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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Pickup driver busted for fake tax sticker trick in Chumphon
Police in Chumphon, southern Thailand, arrested a pickup driver who altered his expired tax disc with a marker to avoid fees after he was caught during a routine highway checkpoint. The man, identified as 39 year old Nakarin from Ubon Ratchathani, was stopped at a checkpoint on Highway 41 in Wisai Tai, Sawi district, around 11am on Tuesday, September 16.…
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Hunt on for driver after car smashes Phuket U-turn barrier
Police in Phuket are searching for a driver who fled after crashing into a newly built U-turn barrier in Thalang, an incident caught on video and shared online. The crash happened late on Tuesday, September 16, near the Thalang power station in Baan Lipon, Srisoonthorn. The impact, captured on video and widely shared on social media, shows a sedan slamming…
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Pattaya drivers slam selective crackdown on odd-even parking
Pattaya officials tightened enforcement of odd-even parking rules on South Pattaya Road, sparking criticism from residents who accuse the city of selective crackdowns. The Pattaya City Administration recently announced tighter enforcement of the regulation, which requires vehicles to park on alternating sides of the street depending on the date. Signs along South Pattaya Road now warn: “Follow odd–even days strictly,…
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Thai curry rice championship set to spice up Bangkok
Thailand has launched a national curry rice championship to crown the country’s top chefs and promote Khao Gaeng as a global symbol of Thai culinary culture. The event, organised with the Thai Restaurant Association and other partners, aims to showcase Khao Gaeng as an iconic dish that reflects Thailand’s culinary heritage while boosting its profile on the global stage. Tourism…
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Lopburi villagers demand crackdown on serial animal abuser
Villagers in Lopburi are calling for urgent action after a 20 year old man was accused of repeatedly abusing animals, raising fears for community safety. The disturbing allegations emerged after a video clip circulated online showing the man sexually assaulting a female dog in a bathroom near his home in Wang Khon Khwang, Khok Samrong district. The footage, filmed by…
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50 Chumphon politicians jump ship to back Anutin’s Bhumjaithai
Around 50 politicians from Chumphon have defected from the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) to join Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party (BJT). The group was officially welcomed at BJT headquarters yesterday, September 17, by senior party figure Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. Among the defectors were Chumphon MPs Chumpol Chulasai and Wichai Sudsawat, along with Nopporn Usit, president of the Chumphon Provincial…
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Bangkok district declared rabies zone after dog carcass found
Officials have declared parts of Bangkok’s Nong Chok district rabies-infectious zones after a dog tested positive, triggering strict controls on animal movement. The Area 10 office of the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) announced yesterday, September 17, that the zones have been designated rabies infectious areas until October 16. Under the order, no live animals, particularly dogs, or their carcasses…
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Trang man dies after ambulance fails to arrive in time (video)
A 60 year old man collapsed near a hospital in Trang and died after waiting in vain for an ambulance, raising questions over Thailand’s emergency response system. The victim, identified as Charoen, a hotel caretaker from Sikao district, was pronounced dead on September 12 after suffering an acute heart attack. His family say the tragedy highlights serious failures in the…
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Agoda touts Asia’s hidden gems in Tourism Day push
Agoda has highlighted rising interest in Asia’s secondary destinations as travellers seek unique experiences, with searches outpacing traditional hotspots this year. The digital travel platform revealed that accommodation searches for lesser-known spots are growing 15% faster than for traditional tourist hubs compared to the same period last year. The shift is particularly visible in countries such as Thailand, India, Indonesia,…
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French tourist drowns after late-night swim at Patong
A French tourist drowned on Patong Beach after being swept away by strong currents during a late-night swim, despite red warning flags along the shore. Patong Police confirmed the victim as 53 year old Laurent Simon, who had arrived on the island just a day earlier with his brother, sister and brother-in-law. The family reportedly entered the water behind the…
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Pattaya biker dies in high-speed smash with taxi
A motorcyclist died after crashing into a taxi making a U-turn on a Pattaya highway in the early hours, prompting police to launch an investigation. The collision occurred at 1am on Tuesday, September 16, on Highway 36, inbound to Pattaya, at a U-turn point. Police Lieutenant Janda Dermphan, Deputy Investigator with Bang Lamung Police Station, arrived at the scene with…
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Patong lifeguards warn as venomous bluebottles wash up
Lifeguards at Patong Beach have issued a warning after venomous Portuguese man o’ war jellyfish washed ashore, urging tourists to stay cautious in the water. Lifeguards raised the alarm after several of the creatures were found along the sand. Patong Surf Life Saving urged beachgoers not to touch or play with them, stressing that anyone stung should immediately seek assistance…
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Drinkers in Thailand face 10,000 baht hit for after-hours pints
Drinkers in Thailand face fines for consuming alcohol in pubs and bars after legal hours, under tougher rules aimed at curbing late-night drinking. From November 8, anyone caught drinking in pubs and bars outside the permitted times faces fines of up to 10,000 baht. The Department of Provincial Administration confirmed the new penalties under an amendment to the Alcoholic Beverage…
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Thailand on alert as fierce monsoon rains threaten floods
Thailand prepares for more widespread monsoon rains, with the meteorological department warning of flash floods, rough seas, and heavy downpours across multiple regions this week. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reported that the monsoon trough is lying across the lower Central region, the East, and the lower Northeast, connecting to an active low-pressure cell over the South China Sea. Meanwhile,…
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Villagers in Northeast Thailand demand monk disrobe over woman
Villagers in Kalasin in Northeast Thailand confronted an abbot after he was found with a woman inside his quarters at night, sparking demands for his immediate disrobing. The disturbance broke out around 11pm yesterday, September 16, at a temple in Kae Pae subdistrict, Mueang district. A temple boy raised the alarm by beating a drum to alert the community after spotting…
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GPS blunder sends tourist into forest crash in Pattaya
A 23 year old man in Pattaya crashed his motorcycle after GPS led him into a forest, forcing him to abandon the bike and walk 2 kilometres to find help. The incident unfolded at 7pm on Monday, September 15, when the Sawang Boriboon Pattaya Rescue Foundation received a call reporting a stranded tourist in Pong subdistrict, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri.…
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Nakhon Ratchasima man wins 12 million baht with lucky lottery bet
A man from Nakhon Ratchasima struck gold in the national lottery, winning 12 million baht after spending just 200 baht on tickets: a fraction of what he usually spends. The Government Lottery Office announced the results of yesterday’s draw, September 16, with the winning first prize number confirmed as 074646. Other results included front three-digit numbers 740 and 512, back…
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People’s Party leader stands firm on lese majeste reform stance
People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut reaffirmed his stance on Thailand’s lese majeste law, stressing that any reforms must follow court rulings. Speaking yesterday, September 16, Natthaphong expanded on comments he made in a recent interview with Time magazine, where he addressed the controversial law. The magazine quoted him: “Article 112 still causes problems in Thailand, and if we get power,…
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Vietjet to get first Boeing 737 MAX as tariff talks heat up
VietJet Air will receive its first Boeing 737 Max as Vietnam seeks to strengthen trade ties with the US while negotiations over tariffs continue. The handover marks a significant shift for VietJet, which currently operates an all-Airbus fleet, and comes as Vietnam continues delicate trade discussions with the United States over tariffs. A ceremony is scheduled on Sunday, September 21,…
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Foreign biker crashes head-on into Phuket showroom steps
A foreign motorcyclist in Phuket was caught on CCTV riding against traffic before crashing into a showroom, leaving him with minor injuries and viral fame. The incident occurred at around 5.15pm on Monday, September 15, on the northbound lanes of Thepkasattri Road in Koh Kaew. The rider, travelling against oncoming traffic, appeared to swerve to avoid a collision with another…
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‘White Lotus’ stars wow Emmys with glowing praise for Thailand (video)
Stars of The White Lotus praised Thailand at the Emmy Awards, sharing their love for its beauty and cuisine after filming the show’s third season there. Thailand took centre stage at the 77th Emmy Awards when The White Lotus Season 3 stars Walton Goggins and Parker Posey shared heartfelt praise for the country, drawing applause from the Hollywood audience. The…
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Thailand video news Tourism Downslide: Sky-High Costs Drive Fewer Visitors to Thailand, “Primate Panic in Lopburi: Hundreds of Monkeys Break Free and Run Wild”
Thailand faces a week of contrasting headlines — from pushback against a BBC documentary and a dip in tourist arrivals to renewed political maneuvering by Abhisit Vejjajiva and Thaksin’s prison transfer. At the same time, the country makes strides in science with its first ISS experiment, grapples with chaos in Lopburi’s streets as monkeys run wild, and braces for…
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Trang Airport opens new terminal after 4-year delay
Trang Airport has opened a new domestic terminal after years of construction delays, boosting capacity and marking a major step in regional air travel. The 1.07-billion-baht project finally saw a soft opening on September 5, when the terminal welcomed its first travellers. The launch followed extensive testing, including a simulation with 50 trial passengers to assess service procedures and identify…
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Japanese teens caught smuggling cannabis from Thailand to Japan
Two Japanese teenagers were arrested at Fukuoka Airport after flying in from Thailand with 14 kilogrammes of cannabis extract disguised inside instant curry packets. The 17 year old high school student from Kishiwada City in Osaka Prefecture, along with his 16 year old friend, was stopped by police after officers discovered 14kg of liquid containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in their luggage.…
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Baby girl killed after family pit bull turns violent in Uthai Thani
A baby girl was killed in Uthai Thani in northern Thailand when a family’s pit bull mauled her in a tragic accident, prompting police to investigate the attack. The accident left the baby’s family devastated when their two month old daughter was fatally mauled by a pet pit bull that reportedly mistook her for a toy. Police in Nong Chang…
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Monsoon mayhem: TMD warns of floods and dangerous seas
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of thunderstorms, flash floods and rough seas as the monsoon brings heavy rain across several regions. The monsoon trough lies across the lower Central, upper South and the East into an active low-pressure cell over the South China Sea, while a moderate southwesterly wind prevails over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf…
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Phuket airport skips memorial for deadly One-Two-Go crash
Eighteen years after the One-Two-Go crash killed 90 people in Phuket, no memorial was held again, as Phuket International Airport instead staged dance shows. The crash of One-Two-Go flight OG269 on September 16, 2007, claimed 90 lives, yet Airports of Thailand (AoT) and its staff at Phuket airport have never held a memorial. No service was held in the days…
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Pattaya gamer flees with bag in brazen all-night shop theft
Police in Pattaya are searching for a thief who spent 10 hours in a gaming shop before fleeing with a bag packed with valuables, all caught on CCTV. A gaming shop in Soi Kor Phai, Pattaya, has released CCTV footage of a theft that took place in the early hours of Sunday, September 14, calling on the public to help…
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Abhisit tipped to retake reins of struggling Democrat Party
Abhisit Vejjajiva will return as leader of the Democrat Party after the resignation of Chalermchai Sri-on, prompting a new leadership transition. Former Prime Minister Abhisit will return as leader of the Democrat Party, according to confirmation from Sathit Wongnongtoei, a former party MP for Trang. The announcement follows the resignation of Chalermchai, who left the leadership citing health issues that…
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Thailand to test seaplane routes to boost island tourism
Thailand is launching a pilot project with seaplane routes in Trang, aiming to boost tourism by linking remote islands with major travel destinations. Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) has confirmed plans for a pilot seaplane tourism project that could revolutionise the country’s travel industry. The initiative, developed in partnership with private operators Siam Seaplane and Thai Seaplane, will begin test…
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