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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Tourist thrown into palm tree in Pattaya bike crash
A high-speed motorbike crash in Pattaya left a foreign tourist critically injured after being flung into a palm tree during a shocking late-night collision. The incident occurred at around 10pm on Tuesday, August 5, on Jomtien Second Road, prompting an emergency response from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit. At the scene, emergency personnel discovered a red-black Yamaha Finn overturned…
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Thailand splashes billions on freight train mega-upgrade
Thailand’s freight trains are about to get a serious upgrade—to the tune of 2.46 billion baht. The Cabinet has approved a massive procurement plan for 946 brand-new container flatcars for the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), aimed at modernising the country’s outdated rail freight infrastructure and keeping pace with booming logistics demands. SRT Governor Veeris Ammarapala confirmed the project will…
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Loan shark conflict suspected after man found dead in Phatthalung plantation
A Thai man died in a fatal shooting in a palm plantation in the southern province of Phatthalung, with police suspecting a conflict within a loan shark gang as the motive for the murder. A letter addressed to his mother, discovered in his bag, is believed to provide a crucial clue. The body was discovered at around 4pm yesterday, August…
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Thailand video news | Thailand tables bold 8-point peace plan in high-stakes Cambodia talks, Thailand ranked #1 worldwide for marital cheating
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover news stories from across Thailand. The stories include Thailand tables a bold 8-point peace plan in high-stakes border talks with Cambodia, while a controversial war prediction lands a fortune teller in legal trouble. The government approves a $602 million deal for new Gripen fighter jets, and a man narrowly escapes an ambush…
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Police bust major drug gang seizing 336 kg of narcotics
Police apprehended a major drug trafficking gang, seizing 314 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and 22 kilogrammes of ketamine, intended for distribution in Bangkok. The network is linked to a previously arrested gang from Wang Thonglang in May. At 1pm yesterday, August 6, at the Metropolitan Police Bureau Division 8, several high-ranking officers, including Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and Police…
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Thai woman’s ‘fat belly’ was 8kg cyst shock
What looked like a bulging belly from too much food turned out to be an 8-kilogramme tumour—and the woman had no idea. A 31 year old Thai woman named Ratchanaporn from Satun province lived for years with a massive ovarian cyst growing inside her abdomen, completely unaware of its presence. Her family assumed she was overweight due to her eating…
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Thai tyre factory closed for illegal hazardous waste transport
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand has ordered the closure of Prince Chengshan Tire (Thailand) Co., Ltd. due to repeated violations involving the illegal transport of hazardous waste from its factory without permission. This action follows previous incidents, including the seizure of tyres lacking Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) and tampered production dates. On July 31, the Industrial Estate Authority shut…
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Illegal cigarette trade in Songkhla cripples local businesses
The Thai Tobacco Trade Association has raised alarms over the rampant distribution of illicit cigarettes in Songkhla province, which has impacted over 4,000 legal tobacco retailers and forced the closure of about 200 small shops. Thanyasaran Sangthong, the association’s executive director, revealed that Songkhla ranks second in the country for illegal cigarette infiltration, severely affecting local tax revenue. The president…
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Mystery surrounds death of woman in Samut Prakan apartment
In Samut Prakan, neighbours were shocked to discover the body of a 59 year old woman in her apartment after she failed to send her usual morning greetings for two consecutive days. Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage and awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death. Today, August 7, Police Lieutenant Colonel Phatthakorn Chainoi of Bang Phli Police…
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Thai worker loses life in explosion at oil tank factory in Kanchanaburi
A male worker lost his life in an explosion at a factory in Kanchanaburi province. Two other workers were injured in the incident. A rescuer from the Khun Rattanawut Foundation, Persia Jongtawon, shared a video of the incident on his Facebook page yesterday, August 6. The explosion occurred at the Taspow oil tank production factory. In the caption, he wrote,…
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Coffee vendor caught after 10km highway chase in Thailand
A coffee vendor was apprehended after a 10 kilometre pursuit on a highway for allegedly shooting a loan shark to death. The incident occurred yesterday, August 6, when the suspect reportedly became enraged over insults to his parents. The Central Investigation Bureau, led by Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Phuridech, and the Highway Police Division, under the direction of Police Major…
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Scottish expat loses legs in Bangkok lorry crash
A British man living in Thailand had both legs amputated after a horror motorbike crash with a lorry in Bangkok. Willie Braid, a 54 year old expat from Scotland, was hit while riding his motorbike in the capital on July 27. The driver of the lorry is alleged to have fled the scene in what appears to be a hit-and-run…
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Thai-British woman escapes attempted rape by condo manager
A Thai-British woman narrowly escaped an attempted rape by a condominium manager in Pathum Thani province. The suspect reportedly entered her room, immediately undressed, and took a shower before trying to trick the victim into having sexual intercourse. The 21 year old victim and her 29 year old boyfriend filed a complaint with Chulalongkorn Pratunam Police Station after the incident,…
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Cambodian national investigated in Buriram for data links
Police in Buriram are investigating data from three mobile phones belonging to 36 year old Vin Da, a Cambodian national, who was arrested for allegedly sending information to Cambodia. Police discovered a firearm, Cambodian military uniforms with a captain rank, and insignia of BHQ, Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit. Vin admitted to being part of the BHQ unit but claimed to…
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Wild elephants roam 40km for Thai produce, sparking concerns
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has reported that wild elephants are straying beyond their forest habitats in eastern Thailand, travelling over 30 kilometres in search of food. Atthapol Charoenchansa, the department’s director-general, stated that elephants are attracted to the taste of local produce such as durians, mangosteens, bananas, and sugarcane, which are more appealing than their…
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Suphan Buri police seize 2.4 million meth tablets, arrest teens
Police in Suphan Buri seized over 2.4 million methamphetamine tablets and detained two 17 year olds involved in transporting the drugs from northern Thailand. Police Colonel Thaththep Lertlakmiphan, superintendent of Dan Chang Police Station, led the operation to apprehend a major drug trafficking gang from the north. The operation took place on Highway 333 in Village No. 3, Wang Khan…
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Pickup and sedan plunge into pond after collision near Thammasat
A collision between a pickup truck and a sedan took place near Thammasat University, Rangsit Centre, resulting in both vehicles plunging into a pond. The incident occurred on Phahonyothin Road today, August 7. Police Lieutenant Supachai Chamchoi from Khlong Luang Police Station received the report and attended the scene alongside traffic officers and emergency services. At the location, a Nissan…
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Thailand braces for severe thunderstorms and strong winds
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for thunderstorms across Thailand, with the north and south regions expected to face the heaviest downpours. Residents are advised to be cautious of strong winds and heavy rain, particularly in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, where waves could reach up to 2 metres. In the next 24 hours,…
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Foreign man arrested for running illegal motorcycle rental in Phuket
Police arrested a foreign man in Phuket for allegedly operating an illegal motorcycle rental service catering to foreign tourists. However, the suspect denied the accusation and attempted to shift the blame to a friend. Officers from Tourist Police Sub-division 3 launched a crackdown on illegal vehicle rental businesses operated by foreigners and identified one suspect in Kathu district, Phuket. The…
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Trump teases new tariffs on drugs and chips
US President Donald Trump indicated yesterday that new tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals and semiconductors might be announced as early as next week as part of his ongoing efforts to reshape global trade. These comments were made during an interview with CNBC, occurring just days before another set of tariff increases is set to impact several economies later this week. The…
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Pattaya launches sticker crackdown on Koh Larn vehicles
Koh Larn’s wild west of unregulated rental bikes, mystery fares, and traffic chaos is about to get a serious reality check. Pattaya officials have launched a sweeping new initiative to bring order to the island’s unruly public transport and rental vehicle scene — and it starts with colourful stickers. Over 3,500 vehicles will now be categorised, monitored, and regulated under…
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Thai spiritual medium denies embezzling donations for AIDS patients
A Thai spiritual medium denied allegations that he embezzled donations from a fundraising campaign for Wat Phrabat Nampu, a temple that cares for underprivileged AIDS patients. It was alleged that he used the funds to build a luxury home worth approximately 50 million baht. Online rumours have circulated around the well-known medium, Sakesan “Bee” Subsuebsakun, better known as Bee the Ghost…
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Bangkok breaks into world’s top 5 summer hotspots
Despite border tensions and global economic uncertainty, Bangkok is stealing the travel spotlight once again — officially named one of the world’s top five most searched and booked destinations for summer this year. Booking.com’s latest global survey has revealed that the Thai capital remains a firm favourite among international travellers this year, ranking alongside exotic hotspots like Hurghada and Sharm…
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Thai thief fails necklace snatching but gets 100 baht from kind victim
A Thai man, who failed in an attempt to snatch a gold necklace from a woman, has issued an apology at the scene, prompting the victim to give him 100 baht to buy food. The Facebook page Jmoi V+ shared a video of the attempted theft on August 4, with a caption that read… “Amateur thief. The victim is kind…
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Thai fortune teller faces legal action over border clash prediction
Two Thai lawyers filed a complaint against a well-known fortune teller, accusing her of spreading panic after she predicted an upcoming clash at the Thailand-Cambodia border. The fortune teller, Worracha “Plai” Pinitrokakorn, better known as Plai Prai Krasip, gave an interview to the media on August 2, during which she commented on Thai politics. Plai initially spoke about the new…
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Man survives ambush and canal crash after late-night trap
A 27 year old man was lured into a late-night meeting by a woman known as Tawan, only to be ambushed and shot at, resulting in a harrowing 20-kilometre escape that ended with his car crashing into a 2-metre deep canal. The police are urgently pursuing the suspects. At 2am today, August 6, Police Lieutenant Sawak Srikaew, deputy inspector of…
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Thailand pushes 8-point peace plan in border talks
Thailand has slapped eight proposals on the table in a bid to lock in a fragile ceasefire with Cambodia—and all eyes are now on Phnom Penh. The Thai delegation, led by Acting Defence Minister and Deputy Defence Minister General Nattaphon Narkphanit, submitted the peace plan on day two of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) preliminary talks in Kuala Lumpur,…
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Police dismantle illegal gambling ring, seize assets worth 56 million baht
Police dismantled an illegal gambling operation linked to Auto888vip.com, seizing assets worth 56 million baht, including luxury vehicles valued at 10 million baht and a collection of high-end jewellery and watches. The operation reportedly generated around 20 million baht monthly from online gambling activities. Today, August 6, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiwphun, head of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, directed…
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Thai police raid drone company over permit violations
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the Crime Suppression Division conducted a raid on a renowned drone manufacturing company in Samut Prakan yesterday, August 5. A significant amount of equipment was seized, and the company caretaker was questioned, as the owner is currently overseas. Tairat Wiriyasirikul, the acting secretary-general of the NBTC, revealed the operation involved collaboration between…
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American tourist floors British man for slapping Pattaya bar girl
A British man suffered a broken wrist after being thrown to the ground by an American man, allegedly in response to the Brit slapping a bar girl in Pattaya out of jealousy. Rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation were called to Soi 11 on Pattaya Second Road to assist a British man, later identified as 66 year old…
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