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 Top 10 reasons for expats to get a comprehensive health insurance in Thailand
Moving to Thailand offers a prospect full of excitement and adventure, but in the same vein, if any injuries were to occur (and god forbid it does), the local healthcare system can be confusing at first glance for many expats...
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Brazilian duo caught with 6.63kg cocaine at Koh Samui airport
Customs officers and local police on Koh Samui apprehended a Brazilian man and woman after discovering 6.63 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in their luggage at the island’s international airport. The suspects, identified as 35 year old Diego dos Santos Silva and 25 year old Fernanda Gabriele Lorenco de Andrade, were detained late yesterday morning upon their arrival at Samui International…
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Chon Buri bail agent found dead on his birthday in Nong Prue
A 53 year old bail agent, Montree, was found deceased under a tree in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, on his birthday, July 19. Police Lieutenant Sanya Jaichan of Nong Prue Police Station reported the incident at 9.45pm on July 19. The scene was a dark, secluded alley where Montree was found hanging, wearing an orange T-shirt, jeans,…
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Chiang Mai tragedy: man kills wife, then himself in dispute
A tragic incident occurred on July 19 in Mueang Chaem district, Chiang Mai province, when a 43 year old man, Phak, fatally shot his 36 year old third wife before taking his own life. The incident left his two other wives in shock as they attempted to save the couple, but was too late. Police Lieutenant Colonel Samruang Monthanom, from the…
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Elephant rescued from reservoir in Chumphon’s Phato district
On July 19, a male elephant named Duang Hu Dang was rescued from a water reservoir in a local garden in Phato district, Chumphon province. The elephant, known for its distinctive ear markings, was assisted by local administrative officers and wildlife sanctuary officials before returning safely to the forest. The incident came to light when Phato district chief was informed…
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Fire engulfs Buriram rubber factory, smoke spans 10 kilometres
A fire engulfed a rubber manufacturing factory in Buriram, with thick black smoke drifting over 10 kilometres. Over 20 fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, yet the blaze persisted for more than five hours. As of the morning of today, July 20, the fire at the North East Rubber Public Company Limited, located in Mueang subdistrict, Prakhon Chai district,…
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Thailand accuses Cambodia of planting landmines on border territory
Thailand is implementing countermeasures against Cambodia following an investigation revealing newly planted landmines in the Chok Bok border area of Ubon Ratchathani. This was confirmed by army commander General Pana Klaewplodthuk yesterday, July 19. The incident occurred on July 16 when a mine exploded, injuring three soldiers during a routine patrol. The Second Army Region, led by Lieutenant General Boonsin…
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Toyota Camry fire on Sirat Expressway swiftly extinguished in Bangkok
Firefighters swiftly responded to a car fire on Sirat Expressway in Bangkok yesterday afternoon when a grey Toyota Camry caught fire. The incident, believed to be caused by an engine malfunction, resulted in no injuries or fatalities. The fire erupted at 5.06pm near the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning in the Phaya Thai district. The 199…
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Raids uncover 7.2 million baht in unsafe electrical goods across Thailand
The premises of three companies involved in selling substandard electrical products online were raided, resulting in the seizure of goods valued at over 7 million baht. Thitiphat Chotidechachainan, the leader of a Ministry of Industry working group, oversaw the inspections after reports indicated the storage of goods lacking certification from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI). The first location inspected…
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Heavy rain warning for 41 Thai provinces, flash floods possible
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for heavy rainfall across 41 provinces, including Bangkok, where 70% of the area is expected to experience significant downpours. Residents are urged to be cautious of potential flash floods, with the influence of tropical storm Wipha noted. Rain is forecasted for Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, and Phang Nga provinces, with some areas…
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Pattaya mob sparks bill-dodging chaos at Indian restaurant
In Pattaya, an altercation at an Indian restaurant has led to significant property damage and financial losses, with patrons fleeing without paying bills amounting to over 5,000 baht. The incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday, July 15, at Green Chilly Indian Restaurant, situated near Soi 16 in South Pattaya. The restaurant’s owner, 34 year old Tiyaporn Saengchan,…
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Phuket’s new ‘OneMap’ takes the stress out of island travel
Phuket’s tangled public transport network just got a digital makeover. In a bold step toward smart mobility, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pushing Phuket OneMap — a sleek new web platform that shows live public bus routes, estimated arrival times and stop info in one place. No app downloads needed. Just load it on any phone browser and…
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Baby in backpack: Samut Prakan mum busted for abandonment
A newborn baby girl found abandoned in a roadside backpack has sparked outrage — and heartbreak — after police tracked down the mother, who now faces criminal charges. The shocking discovery was made yesterday, July 18, when a passerby found the infant stuffed inside a black backpack left on a footpath along Suhrawardy Bang Kasee Road in Samut Prakan. The…
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Thailand to send back stolen orangutans to Indonesia
Thailand is preparing to send four rescued orangutans back to Indonesia by the end of the year, marking a symbolic step in the fight against wildlife trafficking — and celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) confirmed that the orangutans were seized in two separate illegal wildlife…
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Pattaya woman scammed while trying to save sick aunt
A Pattaya housekeeper desperate to save her sick aunt was cruelly scammed out of nearly 5,000 baht in an online loan fraud — leaving her devastated and broke. The incident unfolded at 10pm yesterday, July 18, when 26 year old Ratchaneekorn Pholjamrat walked into Pattaya City Police Station, clutching receipts and screenshots, to file a formal complaint against the online…
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Mahagitsiri family loses court battle in Nescafé joint venture
The Mahagitsiri family has faced a setback in its legal dispute with Nestlé, as a court has ruled that the original voting rules in their Nescafé joint venture in Thailand must be reinstated. Thailand’s Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court has annulled a temporary injunction previously sought by the family, thereby reinstating the original voting regulations at Quality Coffee…
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Chinese fugitive and Korean drug suspect busted in Pattaya
In Pattaya, Chon Buri province, immigration police have apprehended two foreign men in distinct criminal cases. The Immigration Bureau revealed these arrests, including a Chinese fugitive and a South Korean drug suspect, during a recent press briefing. The first case involved Chon Buri Immigration Office officers raiding a residence in Huai Yai subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, where they detained 39…
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American tourist falls to death after lovers’ row at Chiang Mai condo
A dream holiday turned into a nightmare in Chiang Mai after a 35 year old American man plunged to his death from the 10th floor of a luxury condominium. The tragic incident unfolded at 9.50pm on Friday, July 18, in the Chang Klan area, shocking the local expat and tourist communities. The victim, Justin Todd Henry, had travelled to Thailand…
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Bangkok lift horror: Woman killed in goods elevator accident
A Bangkok worker was crushed to death in a horrific elevator accident yesterday after a goods lift malfunctioned at a commercial building in the capital’s Pom Prap Sattru Phai district. The victim, a 46 year old woman known only as Koi, worked at a forklift parts shop on Ban Batr Road. She was killed instantly when her head became trapped…
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Maya Bay closes for conservation from August
Thailand’s famed Maya Bay is off-limits once again, as officials shut it down for two months to let nature breathe after another hectic High Season. The popular tourist magnet, made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach, will be closed along with neighbouring Loh Sama Bay from August 1 to September 30. The temporary closure, announced by the Department…
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Big Buddha deadlock: Locals demand justice, abbot stalls
Phuket’s iconic Big Buddha Viewpoint remains closed nearly a year after a deadly landslide claimed 13 lives, as tensions mount between locals, temple authorities, and government officials over who should take responsibility — and whether the site should reopen at all. The sole legal owner of the land, the Royal Forest Department’s Phuket branch (RFD Phuket), has issued a list…
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Thailand braces for another week of heavy rain and strong winds
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall across Thailand, with strong winds expected in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand from today to next Thursday. Many regions, including northern, northeastern, central, eastern, and western southern Thailand, are expected to experience significant rainfall due to a monsoon trough and a strong…
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Newborn baby abandoned in backpack on Samut Prakan bridge
Police are searching for a mother who abandoned her newborn baby by placing her inside a backpack and leaving her on a roadside in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. The Samut Prakan Rescue Foundation was alerted to the discovery at around 2pm yesterday, July 17. The baby was found in a black backpack left on a bridge along Surao Bang…
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Zika fear grips Thailand amid rainy season spike
Thailand is on red alert as the Zika virus spreads rapidly through the rainy season, with pregnant women warned they could face devastating consequences if infected. Health officials have sounded the alarm after a spike in cases was reported across three provinces – Bangkok, Phayao, and Maha Sarakham – urging residents to take immediate precautions. The Department of Disease Control…
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Pattaya motorbike taxi driver found dead in apartment
Pattaya was rocked by a tragic late-night discovery when a local motorcycle taxi driver was found dead in his apartment, shocking his community and leaving his wife devastated. The grim scene unfolded at 1.06am today, July 18, when the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit received a call about a body found in a room at an unnamed apartment block on…
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Hackers breach Thai Labour Ministry website, data safe
Cyber crooks launched a bold attack on Thailand’s Ministry of Labour website yesterday, replacing the homepage with a brazen “hacked” message — but officials say no sensitive data was compromised. The ministry confirmed that its systems were breached but insisted the core database remained untouched. Permanent Secretary Boonsong Thapchaiyuth assured the public that the digital assault, while serious, caused no…
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Pattaya mob attack: Bolt driver beaten by gang of 30
Pattaya’s nightlife turned violent in the early hours of today when a Bolt driver was viciously attacked by a mob of more than 30 people, leaving tourists and bar staff in shock. The savage assault unfolded at 3.36am today, July 18, along Pattaya Second Road near Soi 10, where police responded to frantic calls about a mass brawl. Officers arrived…
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Paetongtarn visits rangers hurt in Ubon border blast
What began as a routine patrol near the Thai-Cambodian border ended in a bloody blast, leaving one soldier without a leg and two others wounded. Now, Thailand’s Prime Minister and Culture Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is stepping in to deliver more than just sympathy—she’s promising action. Today, July 18, Paetongtarn travelled to Sapphasitprasong Camp Hospital in- Ubon Ratchathani province to visit…
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Aussie tourist found dead in Patong hotel bathroom
A 69 year old Aussie tourist was found dead in his Phuket hotel bathroom yesterday morning, just days after arriving for a six-week tropical getaway. Hotel staff at the property off Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road in Patong made the grim discovery around 10.30am yesterday, Thursday, July 18, after a concerned Thai woman reported she hadn’t heard from the man in…
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Bangkok woman choked by foreigner in 7-Eleven fights for justice (video)
A late-night milk run turned into a nightmare for one Bangkok woman, choked by a stranger in a 7-Eleven, dismissed by police, and left fearing for her safety. But she’s not staying silent. In a harrowing incident that has sparked outrage online, a woman recounted how a quick trip to the 7-Eleven at Fortune Condo Narathiwas ended in a physical…
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Copper conned! Aussie cop fleeced in Thai cryptocurrency scam
A retired Aussie police officer hoping to enjoy a quiet life in Thailand has instead been left nearly penniless, after being duped out of more than 40 million baht in a slick cryptocurrency scam run by a German expat in Phuket. Michael “Tom” Reinecke, thought he was investing in a high-return digital currency venture but now says he’s the latest…
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