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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Buriram bank employee accused of embezzling 700,000 baht from restaurant owner
A 32 year old restaurant owner filed a complaint against a bank employee in Buriram for allegedly embezzling nearly 700,000 baht. The victim, Patchara, claims she was deceived into taking out a loan under the pretence of helping the employee meet commission targets. The incident was reported to lawyer Weerayut Sirirueangprapa in Krasang district, Buriram province. Patchara revealed that the…
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Phuket Covid surge: Island ranks 3rd in Thailand
Phuket’s picture-perfect beaches may be drawing tourists in droves but the island is quietly battling a Covid-19 surge that places it among the top three provinces for infection rates in Thailand this year, though remarkably, not a single death has been reported. According to the Department of Disease Control, from January 1 to May 10, 2025, Phuket recorded 1,287 cumulative…
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Man dies in expressway crash caused by pineapple peel spill
A tragic accident occurred on the Kanchanaphisek Expressway towards Bang Khun Thian, resulting in the death of a 34 year old man. The accident today, May 20, at 3.50am, involved a black Mazda sedan that skidded on pineapple peels and crashed into a ten-wheel truck. Police are investigating the incident. Police Lieutenant Iserat Tansoo from Phra Pradaeng Police Station in…
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Thai principal axed for forcing kids into rain for flag ceremony
A Thai school principal has been removed from her post after she forced students to hoist the national flag during a raging storm, sparking fury among parents and outrage across the country. Jeeraporn Sanguansuchart, director of Ban Hin Kob School in Pathiu district, Chumphon, ordered three students to march outside and raise the Thai flag on the first day of the new term, despite…
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Tragic canal car accident in Samut Sakhon claims one life
Police and locals worked against the clock to rescue people trapped in a car that had overturned and submerged in a canal. Three people were saved, but one later died at the hospital. At 1.30pm yesterday, May 19, Police Sub-Lieutenant Chaiwat Tiammeka, an inquiry officer at Ban Phaeo Police Station in Samut Sakhon province, received a report of a car…
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Phuket thief busted with 18 stolen gadgets including smartphones
A high-tech thief’s lucky streak came to a crashing halt after police caught the light-fingered 26 year old man red-handed with a stash of stolen electronics, including iPads and smartphones, allegedly taken from multiple shops across Phuket’s popular Kata-Karon area. Somwang ‘Jay’ Phonpradit was arrested at around 8pm yesterday, May 19, at a rental room on Mueang Thong–Khao Khad Road…
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Couple faces legal action for embezzling Nakhon Pathom temple
Police are set to take legal action against a couple accused of embezzling funds from Rai Khing Temple in Nakhon Pathom. The investigation revealed that the couple was involved in handling annual fair rental fees, leading to suspicions of financial misconduct. Yesterday, May 19, police, led by Police Lieutenant General Jaroonkiat Pankaew and Police Major General Prasong Chalermpun, along with…
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Top Thai vending brand to blend fresh fruit smoothies
Forth Vending Co Ltd, which operates Tao Bin smart beverage vending machines, intends to procure fresh fruit directly from farmers to enhance its smoothie and juice range. Wittayakorn Maneenetr, Director General of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT), expressed that the department is advancing the government’s fruit management strategy for the 2025 harvest season. To stabilise fruit prices and boost…
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Cops bust Pattaya branch linked to Chinese scam syndicate
Pattaya locals were left stunned yesterday when more than 20 police officers—some in uniform, others in plainclothes—stormed a bank on Sukhumvit Road in a dramatic midday raid. The operation, linked to an investigation into a massive Chinese call centre scam network, sent shockwaves through the city’s financial and expat communities. The surprise raid was spearheaded by Major General Thirachai Chamnan,…
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Honda Jazz gutted in Hua Hin car fire on Phetkasem Road
A car caught fire along Phetkasem Road in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, late at night, leaving a Honda Jazz completely gutted. The incident occurred today, May 20, when the driver, a 41 year old woman from Pran Buri district, noticed smoke and flames while driving home. Fortunately, she managed to escape unharmed. Police and fire services were alerted…
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Phuket shopper horrified by squirming surprise in salted fish
Nothing says “good morning” like finding live worms wriggling in your breakfast. That’s exactly what happened to one unfortunate shopper in Phuket who made a stomach-churning discovery in a serving of fried salted fish bought from a local shop. The shocking incident, which quickly went viral, sparked a wave of online outrage and renewed calls for stricter food safety standards…
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Udon Thani police arrest man with 167,600 methamphetamine pills
Police apprehended a 26 year old man in Udon Thani for possessing 167,600 methamphetamine tablets. The arrest of Tanakorn, also known as Jango, yesterday, August 19, followed a six-month investigation tracking his activities in Ban Phue district, Udon Thani province. Police Colonel Korn Chaisuea, along with officers from the Narcotics Suppression Unit, reported that the arrest resulted from prior detentions…
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Snake protest forces Bangkok condo management to act on hidden pets
A Bangkok condominium resident released two snakes into a hallway in protest after the building’s management allegedly ignored complaints about noisy pets kept by residents who were violating the no-pet policy. Several residents of the condominium, in the Ratchada area of the capital, shared videos and photos of the two large snakes on their social media accounts. They explained that…
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Truck driver falls asleep, crashes into car in Phang Nga
An 18-wheel truck driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel yesterday and collided with a Nissan March, which was stationary at a red light. The incident occurred yesterday, May 19, on Phetkasem Road in Phang Nga province. This accident resulted in one death and three serious injuries. Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekphop Phuthong of Takua Thung Police Station was informed of…
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Thai paratrooper cheats death as parachute fails mid-air (video)
A Thai paratrooper had a brush with death after his parachute failed to open mid-air, in a terrifying training mishap that was caught on camera by a shocked jogger nearby. The heart-stopping incident unfolded at around 4.30pm, yesterday, May 19, when soldiers from the 4th Army’s Sichon Special Warfare Training Camp were performing an annual parachute jump at Vajiravudh Military…
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PM Paetongtarn explores UK, Monaco for Thai market expansion
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will visit the UK and Monaco tomorrow until Sunday, May 25, aiming to explore new market opportunities in food, sports, and tourism. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub announced yesterday that the prime minister, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and other agencies, will leave for London this evening, with…
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Thai man shot after knife rampage at Sakon Nakhon Police Station
A Thai man sustained three gunshot wounds after attempting to attack officers at a police station in the Isaan province of Sakon Nakhon yesterday, May 19. The suspect, identified as Wisit, was rushed from Ban Mueang Police Station to Phra Ajarn Mun Bhuridatto Hospital in Ban Muang District, Sakon Nakhon, following the shooting. No further updates on his condition were…
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Thailand video news | Thailand COVID-19 cases surge amid warnings of underreporting, Miss Grand International arrested in Vietnam
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay report major stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. Thailand battles a spike in COVID-19 cases, with experts warning of underreporting. In Trang, a father shocks the nation by kicking a child at a kindergarten. A violent fight erupts on Pattaya Beach between foreign tourists and transgender individuals. Rescue teams race to…
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Family of three electrocuted in tragic Trang accident
A tragic incident occurred yesterday in Trang province where three family members died from an electric shock. The victims, found at a house in Mueang subdistrict, Huai Yot district, were 50 year old homeowner Preecha, his 52 year old wife Amnuay, and 89 year old Joo. The accident was reported at 2pm, yesterday, May 19. The family home is a…
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Busted: Aussie caught with 22kg of crystal meth at Bangkok airport
An Australian man’s flight to freedom ended in handcuffs after he was caught trying to smuggle a staggering 22 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as “Ice,” aboard a plane bound for Melbourne. The suspect, 28 year old Tran Huybao Khang, was arrested on Sunday, May 18, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport next to Thai Airways flight TG461. He was reportedly…
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Tragic shooting in Pattani claims lives of two volunteers
Two members of a volunteer protection unit died, and two others were injured in a shooting in Pattani province yesterday, May 19, at 5.30pm. The attack targeted five local volunteers running for exercise in Mueang Mai Kaen district’s Don Sai subdistrict. The assailants, dressed in hijabs to disguise themselves as Muslim women, arrived on motorcycles. Upon reaching the village’s main…
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Transwoman nicked after Pattaya Beach brawl with Israeli tourist
A Thai transwoman who fled the scene of a violent late-night brawl with an Israeli tourist has been arrested by Pattaya police. The suspect vanished shortly after chaos erupted on Pattaya Beach Road during the early hours, where at least five transgender women were caught on video attacking an Israeli tourist in a black T-shirt. The row reportedly kicked off…
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Sky high fixes: Bangkok’s traffic nightmare gets new overpasses
Bangkok’s endless traffic jams might soon have a silver lining—up in the sky. The Transport Ministry has announced an ambitious plan to tackle the capital’s notorious congestion by building a series of new overpasses in the city and surrounding provinces. The move comes as part of a wider push to ease pressure on key transport routes during peak hours, particularly…
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Dead tide: Mystery man washed up on Pattaya Beach
A chilling mystery is unfolding in Pattaya after the body of an unidentified man was found washed up on the sand late Sunday morning, just weeks after two similar tragedies struck Phuket. The victim, believed to be aged between 30 and 40, was discovered face down on Pattaya Beach opposite Soi 13, dressed in a black T-shirt with foreign writing…
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Rescue volunteer shocked as foreigner trashes Pattaya booth
A shocked rescue volunteer in Pattaya is pleading for justice after a mystery foreigner allegedly smashed into his emergency booth, causing thousands of baht in damage, including wrecking a defibrillator. Thawin Siangkong, who works unpaid for the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Unit, reported the late-night break-in to Pattaya police in the early hours of today, May 20. Armed with CCTV footage…
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Search continues for Thai worker buried in landslide at MRT site
An operation is ongoing to locate a Thai construction worker who went missing following a landslide at the construction site of the MRT Orange Line on Lan Luang Road in Bangkok. The worker, 33 year old Sarawut “Dao” Chanthason, yesterday, May 19, fell into a 19-metre-deep hole that had been drilled for a foundation pile of the Lan Luang MRT…
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Near miss: Cement chunk smashes woman’s car on Rama II
A terrified motorist narrowly escaped injury after a chunk of cement came crashing down from an overpass and smashed into her rear window while she was driving. The alarming incident occurred yesterday, May 19, on Phra Ram 2 Road near The Niche ID Rama 2 condo, at the expressway exit ramp. The road, notorious for its endless construction and traffic…
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Ex-British air hostess busted in Sri Lanka over 67 million drug stash
An ex-British air hostess has been busted in Sri Lanka over a massive £1.5 million (66.5 million baht) cannabis haul, just days after another young Brit was arrested for a similar smuggling run from Thailand. Charlotte May Lee, from Coulsdon in South London, was arrested at Colombo Airport, Monday, May 12, after touching down on a flight from Bangkok. Customs…
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Runaway van slams into 4 taxis outside Phuket Airport
A chaotic crash unfolded outside Phuket International Airport’s international arrivals terminal yesterday afternoon when a van’s accelerator reportedly jammed, setting off a domino-effect collision involving four taxis. The incident happened around 12.50pm yesterday, May 19, right on the first-floor platform. Despite the heavy impact, no injuries were reported. Witnesses were left stunned as the Toyota Commuter van, bearing the distinctive…
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Thailand braces for heavy rain and flash floods warning
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued another warning for heavy rainfall across Thailand, urging residents to exercise caution due to potential flash floods and forest runoffs. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates heavy showers in parts of north Thailand, northeast Thailand, central Thailand, including Bangkok and its vicinity, east Thailand, and the west coast of south Thailand.…
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