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 Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you
Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...
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Udon Thani officers suspended over allegations of traffic bribes
Eighteen traffic police officers in Udon Thani are facing suspension due to allegations of accepting bribes for traffic tickets. This development arose after a video was shared on a popular Thai Facebook page, depicting officers providing motorists with a choice: pay on the spot or receive a ticket. Public outcry ensued, with many criticising the practice. The incident occurred yesterday,…
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Japan dethrones Thailand as top tourist spot
Japan’s rise as a favoured tourist destination over Thailand is attributed to a weaker currency and its preparedness to welcome independent travellers. In response, tourism operators in Thailand are urging the government to enhance attractions and improve service quality to achieve the target of 40 million visitors. For the first eleven months of this year, Japan received over 33.3 million…
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Irishman denies involvement in Thai girlfriend’s death in Pattaya
An Irishman denied any knowledge of his Thai girlfriend’s death after reportedly staying with her body for three days in an apartment in Pattaya before other residents noticed the unpleasant odour. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were called to the five-storey apartment in Banglamung district, Pattaya, to investigate the mysterious death of 45 year old Thai woman Duangta. Police, accompanied…
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Thai weather: Cool mornings, thunderstorms, and changing temps
Severe weather conditions are expected in various regions of Thailand today, December 23, as the Meteorological Department (TMD) issues warnings for freezing temperatures and thunderstorms covering 20% of certain areas. Despite a slight rise in temperatures across northern Thailand, mountainous areas remain extremely cold. TMD attributes the fluctuating weather to a weakening high-pressure system over the upper parts of Thailand,…
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Rare serow surprises tourists at Khao Yai National Park
A rare sighting of a two year old male serow has delighted tourists at Khao Yai National Park. The friendly mammal, often elusive due to its habitat in steep mountainous regions, casually approached visitors at a campsite, allowing for close interactions and selfies. Khao Yai National Park, located at the junction of Nakhon Nayok and Pak Chong in Nakhon Ratchasima,…
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Pipe bomb attack injures four officers at Narathiwat base
A brazen attack occurred yesterday, December 21, as assailants hurled a pipe bomb at the Border Patrol Police base in Narathiwat, leaving four officers with minor injuries. The incident, captured on CCTV, has prompted a manhunt ordered by local police. At approximately 6.37pm, the incident unfolded at the Border Patrol Police Operation Base 934, located in Bura Pue, Kokkien subdistrict,…
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Dutch tourist fined 3000 baht for stunts on Koh Samui
A Dutch tourist found himself in trouble after being caught performing dangerous stunts on a motorcycle in Koh Samui. His actions, including popping wheelies and revving loudly, drew the attention of local police, who were not amused by his claim of ignorance regarding Thai laws. The incident came to light following a Facebook post in a group dedicated to Samui…
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Phuket mayors face charges in major corruption scandal
Three mayors in Phuket—Aroon Solos of Rawai, Panya Samphaorat of Pa Khlok, and Juta Dumlak from Kamala Tambon Administrative Organisation—are embroiled in legal battles over corruption charges. Phuket Vice Governor Ronnarong Thipsiri confirmed these proceedings, emphasising a broader push against corruption in the province. Panya Samphaorat faces charges from the Phuket branch of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for neglecting…
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Thai police arrest six Chinese nationals in call centre fraud bust
Thai police have taken decisive action against an international call centre fraud operation by arresting six Chinese nationals in Bangkok. The operation, which was uncovered in a luxury condominium on Ratchadapisek Road, Huai Khwang, involved a sophisticated network of equipment, including 286 Sim Boxes, 208,652 SIM cards, and 636 mobile phones. The arrested individuals, identified as Fengran Wen, Zhang Jun,…
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Intoxicated tourist with knife causes uproar in Pattaya condominium
Police in Pattaya took swift action after receiving reports of a foreign tourist causing a disturbance at a condominium on Jomtien Second Road yesterday, December 21. At 1am, officers responded to residents’ calls regarding a man armed with a knife, creating a scene by knocking on doors. Residents, clearly alarmed, recounted how the man, wearing a black T-shirt and black…
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Nationwide elections set for February 1, excluding 29 provinces
Nationwide elections for provincial administrative organisation presidents and councillors are scheduled for February 1, as confirmed by the Office of Election Commission. The registration for candidacy is open from December 23 to December 27. In 29 provinces, however, elections for PAO presidents will not occur on that day because these presidents vacated their positions before the end of their terms…
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Taxi driver arrested after fleeing petrol station in Chaiyaphum
A dramatic chase unfolded in Chaiyaphum when a Bangkok-registered taxi collided with both a truck and a police vehicle after its driver fled from a petrol station without settling the fuel bill. The incident, which took place on Chaiyaphum-Bua Yai Road in Mueang district, resulted in the arrest of the 36 year old taxi driver, yesterday morning. The sequence of…
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Chiang Mai soldiers seize 300,000 meth pills after shootout
Soldiers in Chiang Mai‘s Fang district intercepted a significant drug smuggling operation early yesterday morning, December 21, confiscating 300,000 methamphetamine pills left behind by fleeing suspects. The incident unfolded when two military patrols from the Chaiyanuparb special unit encountered three or four men carrying rucksacks near an orange grove in tambon Monpin at approximately 3am. Upon being signalled to stop…
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Shirtless tourist swallows traffic ticket in Pattaya police standoff
A peculiar scene unfolded in Pattaya when a foreign visitor was apprehended after an unusual attempt to dispose of a traffic ticket. This muscular traveller, who was riding a motorcycle shirtless and without a helmet, was stopped by police at a checkpoint situated in front of the Pattaya police station. Upon being asked to present his driving licence, the visitor…
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Sisaket: Man hides in neighbour’s urn after stabbing father (video)
A distressing incident unfolded yesterday, December 20, in Kanthararom district, Sisaket province, where a young man, allegedly under the influence of drugs, stabbed his father before fleeing and hiding in a neighbour’s urn. Police at Kanthararom station received a report at 5.30pm yesterday about a son attacking his father at a residence in Ban Ko, Phak Phrao subdistrict. Upon their…
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Transwoman arrested for explicit online content in Korat
Police have apprehended a transwoman involved in producing and distributing explicit content online, following a discovery of over 120 illicit clips. The operation, led by high-ranking officials, targeted a transgender individual identified as 37 year old Natthakan, accused of creating and circulating pornographic material and uploading it to a computer system. The arrest took place at a residence in the…
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Motorcyclist killed in Pattaya crash with minivan and pickup truck
A tragic accident occurred in Pattaya yesterday, December 20, resulting in the death of a motorcyclist following a collision involving a minivan and a pickup truck. Bang Lamung police, accompanied by rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation, arrived at the scene of a fatal road accident at 11.30am yesterday on Sukhumvit Road near the Ban Suan U-turn in Naklua.…
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Girl killed in Chon Buri hit-and-run sparks search for dark vehicle
A tragic accident in Chon Buri has spurred an online search for a dark vehicle involved in a hit-and-run that claimed the life of a young girl and left her mother severely injured. The accident occurred when a motorcycle sidecar was struck, causing the child to be thrown from the vehicle. The event unfolded yesterday on Route 344, near kilometre…
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Bangkok bust: 6 Chinese arrested with 200k SIM cards
Police in Bangkok have dismantled a major call centre gang, arresting six Chinese nationals who had set up their operations in a luxury condominium in the heart of the city. The suspects were found with an astonishing 208,652 SIM cards and 286 SIM boxes, alongside other electronic equipment. Entering Thailand on student and tourist visas, the group had been operating…
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Thailand eyes Phuket for bitcoin sandbox experiment
Thailand is edging closer to cryptocurrency adoption, with Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira dropping hints about extending the bitcoin sandbox experiment in Phuket. This bold move could position Thailand as a regional leader in digital currency innovation. “We are not suggesting replacing existing currencies with bitcoin.” Pichai emphasised the controlled nature of the trial. Under the sandbox model, bitcoin would be…
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Girls abandoned by drug-addicted parents in Chachoengsao
A silent cry for help emerged from Bang Nam Priao district in Chachoengsao province when two young girls, aged five and seven, were found abandoned with their impoverished grandfather. The girls’ parents, both battling drug addiction, had consistently subjected them to abuse. The Be Nueng Foundation received a report about the mistreatment yesterday, December 20, prompting immediate action. Chalida Palamat,…
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Three sentenced to death for German’s murder in Pattaya
The Pattaya Provincial Court has delivered a verdict in a high-profile murder case, sentencing three people to death for the murder and dismemberment of Hans Peter Ralter Mack, a 62 year old German real estate businessman. The crime, which took place in Pattaya on July 5 last year, shocked the local and international communities due to its gruesome nature. Police…
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Phuket welcomes tourists on first Bucharest flight
Phuket rolled out the red carpet for the first-ever direct charter flight from Bucharest, Romania, marking a new milestone in Thai tourism. Operated by Romania’s HiSky airline in collaboration with top tour operators Dertour and Karpaten, the inaugural flight, H4 7467, landed at Phuket International Airport on Thursday, December 19. Passengers were greeted with a warm ceremony hosted by the…
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Residents challenge SRT’s ownership claims to Khao Kradong
A land dispute in Khao Kradong, Buriram, has sparked controversy, with Songsak Thongsri, Deputy Minister of Interior, stating that the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) seems to be at fault. The conflict involves over 400 residents who claim rightful ownership of the land, asserting their families have occupied it long before the railway’s construction. During a visit to the contested…
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Thai court orders DLT to issue vehicle tax sticker to driver
A driver has triumphed in a legal battle against the Department of Land Transport (DLT) over their refusal to issue a vehicle tax sticker due to unpaid traffic fines. The Central Administrative Court instructed the department to provide the sticker to the driver, who had filed a lawsuit against the DLT, its director-general, the Bangkok Land Transport office, and the…
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Thailand braces for cold spell with mountain lows of 5 degrees
Thailand is experiencing a cold spell today, with mountain peak temperatures dropping to a minimum of 5 degrees Celsius (°C). Fog blankets Bangkok this morning, while the south faces thunderstorms due to moderate monsoon winds. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts a chilling climate for the next 24 hours as a moderate cold air mass settles over northern and upper…
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Kanchanaburi: ‘Miss Grand Purple Sweet Potato’ wins 200k lottery (video)
Excitement filled the air as the owner of a popular crepe shop in Kanchanaburi province in West Thailand, celebrated a lottery win of nearly 200,000 baht. The shop owner’s winning ticket was inspired by an unusual sweet potato resembling a high-heeled shoe, famously dubbed Miss Grand Purple Sweet Potato. The lucky winner, Joy, had planted the sweet potato for personal…
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Phuket to host Thailand’s first legal same-sex marriages
Phuket is set to make history on January 22 next year, as the island hosts a dazzling event to mark the first day of legal same-sex marriages in Thailand. Held at Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong, the celebration promises to be a landmark moment for equality and love in the country. Dubbed DOPA Day One: Equality Rings in 878 Districts,…
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Elvis of Thailand reveals duct tape secret for younger look at 78
A 78 year old Thai man from Chon Buri, popularly known as the “Elvis of Thailand,” shared his unconventional tips for looking younger in a TikTok video showing him using duct tape to lift his face. The TikTok channel, @elvisthailand, was created by Somsak’s granddaughter to share his story and showcase how he remains fit and firm at his age.…
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Banana leaf caterpillars bring flavour to Phayao province
The rural community of Pa Fang, located in Huai Kaeo, Phu Kham Yao, Phayao province, has a unique culinary tradition involving banana leaf caterpillars. Residents often venture into the banana groves at the edge of the village to gather these caterpillars, known for their high protein content and distinctive taste. The caterpillars, which are the larvae of banana leaf-rolling moths,…
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