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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Sponsored Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Pattaya man seriously injured by wife in new year’s knife attack
A construction worker in Pattaya found himself in a dire situation when his wife, angered by his refusal to return home from new year’s celebrations, attacked him with a knife. The incident, which took place at a construction camp in Soi Mab Yai Lia 22, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, left the man with severe facial injuries, including a…
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Khao Kheow Zoo to expand with new Hippo Village project
Khao Kheow Open Zoo is set to expand with a new project called Hippo Village, dedicated to the popular pygmy hippopotamus family, including the beloved Moo Deng, at the zoo in Chon Buri Province. The announcement was made by Ataporn Sriherun, Director of the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand, alongside Narongwit Chadchoi, Director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo. They discussed…
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Drink-driving cases drop in 2025 New Year campaign
The Department of Probation reported 344 drink-driving cases on the first day of the 2025 new year campaign, with Chiang Mai leading and Nonthaburi in second place. The statistics show a decrease from the previous year. Yesterday, December 28, the Department of Probation, led by Suriyah Singhakamon, revealed statistics from December 27, the first day of the 2025 new year…
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Pattaya bust dismantles South Korean online gambling network
A major bust took place in Pattaya as police dismantled a South Korean-operated online gambling network using the city as a server base. This operation, with transactions exceeding 5 billion won, catered to over 20,000 users worldwide. Police descended on the property in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, yesterday, December 28, at 10am. The raid was led by Thawatchai…
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Heavy rain and temperature drop predicted across Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecasted that heavy rain is expected in the southern regions of Thailand, with potential flooding and flash floods due to increased rainfall. Meanwhile, the upper regions will experience a drop in temperatures by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius. A high-pressure system, or a moderately strong cold air mass, has moved from China to cover…
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Torrential rain wreaks havoc in Surat Thani, Koh Phangan hit hard (video)
Torrential rain drenched several districts in Surat Thani, a southern province of Thailand, leading to a significant runoff on the tourist hotspot of Koh Phangan yesterday, December 28. The deluge resulted in substantial disruptions, including a dramatic incident in Ban Thong Nai Pan, Ban Tai subdistrict, where a pickup truck belonging to Atsawin Busaba, a hotel worker, was carried away…
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Lucky escape: Lives and gold spared in Lopburi house fire
A devastating fire consumed a family home, destroying over 100,000 baht in cash but miraculously sparing five baht of gold. The incident occurred yesterday afternoon, December 27, resulting in damages estimated at over 1 million baht. Police from the Ban Mi Police Station received reports of the fire at 1.45pm near the entrance to Wat Wongthep in Maha Son subdistrict,…
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Police pickup truck crashes into lamppost in Cha-Am
A police pickup truck crashed into a lamppost, snapping it in two, resulting in injuries to a police lieutenant colonel and two passengers. The incident occurred on a roadside in Cha-Am province, prompting police to investigate the cause. Thawatchai Khun-aem, an investigator from Cha-Am Police Station in Phetchaburi province, received a report yesterday, December 27 at approximately 4.30pm of a…
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Elderly Thai singer impersonator battles cancer and poverty
The heart-wrenching story of a 71 year old man, known for mimicking the voice of the legendary Thai singer, Chai Mueangsing, has surfaced, highlighting his struggle with terminal cancer and poverty. Living in Chon Buri, the elderly man now finds himself collecting garbage to sell, his home devoid of electricity and water, and his health rapidly declining. Adun Wongnoi’s Facebook…
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Gridlock crisis: Phuket’s billion-baht boom sparks urgent action
Provincial officials have vowed to tackle Phuket’s surging traffic chaos as the island’s tourism industry hits record-breaking highs. Governor Sophon Suwannarat chaired a high-stakes Zoom meeting with key stakeholders on Thursday, December 26, to address infrastructure challenges threatening the paradise’s reputation. With over 10 million visitors in 2023 generating a staggering 388 billion baht in revenue—an astounding 100.38% increase from…
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Thai health ministry warns against fake medical certificates
The Thai Ministry of Public Health has issued a stern warning to medical facilities against issuing fake medical certificates to foreign workers. Such actions could result in severe penalties, including a maximum two-year prison sentence and a 40,000 baht fine. Phanuwat Panket, Director-General of the Department of Health Service Support (HSS), expressed concerns about potential malpractice by hospitals in issuing…
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Thai police to manage new year traffic with drones
Real-time traffic management is a priority for the Police Region 2 during the new year festive period, utilising drone technology to monitor and address traffic issues. The focus is on two major routes connecting to the northeastern region, with measures including vehicle dispersal and law enforcement to reduce accidents. Within the CCTV operations control room of Police Region 2, Yingyot…
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Electric car smashes into sugarcane truck in Khon Kaen
A serious accident unfolded in Khon Kaen province yesterday evening, December 27 involving an electric car rear-ending an 18-wheel sugarcane truck, resulting in severe injuries for the driver. Emergency services swiftly intervened to extricate the trapped individual and rushed him to hospital. Emergency responders from the Sawang Khon Kaen Samakkhi Foundation in Khon Kaen were alerted to the incident at…
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Phuket’s Freedom Beach embroiled in land encroachment dispute
Phuket’s scenic Freedom Beach, a favourite among tourists, finds itself at the centre of a legal tussle as allegations of land encroachment surface. The head of the Forest Protection Unit, Sorasak Rananan, has reported 15 alleged incidents of encroachment onto the protected grounds within the Khao Nakkerd National Forest Reserve. This complaint was lodged with the Karon Police following an…
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Chinese call centre scam: Bangkok police arrest 4 more men
A coordinated crackdown on a suspected call centre scam network culminated in the arrest of four Chinese men in Bangkok. Police carried out raids across eight locations in the city yesterday, December 27, targeting areas in Bang Na, Makkasan, Lumpini, Huai Khwang, Hua Mak, and Din Daeng. Metropolitan Police Bureau chief investigator, Theeradej Thamsuthee, spearheaded the operation. During the raids,…
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Foreign motorcyclist’s ill-judged turn in Pattaya leaves 3 injured
A serious accident unfolded on Pattaya Third Road just after midnight yesterday, December 27, resulting in critical injuries for a foreign motorcyclist and minor injuries for two Thai women. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre was alerted to the collision at 12.16am and dispatched volunteers to the location near Soi Chaloem Phrakiat 4/1. Upon arrival, rescue teams found the foreign…
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New year traffic chaos hits Ayutthaya roads
Traffic congestion gripped the routes through Ayutthaya as people embarked on their new year holiday journeys. Traffic reports yesterday evening, December 27 highlighted heavy vehicle accumulation at Bang Pa-in Interchange, with cars from Phahonyothin Road, Highway 9, and the motorway filling all lanes. Many city dwellers were eager to leave Bangkok and surrounding provinces, heading towards the northern and northeastern…
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Chilly start: Thailand braces for new year cold spell
Thailand is bracing for a cool spell across its north, northeast, and central regions during the new year period, with temperatures expected to remain low until January 9, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). The department announced that much of the country should prepare for cold mornings, as a robust cold air mass from China is set to blanket…
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Lottery luck: Past winning numbers revealed
A comprehensive list of winning lottery numbers from January over the past 10 years, as provided by Sanook News, is presented below as the lottery draw for January 2 approaches. The statistics reveal potential lucky numbers based on previous draws. In analysing the lottery results from January over the last decade, several patterns and recurring numbers emerge. This historical data…
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Thai ‘wizard’ halts ritual after viral couple intercourse chanting video
A Thai “wizard” in the Isaan province of Udon Thani ended an explicit ritual after a video of him chanting in front of a foreign couple during sexual activity went viral on Thai social media. The ritual came to public attention after the Facebook page Esor News shared details on Wednesday, December 25. The page posted a picture of a…
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Thailand celebrates National Wildlife Protection Day
Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) celebrated National Wildlife Protection Day yesterday with the theme World – Wild – Life Balance: Sustainable Ecosystems for People, Wildlife, and Forests. The event included the official opening of the National Park Tourism Year 2025, aiming to enhance Thailand’s beaches to international standards. The ceremony took place at the Government…
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Yacht fleet breakfast: Thaksin and Thamanat’s island meet-up
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and ex-Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow made waves yesterday, December 26 as they were spotted enjoying a private breakfast on the picturesque Koh Lipe, Satun province. The political duo arrived in style, leading a fleet of six luxury yachts to the tropical getaway. Landing unannounced at the upscale Bulow Casa Grand View Resort, they dined from…
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Missing Bangladeshi man found high on crystal meth in Bangkok hotel
Police yesterday, December 26, found a Bangladeshi man, reported missing by his concerned mother, relaxing and using crystal methamphetamine in a hotel room in the Bang Na area of Bangkok. Officers from the Immigration Bureau launched a search for the 30 year old Bangladeshi financial consultant, Abu Alkasim, after his mother reported him missing. She revealed that she lost contact…
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Thailand allows daily airport alcohol sales to boost tourism
The Prime Minister’s Office has implemented a regulation allowing the daily sale of alcoholic beverages at major international airports. This directive, detailed in the Royal Gazette on Christmas Day, became effective yesterday, December 26. The modification aims to align legal practices with the current situation, an observer noted. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, following the counsel of the Alcoholic Beverage Control…
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Thai tourist police arrest 20 foreign sex workers on Pattaya Beach
Thai tourist police officers arrested 20 foreign sex workers for illegally working and offering sexual services on Pattaya Beach in the early hours of today. Officers from the Pattaya Tourist Office announced the crackdown on foreign sex workers to the public. They revealed that the arrests were made at about 1am today following complaints from both locals and tourists in…
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Bangkok woman arrested for call centre scam impersonating police
A 63 year old woman was recently arrested in Bangkok for allegedly participating in a call centre scam that impersonated police officers from the Surin City Police Station. The scam involved video calls to victims, convincing them to transfer money for “verification” purposes, resulting in losses exceeding 1 million baht. The arrest was made yesterday by the Metropolitan Police Bureau,…
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Frenchman loses 6,000 euros to foreign sex worker in Phuket
A Frenchman lost 6,000 euros in cash (approximately 210,000 baht) to a sex worker of colour in Phuket on Christmas night, December 25. The Facebook news page Phuket Times reported today that the French victim took a foreign sex worker to a hotel after a Christmas party in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket. He was intoxicated and subsequently fell asleep.…
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Fight breaks out between 2 foreign men on Bangla Road in Phuket
Two foreign men engaged in a fight using Muay Thai and wrestling skills on Bangla Road in Phuket on December 25, drawing hilarious comments. Some Thai netizens remarked that it was just another typical day on Bangla Road. A video of the altercation between the two men was shared yesterday, December 26, on the Facebook pages of Phuket Times and…
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Man’s goodwill exploited as woman steals motorcycle in Chon Buri
A 57 year old man fell victim to a theft after his goodwill gesture was exploited by a woman who absconded with his motorcycle. The incident unfolded yesterday, December 26, in the area of Moo 5, Ban Phu Thai, Khao Mai Kaew subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Thaworn, a construction worker, had reported the theft to Surasing Sookmak,…
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Ethereum co-founder donates 10 million baht gift to Moo Deng and friends
The co-founder of the leading cryptocurrency Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, donated 10 million baht to Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri to support its wildlife adoption project and to fund the construction of a new home for Moo Deng and his companions. Buterin previously visited Khao Kheow Open Zoo in November to meet the zoo’s celebrity pygmy hippo, Moo Deng,…
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