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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Bangkok scoops design awards for manhole cover and website
Bangkok’s commitment to innovation and sustainability has been recognised with two prestigious Design Excellence Awards (DEmark 2025), awarded by the Value Added Promotion for Trade Office of the Department of International Promotion. The awards were announced by Ekwaranyu Amrapal, spokesperson for the city, who proudly revealed that Yaowarat Road’s Identity Manhole Cover and the Greener Bangkok website were both recipients of the esteemed honours.…
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Unrest in Pattani as assailants target officials during rescue
Unidentified assailants caused unrest in two districts of Pattani province, aiming to harm officials during rescue operations. The incidents yesterday, June 25, at 9.30pm, took place in Sai Buri and Kapho districts, leading to multiple road closures. In Sai Buri district, arsonists set fire to a vehicle belonging to the Paen Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, resulting in significant damage. Emergency services…
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Woman caught running million-baht online sex service in Ayutthaya
A woman has been arrested in Ayutthaya for operating a lucrative online sex video subscription service, making millions of baht over the past three years. The arrest took place in Samruan subdistrict, Bang Pa-in district, following an in-depth investigation by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB). The investigation began after police discovered explicit content being marketed and sold on social media…
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Khon Kaen cannabis shop raided over young patrons
Police, including the Khon Kaen Provincial Public Health Office, Region 4 Narcotics Control Board, and Mueang Khon Kaen Police, conducted a raid on Thun Kan, a cannabis shop in Khon Kaen province. The raid, yesterday, June 25, uncovered concerning activities involving underage people. Upon entering the shop, officials found a pervasive smell of cannabis. Two groups of young patrons were…
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Thai woman kills teen boy over mistaken identity
A 69 year old woman killed a 14 year old boy after mistakenly believing he had assaulted her grandson. Yesterday, June 25, Police Lieutenant Colonel Manop Marotarakul reported the incident after Police Lieutenant Phatrawit Kittisirivuwan, deputy inspector of Khiri Ratthanikhom Police Station, received a report of a stabbing outside a house in Village 11, Tha Khanon subdistrict, Khiri Ratthanikhom district…
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Detour de force: Drivers dodge Rama II death trap to reach Hua Hin
A weekend getaway to Hua Hin should be a breeze but, thanks to the notorious Rama II Road, it’s more of a gamble than a getaway. The highway, which links Bangkok to southern destinations, has earned itself a grim reputation as one of Thailand’s deadliest routes. Endless construction, heavy traffic, and a staggering accident rate have made it a route…
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Pattaya deputy mayor leads cleanup of sunken docking buoys
In a move aimed at restoring order to Pattaya’s troubled boating sector, the deputy mayor has led a team to collect sunken buoys from a failed docking project, a cleanup effort long overdue since tropical storm Vamco wreaked havoc on the area 10 years ago. Yesterday, June 25, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya City Manoch Nongyai and officials from the Pattaya…
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Tourist arrested for selling Korean fried chicken in Chiang Mai
A South Korean tourist is facing serious legal trouble in Chiang Mai after being arrested for selling Korean fried chicken without proper work authorisation. The man, who had been operating a food truck outside a local shopping centre, was caught in the act by tourist police following a tip-off. The arrest comes after police had been monitoring the food truck’s…
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Grab Thailand rolls out 0% fees, AI tools to save restaurants
As Thailand’s economy stumbles and food businesses tighten their belts, Grab Thailand is stepping in with a bold new lifeline. The food delivery giant has launched a series of targeted initiatives aimed at helping small restaurant operators and solo entrepreneurs survive the current financial crunch, complete with zero commission deals, AI tools and micro-loans. Chantsuda Thananitayaudom, country head of Grab…
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Thai official accused of attempted abduction in Pathum Thani
A woman from the provincial administrative organisation in northern Thailand yesterday reported a distrurbing incident to Ko Kret police in Pathum Thani. The 38 year old, identified as A (a pseudonym), accused a male colleague of attempting to lure her into a motel against her will. The incident reportedly took place on Thursday, June 19 at 11.30pm, following a party at…
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Thai officials dismantle wildlife trafficking network at Jam Pong
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, in collaboration with several agencies, dismantled a wildlife carcass trafficking network at Jam Pong checkpoint, arresting two Laotians with over 100 kilogrammes of rare wildlife carcasses intended for sale. Investigations are ongoing to expand the case and proceed with legal action. Yesterday, June 25, the operation was led by Chaincharn Sriyong,…
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Thailand Video News | suspected time bomb found in car en route to Phuket, two arrested,Thailand’s cannabis clampdown: new rules threaten to derail green boom
Thailand tightens its cannabis laws, disrupts illegal drug networks, and confronts youth stimulant abuse, while regional partners like Vietnam and Malaysia tackle major policy changes and narcotics seizures. Meanwhile, the Philippines celebrates surging millionaire growth, Thailand’s border policies reroute visa runners, and a kitten’s remarkable survival story captures hearts. Thailand’s Cannabis Clampdown: New Rules Threaten to Derail Green Boom Thailand…
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Bangkok protest shuts hospital clinics, triggers traffic meltdown
Bangkok is bracing for chaos this Saturday as a major political protest near Victory Monument forces a leading hospital to shut its doors and the police to warn of severe traffic disruption across the Ratchathewi district. Ramathibodi Hospital announced the suspension of services at its special and premium clinics on Saturday, June 28, from 3pm onwards, citing safety concerns over…
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Cambodian vendors leave Chong Chom market amid border tensions
Cambodian vendors at Chong Chom border market in Dan subdistrict, Kap Choeng district, Surin province, are closing their shops and heading back to Cambodia. This follows a request for cooperation from officials to return home until the border situation normalises. Many vendors are organising significant sales, offering discounts of 40 to 50% on items like shoes, mattresses, and underwear, to…
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Swinging street: Catfight erupts near Pattaya Walking Street (video)
Pattaya’s party scene took a wild turn yesterday when a vicious catfight between two Thai women, captured in a now-viral 79-second clip, exploded just steps from the city’s infamous Walking Street, all while bars blared music like it was still midnight. The bust-up broke out behind the Marine Hotel in South Pattaya as a rowdy crowd of Thai and foreign…
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Thai PM faces court showdown over leaked call to Hun Sen
Thailand’s political temperature is set to soar next week as the Constitutional Court gears up to decide whether to suspend Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over a controversial leaked audio clip involving former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Former Constitutional Court judge Jaral Phakdeethanakul has come out swinging, predicting the court will accept a petition against the Thai premier on July 1…
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People’s Party wavers on Bhumjaithai’s shock no-confidence move
The People’s Party (PP) seems hesitant to join the Bhumjaithai Party’s initiative to call for a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra once Parliament reconvenes on July 3. Parit Wacharasindhu, a PP list MP and party spokesperson, indicated that Bhumjaithai needs to consult with other parties to justify the necessity of a no-confidence motion. Observers suggest that without broader…
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Legless British tourist sprawls sparks mile-long jam in Pattaya
A legless British tourist brought central Pattaya to a standstill after collapsing in the middle of a busy road and refusing to move, triggering a tailback nearly a kilometre long. The bizarre booze-fuelled blockade unfolded at 5pm on June 23, when stunned drivers reported a foreign man lying across the entrance to Soi 11, just off Pattaya Central Road. Senior…
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73 year old woman falls to death from Bangkok condominium
A 73 year old woman tragically fell to her death from the 21st floor of a condominium in the Charansanitwong area, Bangkok. According to rescue workers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, the woman fell from the 17th floor, with her body landing in two parts: one half on the fifth floor, near a fitness room, and the other at ground level.…
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Bolt from the blue: Knifeman clash sparks soi showdown in Pattaya
A row over a blocked driveway nearly turned bloody in central Pattaya after a Bolt motorbike taxi driver allegedly pulled a knife during a furious bust-up with a resident. The drama unfolded around 5.42pm on June 22 in Soi Taengmo, just off the bustling Buakhao strip, when 44 year old Thanisorn Polsongkram, known to locals as James, tried to move…
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Bangkok cops arrest major drug dealer, seizing drugs worth millions
Police in Bangkok apprehended 45 year old man, believed to be a major drug distributor in the Thonburi area. During the operation, police seized 600,000 methamphetamine pills, 4 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, and 56 kilogrammes of ketamine. The arrest of the man, Vasupol, also known as Boy, took place yesterday, June 25, at around 5pm. Under the direction of Police…
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Burning questions: Inferno brews above famed Pattaya beer bar
Staff, holidaymakers and residents fled in panic after an inferno tore through a room above a popular Pattaya beer bar, sending flames and thick smoke pouring into the street. The fire broke out at 5.06pm, yesterday, June 25, in a four-storey building housing The Chalawan Beer Bar on the ground floor, with residential rooms above. It sparked a full-scale emergency…
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Thailand urged to act on gender law after marriage bill
Advocates are calling on the government to speed up the enactment of a gender recognition law following Thailand’s historic legalisation of same-sex marriage. People’s Party MP Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Children, Youth, Women, Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Ethnic Groups and LGBTI+, stated, “Gender recognition is our next mission.” Tunyawaj addressed this during the Law Out…
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Heavy thunderstorms to hit 50 Thai provinces, warnings issued
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today forecasted increased thunderstorms, predicting heavy rainfall in 70% of the three regions. Fifty provinces are expected to face severe weather, prompting warnings about flash floods, forest runoff, and landslides. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that northern Thailand will experience more widespread thunderstorms and isolated heavy rain, particularly in the eastern…
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Market row turns ugly as perfume punks brawl in Pattaya
A brawl broke out in a Pattaya night market after a petty squabble over loud music escalated into a punch-up, with one stallholder ending up in hospital. Emergency crews raced to the Threpprasit Soi Market just before midnight yesterday, June 25, after reports of a violent bust-up between rival vendors. They arrived to find a bloodied clothing seller nursing bruises…
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2 rescued from ravine after motorbike crash near Patong
A dramatic rescue unfolded early this morning as two people were safely retrieved from a deep ravine after their motorbike crashed along the road to Tri Trang Beach, south of Patong. The Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation received an emergency call at 3.05am today, June 25, alerting them to the accident in which a motorbike had plunged into the ravine, leaving the…
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Chiang Rai café caught serving kratom tea to schoolkids
A café in Chiang Rai has been raided by local officials for illegally selling kratom leaf tea to teenage students. The operation, led by Chiang Rai Governor Charin Thongsuk, uncovered a disturbing trend of youths consuming the stimulant-laced tea during school hours and late into the night. Officers found 19 students, some still in school uniform, at the café on…
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Black kitten survives 240km ride under car and finds forever home in Udon Thani
A black stray kitten survived after clinging to the drive shaft under a car for 240 kilometres and eventually found a forever home in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The 58 year old railway officer, Wipachet Soikliao, called rescuers from the Songserm Dham Udon Thani Foundation to help him and his colleagues search for a cat in their welfare…
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Swedish fraudster arrested in Pattaya in transnational crime bust
A major fraud case has led to the arrest of a Swedish national in Pattaya as immigration police continue their crackdown on transnational crime. The 39 year old suspect, identified as Ludde, was apprehended in a condominium in the bustling tourist district, following a red notice warrant issued by European authorities. The suspect, wanted by Stockholm courts and European law…
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Thailand’s cannabis crackdown: New rules could kill the green rush
Thailand promised to introduce tough new rules to regulate the sale and use of cannabis products in the country. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin signed a new regulation yesterday, June 24, which aims to crack down on widespread cannabis sales, restricting usage and access even further. Under the new rules, all cannabis purchases will now require a medical prescription. Consumers…
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