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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Malaysian woman shares eerie hotel experience in Thailand
A Malaysian woman recently took to Facebook to share a chilling experience during her 10-day stay at a popular hotel in Thailand, where she claimed to have encountered strange and unexplained events nearly every night. She said the first sign of trouble came right after check-in, when the bathroom light began flickering nonstop. Although the light was fixed, more unexplained…
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Suspects flee sugarcane field near border, abandon 600,000 pills
Authorities have seized a major shipment of methamphetamine after suspects fled into a sugarcane field and abandoned approximately 600,000 pills during an overnight interception operation in Udon Thani province. The operation was carried out by the Surasakmontri Task Force, working through its interdiction units in the upper northeastern region, in coordination with ranger forces and local police. The drugs were…
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Foreign motorcyclist slammed for revving engine, causing smoke in Phuket
Thai netizens condemned a foreign motorcyclist after a video showed him repeatedly revving his motorcycle engine on a road in Phuket on Saturday night, January 3. The incident came to light after a Thai witness filmed the foreigner’s actions and shared the footage online. The video was later reposted by several local news outlets. The exact time and location of…
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Cold air returns, Tak chills to 10°C, stronger monsoon ahead
Thailand Weather Update: Temperatures dip further as new cold wave arrives January 6 to 11 The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a fresh weather outlook as another wave of cold air sweeps over upper Thailand, causing temperatures to drop, especially in northern provinces. Meanwhile, strong monsoonal winds are expected to affect the South and coastal areas starting this weekend.…
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Border farmers rush sugarcane harvest amid renewed clash tensions
Farmers living along the Thai-Cambodian border are racing against time to cut and replant sugarcane after repeated evacuations, as fears grow over a possible third military clash that could again force them from their land. In several border villages, agricultural work has resumed only partially, with many farmers returning to fields they were forced to abandon during earlier tensions. While…
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Gunman surrenders after shooting teen in street dispute
A man who shot and injured a teenager in Chonburi province has surrendered to police, admitting he acted out of anger after being insulted during a street confrontation. The shooting occurred at around 6.00pm on January 4 in Ban Suan subdistrict, Mueang Chonburi district. CCTV footage shows the suspect riding a red motorcycle before following the victim, identified as Mr.…
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Drug-addicted Thai man beheads mother, abandons head in rice field
A drug-addicted Thai man beheaded his mother and abandoned her head in a rice field in Amnat Charoen province yesterday, January 4, before being arrested shortly afterwards. The brutal incident occurred at around 8.30am in Ban Non Sung community, Na Wiang sub-district, Senangkhanikhom district. Police identified the suspect as 42 year old Thai man Mongkhon, while the victim was his 71…
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Elderly woman escapes house fire in Samut Sakhon with nine dogs
An 80 year old woman was forced to flee her burning home in Samut Sakhon last night, January 4, while trying to rescue nine dogs she kept inside the property. The fire broke out around 9.30 pm at a house in Soi Pattana 4, located in the Bang Ya Phraek subdistrict of Mueang district. Firefighters from Bang Ya Phraek Municipality,…
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Charity run backs youth education across Bangkok
A large-scale charity walk and run in Bangkok has raised funds to support learning opportunities for Thai youth, as Chevron partnered with the Saturday School Foundation for the third consecutive year. The event, titled Saturday School Run 2025: Running together for the dreams of children, was held at Wachirabenjathat Park, also known as Railway Park. It brought together more than…
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Woman offering misleading tourist deals detained in Sri Racha
A woman was detained at a pier in Sri Racha district, Chon Buri, on January 3, following complaints that she was offering overpriced and misleading tourism services to visitors heading to Koh Si Chang island. The operation took place at Koh Loi Pier, a ferry terminal popular among tourists travelling to Koh Si Chang, an island destination off the Chon…
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Outrage after Burmese rape-murder suspects deported without prosecution
A Thai woman sought justice after the Tak Provincial Immigration Office deported two Burmese men accused of raping and killing her mother, allowing them to return to their home country without facing punishment. The daughter of the victim contacted the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive on Friday, January 2, to request assistance. Her mother, a 57 year old Thai woman, was…
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Passenger fee hike set for Thailand’s international flights from Feb 2026
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) will raise the passenger service fee for all inbound and outbound flights to 25 baht per person, effective February 1, 2026. The increase from the current 15 baht is aimed at stabilising the agency’s finances, which have been running at a deficit for years. Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director-General of CAAT, said the fee…
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Three Chinese nationals arrested with 8,600 SIM cards after illegal entry
Thai authorities have arrested three Chinese nationals for illegally entering Thailand after discovering nearly 10,000 international SIM cards in their possession during a border security operation in Sa Kaeo province. The arrests were made on the morning of January 5 following a joint operation by officers from Khlong Nam Sai Police Station, border patrol police, and immigration officials operating along…
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Belgian man alleges lack of treatment in Thai hospital due to unpaid bill
A Belgian man complained that he was detained in Thai hospital without proper care after he was unable to pay nearly 2 million baht in medical bills following a motorcycle accident that he claims was not his fault. The case was revealed through a fundraising campaign launched on Steunactie by 16 year old Belgian girl Julie, who is seeking financial help…
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Drunk motorcyclist crashes into trailer truck in Pattaya
A man was injured in the early hours of yesterday, January 4, after crashing his motorcycle into a trailer truck at an intersection in Pattaya. The incident took place around 2.30am, near the motorway junction in Nong Prue, northern Pattaya. Emergency responders from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation were called to the scene. Rescuers found a 51 year old man…
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Thai woman denied entry to South Korea despite valid documents
What was meant to be a New Year holiday in South Korea ended before it started for a Thai woman, after immigration officers at Incheon Airport denied her entry despite meeting all entry requirements. The incident occurred at Incheon International Airport, where the 37 year old woman, a government employee from Loei province, claimed she was stopped and turned away…
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Fire destroys secondhand shop, vehicles damaged, police investigate
A fire that broke out before sunrise completely destroyed a secondhand goods shop and its attached warehouse in Chonburi province, damaging several vehicles and causing extensive property loss. No injuries were reported, but authorities say the full extent of the damage is still being assessed as forensic teams prepare to determine the cause. The blaze was reported at about 4.30am…
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Tourists filmed in public lewd act in Phuket renew visa-free concerns
Two foreign tourists were caught on camera engaging in a lewd act on a public street in Patong, Phuket, prompting online criticism and renewed debate over Thailand’s visa-free entry policy. The incident occurred in a nightlife area near Bangla Road. According to initial reports from the Phuket Times, the individuals, identified by the page and eyewitnesses as men of Middle…
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Family questions lone arrest in fatal Din Daeng group assault
Relatives of a 52-year-old man who was fatally assaulted in Bangkok have demanded justice, questioning why only one suspect has been arrested despite evidence that the attack involved a large group. The family says it is living in fear after receiving threats from people believed to be connected to the case. The assault occurred at about 11.40pm on December 30,…
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Police to submit online gambling bribery file to NACC
Thailand’s Anti-Corruption Police are preparing to submit a completed investigation file to the National Anti-Corruption Commission on January 5, marking a significant procedural step in an alleged bribery case linked to online gambling operations. The case concerns accusations that a senior former police official sought to influence legal proceedings connected to online gambling websites through improper payments. Investigators say the…
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Thailand human trafficking police crackdown overview
The Royal Thai Police have announced an intensified nationwide crackdown on human trafficking, with a renewed focus on child sexual abuse, exploitation within the fishing industry, and crimes committed through online platforms. Authorities say the move comes in response to a rising number of cases and increasingly complex criminal methods, particularly those involving children and digital networks. Police General Thatchai…
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Teen motorbike gang arrested after gun attack on family
Police in Nakhon Si Thammarat have arrested five teenagers accused of chasing and shooting at a family of three after becoming enraged by a verbal warning to stop fighting with a rival group. The incident left a father, mother, and their young child injured and has renewed concerns over youth violence and firearms access in local communities. The arrests were…
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Drug-addicted son kills mother, dumps machete before entering village
Police in Amnat Charoen have arrested a 42 year old man after he allegedly killed his mother in a violent attack linked to drug abuse before walking through a nearby village covered in blood. The incident occurred at around 8.30am today, on January 4 at a house in Na Wiang subdistrict, Senangkhanikhom district. Officers were alerted after villagers reported a…
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Pattaya bank account scam: Chinese suspects arrested
Police in Pattaya have rescued an 18-year-old victim who was allegedly tricked into opening fraudulent bank accounts by two Chinese men and one Thai woman, then unlawfully detained after reporting the scam and freezing the accounts. The incident came to light at about 10.46pm on January 3, when officers from Pattaya City Police Station, working with Pattaya Tourist Police, responded…
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Overloaded landfill prompts urgent waste crisis review in Phatthalung
Phatthalung authorities have launched an urgent review to address what officials describe as a growing waste management crisis, after inspections revealed severe environmental damage linked to an overloaded municipal landfill. The move follows a site visit to the province’s main dumpsite, which covers approximately 95 rai and currently receives more than 100 tonnes of waste per day. Officials warned that…
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Van collision injures driver as wild elephant crosses road
A serious road accident involving a wild elephant from Khao Yai National Park and a closed-box van has raised renewed concerns about road safety and human-wildlife coexistence in protected forest areas. The collision left the van driver seriously injured, while the elephant fled back into the forest with suspected injuries, prompting an urgent search by park officials. According to the…
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Thailand’s first high-speed rail project pushed back to 2030
Thailand’s first high-speed rail project, linking Bangkok with Nakhon Ratchasima, has been delayed by at least one year due to unresolved land acquisition issues and complications caused by overlapping infrastructure projects. Originally scheduled to begin operations in 2029, the Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima service is now expected to open in 2030, according to officials from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). Despite…
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Phuket Tourist Checkpoint Police Evasion Explained
Widespread public criticism has erupted across Thailand after a video surfaced showing foreign tourists speeding through a police checkpoint in Phuket, ignoring officers’ instructions and fleeing the scene without stopping for inspection. The incident has reignited concerns over road safety, uneven law enforcement, and the conduct of some visitors in major tourist destinations. The incident occurred on the night of…
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Green sea turtle Phuket Karon beach nesting event
A rare and encouraging marine conservation event unfolded on Karon Beach in Phuket on Friday, when an adult female green sea turtle came ashore and laid a large clutch of eggs, drawing attention from both tourists and local officials. The nesting occurred at around 11am on January 3, 2026, along Karon Beach in Karon sub district, Muang district. Thai and…
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Power bank explosion injures woman in market
A woman was injured in Si Racha district, Chonburi province, after a power bank connected to her mobile phone exploded inside her handbag, causing burns to her arms and face and igniting her personal belongings, rescue officials said. The incident occurred at around 7.00pm on January 3, 2026, in the Sahapat Airport area, Moo 5, Bueng subdistrict. The Sawang Prateep…
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