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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The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...
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Thai police arrest loan shark gang member after assault on disabled woman
Thai police have apprehended a member of a notorious loan shark gang, known as Suea, who assaulted a disabled woman in Udon Thani province. Meanwhile, another gang member, Palm, remains on the run after reportedly using a firearm to threaten locals. Today, on November 9, at the Provincial Police Investigation Unit in Udon Thani, Police Colonel Anusak Sakdawatcharanon, Deputy Commander…
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Man kills brother-in-law over loud music in Surin dispute
A tragic incident unfolded yesterday, on November 8, in Buachet district, Surin province, where a 51 year old man shot and killed his brother-in-law following a dispute over loud music. The incident occurred at a residence in Moo 8, Ban Na Klang, Sadao subdistrict. Police Lieutenant Yuttana Jantayung, an investigator at Sadao Police Station, received the report and informed Police…
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Thai push for new airline routes in north to boost tourism
Transport Deputy Minister Mallika Jirapanwanich is advocating for airlines to expand routes in North Thailand to boost tourism and the local economy. The Department of Airports is promoting the ‘New Route – New Airline’ policy to encourage new flight paths. Mallika highlighted yesterday, on November 8 that the northern region has become a popular destination for both Thai and international…
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Chinese national arrested in Sa Kaeo with 1,000 SIM cards
In Sa Kaeo province, Thai border forces have apprehended a Chinese national linked to a call centre scam. Along with him, they found 1,000 mobile SIM cards near the Thai-Cambodian border. The equipment was reportedly intended for delivery to an employer in Myawaddy. This location is a key point for criminal activities. Today, on November 9, the Eastern Border Security…
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Tourist bus overturns in Lampang, injuring over 39 passengers
A tourist bus travelling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok overturned on Khun Tan hill in Lampang province, resulting in injuries to over 39 international tourists, with one individual seriously injured and trapped inside in the bus crash. The incident occurred at around 8.45pm yesterday, on November 8, when Chiang Mai traffic police received a report about an accident involving a…
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Foreign nationals arrested on Koh Phangan for illegal construction work
Two foreigners arrested in Koh Phangan for illegal construction and electrical work without permits, facing legal action after police found evidence. They threatened legal action against the officers but were eventually confronted with evidence of their activities. Yesterday, on November 8 at 2pm, Police Lieutenant General Suksira Phueka-am, Commissioner of the Tourist Police, directed officers from the Tourist Police Station…
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Thai Airways recycles Virgin lie-flats as posh economy beds
Thai Airways has launched lie-flat seats as a premium economy option on select regional routes, repurposing business class seats from Virgin Atlantic. The unusual move offers passengers lie-flat comfort without the business-class price tag, advancing the growing trend of “unbundled” premium travel. The new class has debuted on routes from Bangkok to Chennai, Dhaka, Hyderabad, Jakarta, and Kathmandu. Rather than…
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Brit jailed over 19m baht Thailand cannabis run at Dublin airport
A British man was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in Dublin after admitting to importing nearly 500,000 euros (approximately 19 million baht) worth of cannabis from Thailand, destined for sale in Ireland. The man, 22 year old Jamie Kearns from Arley in Coventry, was stopped by customs officers at Terminal One in Dublin Airport while arriving…
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Ang Thong reels as worst flood in decades hits homes and hospital (video)
Flooding in Ang Thong province has reached a critical level, with rising waters from the Chao Phraya River breaching barriers and inundating key areas including Pa Mok Market and local municipalities. Officials are scrambling to contain the damage by reinforcing embankments with clay in multiple locations. In Pa Mok Market, water levels have surged by up to 50 centimetres, forcing…
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Anutin promises to dissolve Parliament within 120 days
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that Parliament will be dissolved within 120 days as part of a political agreement with the opposition party. The PM reaffirmed his commitment to dissolve parliament by January 31, 2026, fulfilling an agreement made with the People’s Party. The decision follows growing speculation about his administration’s stability ahead of the upcoming censure debate. Anutin…
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Thailand’s tourism tax stalled again despite 11 billion baht potential
Thailand’s plan to introduce a tourist tax for foreign visitors remains stalled due to political delays, despite full readiness and strong industry backing. Initially backed by the National Tourism Policy Committee in February 2023, the fee would charge inbound travellers 300 baht by air or 150 baht by land or sea, applying only to overnight visitors. Despite its potential to…
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UK lifts travel warning as Trat tourism gears up for rebound
The United Kingdom has officially lifted its travel advisory against non-essential travel to Trat, a move welcomed by local tourism operators hoping to revive bookings ahead of peak season. Wichit Sukrasuyanon, president of the Trat Tourism Association, confirmed that the change has already led to a noticeable boost in bookings, especially from European markets. He said average hotel occupancy rates…
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Pattaya preps for 5 billion baht Tomorrowland 2026 fest
Officials in Pattaya are preparing for a massive music festival set to attract thousands of visitors and inject 5 billion baht into the local economy. Bang Lamung district is already laying the groundwork for Tomorrowland 2026, the first Southeast Asian edition of the iconic Belgian music festival, with a high-level strategy meeting chaired by District Chief Patcharaphat Srithanyanon. The festival…
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Phuket boat taxi trial hits delay but promises smoother trips
Phuket’s boat taxi project, aimed at easing traffic for tourists and locals, has been delayed, pushing back the start of its much-anticipated trial run. The pilot run of Phuket’s boat taxi service, a project touted as a game-changer for the island’s notorious traffic problems, has been pushed back to mid-December. The trial, originally scheduled to launch earlier, will now take…
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Teen lured and beaten in Pattaya alley after online setup
A teenage boy was brutally attacked in a dark Pattaya alley after being tricked into a meeting by a mystery woman he met online, despite warnings from his mother. A 17 year old boy is recovering in hospital after being ambushed and severely beaten in a dimly lit alley in Pattaya. The incident occurred around 9pm on Thursday, November 6,…
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Bang Saen Beach turns black, vendors fear tourist drop
Seawater at a popular beach in eastern Thailand turned black, raising concerns among visitors and vendors about health risks and a drop in tourism. Seawater along Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri has taken on a strange black hue, believed to be caused by a plankton bloom triggered by recent storms and rainfall. While there’s no unpleasant odour or danger…
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Power outages to hit 33 areas across Greater Bangkok today
Power will be cut in dozens of areas across Bangkok and nearby provinces as electricity officials carry out scheduled maintenance to improve the grid. The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has announced a planned power outage today, November 8, affecting 33 locations across Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Nonthaburi. The temporary cut-off is part of routine upgrades to boost the efficiency and…
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Tropical storm Kalmaegi batters Thailand with heavy rain
A powerful tropical storm is sweeping across Thailand, bringing heavy rain and flash flood risks to dozens of provinces as residents brace for worsening weather. From 6pm yesterday, November 7, to 6pm today, November 8, the weather across Thailand is expected to remain unsettled, with widespread thunderstorms and cooler mornings in the north, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD).…
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Thai charter reform at risk as border tensions take focus
Experts have warned that Thai voters may reject charter reform when they head to the polls, as rising nationalist sentiment shifts focus to border disputes. Yesterday, November 6, academics and political observers sounded the alarm that the junta-era charter is likely to survive another public vote, as attention shifts from constitutional reform to the more emotionally charged issue of revoking…
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Thai man saves 5 year old girl from drowning and uncovers family abuse
A Thai man rescued a five year old girl and her older sister, who were allegedly abused and forced to work by their guardians. One of the girls nearly drowned in a canal in Bangkok while attempting to collect money from krathongs during the Loy Krathong festival. An owner of a motorcycle shop in the Bang Mod area of Bangkok…
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Thailand adds extra day to new year break to boost travel
The Thai Cabinet has approved an extended new year holiday to boost domestic tourism and economic activity, adding one more day to the annual break. The government has approved an extended five-day new year holiday for 2026, declaring Friday, January 2, a special public holiday to boost tourism and spending. The full holiday period will now run from Wednesday, December…
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Search underway for missing Russian woman with neurological disease in Phuket
Parents and friends are searching for a Russian woman suffering from a neurological disease who has been missing for 20 days in Phuket province. A Thai friend named Kaew took to social media to seek help from the public in locating the 30 year old Russian national, Maria Fomina. Kaew shared that Maria’s parents have already arrived in Phuket to…
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Foreign tourist arrested with loaded ammo at Phuket airport
An Israeli tourist was arrested at a Phuket airport when police discovered a loaded ammunition magazine in his checked luggage during a routine scan. The arrest took place at around 4.30pm yesterday, November 6, after security staff at the airport’s domestic terminal flagged a suspicious item during a routine baggage scan. The 26 year old traveller, who had flown in…
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Nigerian man, 5 Thais arrested for 114m baht online romance scam
Police have dismantled a major romance scam network run by a Nigerian national and five Thai accomplices, accused of swindling victims out of over 114 million baht. The arrests were made during Operation Romance 114, led by officers from the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), targeting suspects across Bangkok and Chon Buri. Police Major General Chanannat Sarathwanphaet, TCSD Commander, confirmed…
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Thai foreign ministry clarifies girl trafficking case in Tokyo
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the case of a young Thai girl who was trafficked to Japan, which came to light when Tokyo police raided a Japanese-owned massage parlour following a report about the victim’s circumstances. Nikorndej Plangkura, Director-General of the Department of Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, revealed that the incident occurred in mid-September.…
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Repeat wildlife snapper caught again at Karon night market
A woman was arrested at a Phuket night market after being caught offering a protected slow loris to tourists for paid photos, despite past offences. The woman, who has now been arrested three times for similar offences, was detained at Karon Night Market yesterday, November 6, during a joint operation led by Karon Deputy Mayor Trin Thipmongkol. The raid included…
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Thai man left blind after surgery at private hospital in Samut Sakhon
A Thai woman condemned a private hospital in the central province of Samut Sakhon after treatment for nasal polyps left her boyfriend blind. The woman, identified only as Ploy, took to an online community to share details of the medical mishap. She included photos showing her boyfriend’s eye and nose injuries, which she said resulted from surgery to remove nasal…
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Shooting breaks out between Bangkok rescue teams, leaving 3 injured
Three rescue workers were injured in a shooting early yesterday, November 6, following a dispute between two rescue foundations on Lat Phrao Road in Bangkok. Wang Thonglang Police Station was alerted to the incident involving rescue volunteers near the entrance of Soi Lat Phrao 122 in Wang Thonglang district at around 1am. At the scene, officers found bloodstains on the…
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PM Anutin storms off after question on scandal-hit deputy
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul abruptly ended a press interview after reporters asked whether he would remove Deputy Prime Minister Thammanat Prompao and alleged links to online scam networks. The incident unfolded following Anutin’s appearance at a high-profile ceremony aimed at launching a united crackdown on cybercrime, where six ministries and nine state and private agencies signed a memorandum of…
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Trans trio glams up with lipstick for mercy after meth raid in Isaan
Three transgender women apprehended for drugs in Northeast Thailand asked to put on lipstick before arrest, hoping a touch of glam might win police sympathy. The flamboyant request came after a sting operation led to the arrest of five suspects today, November 7, including an alleged drug dealer and a group of methamphetamine users, in the Ban Noi Tai community,…
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