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 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...
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Thailand uncertain on US visa ban after Uyghur deportation
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed uncertainty regarding her inclusion on a list of Thai officials recently barred from obtaining US visas following the deportation of 40 Uyghur detainees to China. Addressing the media yesterday, March 18, she said, “There’s no confirmation yet. I still don’t know.” The 38 year old PM explained that the Foreign Affairs Ministry would further clarify…
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Wombat woes: American flees to Thailand after Aussie uproar
An American woman’s ill-fated encounter with a wombat joey has sparked uproar Down Under, sending her fleeing to Thailand in the wake of a furious Aussie backlash. An Australian influencer called out the American on TikTok labelling her a “pig,” “narcasist” and a “terrible woman” after she posted a video of her snatching the joey from its distressed mother. The…
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German tourist’s love for Thai salted mackerel goes viral on TikTok
A German man went viral among Thai TikTok users after sharing a video of his favourite Thai dish, bought from a market in the southern province of Krabi, in an attempt to discover its exact name from Thai netizens. The German tourist, Manuel Calumet, shared a video of himself and his family visiting a market in Krabi on Friday, March…
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Thai it all together: Storms, PM2.5 smog and rough seas ahead
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of summer storms across much of Thailand today, with thunderstorms and rough seas expected in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea. Meanwhile, northern Thailand continues to face persistent PM2.5 pollution. The TMD forecasts weather conditions over the next 24 hours, indicating that a high-pressure system or a relatively strong cold air mass…
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Irishman killed in high-speed crash in Phang Nga’s Khao Lak
A tragic accident claimed the life of a 54 year old Irishman when he was struck by a speeding car in Khao Lak last night. The victim, identified as Neil Christopher More Oferrall, was killed instantly when a black Ford Everest hit him on Phetkasem Road, in front of the Sangsawan Resort, around 9pm yesterday, March 17. Police quickly arrived…
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Myanmar woman arrested for illegal gambling in Pathum Thani
Police arrested a Myanmar woman for her involvement in running an illegal online gambling operation in Thailand. The arrest, carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Crime Suppression Division (CSD), occurred near a construction site in Pathum Thani province. Nin, who came to Thailand in 2023 for work, was recruited by a labour broker who convinced her to…
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Baht boost: Thailand greenlights 200 billion for Bangkok transit line
Thailand has sanctioned investment applications amounting to a total of 200 billion baht, spearheaded by a Bangkok transit line and three data centres, offering a potential uplift to the country’s subdued economic growth. The primary initiative is Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc’s 109 billion baht (US$3.2 billion) investment in the Orange Line, aimed at connecting Bangkok’s western and eastern suburbs,…
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Off-duty nurses try to save crash victim in fatal Pattaya accident
A tragic accident on Highway 36 in East Pattaya left a 63 year old motorcyclist dead after he crashed into the back of a 10-wheel trailer. Despite the heroic efforts of three off-duty nurses who happened to be passing by, the man could not be revived. Emergency responders were alerted to the crash in the Pong area of Bang Lamung…
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Mae Hong Son strengthens cross-border efforts on forest fires
Mae Hong Son province is stepping up its efforts to combat cross-border forest fires by ramping up cooperation with its neighbouring states. Deputy Governor Boonlue Thammathranurak highlighted the ongoing problem of illegal burning along the border between Mae Hong Son and countries such as Shan State, Karen State, and Kayah State. These areas have long faced the threat of uncontrolled…
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Pickup truck’s unsafe metal door transport sparks expressway safety alert
A post from the ข่าวสารงานจราจรทางพิเศษ บางพลี-สุขสวัสดิ์ (Bang Phli-Suksawat Expressway Traffic News) Facebook page today highlighted a safety concern involving a pickup truck carrying metal doors on an expressway. The image accompanying the post showed the truck transporting oversized doors without proper securing methods. The post indicated that such vehicles are not allowed on expressways, as it violated regulations and poses…
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Illegal Thai workers send billions home despite crackdowns
Thailand’s workforce abroad is pumping an astonishing 400 billion baht into the economy each year—much of it from illegal workers, according to Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn. Despite government crackdowns, the number of undocumented Thai workers overseas remains high, with 382,699 working illegally last year alone. While Thailand sent 92,392 legal workers abroad in 2024, a drop of 11% from 2023…
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Walking the talk: Bangkok chief to revamp Asoke footpaths by July
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt plans to renovate footpaths along Asoke Montri Road, with the project expected to start by July this year. Governor Chadchart, accompanied by Deputy Governor Wissanu Subsomphon, inspected the footpath along Asoke Montri Road on Sunday, March 16, to assess pedestrian issues in the area. He also livestreamed his visit on his Facebook page. The governor revealed…
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Explosion at Nakhon Ratchasima scrap shop kills one, injures four
An unexplained explosion at a scrap shop in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Wang Nam Khiao district resulted in one fatality and four serious injuries. Police are actively investigating the incident, which occurred at 8.30am today, March 18, in the village of Non Si Thong, Udomsap subdistrict. Officers from the Udomsap Police Station responded to reports of the explosion, accompanied by the bomb disposal…
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Tourists fume over persistent foreign beggars in Pattaya
Tourists flocking to Pattaya, particularly around the notorious Walking Street area, are growing increasingly frustrated with the ongoing issue of foreign beggars harassing visitors. Many of these beggars, often accompanied by young children ranging from infants to seven to 10 years old, can be seen wandering the streets selling goods or soliciting money. When tourists refuse to buy, some beggars…
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High-speed chase: Thai mother rescues autistic son from gang
A Thai mother successfully rescued her autistic son from a call centre scam gang following a high-speed chase on a road in the Isaan province of Buriram. The 38 year old mother, Suthiya, contacted Channel 8 to share her and her son’s experience in order to issue a warning to others. Suthiya stated, “Call centre scammers are still everywhere around…
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Cambodian woman claims friend stole 12 million baht lottery win
A Cambodian woman sought police assistance after her friend allegedly disappeared with two winning lottery tickets she had bought on her behalf. The tickets, valued at 12 million baht, were reportedly documented by the friend at the Bang Na Police Station. Piang, a Cambodian worker, yesterday, March 17, approached Police Lieutenant Colonel Kamonrat Phanoi, Deputy Superintendent (Investigation) at Bang Bua…
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Phantom fail: Ghostly Chiang Mai gold heist ends in ghastly gaffe
In an audacious plot fit for a Halloween flick, a bungling gold thief’s disguise as a horror movie ghost backfired spectacularly when he found himself trapped in a shopping mall, leading to his swift arrest. The wannabe thief, Etsara, dreamed up a daring heist at a renowned Chiang Mai shopping mall, planning to loot a gold shop by posing as…
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Suicidal Thai woman thanks public donations relieving hardship
A suicidal Thai woman expressed gratitude for the support she received, alleviating her financial burdens. Her husband previously resorted to eating dog food due to hunger. The situation came to light when Police Lieutenant Pornsak Saneha received a report of a potential suicide attempt near a pier along the Bang Pakong River in Mueang Chachoengsao district. Rescue workers found the…
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Branching out: Bangkok governor vows to plant over a million trees
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced a plan to plant 1.06 million trees in the eastern suburbs of the capital by April next year. The initiative will span nine districts, with the majority of 400,000 trees being planted in Nong Chok district. Klong Sam Wa and Lat Krabang will each see 300,000 trees, while the remaining districts will receive 10,000 trees…
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Neighbour attacks Buriram couple with machete over noise
A 37 year old woman reported to Mueang Buriram Police Station after a neighbour allegedly assaulted her husband with a machete. The incident took place on March 15, resulting in injuries to both the woman’s husband and herself. Following the attack, the husband was hospitalised at Buriram Hospital. The incident occurred while the couple was playing online slots at their…
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School rejects ‘slum’ label for Phuket Myanmar community (video)
The director of a Catholic-operated school in Phuket has contested the description of a Myanmar community in the province as a “slum” by a foreign YouTuber. A video on the YouTube channel Ride with Gabi, which claims to document a “Myanmar slum in Phuket,” has ignited debate, showing a significant Myanmar migrant community in the southern province. The footage depicts…
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Thailand urges Singapore to boost rice and egg imports
Thai Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan has urged Singapore to increase its imports of Thai rice and free-range eggs following the seventh Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Economic Relationship (STEER) meeting. Held on March 14 in Singapore, the meeting was co-chaired by Doctor Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. The discussions aimed at boosting trade and…
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Holy serpent! Monk spotted cruising Pattaya with a snake
A Thai woman captured a monk riding a motorcycle with a snake draped over his shoulder on a Pattaya road. The video has since exploded on social media, instantly going viral. The 40 year old woman, Bang-on Chom-ngam, witnessed the alleged monk’s reckless riding and recorded a video of him, sharing it with local media outlets. She hoped to verify…
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Behind the cue: Rayong ‘snooker club’ gambles with the law
A recent operation in Rayong province uncovered a gambling setup disguised as a snooker club, leading to the arrest of 15 gamblers. Despite initial reports of political figures being involved, no evidence of such was found, and local police have not been reassigned. Police Major General Phumint Singhhasut, the commander of Rayong Provincial Police, yesterday, March 17, addressed the incident…
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Thai call scam losses fall by 200 million baht after power cuts
The Thai government’s controversial decision to cut power, oil, and Internet services to border areas near Myanmar has reportedly paid off, with losses from call scams plummeting by at least 200 million baht. Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong revealed that since the power cut-off on February 5, there has been a significant drop in cybercrime activity, with call…
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Broken jaw blunder: Botched surgery leaves Thai man unable to eat
A botched operation on a Thai man’s broken jaw has left him unable to eat. The Thai man reached out to the Social Security Office (SSO) after suffering from a broken jaw but the operation went horribly wrong. The 42 year old Thai man, Sommai, reached out to the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after failing to receive proper medical treatment…
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Woman kicks husband unconscious in domestic dispute in Trat
A domestic incident in Bo Phloi, Bo Rai district, Trat province, resulted in a woman knocking her husband unconscious with a kick to the neck. This occurred after the husband, inebriated and jealous, became incoherent. The altercation took place at their home, yesterday, March 17, leading to the husband being taken to the hospital. Fortunately, medical assessments revealed no brain…
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YouTuber exposes Phuket’s shocking slum conditions (video)
A YouTuber has caused a storm online with his latest video, The Other Side of Phuket, which takes viewers behind the glossy tourist façade to one of the island’s largest slums. In the video, popular YouTuber Ride with Gabi contrasts Phuket’s global fame for its stunning beaches and lively nightlife with the stark reality of its poverty-stricken communities. The video…
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Thailand video news | Thailand cuts visa-free stay to 30 days, Bribery scandal in Malaysia’s citizenship scheme
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring you the latest updates from Thailand and Southeast Asia. Thailand is cutting its visa-free stay to 30 days to curb illegal business activities, while uncertainty looms over expat taxation as the 2024 deadline approaches. In Korat, a German man’s violent outbursts at dental clinics have sparked fear, and in Songkhla, a…
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Fatal shooting mars Udon Thani village festival amid youth clash
A tragic incident unfolded in Udon Thani’s Chai Wan district when a 31 year old man was fatally shot amidst a village festival dispute. Police were alerted to the shooting yesterday, March 17, which occurred in the vegetable garden behind a house in Phon Sung subdistrict, and promptly investigated the scene with Police Colonel Ratpholchai Pensongkhram. Narinthorn “Sek” Thongjuea was found…
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