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 Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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Housing row settled after Nong Prue home cleared as legal
Officials in Nong Prue inspected a housing project after residents complained a property may have breached building laws, confirming it complied with regulations. At around 2pm yesterday, September 12, deputy mayor Wanchai Saenngam led a team of municipal engineering officers to inspect a property in the Rattanakorn 15 project following anonymous reports that a house was being built taller than…
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Decomposed body of elderly woman found in Chiang Mai river
Locals in Chiang Mai discovered the body of an elderly woman floating in the Ping River, prompting police to launch an investigation into her death. Police in Chiang Mai’s Doi Tao district are investigating the discovery of a decomposed body, believed to be that of an elderly woman, found floating in the Ping River. The grim discovery was made yesterday,…
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Quake jolts Sumatra as tremors reach into northern Thailand
Thailand’s Earthquake Observation Division reported a 3.6-magnitude earthquake in northern Sumatra this morning, with light tremors also detected in parts of northern Thailand. Fortunately, no damage or injuries have been reported. The quake struck at 4.27am local time today, September 13, centred in Indonesia’s northern Sumatra region at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located about 367 kilometres…
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Man caught filming up skirt plunges from Nonthaburi mall
A man was seriously injured after jumping from a mall’s fourth floor in Nonthaburi while trying to escape security who caught him filming under a woman’s skirt. Chaos erupted at Central Westgate mall in Bang Yai district, Nonthaburi, yesterday evening, September 12, after a man accused of secretly filming under a woman’s skirt leapt from the fourth floor to escape…
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Thai Democrat Party leader quits over health and party loyalty row
Democrat Party leader Chalermchai Sri-on has stepped down from his position, citing health concerns that he says have affected his ability to lead effectively. In an official letter submitted to the Election Commission (EC)’s political party registrar yesterday, September 12, the 60 year old politician stated that he could no longer carry out his duties at full capacity and feared…
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Indian tourists flee after Pattaya crash leaves 2 women hurt
Two Thai women were left injured in Pattaya after a late-night crash involving a motorcycle and a pair of careless tourists who allegedly fled the scene. A late-night motorcycle collision in Pattaya has left two Thai women hospitalised, after what witnesses claim was a reckless encounter with two foreign tourists. The incident occurred around 3am yesterday, September 12, in front…
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Phuket’s long-awaited boat taxi project finally sets sail
Phuket is moving ahead with plans for a boat taxi service along its west coast, as key officials signed an agreement to improve coastal transport options. Phuket is one step closer to launching its long-discussed boat taxi service along the island’s popular west coast, as key officials gathered to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday, September 12. Atthaphon Charoenchansa,…
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Heavy downpours batter 35 Thai provinces, Bangkok on alert
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, forecasting thunderstorms and heavy rain across 35 provinces, including Bangkok and its surrounding areas. Residents are advised to be cautious due to the risk of heavy and accumulated rainfall. The current weather conditions are influenced by a monsoon trough passing over the lower northern, central, eastern, and northeastern…
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Thai motorcyclist dies after dodging sudden lane change by another rider
A Thai woman died in a motorcycle crash in Nonthaburi province yesterday, September 11, after swerving to avoid a sudden lane change by another rider. Officers from Bang Srimueang Police Station were alerted to the accident at around 7.30am outside a petrol station on Ratchaphruek–Nonthaburi Road. At the scene, police and rescue workers found a 20 year old woman, later…
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Thailand urged to tighten rules on cosy inmate detentions
Thailand’s anti-graft body is urging the new Cabinet to review prison detention rules over concerns they could allow inmates to serve sentences at home. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is urging the new Cabinet to instruct the Department of Corrections (DoC) to review its rules on off-site detention, following concerns that current regulations could allow prisoners to serve their sentences…
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5-million-baht fireworks boost to supercharge Pattaya festival
Chon Buri officials approved extra funding to support a major fireworks festival in Pattaya, aiming to boost tourism and attract international visitors. The Pattaya International Fireworks Festival 2025 will dazzle visitors with its most spectacular show yet, thanks to a 5 million baht boost from the Chon Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO). Scheduled for November 28 to 29 along Pattaya…
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Thai man steals gold ring hoping for prison life over freedom
A Thai man confessed that he stole a gold ring in Udon Thani province yesterday, September 11, because he wanted to escape his troubled life and return to prison, where he said life felt easier. Meuang Udon Thani Police Station officers received a report about the theft at a gold shop on the third floor of a shopping mall in…
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Man found dead in Phuket dorm after family argument
A man was found dead in a Phuket dormitory bathroom after a family dispute, prompting police and medical teams to investigate the cause of death. Police in Kathu, Phuket, were alerted to the incident at 8.40am yesterday, September 11. Officers from Kathu Police Station, accompanied by a forensic doctor from Vachira Phuket Hospital and Phuket Kusontham Foundation responders, arrived promptly…
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Bangkok police seize 5.45m meth pills worth 200 million baht
Bangkok police have confiscated more than 5.45 million meth pills, valued at approximately 200 million baht, and detained a drug courier at the Lat Krabang Airport Rail Link station parking area. Yesterday, September 11, Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, alongside senior narcotics officers, announced the arrest of 27 year old Adisorn Boonyanusanti. The operation also resulted…
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Court demands 3 referendums for new Thai Constitution
Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ruled that any move to draft a new constitution must involve three referendums and cannot include elected charter drafters. The Constitutional Court delivered the ruling following a petition filed by Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, who requested legal clarification on Parliament’s authority to initiate a new constitution and the necessary procedures. The case stems from…
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Thalang cracks down on illegal claw machines in malls
Dozens of claw machines have been shut down across Phuket’s Thalang district in a major crackdown on unlicensed gambling-style games at public venues. Officials from the Thalang District Office inspected shopping malls, convenience stores, and other locations between September 6 and 9. Around 50 unlicensed machines were found and immediately deactivated, including several at the popular Robinson Lifestyle Thalang mall.…
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British YouTuber and netizens blast BBC’s Thailand dark side documentary
A British YouTuber and netizens criticised the BBC documentary Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise for allegedly distorting facts and presenting misleading information to viewers. Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise was first aired on BBC iPlayer on September 8. The series aimed to expose the darker aspects of several tourist destinations in Thailand, focusing particularly on Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya.…
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Lottery fever: Tarantula picks lucky number for upcoming draw
A crowd gathered at a temple in central Thailand for a ritual where a tarantula selected lottery numbers, sparking fresh excitement among players. Dozens of hopeful locals gathered today, September 12, behind Wat Bot Rat Sattha in Bang Rakam subdistrict, Pho Thong district, Ang Thong province, for a traditional ritual centred around the legendary Paya Bung, a revered, burrow-dwelling tarantula…
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Wild animal zone shut down after fatal lion attack at zoo
National park officials have ordered the closure of a wildlife park’s wild animal zone following a fatal incident involving lions, triggering a full safety and welfare review. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has ordered the immediate suspension of operations in Safari World’s Safari Park area, following a deadly lion attack and a subsequent inspection that…
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Thai businesswoman swindled out of 159 million baht in stock trading scam
A Thai businesswoman lost 159 million baht in an investment scam. She admitted that greed and a desire for higher profits led her to transfer the sum to a scam gang within just three weeks. The victim, identified only as A, urged the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive to follow up on her case after she lodged a complaint with the…
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Thailand video news Inside Klong Prem: What Awaits Thaksin Behind Bars, Karon Beach Lifeguards Save Tourist Who Ignored Red Flags
Thailand saw a turbulent week spanning politics, public safety, and lifestyle changes — from Thaksin Shinawatra’s stark new reality inside Klong Prem Prison and Paetongtarn’s push to steady Pheu Thai, to a citywide rabies alert in Bangkok, high-profile tourist incidents in Phuket, and even viral mishaps like a “green curry smoothie.” Meanwhile, Nepal unrest halted a British vlogger’s epic…
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Drunk Thai man beats neighbour’s puppy to death in Bangkok
A drunk Thai man beat his neighbour’s puppy to death at a rental accommodation in Bangkok. The motive for his actions remains unknown and is currently under investigation. The owner of the puppy, Sumo, sought help from the non-profit organisation Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) to bring the attacker to justice. The foundation handed the case over to Don Mueang Police…
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Thaksin starts prison life with Covid quarantine and calm
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has begun serving a prison sentence under Covid quarantine, as officials assess his condition and consider future duties in detention. Now serving a one-year sentence at Klongprem Central Prison following a Supreme Court ruling, the 76 year old veteran politician is being held in a separate ward with other elderly inmates while officials determine his placement.…
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Thai Lion Air eyes new routes despite tourism slowdown
Thai Lion Air is expanding its fleet and launching new routes as it targets high-demand destinations, despite a drop in international tourist arrivals. The budget carrier plans to add at least two Boeing 737 jets to its fleet this year, focusing on high-demand routes such as China and Japan, despite revising its earlier goal of operating 40 aircraft. The adjustment…
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Welding sparks blaze in Pattaya home, sisters flee fire
A fire broke out at a townhouse in Pattaya after welding sparks ignited insulation, prompting a swift emergency response and forcing residents to flee. The fire broke out around 2.30pm yesterday, September 11, in Soi Nern Plab Wan, near the entrance of Chatkaew 9 Village in Pattaya. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre received an emergency call and dispatched three…
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Former Bangkok governor sworn in as new party-list MP
A familiar face is back in politics after a high-profile former Bangkok governor took the oath as one of three new MPs sworn into Thailand’s House of Representatives this week. The appointments were officially confirmed in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, September 9, following recent resignations that left vacant party-list seats in the Pheu Thai and United Thai Nation (UTN)…
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U-turn project slashes road deaths to zero in Phuket
A road safety project in Phuket has transformed a dangerous highway, cutting fatalities to zero in a key area through joint efforts by local and international partners. The dramatic turnaround stems from the Safe & Seamless U-Turn initiative launched on Thepkrasattri Road (Route 402), Phuket’s busiest and most notorious thoroughfare, renowned for its deadly crashes and congestion. Formally handed over…
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Thailand on flood alert as monsoon brings heavy downpours
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of heavy rain, flash floods and rough seas as the monsoon brings thunderstorms across multiple regions. The monsoon trough remains active over the North and upper Northeast, while moderate southwesterly winds prevail over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf. According to the TMD, thunderstorms are expected nationwide with isolated heavy rainfall in northern…
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Tourist rescued after ignoring red flags at Karon Beach
A reckless tourist nearly paid the ultimate price after ignoring red flags at Phuket’s Karon Beach, only to be dragged out by powerful monsoon waves. The incident unfolded yesterday morning, September 10, when lifeguards raised red flags to warn beachgoers against swimming due to strong waves and dangerous currents. Despite the clear warning signs, a foreign man decided to swim…
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Thai municipality official dies in road collapse in Chiang Mai
A municipality official died in a road collapse while on duty, inspecting a drainage pipe under a road in the Mae Rim district of Chiang Mai province yesterday, September 10. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The 56 year old head of the Construction Department of Mueang Don Kaew Municipality Office, Prasert,…
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