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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Thai woman denied entry to South Korea despite valid documents
What was meant to be a New Year holiday in South Korea ended before it started for a Thai woman, after immigration officers at Incheon Airport denied her entry despite meeting all entry requirements. The incident occurred at Incheon International Airport, where the 37 year old woman, a government employee from Loei province, claimed she was stopped and turned away…
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Thailand video news | Thailand rolls out new sobriety screening rules for alcohol sellers, Green turtles nesting at Karon Beach marks seasonal wildlife event
In Thailand video news, Alex covers news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. The stories include new rules for screening sobriety by alcohol sellers, Mass traffic violations recorded over the New Year holiday, and a little later, the Immigration Bureau denies claims of long airport queues. Thailand Rolls Out New Sobriety Screening Rules for Alcohol Sellers Thailand’s health authorities…
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Fire destroys secondhand shop, vehicles damaged, police investigate
A fire that broke out before sunrise completely destroyed a secondhand goods shop and its attached warehouse in Chonburi province, damaging several vehicles and causing extensive property loss. No injuries were reported, but authorities say the full extent of the damage is still being assessed as forensic teams prepare to determine the cause. The blaze was reported at about 4.30am…
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Tourists filmed in public lewd act in Phuket renew visa-free concerns
Two foreign tourists were caught on camera engaging in a lewd act on a public street in Patong, Phuket, prompting online criticism and renewed debate over Thailand’s visa-free entry policy. The incident occurred in a nightlife area near Bangla Road. According to initial reports from the Phuket Times, the individuals, identified by the page and eyewitnesses as men of Middle…
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Police to submit online gambling bribery file to NACC
Thailand’s Anti-Corruption Police are preparing to submit a completed investigation file to the National Anti-Corruption Commission on January 5, marking a significant procedural step in an alleged bribery case linked to online gambling operations. The case concerns accusations that a senior former police official sought to influence legal proceedings connected to online gambling websites through improper payments. Investigators say the…
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Cambodia allows 162 Thais to return, 6 wanted by police
Cambodia allowed 162 Thai nationals to return to Thailand through a border checkpoint in Chanthaburi province on Saturday, January 3, with six of them later found to be wanted criminals. Cambodian authorities reportedly pushed back hundreds of Thai workers who had been stranded in the country, sending them home via the Chanthaburi border following a ceasefire. According to Channel 7,…
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Thailand human trafficking police crackdown overview
The Royal Thai Police have announced an intensified nationwide crackdown on human trafficking, with a renewed focus on child sexual abuse, exploitation within the fishing industry, and crimes committed through online platforms. Authorities say the move comes in response to a rising number of cases and increasingly complex criminal methods, particularly those involving children and digital networks. Police General Thatchai…
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Teen motorbike gang arrested after gun attack on family
Police in Nakhon Si Thammarat have arrested five teenagers accused of chasing and shooting at a family of three after becoming enraged by a verbal warning to stop fighting with a rival group. The incident left a father, mother, and their young child injured and has renewed concerns over youth violence and firearms access in local communities. The arrests were…
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Pattaya bank account scam: Chinese suspects arrested
Police in Pattaya have rescued an 18-year-old victim who was allegedly tricked into opening fraudulent bank accounts by two Chinese men and one Thai woman, then unlawfully detained after reporting the scam and freezing the accounts. The incident came to light at about 10.46pm on January 3, when officers from Pattaya City Police Station, working with Pattaya Tourist Police, responded…
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Nearly 3,000 drunk driving cases recorded during New Year crackdown
Thailand’s probation authorities have reported nearly 3,000 drunk driving cases over a five-day period during the New Year holiday crackdown, with 3 provinces recording the highest numbers. According to Department of Probation, a total of 2,957 drunk driving cases were recorded between December 30 and January 3 as part of intensified road safety measures during the festive period. Today, on…
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Overloaded landfill prompts urgent waste crisis review in Phatthalung
Phatthalung authorities have launched an urgent review to address what officials describe as a growing waste management crisis, after inspections revealed severe environmental damage linked to an overloaded municipal landfill. The move follows a site visit to the province’s main dumpsite, which covers approximately 95 rai and currently receives more than 100 tonnes of waste per day. Officials warned that…
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Van collision injures driver as wild elephant crosses road
A serious road accident involving a wild elephant from Khao Yai National Park and a closed-box van has raised renewed concerns about road safety and human-wildlife coexistence in protected forest areas. The collision left the van driver seriously injured, while the elephant fled back into the forest with suspected injuries, prompting an urgent search by park officials. According to the…
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Phuket Tourist Checkpoint Police Evasion Explained
Widespread public criticism has erupted across Thailand after a video surfaced showing foreign tourists speeding through a police checkpoint in Phuket, ignoring officers’ instructions and fleeing the scene without stopping for inspection. The incident has reignited concerns over road safety, uneven law enforcement, and the conduct of some visitors in major tourist destinations. The incident occurred on the night of…
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Waiter killed after drunken customer attacks staff over missing ice
A dispute over missing ice escalated into a fatal stabbing after a drunken customer allegedly attacked restaurant staff in early this morning, January 4, leaving one man dead and another woman critically injured. Police received a report of the incident at around 4.30am and dispatched patrol officers to the scene, along with rescue workers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation. Three…
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Green sea turtle Phuket Karon beach nesting event
A rare and encouraging marine conservation event unfolded on Karon Beach in Phuket on Friday, when an adult female green sea turtle came ashore and laid a large clutch of eggs, drawing attention from both tourists and local officials. The nesting occurred at around 11am on January 3, 2026, along Karon Beach in Karon sub district, Muang district. Thai and…
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Power bank explosion injures woman in market
A woman was injured in Si Racha district, Chonburi province, after a power bank connected to her mobile phone exploded inside her handbag, causing burns to her arms and face and igniting her personal belongings, rescue officials said. The incident occurred at around 7.00pm on January 3, 2026, in the Sahapat Airport area, Moo 5, Bueng subdistrict. The Sawang Prateep…
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Bar host arrested for burglary at Bangkok transgender influencer’s home
A male bar host has been arrested for allegedly breaking into the home of a well-known transgender influencer in Bangkok and stealing luxury items and a large sum of cash. The arrest took place at around 1pm yesterday, January 3, when police from Phaholyothin Police Station detained a 21 year old man at a house in Soi Lat Phrao 41,…
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Thai Cambodian border dispute: army reaffirms sovereignty
The Royal Thai Army has reaffirmed that a recently reorganized border area remains firmly within Thai sovereign territory, stating that the land has been subject to long-term encroachment by Cambodian forces and settlements. Army officials are urging the public to review official protest letters previously submitted by Thailand through the Memorandum of Understanding 43, known as MOU 43, which governs…
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Rama 2 Flood Rescue: GPS Navigation Error Incident
Five people narrowly escaped serious injury after a GPS navigation error led their vehicle into unexpectedly deep floodwater beneath a bridge on Rama 2 Road in Samut Songkhram province, almost completely submerging the van and trapping passengers inside. The incident occurred on January 3, 2026, when officers from Highway Police Station 1, Division 2, under the Highway Police Bureau, were…
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Myanmar rape-murder suspect deported as victim’s daughter demands justice
A Thai woman has sought public intervention after discovering that the Myanmar national accused of raping and murdering her mother was deported from Thailand despite the case still being under investigation. The complaint was submitted on Friday, January 2 to the Facebook page ‘Survive – Sai Mai Tong Rod,’ where the victim’s daughter claimed that immigration authorities released the suspect…
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2026 SAFF Futsal Championship to debut in Bangkok as South Asia launches new tournament
The South Asian Football Federation will stage the first-ever SAFF Futsal Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, from 13 to 26 January 2026, marking a major step in the development of futsal across South Asia. The biennial men’s national team tournament will feature all seven SAFF member associations, each making their debut in the competition. The participating teams are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,…
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Royal Thai Navy detains 67 Cambodian migrants attempting illegal border crossing into Thailand
The Royal Thai Navy has detained 67 Cambodian migrant workers who attempted to illegally cross the Thai border in Chanthaburi province, authorities confirmed on January 3, 2026. The group included men, women, and children who officials said were fleeing severe economic hardship, unemployment, and food insecurity in their home communities. Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyapan, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy,…
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2nd Army Area raids scammer hideout, uncovers scripted fraud operations targeting multiple countries
The 2nd Army Area has raided a large scammer hideout in the Chong Chom border area of Surin province, uncovering an organized fraud operation that used detailed scripts, manuals, and national symbols to deceive victims in multiple countries. Authorities say the findings highlight the growing sophistication of transnational scam networks operating near Thailand’s borders. At 11.38am on January 3, 2026,…
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Second Army Area releases footage alleging Cambodian military activity near Preah Vihear
The Second Army Area on Saturday released video footage it claims shows Cambodian forces using areas near the Preah Vihear temple complex as an active military position, raising fresh security concerns along the Thai–Cambodian border. The footage was made public on January 3, 2026, at around 3.10pm, as Thai authorities continued close monitoring of border conditions. According to the Second…
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Thailand’s new year holiday 2026 sees over eight million travelers, fewer accidents and smooth nationwide transport
Thailand’s New Year holiday 2026 concluded with more than eight million people traveling across the country, while road accidents and transport disruptions declined compared with the previous year, according to the Ministry of Transport. From December 30 2025 to January 1 2026, a total of more than 8.2 million passengers used public transport nationwide. Although this figure represents a 3.9…
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Fire destroys monk’s living quarters at Nimit Mai temple, investigation underway
A fire completely destroyed a monk’s living quarters at a well-known temple in the Nimit Mai area of Bangkok on the morning of January 3, 2026, prompting an urgent response from firefighters and an ongoing investigation into the cause of the blaze. The incident was reported at 8.27am through the 199 emergency hotline. Firefighters from the Bang Chan Fire and…
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Fire erupts in condo, woman hospitalized for smoke inhalation
A fire broke out inside a condominium unit in Bangkok’s Ladprao area on Thursday, sending thick smoke through the building and leaving a young woman hospitalized with smoke inhalation injuries. Authorities said the fire was quickly brought under control and is believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit in an air-conditioning unit. At around 12.15pm on January…
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Van carrying passenger crashes after tire blowout, one killed and eight injured
A fatal road accident in Udon Thani province left one person dead and eight others injured after a passenger van carrying pilgrims suffered a tire blowout and slammed into a roadside tree on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said. The incident occurred at about 1.50pm on January 2, 2026, on the Nong Han–Phibun Rak road between Ban Nai Yom and Ban Don…
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Thai maid detained live on TV after allegedly poisoning toddler with disinfectant
Police detained a Thai housemaid during a live television interview today, December 30, after she was accused of attempting to poison her employer’s young child by mixing disinfectant into his milk. The case came to light after a Thai mother issued a warning to the online community, saying her two year old Thai son Kirin narrowly escaped serious harm. She…
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Tourists head to koh chang for new year as ferry traffic jams stretch 1km
The New Year Festival atmosphere in Trat province has returned to full vibrancy. Reports from the Laem Ngop Ferry Terminal today, on December 30, 2025, indicate a surge of tourists heading to the islands, resulting in significant traffic congestion. Meanwhile, operators and tourists confirm that Koh Kood and Koh Mak remain safe destinations despite border concerns. Both Thai and international…
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