphum and Nakhon Ratchasima, accusing medical teams of a misdiagnosis that led her to terminate a pregnancy and lose her child. The 37 year old woman sought assistance from the non-profit organisation Be One to help her pursue justice. She explained that she discovered a lump on…

  • Pattaya ready for tourist boom as ‘Half-Half’ travel freebies launch

    Pattaya ready for tourist boom as ‘Half-Half’ travel freebies launch

    Pattaya’s tourism industry is bracing for a vibrant mid-year comeback, thanks to the government’s latest initiative designed to boost domestic travel and spending. The Thai Half-Half Travel programme officially opens for bookings today, July 1, with travel taking off on July 4. Under the scheme, holidaymakers can bag up to 3,000 baht per night in government subsidies to make stays…

  • Thai abbot leaves Thailand for Laos amid romantic scandal

    Thai abbot leaves Thailand for Laos amid romantic scandal

    A high-ranking Thai abbot unexpectedly left the monkhood and travelled to Laos after allegedly being blackmailed by a woman with whom he reportedly had a romantic relationship. Prathep Wachira Patimoke, also known as Arch, the abbot of Tri Thotsathep Temple in Bangkok, submitted his request to leave the monkhood at Chan Samakkhi Temple in the northeastern province of Nong Khai on…

  • Illegal kratom drug operation dismantled in Prachin Buri

    Illegal kratom drug operation dismantled in Prachin Buri

    A significant illegal kratom-based drug operation has been dismantled in Ban Sang district, Prachin Buri province. At 11.30am, yesterday, June 30, Prachin Buri Governor Veeraphan Dee-on directed Wittharat Raman, the provincial Deputy Governor, to lead a special task force in collaboration with local officials to investigate a suspected illegal operation at a residence in Mueang Bang Pla Ra subdistrict. This…

  • Illegal gold miners jailed and fined 500,000 baht each

    Illegal gold miners jailed and fined 500,000 baht each

    Thong Pha Phum Provincial Court has sentenced two people to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 baht each under sections 90 and 78 of the Criminal Code. The charges stemmed from illegal gold mining activities within a national park and a protected forest area. The defendants, Achong and Anusorn, were charged by the Thong Pha Phum Provincial…

  • Paetongtarn on pause: PM suspended amid leaked audio storm

    Paetongtarn on pause: PM suspended amid leaked audio storm

    Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been temporarily suspended from office after the Constitutional Court voted 7 to 2 in favour of an investigation into a leaked audio clip that has rocked the nation’s political landscape. At 9.30am, today, July 1, a panel of judges met to deliberate on the petition submitted by Senate President Mongkol Surasak, which was backed…