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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Runaway pig sparks traffic chaos on Rama II road (video)
Motorists on one of Bangkok’s busiest highways were left gobsmacked when a pig decided to take a leisurely stroll across multiple lanes—sparking a traffic jam worthy of a comedy sketch. Rama II Road turned into an unlikely pig pen yesterday, July 11, after a fully grown pig was spotted calmly wandering among fast-moving vehicles. The surreal spectacle was caught on…
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Drug-fuelled horror: Man slashes own throat in Phuket meltdown
A Phuket man is fighting for his life after he slit his own throat in a terrifying episode believed to be triggered by a drug-induced hallucination—leaving his family too traumatised to visit him in hospital. Thalang Police confirmed that emergency services rushed to a shed near Wat Manik, in Village 7, Srisoonthorn, at about 1.30pm on Thursday, July 10, following…
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Teen motorcyclist dies in crash with truck near Bangkok University
A 17 year old motorcyclist collided with a 10-wheel truck, resulting in his death on Phahonyothin Road’s inbound express lane near Bangkok University, Pathum Thani province. The incident, which occurred at 2am today, July 12, also left four others injured, including two good Samaritans. Police Lieutenant Anusorn Wiangsima, deputy inspector of Khlong Luang Police Station, responded to the multi-vehicle collision.…
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Teen biker caught with homemade gun in Pattaya gang bust
A late-night gathering turned into a high-stakes bust when Pattaya police swooped on a park full of youths—only to discover one teenager armed to the teeth and ready for a gang clash. At around 3am today, July 12, Pattaya City Police received urgent reports from worried residents about a large group of young people causing a commotion near the Meteorological…
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Heavy rain and thunderstorms trigger flood warning in Thailand
The Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, predicting thunderstorms and heavy rain across 48 provinces in Thailand, including Bangkok. Residents in 15 provinces are cautioned about potential flash floods and runoff due to the inclement weather. These warnings stem from a monsoon trough affecting the upper northern and northeastern regions of Thailand, as well as parts…
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Cambodian activist seeks Thai asylum after criticising government
A 37 year old Cambodian activist has sought refuge in Thailand, fearing for his safety after criticising the Cambodian government and military. Em Piseth, leader of the Cambodian International Youth Network in Thailand, is being pursued by Cambodian police following a social media video mocking soldiers. The video, drawing on information from a former soldier and associate, suggested that troops…
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Long-lost ‘Forest sea star’ plant stuns scientists in Thailand
A rare plant thought to have vanished from the face of the Earth has emerged like a botanical ghost, shocking scientists with its return after more than a century in hiding deep within Thailand’s rainforests. Botanists worldwide are celebrating the extraordinary rediscovery of Heterostemma brownii Hayata, also known as the Forest Sea Star. Part of the milkweed family (Apocynaceae), this…
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Home lottery bonanza: 5,000 cheap Thai homes up for grabs
The Ministry of Transport has announced plans to launch a lottery system to allocate the first phase of 5,000 affordable housing units under the ambitious Home for Thais scheme. If approved, the project will see residents moving into their new homes by late 2026. Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote revealed that following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding…
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Thai mother fatally struck by son’s car while making merit
A Thai man fatally struck his mother with his car in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, claiming he accidentally stepped on the accelerator while she was waiting to offer food to monks. Officers from Nonsung Police Station were alerted to the fatal accident on this morning, July 11, and arrived at the scene with rescuers from the Udon Sawang…
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US deadline looms: Thailand races to avert tariff pain
Thailand is racing against the clock to defuse a trade crisis after Washington dropped a bombshell 36% tariff on Thai exports, forcing Bangkok to scramble for last-minute concessions and emergency bailouts before the deadline hits. The United States has given Thailand until August 1 to finalise trade proposals under its tough new Reciprocal Tariff policy. The Thai government confirmed it…
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Rail deal steams ahead: China’s bullet trains go full Belt and Road (video)
China is hitting top speed with its global bullet train rail ambitions and Thailand is firmly on track to play a key part. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing vowed this week to ramp up international high-speed rail links as part of Beijing’s sprawling Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), promising “hard connectivity” through mega-projects and “soft connectivity” via shared standards and rules.…
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Thai woman injured after turning on modified radio in Roi Et
A Thai woman nearly lost her left hand after switching on a radio that was abandoned in a small hut in a rice field in the northeastern province of Roi Et, after the device exploded when she switched it on. Similar incidents were previously reported in Lop Buri province in central Thailand. Local police officers and administrative officials rushed to…
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Stabbed in his tracks: Thai madman stabs grandfather on bus
A mentally disturbed man stabbed his grandfather to death in broad daylight aboard a packed intercity bus in northeastern Thailand, the latest in a bloody string of knife attacks sweeping the country. The horrific killing unfolded today, July 11, as passengers travelled on a Nakhon Phanom–Ban Phaeng service through the Ban Pak Thuai area of Tambon Wen Phrabat, Tha Uthen…
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Illegal logging racket busted in South Thailand
Underwater rescue teams from the Rom Sai Rescue Foundation in Satun province uncovered an illegal logging operation yesterday. Acting on a tip-off, they discovered submerged timber in Ban Thung Mai, Nam Phut subdistrict, La-ngu district, strategically hidden to evade detection. Although only remnants of the timber were found, the concealment was sophisticated. Previously, officials were alerted to illegal logging in…
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Throttle warning: Thailand’s motorcycle market may hit the brakes
Thailand’s motorcycle market is revving up but the industry’s top brass are warning it could stall in the slow lane before year’s end. While production and sales of motorcycles jumped in the first five months of 2025, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) says a cocktail of weak consumer spending, tight lending, and political unrest could derail the sector. Surapong…
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Udon Thani woman scammed by fake dentist out of 1 million baht
A 34 year old woman from a veterinary hospital in Udon Thani has fallen victim to a scam, losing nearly 1 million baht. The fraudster posed as a charming dentist, luring her into investing in luxury goods through an app. Initially engaging in friendly conversation, the scammer eventually persuaded her to invest, resulting in a loss of 849,500 baht. Anna…
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Booze ban barney: Phuket police defend dry crackdown on tipples
Phuket police have come under fire after swooping to shut down bars and restaurants mid-trade, claiming only venues with special service licences can sell alcohol during this week’s Buddhist holiday. The controversial clampdown came during Asarnha Bucha Day yesterday, July 10, and continues through tonight, July 11, for Khao Pansa, also known as Buddhist Lent. Officers in Rawai, Karon, and…
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Thai politician’s son bolts after gambling bust ends in car carnage
A Thai politician’s son is at the centre of a high-speed police chase drama, after he rammed a police car, dodged bullets, and ditched his bullet-ridden vehicle at a temple before fleeing on foot. The chaos erupted in Nonthaburi on Wednesday, July 9 when officers from the Crime Suppression Division moved in on a suspected online gambling den in Sai…
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Melioidosis kills 72: Thai health ministry issues urgent warning
The Ministry of Public Health has issued a warning about the melioidosis disease, which has resulted in 72 deaths and 1,676 infections. The disease can be contracted through contact with contaminated soil or water, or even by inhaling contaminated dust. It is advised to avoid wading through water or mud and to consume only cooked food. If symptoms develop, medical…
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Tuk tuk and truck drivers summoned after shocking Yaowarat crash
Police summoned both a truck driver and a tuk tuk driver for legal proceedings following the circulation of a viral video showing a shocking collision on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok. The video, widely shared on Thai social media this week, shows a 10-wheel truck travelling in the middle lane veering into a tuk tuk carrying three passengers. At the moment…
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Mud, sweat, fears: Thailand landslide warning after monsoon soak
Villagers in northern and eastern Thailand have been told to brace for landslides and flash floods after days of relentless rain left hillsides sodden and unstable. The Department of Mineral Resources sounded the alarm today, July 11, warning that 11 provinces are now at severe risk of geological disasters over the next 48 to 72 hours. The Geological Disaster Operation…
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Half-Half travel scheme rebooted: Snag your subsidies fast
After days of online chaos, Thailand’s travel subsidies are finally back on track, with the Tourism Authority promising smooth sailing for millions hungry to snap up cut-price getaways. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced yesterday, July 10, that it has resolved technical glitches plaguing the online registration for the Half-Half Thai Travel programme, paving the way for registration to…
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Off his rod: Drugged-up thug batters dad with iron bar
A drugged-up thug has left a sleepy Thai village living in fear after battering his elderly father with an iron bar in yet another psychotic rampage. Police in Chon Buri were forced to bring out shields, wooden poles, and even stun guns to subdue 38 year old Suwat Boonman, who allegedly attacked his 67 year old dad so violently that…
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Thailand video news | Russian tourists steal 160,000 baht worth of cannabis from Thai clinic, Malaysia police helicopter crashes during drill
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring you top stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. This episode features a bold cannabis heist by Russian tourists in Chon Buri, a dramatic visa crackdown on Koh Phangan, and a controversial call to ban sex for under-22s in Thailand. We also cover a bus crash in Phetchaburi, a heartwarming birthday…
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Condo drug party ends in arrests for 2 Thais and Russian in Phuket
Police arrested two Thai men and one Russian national for holding a drug party at a condominium in Phuket. Officers from Wichit Police Station raided a condominium near a popular shopping mall in the Wichit sub-district of Phuket on Wednesday, July 9, apprehending the three suspects. They were identified as 23 year old Thai man Sirawit, 23 year old Thai…
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Pensioner’s last bang: Thai OAP dies after love hotel boom boom
A randy Thai pensioner who checked into a short-time love hotel with a much younger woman died doing what many men only dream of, after a steamy round of boom boom. The 76 year old man keeled over and died mid-romp at a no-frills love shack in Phunphin district, Surat Thani, sending the terrified woman sprinting for help. Police were…
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Koh Samui thief nailed by GPS hidden in stolen fan
A brazen thief on Koh Samui thought he could get away with snatching a fan under the cover of darkness—until a hidden GPS tracker led police straight to his door. Police in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, arrested a man after a stolen fan equipped with a GPS device exposed his hiding place in a labour camp. The drama unfolded…
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American tourist assaulted by Pattaya bar owner over alleged video recording
A foreign bar owner in Pattaya physically assaulted an American tourist in the early hours of this morning allegedly for recording a video on the premises. The 38 year old American man, identified as Raf, reported the assault at Mueang Pattaya Police Station at 2.50am, today, July 11. He arrived with visible injuries and presented a video of the incident…
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US picks ex-lawyer with Asian ties as new Thailand envoy
Washington has tapped a veteran Foreign Service officer and former Wall Street lawyer to take the reins as the next US ambassador to Thailand, if the Senate gives the green light. The White House nominated Sean Kotaro O’Neill to succeed Robert F Godec as the United States Ambassador to Thailand, ending months of speculation over who would fill the critical…
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Thaksin lifts lid on power plays as Bhumjaithai walks out
In a no-holds-barred political confessional, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has laid bare the fierce rivalries, power plays and behind-the-scenes bargaining threatening to tip Thailand’s fragile government into chaos. During the 55 Years Nation Exclusive Talk: Breaking Through Thailand’s Crisis Chapter 1 at the Eastin Grand Phayathai Hotel on Wednesday, July 9, Thaksin delivered a candid assessment of Thailand’s political…
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