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 The hidden costs of ignoring pre-existing conditions in Thailand
The Thaiger key takeaways Not declaring pre-existing conditions can result in denied claims, high costs, or visa problems. Cigna provides coverage for common chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis with high limits and direct billing. Honest disclosure ensures proper coverage,...
-
9 Thais arrested for illegal border crossing from Cambodia
Nine Thai nationals were arrested in Sa Kaeo after illegally crossing the border on foot from Cambodia, where they had worked in an online scam operation. The group, five men and four women, were intercepted by the Burapha Forces and Aranyaprathet Special Task Force during a surveillance operation in Sa Kaeo province. Officers caught them trekking through a sugarcane field…
-
Southern drug kingpin arrested hiding out in Bangkok condo
A southern drug leader was arrested in Bangkok after police tracked him to a luxury condo, ending his months-long escape. The 37 year old suspect, identified as Suriya “Phueak Sraphleng,” was detained at a luxury condominium by officers from the Crime Suppression Division following a series of warrants issued earlier this year. Suriya, a key figure in one of southern…
-
Stoned shopkeeper arrested after knife rampage in Chon Buri
A grocery shop owner in Chon Buri was arrested after allegedly using cannabis and threatening residents with a knife while wearing a belt of ammunition. The bizarre incident unfolded around 9pm on Thursday, October 16, in Soi Thung Klon Tal Man 14, Nong Prue subdistrict. Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon was alerted after panicked residents called in reports of…
-
Late-night blaze guts Phuket home in suspected power fault
A fire tore through a two-storey home in Kathu, Phuket, late on Thursday night, causing extensive damage but fortunately no injuries, as three residents managed to escape just in time. The blaze broke out around 11.45pm on Thursday, October 16, at a property in Soi 8, Anuphas Golf Ville, Kathu subdistrict. Police Lieutenant Colonel Natthaya Suphanphong from Kathu Police Station…
-
Drunken Brit torches wife’s designer gear in Pattaya rampage
A 59 year old British man allegedly caused chaos in central Pattaya after a drunken outburst saw him vandalise a beer bar, attempt to assault his Thai brother-in-law, and later set fire to his wife’s luxury clothing. The incident took place at around 6.33pm yesterday, October 17, on Soi Buakhao, where the man, identified only as Ary, was caught on…
-
Thai senator faces death threats over border sound row
A Thai senator received death threats after criticising tactics used at the border, prompting concern from police and international human rights advocates. Thai Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit is facing a wave of death threats against herself and her family after publicly criticising controversial tactics used along the Thai-Cambodian border. The human rights advocate revealed the threats in a Facebook post, sharing…
-
Israeli tourist caught stealing donation envelope in Pattaya
An Israeli tourist was arrested after allegedly stealing a donation envelope from a massage parlour near Pattaya Beach. The incident occurred around 2am yesterday, October 17, at a traditional Thai massage parlour in Soi 5, near Pattaya Beach Road. The suspect, who initially identified himself as Bar Bigger, reportedly gave police and reporters a false name. He is believed to…
-
Storm alert: Thundershowers and rough seas hit Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned that southeasterly and easterly winds continue to prevail across Thailand, the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, fuelling widespread thundershowers and the threat of isolated heavy rain, particularly in the South. The northern and central provinces, along with the northeast, are expected to experience scattered thunderstorms. While these are not forecast to…
-
Trat tourism hit by UK travel alert over martial law fears
The tourism industry in Trat province, southeast Thailand, is facing severe financial losses after a UK travel advisory urged against non-essential visits, prompting widespread cancellations. Trat’s once-bustling tourist hotspots are reeling after a UK travel advisory urged citizens to avoid non-essential trips to the eastern Thai province due to ongoing martial law — a move that has sparked widespread cancellations…
-
Rare moon moth spotted at Kaeng Krachan National Park
A rarely seen species of moth was discovered by a park officer at a popular campsite in a national park in Phetchaburi, drawing interest from conservationists. The moth was discovered near the campsite area of Panoen Thung in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi province. Park officer Nattaphon Ritnoi reported the sighting, which was confirmed by park chief Atthapong Pao-on, who said…
-
Pakistani man arrested at Bangkok airport for assaulting Phuket transwoman
Police today, October 17, arrested a Pakistani man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for assaulting a Thai transwoman in Phuket and stealing 10,000 baht. The transgender victim, identified only as Barbie, took to social media to share photos of herself with bloodstains on her face and chest in a plea for information about the attacker. She initially identified the suspect as…
-
Pattaya’s 24/7 hotline gets 250k calls in service revamp
Pattaya City is stepping up efforts to improve public services and quality of life with its 24-hour Pattaya Contact Centre 1337, a hotline designed to address complaints, share updates, and offer emergency support for both locals and tourists. The city has handled 257,869 calls through the centre in fiscal year 2024 alone, a figure city officials say reflects growing public…
-
Cargo ship and foreign yacht collide off Phuket coast, no injuries
A cargo boat collided with a foreign yacht in open waters near Phuket during a routine journey, prompting an official investigation into the cause. The incident occurred at approximately 8am today, October 17, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. According to the cargo vessel’s captain, the sailboat appeared to be drifting unusually close, with no one visibly steering. “I sounded…
-
Airlines boost Thailand flights under TAT tourism drive
International airlines are ramping up flights to Thailand to meet growing travel demand, following tourism initiatives led by Thai officials. Thailand is poised to see a significant tourism surge as international airlines increase flight routes, frequencies, and seat capacity to the kingdom in the fourth quarter. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) confirmed that carriers from East Asia, South Asia,…
-
Thai father joins son in jail after carrying ketamine to police station
A Thai father found himself under arrest after visiting his detained son at a police station in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok with ketamine in his possession. Officers at Rattanathibet Police Station arrested the 35 year old man, identified only as Wuttichai, outside a detention room on the second floor of the station yesterday, October 16, after finding 0.54 grammes of…
-
Dugong numbers plummet as seagrass vanishes in Andaman
Conservationists in Thailand are working to restore seagrass beds in the Andaman Sea after dugong numbers dropped sharply due to food loss and habitat damage. The Thai Coral Reef and Marine Life Conservation Foundation has launched a renewed campaign to restore seagrass beds in the Andaman Sea, after recent drone surveys revealed a drastic decline in dugong numbers, from 248…
-
Thai woman puts Huskies up for adoption over border clash fears
A tearful pet owner in Sisaket is urgently seeking a loving new home for her two Siberian Huskies as fears of renewed conflict along the Thai-Cambodian border grow. Today, October 17, a reporter visited Ban Non Sawang, a village in Kantharalak district, just 7 kilometres from the tense border zone, where 39 year old Pairin Yodkhammee made a heartbreaking decision.…
-
Suvarnabhumi Airport ranks 12th among world’s most connected airports
Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok is ranked 12th in the world’s 50 most connected airports in 2025, according to the Official Airline Guide (OAG). Airports of Thailand (AOT) announced the news following the release of OAG Megahubs 2025. Suvarnabhumi Airport is placed 12th in the Global Airport Megahubs category and fifth in the Asia-Pacific region in the Top International by…
-
Thai Revenue Department warns influencers: Pay your fair share
Thailand’s Revenue Department has reminded all earners, including influencers and online sellers, that income from any source must be declared and taxed. The statement comes amid rising scrutiny of high-profile online earners, especially after singer Ratchanok “Janey” Suwannaket made headlines for reportedly raking in hundreds of millions of baht through record-breaking livestream sales. Deputy director-general Panuvat Luangvilai clarified that the…
-
Samsen Police Station to be demolished after road collapse
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will demolish the Samsen Police Station building on October 22 as part of an urgent effort to restore the area around Vajira Hospital, where a severe road subsidence occurred on September 24. The collapse occurred above a Purple Line underground station, under construction by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). According to the…
-
DSI clears African man of call centre scam links after parliament discussion
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) confirmed that a South African accused of involvement with a call centre scam gang based in Cambodia has no record of legal violations, according to its database. The South African, Benjamin Mauerberger, also known as Ben Smith, drew attention from Thai political enthusiasts after being mentioned by two Members of Parliament (MPs) from the…
-
Belarus model trafficked from Thailand killed in Myanmar camp
A 26 year old woman from Belarus was trafficked after arriving in Thailand for a modelling job and later died in Myanmar, where she was forced into cyber scams. The victim, Vera Kravtsova, believed she had secured legitimate work in Bangkok. However, according to international media reports, she was allegedly abducted shortly after her arrival and taken to a region…
-
Thailand video news Italian Tourist Found Wandering Pattaya with Only a Hotel Key, Two Chinese Nationals Busted in Bangkok for Illegal Hostel and Drug Trade
Thailand’s week was marked by dramatic rescues, tourist mishaps, and cautionary tales reflecting both human resilience and vulnerability. Authorities in Pattaya helped an Italian tourist who lost all his belongings find his hotel through digital records, while a Thai woman in Udon Thani fell victim to a fake matchmaking scam. Police in Bangkok raided an illegal hostel run by Chinese…
-
Royal Thai Army’s 8.6 million baht border fence plan questioned
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has announced plans to build a high-security fence along the Thai-Cambodian border to strengthen defences and curb illegal crossings. The Army Development Command (ADC), under the RTA Headquarters, has announced a project to construct a reinforced prefabricated concrete fence topped with steel mesh and concertina wire. The total cost will be a staggering 8.66 million…
-
Chinese duo busted at Suvarnabhumi after Bangkok burglary spree
Two Chinese nationals were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport after allegedly going on a burglary spree across several Bangkok districts, targeting homes in Don Mueang and Saimai and making off with loot worth over 1 million baht. The suspects, 38 year old Lin Li and 39 year old Xiaowu Liu, were arrested by officers from Don Mueang Police Station following a…
-
Pattaya locals beat drunk foreign man for assaulting disabled victim
Locals attacked a drunk foreign man in Soi Buakhao in Pattaya on Wednesday, October 15, after he allegedly assaulted a disabled person and spat on a police officer. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station revealed details of the incident to Matichon yesterday, October 16. They reported that the disturbance occurred in the popular nightlife area of Soi Buakhao at around…
-
Chiang Mai resident bags 10 million baht in GSB lottery win
A Chiang Mai resident has won 10 million baht after claiming the top prize in the Government Savings Bank (GSB) special one-year lottery. The GSB Society Facebook page announced the exciting win yesterday, October 16, congratulating the latest millionaire from the bank’s Central Chiang Mai branch. The prize came from GSB’s special one-year lottery draw. The winning ticket was part…
-
Greedy python meets fatal end after swallowing cat in Pattaya
A giant python was found dead in Pattaya after swallowing a cat whole, leaving residents shocked and rescue teams scrambling to the scene. The discovery was made around 7pm yesterday, October 16, when stunned residents spotted the sluggish snake coiled in a ditch beside Soi Na Kluea 14. They immediately alerted Pattaya’s Ground Disaster Prevention Radio Centre, prompting a swift…
-
Cocaine shipment from Portugal leads to arrests of 2 Brazilian men in Bangkok
Police arrested two Brazilian men in the Bang Na area of Bangkok yesterday, October 22, after they collected a parcel containing cocaine worth over 3 million baht. The package was delivered from Portugal. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) reported the arrests to the public today, October 23. Officials said the operation was part of an ongoing and…
-
Thai woman loses 30,000 baht in foreign husband matchmaking scam
A 50 year old Thai woman in the Isaan province of Udon Thani lost 30,000 baht after hiring a fraudulent matchmaker to find her a foreign husband. The victim, identified only as Jip, filed a complaint against the scam agency at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station on October 13. She also handed over CCTV footage showing her discussions with a…
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.