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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Foreign man escapes hospital, steals van, and crashes in Phuket
A foreign man escaped from a hospital at the weekend, stole a van parked at a petrol station, and crashed it into another vehicle on Khao Patong Road in Phuket. Officers from Patong Police Station were alerted to an accident on Baramee-Khao Patong Road in the Kathu district of Phuket on Saturday, July 6. Police then requested the Kusoldharm Phuket…
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Minibus crash in Surat Thani injures ten foreign tourists
A minibus carrying foreign tourists overturned yesterday, injuring ten passengers. The accident occurred around 6.30am, yesterday, July 7, on Phunphin-Mueang Road in the Tha Lon sub-district, Phunphin district, Surat Thani province. Police and rescue workers promptly arrived at the scene where they found the minibus overturned on the roadside. The ten foreign tourists, who sustained minor injuries, were swiftly transported…
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Bangkok brawl leaves two teens dead, one injured in soi showdown
Two teenagers were found dead yesterday and another 16 year old was severely injured following a fatal brawl involving several teenagers in Soi Udomsuk 26, Bang Na in Bangkok. Bangkok police received a report at 11.30pm, Sunday, July 7, regarding the killing and injuries. Upon arrival, officers and rescuers discovered the bodies of the two victims, one 14 and the…
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Road rage incident in Chiang Mai sparks online debate (video)
A recent incident involving a road rage altercation in Chiang Mai drew significant attention online. The dispute began when a woman driving slowly in the right lane was confronted by an irate driver, who accused her of using her mobile phone while driving. The incident, which occurred yesterday, involved 28 year old Aem, who was driving on Samphoch 700 Pi…
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Bangkok police arrest woman for 5 million baht fraud scheme
Police in Bangkok have apprehended, a 44 year old woman, a key figure in a large-scale fraud case. She is accused of luring victims into a high-interest investment scheme, resulting in losses exceeding 5 million baht. Pimpapatsorn, a prominent recruiter in the scheme, enticed numerous individuals with promises of high returns and special perks, including international travel. Victims were threatened…
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Teen brawl in Bangna leaves two dead and several injured
A tragic altercation among teenagers in Bangna escalated, resulting in two deaths and multiple injuries. The confrontation, involving youths aged 14 to 16 years old, led to the arrest of seven individuals. The incident occurred late at night outside a residence in the Udomsuk 26 alley. Police responded to a report of a violent brawl involving a group of teenagers,…
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Tourists rescued after speedboat sinks off Surat Thani coast
A speedboat carrying tourists on a fishing trip was hit by large waves, causing it to take on water and eventually sink. Five people were left stranded in the sea before being rescued by local fishing boats and the marine police. At 12.20am today, the marine police received a distress call from relatives of the speedboat’s driver, alerting them that…
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Fatal crash at notorious Panthong bend leaves one dead, several injured
A severe accident occurred at a notorious bend in Panthong, Chon Buri, resulting in the death of one individual and serious injuries to several others. The collision involved an Isuzu SUV and a Toyota pickup truck. At 4.30am today, Kittikul Amatatrakul, Deputy Inspector of Investigation at Panthong Police Station, Chon Buri, received a report of a crash at the Christian…
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Fire in Bangkok’s Chinatown injures 30, damages hotel
A fire that ravaged the Trok Pho community in Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown, was brought under control late last night after igniting around 9pm. The blaze left approximately 30 people injured. Firefighters received reports of the fire beginning at 8.42pm in the Trok Pho area along Yaowarat Road in the Samphanthawong district. The fire quickly spread through the 3,200-square-metre community, which…
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Chon Buri police raid villa party, seize drugs and arrest man
Police in Chon Buri raided a pool villa party in Najomtien, seizing drugs and arresting a 29 year old man. The police acted on a tip-off regarding loud music and suspicious activities at the property. At around 3.30pm yesterday, officers led by Police Colonel Wattanachai Saengrith, along with Deputy Superintendent Arut Saphanont and an investigation team, stormed the villa located…
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Tourist chaos in Phuket: van theft and crash disrupt traffic
A foreign tourist caused a chaotic scene in Phuket by assaulting a Myanmar worker, escaping from the hospital, stealing a van, and crashing it into another van on Patong Hill, leading to severe traffic congestion. Yesterday, law enforcement officers from Patong Police Station responded to an accident involving two vans near the Por Sue Shrine on Phra Barami Road, Patong…
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Thailand to reclassify cannabis as narcotic from 2025
The Ministry of Public Health has announced a proposal to classify cannabis and hemp as illegal narcotics under Thai law. This decision follows a meeting of the Narcotics Control Board, where the majority agreed on the medical and research benefits of cannabis but opposed its recreational use. A minority expressed concerns that strict regulations might cause public inconvenience. The draft…
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Thailand-China flights surge 213% after visa exemption deal
Flights between Thailand and China have surged to 55,000 in the past eight months, following the signing of a mutual visa exemption agreement, according to the Ministry of Transport. Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote reported that the 55,433 flights from October last year to May marked a 213% increase compared to the same period the previous year. He projected that…
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Thailand aims for 8 million Chinese tourists if airlines boost capacity
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has stated that the goal of attracting 8 million Chinese tourists this year is attainable, provided airlines can increase seat capacity to over 80% of pre-pandemic levels. Chinese tourists had surpassed visitors from other countries by June 30, with 3.5 million arrivals out of a total of 17.5 million foreign visitors to Thailand. The…
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Parcel worker shot dead in Ranong over alleged affair
A shooting incident occurred yesterday evening, July 5, behind a market in Ranong, leaving a private parcel delivery employee dead and his family in mourning. Witnesses reported a physical altercation between the victim and a man in black before shots were fired. Police received the distress call around 6.42pm and immediately dispatched officers and medical personnel to the scene. The…
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Motorcyclist’s leg severed in Nakhon Ratchasima bridge crash
A young man riding a big bike lost control of his vehicle, crashing into a bridge railing, resulting in a severe injury where his leg was severed and he fell 7 metres. He remains in ICU in critical condition. The motorcycle accident occurred in Nakhon Ratchasima, northeast Thailand yesterday, July 5. The incident was reported by local journalists who detailed…
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Thailand faces ‘invisible time bomb’ population crisis
Thailand’s population crisis, described as an “invisible time bomb,” requires urgent government intervention, according to Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS). Varawut stated the following during a forum on national strategies hosted by the National Press Council of Thailand on Thursday, July 4. “Environmental issues are visible, but this [population crisis] is an invisible time…
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Illegal streaming site administrator arrested in Phuket
Police from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) have arrested the administrator of the illegal movie streaming website dolphin4k in Phuket for copyright infringement. The suspect, 33 year old Supakrit was apprehended along with various items used in the illicit operation, including 16 Android signal boxes pre-installed with applications for viewing pirated movies, one flash drive, a computer, and a…
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Thai police arrest man for stealing motorcycles to fund drug use
Police officers from Division 5 of the Crime Suppression Division raided a house and arrested a 25 year old Thai man for stealing motorcycles over three consecutive nights. The stolen motorcycles were sold to buy methamphetamine and for leisure activities. On July 5, police officers led by Phattawut Onchuay, Hatthaphon Thongkham, and Kitiphum Sriphaeo executed a warrant issued by the…
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Thai student goes viral with Lisa dance cover on TikTok (video)
A student from Phichit province has become an overnight sensation after posting a video on TikTok. The clip, featuring her cover of Lisa from BLACKPINK’s latest single Rockstar, has garnered over 5 million views in just one night. Kulthida Suthiprapha, known as Nong Yeehwa, is a 16 year old student at Taphan Hin School. She first caught public attention when…
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Pattaya residents demand action against graffiti vandalism
Residents in Pattaya are calling for decisive action against vandals who have marred the city’s landscape with graffiti. Electrical control boxes, traffic signs, and private properties along major roads such as Sukhumvit Road, Third Road, and South Pattaya Road have been defaced with graffiti, including gang symbols and vulgar language. The graffiti, which has been unchecked, has significantly impacted the…
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Banglamung police arrest 12 during casino raid
Banglamung officials, led by District Chief Weekit Manarojkit, conducted a successful raid on an illegal gambling den named Tong Card Casino. The operation took place at a house in Village Number 7, situated in Huai Yai subdistrict, following a tip-off from a concerned resident worried about the adverse effects of gambling on the community. Police, acting on orders from the…
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Disabled man dies in hit-and-run in Chiang Rai
A 28 year old disabled man from Chiang Rai province was killed in a hit-and-run accident near the Khao Kai Kaew intersection in Banglamung district. Amae Ma-yea, who suffered from atrophied limbs and polio, was struck by an unidentified vehicle near the Khao Mai Kaew intersection on Highway No. 331 (Sattahip – Nakhon Ratchasima). His lifeless body was found near…
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Scam SMS targets digital wallet users with PM Srettha’s photo
Scam gangs are exploiting interest in the government’s digital wallet programme by sending fraudulent SMS links featuring a photo of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Numerous residents in Roi Et province have already fallen victim to this scam, according to government spokesperson Chai Watcharonke. He explained that the deceptive messages contain a link claiming to direct recipients to a site where…
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NSC to review permanent border checkpoint with Cambodia
The National Security Council (NSC) will thoroughly examine the trade benefits and security concerns surrounding a proposed new permanent border checkpoint with Cambodia, according to a senior official. Police in Trat province are advocating for Ban Tha Sen in Mueang district to be established as a permanent checkpoint following Cabinet approval, pending NSC support. Ban Tha Sen borders Phothisat province…
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YouTubers’ motorbikes spotted on Chiang Mai route on Google
Google Street View captured two stylish motorbikes on the Chiang Mai–Mae Hong Son route, instantly recognised by netizens as belonging to popular YouTubers. The sighting has delighted fans who spotted their idols on the virtual map. Google Street View vehicles, known for capturing 360-degree panoramic images of locations for Google Maps, have a reputation for documenting everything in their path.…
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Koh Samui looks for extended airport hours amid tourism surge
Tourism operators in Koh Samui are anticipating a surge in European visitors as the high season for the Gulf of Thailand approaches, advocating for extended operating hours at Samui airport to accommodate 20 additional daily flights, potentially boosting tourist numbers by 10 to 20%. President of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, highlighted expectations for a complete recovery…
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Pattaya’s new campaign puts the brakes on illegal bike parking
Pattaya City’s latest public awareness campaign, launched yesterday outside Terminal 21, aimed to curb the rampant issue of motorcycles parking on footpaths. However, the initiative has sparked mixed reactions from residents and visitors, revealing deeper frustrations over the city’s parking infrastructure. The campaign, spearheaded by the Policy and Planning Division of the Pattaya City Office, focused on educating the public…
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Spicy new arrival: Rosa’s Thai set to sizzle
Work is well underway as the launch of Rosa’s Thai restaurant at Chantry Place, Norwich, UK draws near, with eye-catching billboards now advertising the grand opening. This will be the first Rosa’s Thai in East Anglia, joining the ranks of 41 other locations across the UK. The new restaurant, which will employ a team of 25, is set to open…
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Thai sugar producer withdraws from challenging Cambodian market
Khon Kaen Sugar Industry Plc (KSL), Thailand’s third-largest sugar producer, has withdrawn its investment in the Cambodian market due to unfavourable business conditions, marking a significant setback in its regional expansion plans. According to KSL President Chalush Chinthammit, years of persistently low global sugar prices, a sluggish market in Cambodia, and the underutilisation of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)…
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