News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
-
Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
-
Pattaya hotels surge as Hua Hin struggles for tourists
Last weekend, local travellers flocked to Pattaya in the aftermath of the earthquake, causing hotel occupancy rates to soar to full capacity. However, the impact of the quake had a very different effect on Hua Hin, where concerns over road safety led to a sharp decline in bookings. “Travellers seeking refuge from the tremors in Bangkok drove a spike in…
-
Warning: Sinkholes emerge in Mae Hong Son after earthquake
In a startling post-earthquake discovery, six sinkholes have appeared in Mae Hong Son’s Khun Yuam district, leaving locals on edge. The sudden appearance of these giant holes has prompted a warning from the Mineral Resources Regional Office 1, advising residents to exercise extreme caution. The sinkholes, which range in size from 2 to 30 metres in diameter, were first discovered…
-
Dorm inspected in Phuket after quake sparks safety fears
In the wake of last week’s devastating earthquake in Myanmar, scrutiny has intensified on a Chinese contractor linked to multiple construction projects across Thailand, including a long-delayed female student dormitory at Phuket Rajabhat University. On April 3, officials from the Phuket branch of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT Phuket) carried out an urgent inspection…
-
Thailand goes shadowless: Sun overhead phenomenon begins
Get ready to look up because Thailand is about to go shadowless. The rare and dazzling astronomical event known as the sun overhead phenomenon is sweeping across the country, starting today in Yala’s Betong district and continuing through to May 22 in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) confirmed that this solar spectacle…
-
Battery blast injures crewman off Phuket’s Cape Panwa
A fishing trip turned into a terrifying ordeal yesterday evening when a battery exploded on board a trawler off the coast of Cape Panwa, leaving one crew member injured and sparking a coordinated rescue mission. The incident occurred aboard the vessel L. Thanakorn, which was approximately 7.3 nautical miles south of Cape Panwa at the time. The Thai Maritime Enforcement…
-
Brit son’s race against time to save dying dad in Thailand
A heartbroken British man is fighting to bring his dying dad home from Thailand for life-saving treatment, before it’s too late. Reginald Leo had been chasing his retirement dreams in Pattaya but now he’s clinging to life after a foot wound spiralled into a catastrophic medical crisis. Leo’s devastated son, Jonathan, who moved to Thailand in 2017, has given up…
-
Bangkok governor apologises after woman’s cries go unanswered
In a heartbreaking development that has gripped the nation, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt issued a public apology after rescuers were unable to locate a woman whose desperate cries for help were heard beneath the rubble of a collapsed structure in Chatuchak district on April 2. Rescue operations yesterday, April 3, were concentrated in Zone B, where a woman’s voice and…
-
Thai mother fights for baby taken by ex-husband and his mother
A Thai mother is fighting to regain custody of her daughter after her ex-husband and his mother took the baby from her before physically assaulting her at her home in Bangkok last month. The victim, identified only as A, sought help from the non-profit organisation Be One, hoping it would offer her a chance to see her daughter again. The organisation shared…
-
Grim discovery: Pattaya vendor finds bloated corpse in jungle
In a chilling twist that sounds straight out of a horror flick, a papaya salad vendor stumbled across a bloated corpse while relieving herself in a remote thicket in Pattaya. What was meant to be a routine break from work quickly turned into a nightmare she’ll never forget. The grisly discovery was made yesterday, April 3 at 3.06pm. Police Lieutenant…
-
Bangkok builder rapes teenage worker, threats to kill her
A lecherous Bangkok builder has been arrested for raping a 14 year old employee at a construction site, threatening to kill her unless she kept his vile deed a secret. He later confessed to the rape because he was drunk and horny. Police swooped to apprehend the 52 year old suspect, Arong (surname withheld) today, April 4, after a warrant was…
-
Tourist sparks outrage in Phuket with fake cash stunt (video)
A foreign tourist has come under fire after being caught on video throwing fake dollar bills out of a moving car in Phuket, sparking outrage among locals and reigniting debate over Thailand’s visa exemption policy. The bizarre incident, believed to be a social media stunt, took place along Yaowarat Road in Samkong and quickly went viral. The footage, posted to…
-
Rice and fall: Thai fragrant rice at risk as US tariffs give Vietnam edge
Thailand’s Hom Mali fragrant rice faces a major threat in the US market as new reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US could see the country lose its competitive edge to Vietnam. The Thai Rice Exporters Association has raised concerns after the US imposed a steep 36% tariff on Thai rice, which will push prices up to US$1,400 per tonne from…
-
Bullet banquet: Politician’s son shot dead at market feast
A politician’s son was shot dead and two others were injured in a brutal daylight attack during the grand opening of a new market in Samut Prakan. The gunman, a man with a grudge, unleashed a hail of bullets at a Chinese banquet, sending guests fleeing in terror. The lunchtime bloodbath erupted at around midday today, April 4, at Ton…
-
Indian PM meets Thaksin to strengthen India-Thailand ties
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a significant meeting with former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday, April 3, sparking discussions aimed at strengthening India-Thailand relations in key areas such as defence, trade, and culture. Modi, who was in Thailand for a two-day visit to attend the sixth BIMSTEC summit, described the meeting as a “delight” and praised Thaksin’s vast…
-
BoT launches debt relief and fraud crackdown in Phuket
To ease the financial burden on struggling debtors and combat rampant financial fraud, the Bank of Thailand’s Southern Office unveiled a new initiative in Phuket yesterday, April 3. The You Fight, We Help programme aims to provide critical support for citizens and small businesses facing financial difficulties while also tackling the growing issue of financial crime. Thatlap Paoleuangthong, Senior Director…
-
2 Thai teenagers admit to homemade bombs that kill boy
Police yesterday arrested two Thai teenagers for making bombs that led to the death of a nine year old boy in the Isaan province of Phichit. The young boy lost his life after picking up an unidentified object he found on the road, which turned out to be a homemade bomb that exploded immediately upon contact. The fatal explosion occurred…
-
Hayward bound: Aussie star rewriting family’s drug-tainted legacy
Rising Aussie footie star Bailey Hayward may be making headlines on the field for the right reasons but his surname carries a history that once made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Hayward is proudly forging a new chapter in a family saga steeped in both sporting brilliance and a harrowing criminal past. The footy star is turning heads in…
-
Entertainment Complex Bill to be debated in Parliament by April 9
The much-discussed Entertainment Complex Bill is set to be reviewed in Parliament soon, with a likely discussion date of April 9, according to Chief Government Whip Wisut Chainarun. The bill, which was approved by the Cabinet on March 27, is designed to boost Thailand’s economy by diversifying tourism beyond its traditional seasonal peaks. Wisut, a Pheu Thai list-MP, provided an…
-
Phayao’s 70-million-baht SAO building abandoned
A 70-million-baht government project in Phayao has been left incomplete and abandoned, sparking questions over its delayed construction. The building, intended to house the State Audit Office (SAO), remains unfinished, with no clear explanation for its stalled progress. Located near the provincial immigration office, the once-promising site now sits as an eyesore, with only the third-floor framework partially finished, surrounded…
-
No remorse from foreign couple after car overturned in Phuket
A Phuket local condemned a foreign couple for their ignorance after they continued to enjoy music following a crash in which their car overturned on a road in the Mai Khao sub-district of the province. A Thai woman, Prapasiri Ravangpai, shared a video and pictures of the foreign couple‘s car accident on Facebook yesterday, April 3. The incident reportedly occurred…
-
Fuel prices in Thailand to drop by 0.50 baht per litre from April 4
Fuel prices will drop today, giving a welcome relief to motorists ahead of the Songkran festival. Starting today, April 4, petrol and diesel prices will decrease by 0.50 baht per litre, thanks to a government initiative aimed at easing the financial burden on citizens travelling home for the traditional Thai New Year celebrations. PTT Station made the announcement yesterday, April…
-
Steel-ing millions! Firm in hot water over 200m baht tax scam
A Thai steel company is facing the heat after allegedly forging over 7,000 fake tax invoices in a scam worth more than 200 million baht, sparking a full-blown criminal investigation by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). Officials from Regional Revenue Office 3, yesterday, April 3, marched into DSI HQ on Chaeng Watthana Road to file a formal complaint against…
-
Thailand offers rent waivers for earthquake-hit tenants
The Treasury Department has stepped up to support those impacted by the earthquake that struck Thailand on March 28. In an announcement made by Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul, tenants renting state land in earthquake-affected areas are now eligible for rent waivers, providing much-needed relief to those whose properties were damaged in the disaster. This initiative targets tenants of state-owned…
-
Thai influencer’s fleet of flash motors seized in gambling gang bust
Thailand’s self-styled speed king, social media influencer Ekkachai “Em” Meephrom, has gone from the fast lane to a full stop, as cyber crime cops seize a jaw-dropping fleet of luxury flash motors, bikes, and bling worth more than 50 million baht, all allegedly tied to a massive online gambling racket. At 1pm, yesterday April 3, top brass from the Technology…
-
American man stabs himself while reading about death in Pattaya
An American man remains in critical condition after stabbing himself in the neck and chest on a traffic island in Pattaya yesterday, April 3. A Thai woman, 63 year old Thippawan Chaisuwan, visibly frightened, rushed to the Mueang Pattaya Traffic Police booth on Sukhumvit Road in Bang Lamung district to report a foreign man, covered in blood, was sitting on…
-
Randy Russian couple make waves with x-rated Pattaya Beach romp
Pattaya Beach this morning turned into porn movie setting as a Russian couple engaged in sex in the sea cheered on by a crowd of over 50 people. The Russian couple were caught having full-blown sex in the sea on Pattaya Beach at around 3.06am, today, April 4 while crowd of voyeurs looked on. Locals and tourists alike gathered round…
-
Pattaya brawl: Chinese tourists and taxi riders clash over urination
A wild altercation broke out in the heart of Pattaya involving local motorcycle taxi drivers and a group of Chinese tourists. The fracas unfolded in Soi Liap Hat Pattaya 6, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri province, when tempers flared over a dispute that escalated into punches being thrown. According to Police Lieutenant Santhaya Khanthap, Deputy Chief of…
-
Another mishap on Rama II road: crane and truck fall on pickup
A crane and a six wheel truck on an overpass above Rama II Road fell onto a pickup in the early hours of this morning, injuring one person. A witness at around 3am today, April 4, shared a livestreamed video of the incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, on his Facebook account, Ant Bangping. In the…
-
Bhumjaithai denies tension with Pheu Thai amid PM’s Buriram visit
The Bhumjaithai Party has denied any tensions with coalition leader Pheu Thai, asserting that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Buriram province, a stronghold of the Bhumjaithai Party, was not politically motivated. Chaichanok Chidchob, the party’s secretary-general, emphasised the coalition’s unity. Newin Chidchob, the party’s co-founder, welcomed the prime minister and guided her around Chang International Circuit without any political…
-
Baht to the future: Thai currency takes a pounding as US tariffs bite
The Thai baht has taken a serious beating, diving to its weakest level in two and a half months, and it’s only set to sink further, after the US threw a financial curveball with a whopping 37% reciprocal tariff on Thai imports. The baht slipped to 34.38 to the dollar yesterday, April 3, with intraday lows hitting 34.44, a rate…
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.