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...
-
Bangkok proposes congestion fee to fund flat 20-baht train fare
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt expressed support for the Transport Ministry’s proposal to introduce a congestion fee for vehicles entering the central parts of Bangkok. The revenue generated from this fee would be used to subsidise a flat 20-baht fare across all electric train lines in the city. Congestion charges are not a novel idea, having been successfully implemented in cities…
-
National parks revenue soars 50%, reaching 2.2 billion baht
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) reported a significant increase in income, reaching 2.2 billion baht in the fiscal year 2024, marking a nearly 50% rise. Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi in Krabi emerged as the top revenue generator, contributing 629 million baht (US$19 million). Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima was noted as the most…
-
Burmese worker found murdered near Phetchabun monastery
The body of a Burmese worker was found with severe injuries, including a slashed throat, facial skin removed, an ear cut off, and burn marks around the mouth, dumped by the roadside near a monastery in Phetchabun province. Police are investigating coworkers after the man went missing yesterday. Police officers and medical examiners arrived at the scene near the construction…
-
State workers lose 18 million baht in iCon Group scam
Two state enterprise employees have come forward as victims of The iCon Group scam, having lost a total of 18 million baht. The state workers, along with 102 others, have filed complaints with the police. The workers, 49 year old Pitipat and 32 year old Piromna presented evidence of money transfers and related documents to the investigators. Their ordeal began…
-
Drowsy driver crashes into motorcycle in Chachoengsao
A driver, drowsy and caught off guard by a sudden call from his girlfriend, caused a severe accident in Chachoengsao province when he fell asleep at the wheel and collided with a motorcycle, leaving two young women critically injured. The incident occurred at 7.30pm yesterday, October 18, when police officer Theerawat Pornprasit of the Chachoengsao City Police Station received a…
-
Double tax deductions to boost northern Thailand tourism
The Ministry of Finance is planning to introduce measures under the Thai Travel Continues campaign to boost tourism in flood-affected areas in northern Thailand. The initiative will offer double tax deductions for two groups: individuals and companies holding seminars in the disaster-stricken regions. Finance Deputy Minister Julapun Amornwiwat announced that the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Ministry of…
-
New king cobra species discovered in Thailand (video)
New research has revealed four distinct species of king cobra, including a new variant found in Thailand. Nirut Chamngam, the head of the Herpetology Group, shared this discovery on social media, explaining the differences and implications of these findings. Nirut Chamngam, an expert in snakes and reptiles, posted on Facebook about a new species of king cobra. He clarified that…
-
Thailand’s Koh Chang is world’s second-best tropical destination
Thailand celebrates as Koh Chang is named second-best tropical holiday destination in the world by Travel + Leisure. The announcement was made by Neramit Songsang, head of the Mu Ko Chang National Park in Trat province. Koh Chang, often referred to as the Gem of the Gulf of Thailand, achieved this prestigious ranking alongside other notable destinations in Southeast Asia,…
-
Human trafficking in Chumphon leads to three Burmese deaths
Police in Lang Suan district, Chumphon province, responded to a distress call from monks at Wat Sek Tharam at 11.30am on October 17, leading them to a tragic scene involving Burmese migrants. Found in a forest approximately 2 kilometres from Phetkasem Road, 12 Burmese migrants were discovered in dire conditions, covered in dirt and visibly weakened. Two men, aged between…
-
Public CNG bus safety inspections launched by DLT
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has initiated a comprehensive vehicle safety inspection for all public buses running on compressed natural gas (CNG). The inspections aim to bolster safety measures and boost passenger confidence. This mandatory inspection campaign will run until November 30. The DLT reported that 1,331 out of the total 13,426 CNG-powered buses nationwide have been inspected. Findings…
-
Rare Malayan tapir spotted near Thai-Malaysian border
A rare sighting of a Malayan tapir near the Thai-Malaysian border in Narathiwat province has caught the attention of Thai officials from the Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary. Local villagers alerted officials yesterday, October 18, after spotting the tapir on October 16 at around 7pm, feeding on fallen rambutans for about an hour before retreating towards the border. Residents in the Waeng…
-
Australian driver crashes into Nong Prue drugstore after drinking
An Australian man driving a pickup truck crashed into a drugstore at 4.30am this morning in Nong Prue, near Pattaya, resulting in significant damage. Police Lieutenant Apinan Srithongrungthip, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) of the Bang Lamung Police Station, reported that the incident took place in front of the Sukun Piem drugstore on Soi Khao Talo. Officers arrived at the scene to…
-
Phuket beach scare: Grenade-like object turns out to be lighter
Tension gripped a Phuket beach when locals reported spotting a grenade-like object in the backseat of a taxi, only to discover it was a lighter resembling an explosive device. Patong Police Station received a call at 1.30pm yesterday, October 18, from a concerned citizen about a suspicious object inside a taxi near Kalim Beach on Phra Barami Road, Patong subdistrict,…
-
Chiang Rai flood recovery 96% complete, set to finish by Monday
Post-flood recovery efforts in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district are nearing completion, according to the government’s operation centre for flood, storm, and landslide victims. Officials stated yesterday, October 18, that all affected communities should see the recovery work finalised by Monday as scheduled. Jirayu Huangsab, a spokesperson for the centre, provided an update from the forward command in Chiang Rai,…
-
Ex-police chief accuses lawyer and dead cop of extortion
A former chief of police in the southern province of Songkhla filed a lawsuit against a lawyer and a dead cop for extorting more than 10 million baht from him and another police officer in August 2018 and April 2019. The former superintendent of a local police station in Songkhla, Police Colonel Surapong Kittithirangkul, complained to the lawyer, identified as Ch.,…
-
Knife-wielding man shot during Kathu standoff
A violent confrontation in Kathu escalated dramatically last night, October 17, when police were forced to shoot a 28 year old Thai man after a taser failed to stop his knife-wielding rampage. Naruphan Sosaphan, reportedly in a delirious state, charged at officers with a blade after they responded to calls about his erratic behaviour. The chaotic scene unfolded around 10pm…
-
Bomb blitz rocks southern Thailand: Seven injured
A series of bomb blasts sent shockwaves through Sungai Padi district, in the southern province of Narathiwat province this morning, leaving seven security personnel injured and sparking concerns about the region’s escalating unrest. The attacks began just before dawn, with bombs planted strategically near power poles outside a gas factory in Kuwa Village, according to Ranger Task Force 4810. The…
-
Rubbed the wrong way: New hire turns thief at Phuket massage shop
An owner of a massage shop in the Patong area of Phuket offered a job to an unemployed woman, who later turned thief and stole money and valuables from the shop on her second day of work. The owner took to social media to issue a warning to other shops and expose the thieving behaviour of her former employee. She…
-
Thai fugitive’s train escape ends with Kathu condo arrest
A daring train escape in Nakhon Si Thammarat ended in the capture of a fugitive in Phuket. On the run after fleeing police custody, the fugitive, identified as Ekkachai, was finally nabbed at a swanky condo on Tuesday, October 15, bringing a thrilling two-week manhunt to a close. Ekkachai, originally detained on five arrest warrants for property crimes in Hat…
-
Patong: Passenger falls from motorcycle taxi after seizure
A passenger on a motorcycle taxi in Patong was thrown from the vehicle after suffering an epileptic seizure this morning. The incident, which occurred at approximately 10am behind the Kasikornbank branch on Prachanukroh Road, sent shockwaves through the bustling streets. According to local police, officers Police Lieutenant Sanit Aiyasuwan and Pol. Lt. Kamthon Kowaitchaet rushed to the scene after receiving…
-
Giant snakes prompt dramatic four-hour rescue in East Thailand
A dramatic encounter between a giant king cobra and a large python led to a tense four-hour rescue operation in Chanthaburi province. The incident took place at the Phromsutthisakayarama Monastery, where the two snakes were spotted. Residents believe the snakes were followers of a mythological serpent, emerging from hibernation after the Buddhist Lent. The rescue team from Sawang Katanyu Foundation…
-
Thai food vendor killed, taxi driver injured in multiple vehicle crash
A multiple vehicle crash on the bridge over Pracharath Intersection in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, resulted in the death of a Thai food vendor and the severe injury of a taxi driver yesterday, October 17. Officers from Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station and the Poh Teck Tung Foundation rushed to the scene of the accident on the bridge to assist the…
-
Khon Kaen’s stunning boat festival draws crowds to Phong River
Khon Kaen province hosted a grand boat-floating festival on the Phong River, attracting a large number of local and international tourists. Sila Municipality Mayor Pairat Thaveewan aims to elevate this event to an annual provincial celebration, showcasing beautifully crafted boats by local artisans. The event started at 8.30pm yesterday, October 17, at Wat Tha Rat, Ban Dong Phong, Sila subdistrict,…
-
Thai family celebrates 6 million baht lottery win in Kamphaeng Phet
A heartwarming surprise unfolded yesterday, October 17, when a Thai woman revealed to her mother that she had won the top lottery prize. The moment, captured on video by the Facebook page Lottery Plus, shows the family in Kamphaeng Phet province celebrating after discovering they had hit the jackpot worth 6 million baht. The surprise began when the daughter asked…
-
Iranian duo arrested for night theft in Bangkok
Two Iranian nationals were arrested on charges of theft at night after being caught red-handed by Thonglor Police in Bangkok yesterday evening, October 17. Police officers, led by Witawat Chinkam, the Metropolitan Police Bureau Division 5 commander, and Pansa Amarapithak, the Thonglor Police Station superintendent, conducted the operation following multiple reports from tourists. These tourists had reported incidents where foreign…
-
Deputy speaker shuts down House debate on amnesty bill
Tensions flared in Thailand’s House of Representatives yesterday as Deputy House Speaker Pichet Chuamuangphan unexpectedly slammed the gavel on a heated debate, abruptly closing the session before a vote on a controversial amnesty proposal could be held. The debate centred on a report led by Pheu Thai MP Chusak Sirinil, which explored ways to draft an amnesty bill aimed at…
-
Samut Songkhram man arrested with 138 meth pills after rehab
Police in Samut Songkhram apprehended a man for possessing a significant quantity of methamphetamine (meth), commonly known as Yaba. The suspect, 52 year old Sasikorn, recently underwent rehabilitation but was found with 138 meth pills hidden in his bedroom. Officials, including Krit Inthanonphan, District Officer of Mueang Samut Songkhram, and Direk Makatham, Village Head of Tha Had, collaborated with local…
-
Phuket hit-and-run: Foreigner leaves injured Thai man with 3,100 baht
A Thai woman is seeking justice for her husband after a foreign woman hit him with her car on a road in the Thalang district of Phuket on Tuesday, October 15, and fled the scene, leaving him with injuries and 3,100 baht in cash. The victim’s wife shared details of the accident with the news Facebook page, Phuket Times, today,…
-
Thailand’s N3 lottery pilot draws crowds, starts successfully
Thailand’s pilot phase of the N3 three-digit lottery kicked off successfully yesterday, drawing numerous buyers to lottery shops eager to try the new state-owned game. Thatsaneeya Thipthanesuan, owner of a lottery shop on Jomphol Road in Nakhon Ratchasima, reported that by 9.30am, more than 30 customers had visited her shop to purchase N3 lottery tickets. To assist her clients, the…
-
Get ready to sea it all: Trang opens for snorkeling with marine life
Trang province is now ready to welcome tourists to admire the stunning beauty of the sea at Lao Liang Island. Visitors can snorkel to see schools of anchovy swimming around coral reefs and spot dozens of clownfish among vibrant sea anemones, showcasing the richness of natural marine life. Anan Gingkoyao, also known as Bang Daad, a 36 year old local…
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.