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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From TikToker to locktoker: British influencer jailed in Thailand
In a stunning reversal of fortune, a British influencer, once a millionaire and reality TV sensation, now finds herself languishing behind bars in Thailand. The 32 year old woman, originally from Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, is accused of overstaying her visa, casting a shadow over what was a sun-soaked, idyllic lifestyle. Ellis Matthews, who reportedly left England four years ago to…
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Thai man shoots dead Laotian woman at karaoke bar in Phattalung
Police yesterday arrested a 63 year old Thai man after he shot dead a Laotian woman at a karaoke bar in the southern province of Phatthalung. Officers from Khao Chaison Police Station investigated the fatal shooting at the rear of the karaoke bar at around 1am yesterday, March 12. The lifeless body of Pupae was found at the scene with…
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Bangkok ranked world’s No. 2 food city: Why it deserves the spot
Bangkok has once again proven itself as a global culinary powerhouse, securing second spot in Time Out’s prestigious ranking of the world’s best food cities in 2025—just behind New Orleans. From sizzling street food to upscale dining, the Thai capital continues to captivate food lovers with its unbeatable mix of affordability, flavour, and convenience. Time Out’s latest survey found that…
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Taxi scam: Grab driver overcharges Phuket tourist
A frustrated tourist in Phuket has once again fallen victim to an overcharging taxi driver: this time through the Grab app. Despite booking a ride at a fixed price of 264 baht, he was hit with an unexpected 100-baht surcharge midway through the trip, leaving him fuming and questioning Grab’s ability to protect customers from exploitation. The incident occurred yesterday,…
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2 Phuket police spark debate after using force against foreign tourist
A viral video showing two Thai police officers using force to restrain a foreign man, who allegedly attacked a woman in Phuket, has sparked mixed reactions among netizens. The video was shared yesterday, March 12, by a foreign Facebook user named Brenin DeOliveira, with a caption that read… “Thai cops don’t play! Allegedly, he punched a woman in the face.…
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Suspects arrested after shooting two Myanmar nationals in Thailand
Three suspects have been apprehended following the shooting of two Myanmar nationals in Thong Pha Phum district. The incident occurred before they fled south to hide in Ranong province. Bang Mhat, a 72 year old, confessed to retaliating under threat of imminent harm. Police Colonel Nathapob Pongsapan, the investigative chief of Ranong province, with Police Lieutenant Somsak Khamee and Captain…
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Irishwoman nabbed in Norway with £1 million worth of Thai cannabis
The sensational arrest of an Irishwoman in Norway with a £1 million (44 million baht) haul of cannabis, allegedly trafficked from Thailand, has unearthed a much larger drug trafficking ring. The 32 year old was apprehended by Norwegian police at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport on Thursday, January 9. She is suspected of attempting to smuggle 41.7kg of cannabis. Upon her arrest,…
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Foreign driver attempts to stab Thai motorcyclist after Phuket crash
A foreign pickup driver yesterday allegedly crashed into a Thai motorcyclist on a Phuket road and attempted to stab the victim. The Thai motorcyclist took to Facebook to seek assistance from netizens in locating the foreign pickup driver who collided with him yesterday, March 12. He revealed that the foreigner was driving a white Ford Raptor with the registration plate…
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Tattoo studio warns of couple using discarded needles in Thailand
A tattoo studio has raised concerns about a couple allegedly scavenging for used tattoo needles from its rubbish to use on their clients. The couple, who offer low-cost tattoo services without a storefront, were captured on CCTV rummaging through the trash outside the shop in Mueang district, Chachoengsao province. CCTV footage released yesterday, March 12, by 40 year old Thanupong,…
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Police bust Chinese-led online gambling ring in Bangkok
Police raided a well-known condominium in the Lat Phrao area, arresting a Chinese-led gang operating an online gambling site for two months. The operation seized numerous items and uncovered cash flow amounting to millions of baht. The suspects confessed to working as website administrators, earning a monthly salary of 50,000 baht. Today, March 13, Police Major General Jesada Suaysom, Commander…
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Thailand video news | Phuket hit-and-run: police hunt knife-wielding foreigners, Cambodian PM defends Angkor Sangkranta event amid criticism
In Thailand video news, Alex brings the latest news from Thailand and Southeast Asia. Phuket police hunt three foreigners after a hit-and-run, while reporters visit the prison cell where ex-police chief “Joe Ferrari” died. A man in Nan faces jail for dropping a Yaba pill, and a foreign tourist dines and dashes in Krabi. In Pattaya, police bust a rental…
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Thai AirAsia offers 30% Songkran discount on direct bookings
Thai AirAsia is offering a 30% discount during the Songkran festival for direct bookings made from March 11 to 20. The airline is supporting the Ministry of Transport’s policy by adding special flights during this peak travel period across five routes from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Phanom, Udon Thani, and Ubon Ratchathani. The discount applies…
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Manhunt after husband kills wife in Samut Prakan tragedy
A tragic incident unfolded in Samut Prakan province when a 43 year old man shot and killed his 34 year old wife in front of their children and mother-in-law. The suspect fled with his 15 year old stepdaughter, prompting a police manhunt. Today, March 13, at 1am, officers from Phra Samut Chedi Police Station were alerted to a shooting at…
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Casket lid numbers bring lottery luck to Ang Thong
It has been noted that residents frequently win lotteries using numbers from casket lids, specifically two and three-digit numbers. These numbers originate from the date and time when the casket is completed, such as those finished yesterday, March 12. The story delves into the origin of these casket lid numbers at a funeral service shop located at house number 173,…
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Violent altercation in Chon Buri: Man attacks ex-wife and partner
In the early hours of today, police in Saen Suk district were alerted to a violent altercation at a dormitory in Mueang district, Chon Buri province. The incident today, March 13, involved a confrontation where a man attacked his ex-wife and her new partner. The new partner managed to escape by breaking a bathroom window and is currently missing. The…
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Tourist beaten by ladyboys on Soi Bangla after dine-and-dash
A wild brawl erupted in the early hours of yesterday on Phuket’s infamous Bangla Road after a tourist allegedly skipped out on paying for his meal. The chaotic scene, which unfolded yesterday, March 12, in the heart of Patong, Kathu district, saw a group of local ladyboys, unhappy at the dine and dasher’s behaviour, confronted the man before the situation…
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Thai monk expelled after attacking nurse in Lop Buri hospital
A Thai monk with epilepsy and a history of mental illness attacked an assistant nurse at a hospital in Lop Buri province, striking the victim twice in the back and neck. A video showing a group of Thai men attempting to restrain the monk by pinning him to the ground was shared on Thai social media platforms and went viral.…
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400 baht minimum wage adjustment in Thailand still unconfirmed
Progress on the proposed nationwide 400 baht minimum wage adjustment remains uncertain, as confirmed by Boonsong Thapchaiyuth, the permanent secretary of the Labour Ministry. Boonsong stated that the matter is not on the current meeting agenda but assured efforts to meet the May 1 deadline set by the labour minister. The current wage board’s term will end today, March 13.…
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Thai health initiative nears target with 18 million educated on carbs
The Ministry of Public Health announced that its initiative encouraging Thai citizens to monitor their carbohydrate intake has achieved notable success. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin revealed that over 18 million people have been educated on carbohydrate counting, nearing the project’s target of 20 million by March 20. With assistance from village health volunteers across the country, 445,791 individuals monitored…
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Bangkok ping pong show art goes viral, raises funds for Phuket elephants
A foreign Instagram sensation is selling exclusive T-shirts featuring an elephant sketch drawn by a Thai woman, using her vagina, during a ping pong show in Bangkok. Every 100 baht from the shirt sale will go to an elephant sanctuary in Phuket. A ping pong show is a form of adult entertainment available in the red light districts of Bangkok…
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All systems go: Bangkok’s new Red Line to be greenlit in April
The eagerly anticipated extension of Thailand’s Red Line from Siriraj Hospital to Salaya is racing towards Cabinet approval this April. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that the colossal 15.17 billion baht project has cleared all the necessary bureaucratic hurdles. The Finance Ministry, Budget Bureau, and National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) have all rendered their blessing, sending the proposal…
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Dog alerts owners to 5-metre king cobra under car bonnet
Unusual barking from a dog led to a startling discovery when a large king cobra, nearly 5 metres, was found hiding under a car bonnet. Weighing over 30 kilogrammes, the snake was later captured by rescue officials yesterday, March 12, in Krabi province. The incident occurred when rescue teams from the Pracharuamjai Foundation in Thung Yai district, Nakhon Si Thammarat…
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Busted! Bangkok officials caught in bogus 2.8m baht bus repair scam
Seven officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have been detained for their alleged involvement in a corruption scheme concerning fabricated repairs to five buses, resulting in costs of 2.8 million baht. Their arrest followed an inspection of a repair garage yesterday morning, March 12. This inspection was conducted by senior officials, including Phumwisan Kasemsuk, Secretary General of the Public…
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Thai and stormy: 48 provinces brace for wild weather, and hail
Weather conditions in 48 provinces across Thailand are expected to include thunderstorms, with some areas experiencing hail and strong winds. Despite these conditions, the overall weather remains very hot, according to the Thai Meteorological Department‘s (TMD) forecast for the next 24 hours. Northern Thailand will experience very hot weather with thunderstorms in 20% of the area, strong winds, and hail in…
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Drug-fuelled taxi rage: Man arrested with gun and meth in Phuket
A man was arrested after allegedly threatening a taxi driver with a pen gun near Mae Somchit Kata Fresh Market, only for police to discover he was also carrying crystal meth. The dramatic incident unfolded at 6pm on Monday, March 10, when Wichit Police received a report of a man menacing a taxi driver with a concealed weapon on Kata…
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I’ll be right back: Foreign tourist dines and dashes in Krabi
A foreign tourist has gone viral for all the wrong reasons after dining and dashing at a Krabi restaurant, leaving staff and locals furious. The tall, tattooed man reportedly ordered a lavish meal, pretended to visit the restroom, and then vanished without paying. The incident occurred on March 9 at Into the Forest, a popular restaurant in Khao Thong subdistrict,…
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Illegal foreign workers busted in Pattaya villa scam crackdown
Tourist Police in Pattaya arrested 25 foreign nationals working illegally at pool villa construction sites, exposing a growing network of illegal foreign-run property developments. The operation, led by Police Colonel Man Rotthong, targeted Chinese investors suspected of developing villa rentals that function as illegal hotels. Acting on a tip-off about 40 Chinese and Myanmar workers, officers raided four construction sites…
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Nurse on track: Off-duty hero saves passenger on Bangkok BTS (video)
A nurse garnered praise for assisting a passenger who fainted on the BTS train in Bangkok, even though she was on her way to work. Yesterday, March 11, TikTok user @sittiaew shared a video capturing the commendable act, highlighting the nurse’s dedication to her profession. The video depicts the nurse and a BTS security officer helping a passenger who had…
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Thai man faces jail time after dropping Yaba pill in front of officials
A Thai man absent mindedly forgot that he had hidden some methamphetamine, better known in Thailand as Yaba, in his wallet and accidentally dropped six tablets in front of government officials. According to a new law, anyone found in possession of less than five Yaba tablets will be encouraged to attend rehabilitation. After rehab, suspects can waive a jail term…
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Bomb explosion narrowly misses vehicle in Narathiwat
A deadly roadside bomb detonated in Narathiwat, narrowly missing a vehicle carrying territorial defence volunteers, in what police suspect was an insurgent attack. The explosion yesterday, March 11, on the Sungai Kolok-Sungai Padi road caused significant damage but miraculously left no casualties. The blast occurred at 1.59pm at a U-turn in Ban Bango Humo, Mueang subdistrict, Sungai Padi district. Police…
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