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 health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money
Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...
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Lumpini Park’s new street food hub to open next year
Bangkok’s famous street food scene is about to get a facelift, as the city races to complete its first official hawker centre next to Lumpini Park. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) confirmed that the Lumpini Park Hawker Centre, currently under construction on Ratchadamri Road, is set to open early next year. It’s designed to tidy up footpaths, raise hygiene standards,…
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2 doctors face jail time after cosmetic surgery leaves woman in coma
A Thai doctor, who owned a clinic in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district, faces six months in prison after a cosmetic surgery performed six years ago left a woman in a coma. Another doctor who owns the clinic faces three months behind bars. In 2019, 31 year old Apiphu Hirunyanit filed a complaint with Sutthisan Police Station after his younger sister,…
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Paetongtarn’s fate fast-tracked in leaked clip scandal
The political heat just got hotter for suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as Thailand’s top court fast-tracks her potential disqualification over a controversial leaked audio clip. At 10.30am today, August 21, the Constitutional Court began hearing witness testimony in a case brought by 36 senators who claim the prime minister violated ethical standards in a private conversation with Cambodian Senate…
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New Thai tax plan could cost expats their perks
Thailand is preparing to flip its tax system on its head, and expats could soon be caught in the crossfire. By 2027, the government plans to roll out a negative income tax, a major shift in how financial aid is delivered. Instead of handing out subsidies to broad social groups, the new system will offer direct payments to those who…
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Thai vendor offers 50,000 baht reward after 10 million baht amulet heist
A Thai amulet vendor is offering a reward of 50,000 baht for information that could lead to the arrest of a thief who stole amulets worth more than 10 million baht from his shop in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan. The well-known amulet vendor, Parkpoom “Bung” Watcharayu, appealed to news agencies and the online community after his police complaint…
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Pattaya Film Festival goes big with ghosts, guns and AI
Get ready for thrills, screams and cinema under the stars. Pattaya Film Festival 2025 is rolling out the red carpet from August 28 to 30 with an ambitious line-up of screenings, seminars and spooky showings in unexpected locations, including a temple. The event, held at SF Cinema Central Marina, marks the city’s latest push to brand itself as a film…
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Animal lovers call for action on Songkhla man after over 10 adoptive cats die
Animal lovers in the southern province of Songkhla are demanding legal action against a Thai man after he adopted more than ten cats that later died under his care. A cat lovers’ group in Songkhla urged the animal welfare organisation The Hope Songkhla to investigate a man named Pond, who adopted over ten stray cats and subsequently blocked the original…
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Phuket inmates trained to save lives behind bars
Prisoners in Phuket are learning how to save lives, starting with each other. Phuket Provincial Prison hosted a life-saving training event yesterday, August 20, under the Department of Corrections’ Sharing Happiness project, aiming to equip inmates and officers with emergency response skills in CPR, defibrillator use, and choking assistance. The training was formally launched at 1pm yesterday, where Air Chief…
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Thai couple confesses to killing newborn and burning body in Khon Kaen
A Thai couple confessed to killing their newborn baby and burning the body in a charcoal kiln at a friend’s home in Khon Kaen province. A local in the Ban Fang district of Khon Kaen discovered the corpse of the newborn in a charcoal kiln in a sugar cane field on August 17 and reported it to Ban Fang Police…
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Cambodian labour exodus sparks robot rush in Thai factories
Thailand’s factories are facing a labour crunch, and robots may soon be clocking in. A drop in Cambodian workers due to a simmering territorial dispute has forced Thai manufacturers to hurry automation plans, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The exodus of Cambodian labourers has hit sectors such as construction and agribusiness, where low-cost, manual labour is essential.…
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Defence boost: Thailand seals Gripen jet deal with Sweden
Thailand is gearing up to formalise a major fighter jet deal with Sweden, just days after revealing its warplanes were used in real combat for the first time. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the agreement’s first phase will be signed next Tuesday, August 26, during a high-level visit to Sweden, led by Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa. According to Ministry…
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Cambodian soldier disrupts Thai checkpoint under influence (video)
The Cambodian soldier responsible for causing a disturbance at Chong Arn Ma in Ubon Ratchathani was intoxicated during a visit by foreign observers, according to a senior Thai military intelligence officer. This information was updated yesterday, August 20, by Major General Kran Boonchai, deputy director of military intelligence, to the ASEAN observers from eight nations. Cambodian border officials contacted their…
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Thai woman fatally stabs restaurant owner over rape ordeal blame
A Thai woman fatally stabbed a female restaurant owner in the northern province of Kamphaeng Phet, allegedly blaming the victim for failing to prevent a sexual assault while she was intoxicated. Officers from Khlong Khlung Police Station and rescuers from the Sawang Kamphaeng Phet Foundation were called to a restaurant near the Ping River in Khlong Khlung district after the…
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Thailand produces titanium bone implants for wounded soldiers
The government, in collaboration with its private sector partner, is producing titanium bone implants for soldiers injured in the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, according to deputy government spokesperson Anukul Pruksanusak. In partnership with Meticuly Co, a local medical technology startup, the government aims to create customised titanium bone implants for wounded soldiers. This initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Intellectual Property,…
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Teen arrested for Trang city shooting, two injured
A 17 year old has been arrested alongside an accomplice for a shooting incident in Trang city centre, injuring two people. The youth reportedly used his father’s gun in the attack. The incident involved two youths riding a red and black Honda Wave 110 motorcycle, registration 1 กค 5387 Trang. They were shot with a 9mm firearm in the neck…
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Teacher’s husband apologises after running over schoolboy in a pickup truck
A teacher’s husband issued an apology after running his pickup over a 12 year old schoolboy in Udon Thani, claiming he did not notice the boy sitting at the spot. The 12 year old Thai boy, Tang, suffered a broken pelvis after the driver, 53 year old Phan, ran over him while he was sitting in the activity area after…
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Thai Commerce Ministry cracks down on illegal steel trade
The Ministry of Commerce has taken action against foreign steel trading businesses in Samut Prakan, suspected of using Thai nominees to hold shares illegally. Deputy Permanent Secretary of Commerce, Chakara Yodmanee, who leads the task force against illegal foreign businesses, reported that the Department of Business Development has intensified efforts to resolve nominee issues, following instructions from Deputy Commerce Minister…
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Thailand video news | British visitor could receive decade in prison following fatal Pattaya scooter crash, Sudden glass door collapse at Bangkok mall injures children
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex brings you a wide range of stories from across the country. From a British tourist facing a decade in prison after a fatal scooter crash in Pattaya, to a volunteer claiming death threats over temple donations in Lop Buri, and Pheu Thai denying rumours of backing Prayut for prime minister. Authorities in Chiang Mai…
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Mystery surrounds woman’s death during Pattani to Betong journey
A 30 year old woman was found deceased under mysterious circumstances in a vehicle during a journey from Pattani to Betong in Yala province. Relatives were puzzled, as she was initially fine before losing consciousness and passing away at 4.30pm yesterday, August 20. Police from the Mueang Yala Police Station received notification from rescue workers about the death of an…
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Car bomb rips through Narathiwat checkpoint, 1 injured
Terror returned to Thailand’s Deep South last night when a car bomb exploded at a security checkpoint in Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district, injuring a defence volunteer and triggering a brief gun battle. The attack unfolded at around 8.15pm yesterday, August 20, in Sala Mai subdistrict, where local volunteers were manning a regular security post. According to police reports, the explosion…
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Officials discover 20 preserved bodies at AIDS treatment temple
Officials from the Ministry of Public Health raided Phra Bat Nampu Temple in the central province of Lop Buri, where they discovered 20 bodies of AIDS patients illegally preserved and displayed in a museum within the temple. Phra Bat Nampu Temple, also known as the AIDS temple, has long been running donation campaigns to raise funds for underprivileged AIDS patients.…
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Bangkok man arrested for stabbing taxi driver amid cannabis delusions
A 30 year old man, Chawin, was apprehended for allegedly attacking a motorcycle taxi driver in Bangkok, resulting in severe injuries. Police acted on an arrest warrant from the Criminal Court, dated August 19, for causing grievous bodily harm. Chawin was taken into custody in Tha Ruea district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, with a folding knife found in his possession.…
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Air Serbia eyes Bangkok return after decades-long break
Thailand could soon welcome more Balkan tourists directly, as Air Serbia considers reviving long-haul winter flights to Bangkok, a destination not served from Belgrade since the collapse of Yugoslavia. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) confirmed it’s in talks with the airline as part of a push to boost direct air access from the Balkan region. TAT’s marketing representative for…
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Thailand intensifies crackdown on illegal agricultural imports
Attakorn Sirilatthayakorn, the agriculture and cooperatives minister, has announced a robust initiative to combat illegal agricultural products, including illicit pork, fisheries, and plant goods. The Special Unit Phaya Naga, established in 2023, aims to curb these activities, which have caused direct economic damages exceeding 10 billion baht. The Phaya Naga unit, founded during the tenure of former agriculture and cooperatives…
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1 foreigner dead, another critical after drowning tragedy at Phuket’s Kata Beach
A foreigner drowned in the sea off Kata Beach in Phuket yesterday, August 21, while another foreigner survived but was left in a critical condition. Phuket Times Facebook page reported the incident in the evening, although it reportedly occurred earlier in the afternoon. Witnesses said locals managed to pull both foreigners from the water, but one had already died. The…
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Pattaya leaders aid bedridden and elderly in city push
Pattaya officials carried out a targeted welfare operation in Naklua yesterday, delivering aid to bedridden patients and elderly residents. Yesterday, August 20, Deputy Mayor Thitipan Petchtrakul and Pattaya City Council President Banlue Kullavanij hit the streets of Naklua, delivering essential aid to three of the area’s most vulnerable residents. Accompanied by fellow council members and officers from the Social Welfare…
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Kitten rescued from school pillar after four days in Thong Pha Phum
A kitten trapped inside a school pillar in Thong Pha Phum for four days has been rescued. On August 20, Sarawut Sritandorn, the mayor of Thong Pha Phum, was informed by teacher Acting Sub Lieutenant Panitta Klinchuen, also known as Teacher Tae, that a kitten was stuck inside a school building pillar. Upon receiving the report, he directed Teerasak Ritthiwong…
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Buriram woman sentenced to 332 years for embassy job scam
A court in Buriram has sentenced a 28 year old woman known as Oi to 830 years in prison for fraudulently posing as an embassy official and deceiving 166 workers into believing they would be employed in Australia. The scam resulted in losses exceeding 10 million baht (US$307,210). The workers, from Phutthaisong district in Buriram province, reported the incident to…
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Gun-toting dad smashes woman’s face in Pattaya diner row
A furious father sparked chaos in Pattaya after pistol-whipping a woman and firing a shot into the air during a restaurant clash. The shocking incident occurred on Sunday, August 17, on Soi Phothisan 8, but the suspect was arrested three days later after police obtained damning CCTV evidence. At 5pm yesterday, August 20, officers from Bang Lamung Police Station raided…
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Cambodian landmine, not artillery, causes explosion near temple
The Second Army Region has clarified that reports of Cambodian forces firing artillery at a base near Ta Kwai Temple are unfounded. It is suspected that a Cambodian soldier triggered a landmine that the Cambodian side had secretly placed behind the temple. Residents are urged not to panic over these rumours. Yesterday, August 20, journalists reported that the Second Army…
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