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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Casino bill to require 50m baht bank balance for Thai entry
The Entertainment Complex Bill, set for revision, is anticipated to be submitted for Cabinet approval next week, according to PM’s Office Minister Chousak Sirinil. The bill has been prioritised as an urgent policy, following discussions with the Interior Ministry and the Finance Ministry, with aims to expedite its legislative process. The bill includes a condition requiring Thai citizens to maintain…
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Big Joke faces dismissal without pension, says committee
A committee has unanimously recommended the dismissal of Big Joke from the police force without pension benefits. This decision will be presented to the Police Commissioner General for signature. The meeting took place at 2pm yesterday, March 7, at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters. Police General Kraisorn Suwanrat, the most senior deputy commissioner general, chaired the meeting of the disciplinary…
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‘Black Bag Cop’ found dead in Thai prison, suspected suicide (video)
Disgraced former Police Colonel Thitisak Uthanaphon, infamously known as “Director Joe,” or Joe Ferrari, has been found dead in his prison cell at Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok. The 43 year old, who was serving a life sentence for the torture and killing of a drug suspect, reportedly took his own life – but suspicions linger over the circumstances…
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Thai summer storm alert: 39 provinces brace for severe weather
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has reported an impending summer storm affecting 39 provinces, with significant impact expected in the central and eastern regions, including Bangkok, where hail is forecast. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours predicts thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail in northern, western northeastern, central, eastern, and upper southern Thailand. Residents are advised to exercise caution…
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Forest fire arsonist jailed and hit with 133 million baht fine
A man responsible for a devastating forest fire that destroyed over 2,166 rai (346 hectares) of protected land in Phitsanulok’s Khao Noi-Khao Pradu Wildlife Sanctuary has been sentenced to four years in prison and fined 133.23 million baht, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) announced today. The suspect was arrested on May 6 last year after…
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Man arrested in Nakhon Si Thammarat for machete threats
A notorious machete-wielding troublemaker was arrested while sleeping at his home in Nakhon Si Thammarat province after repeatedly threatening locals and rescue workers while under the influence of drugs. The arrest took place yesterday, March 6, when Police Colonel Sonthaya Panpaen of the Nopphitam Police Station, alongside officers from the Human Trafficking Suppression Division, tracked down 34 year old Sarawut…
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Bangkok taxi driver returns 154,000 baht to Japanese passenger
A Bangkok taxi driver has returned more than 154,000 baht in cash to a Japanese passenger who had left it in his cab. The woman, who had already flown back to Japan on March 6, never expected to see her valuables again. The 63 year old taxi driver, Chum Khamwiangsa, handed the black bag full of cash to Phithak Santirat…
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Village hero saves choking man with CPR after water mishap (video)
A 33 year old man with congenital disabilities experienced a life-threatening situation after drinking cold water caused him to choke and stop breathing. Fortunately, a newly trained village health volunteer performed CPR and revived him. Yesterday, March 6, reporters visited Ban Nong Prue Kan Yang in Tha Takiap district, Chachoengsao province, to meet Paranee “Oum” Unkaew, the local volunteer, and…
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Ang Thong man fatally stabs wife over separation demand (video)
A chilling security camera recording captured the moment a man consumed by jealousy, fatally stabbing his wife in the neck after she asked for a separation. The horrific crime took place at 3.01am yesterday, March 6 in Ang Thong’s Pa Mok district, leaving the local community in shock. Police Lieutenant Aumnat Meethongkham of Pa Mok Police Station responded to the emergency…
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Thai Airways bans power banks on flights after explosive fire risk
Airlines worldwide, including Thai Airways, are banning the use and charging of power banks on flights from March 1, following a shocking fire incident aboard a Korean Air Busan flight. The explosion, caused by a faulty power bank, raised serious safety concerns, leading South Korean airlines and other inter6national carriers to tighten regulations to prevent similar disasters. The ban applies…
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Thai woman mistaken for sister stabbed 18 times by sister’s ex
A Thai man mistook his former sister-in-law for his ex-wife yesterday stabbed her 18 times at the side of a road in the central province of Ayutthaya. Officers from Phak Hai Police Station were alerted to the stabbing at about 6.15am, yesterday, March 6. Upon arrival, they found the 39 year old woman, Waraporn, with severe injuries. She sustained at…
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NHSO reveals Bangkok clinics earn up to 7 million baht annually
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) has disclosed budget allocations for each community clinic, revealing some clinics receive up to 7 million baht annually. The income of these clinics largely depends on the number of patients treated and services provided. The Association of Warm Community Clinics yesterday, March 6, released data on per capita budget allocations from the NHSO. They…
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Thai police arrest group smuggling mule accounts to Cambodia
Police from the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) yesterday arrested a group involved in smuggling mule accounts across the Thai-Cambodian border. The arrests took place near the border in Khlong Yai subdistrict, Pong Nam Ron district, Chanthaburi province. The operation, led by Major General Athip Phongsiwapai, followed an investigation revealing a network recruiting individuals via social media to open bank…
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Ayutthaya acting school director arrested for sexually assaulting 13 schoolboys
Police yesterday arrested an acting school director in the central province of Ayutthaya for sexually assaulting 13 schoolboys aged between eight and 12 years old. The child sex abuse at a school in the Bang Sai district of Ayutthaya came to light after the parents of one of the victims discovered it from their son. The parents then filed a…
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Thai Attorney General charges 8 in contract killing case (video)
The Thai Attorney General’s office has filed charges against eight defendants in a high-profile case involving the alleged contract killing of Chaimate “Tong” Sittisanitpong. The case includes charges of conspiracy to commit murder and illegal possession of firearms. Yesterday, the Attorney General’s inspector, Sak Kesem Nithaiyok, and spokesperson for the office, revealed details about the case dating back to February…
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Cat’s out the bag! Cops claw back wildlife in Bangkok airport bust
In a purrfectly executed operation at Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok, Thai police proudly announced a successful swoop on a hair-raising attempt to smuggle exotic wildlife out of Thailand. The operation on Sunday, March 2, led to the apprehension of a 44 year old Indian woman, who was trying to wing it by sneaking protected animals aboard AirAsia flight FD 137 bound…
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Thai woman confesses to killing husband with her son’s help
The body of a Thai man abandoned by the roadside in a forest in Chon Buri was not the result of a car accident or theft, he was murdered by his wife and her son allegedly over physical abuse and a financial issue. A Thai man and his colleagues stumbled upon the lifeless body of a man while working in…
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Bizarre ‘airplane’ light poles spark online debate in Samut Prakan (video)
A wave of online chatter erupted after images went viral of densely packed airplane-shaped light poles in Nong Prue subdistrict, Samut Prakan. Critics are questioning the necessity and cost of the elaborate structures, while local officials insist the project follows regulations and is an innovative way to boost the area’s identity. The viral images, first shared by the Samut Prakan…
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Warehouse fire keeps Bangkok firefighters on toes for over 8 hours
A blazing inferno inside a frozen goods warehouse in Bang Phili proved to be a stubborn adversary for Bangkok firefighters, with the flames still not fully extinguished today after more than eight hours. Amid the chaos, the warehouse owner firmly denied any ammonia gas presence in the facility, easing some public safety concerns. Firefighters from a multitude of agencies converged…
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Udon Thani hospital staff beaten by patient over queue number (video)
A disturbing video surfaced online this week showing a hospital worker being brutally attacked by a patient at Nam Som Hospital in Udon Thani. The shocking footage, shared by Lieutenant Colonel Dr Thanakrit Chit-arirat, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, has sparked outrage and calls for tougher security in hospitals. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 5 at 8.56am,…
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Paetongtarn pushes Malaysia to act fast on floods and trade routes
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made an urgent call to Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, while in Berlin for the ITB 2025, pressing for swift action on flood relief in the Golok River basin and a key border infrastructure project that could boost trade between the two nations. Speaking at 9am local time yesterday, March 6 (six hours behind Thailand), PM…
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Thailand video news | Foreign tourist found dead on Kata beach in Phuket, Vietnam sees tourism surge but still lags behind Thailand
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring the latest headlines from across Thailand and Asia. A foreign tourist was tragically found dead on Phuket’s Kata Beach, while an MP has exposed illegal condo rentals and prostitution in Bangkok’s Nana district. Meanwhile, the court has blocked the travel request of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra due to ongoing…
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Turkish man arrested in Phuket for illegally selling cannabis
Police arrested a Turkish man in the Patong area of Phuket for illegally selling cannabis in the province. Patong Police Station officers reported the arrest of the 33 year old Turkish man, whose name remains undisclosed, yesterday, March 6. The arrest took place outside the Weed Kebab store on Bangla Road on Wednesday. The Turkish man was found illegally distributing…
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Thailand halts airport transfer plan due to financial concerns
Thailand’s Transport Ministry has abruptly scrapped plans to transfer Krabi, Udon Thani, and Buriram airports to Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT), citing financial and operational concerns. Instead, officials are shifting focus towards developing state-run airports to generate more income and reduce reliance on government funding. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced yesterday, March 6, that the transfer, initially approved by…
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Laundrette looter! Foreign thief caught airing dirty laundry in Phuket
CCTV footage from a 24-hour laundrette in Phuket this week captured a man, believed to be a foreigner, stealing clothes belonging to the shop’s customers. A Thai man shared footage of the theft, at around 11pm on Monday, March 3, on social media to warn others who use the laundry shop in the Kathu neighbourhood of Phuket. He believed that…
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Royal Thai Navy’s billion-baht battle over subs and frigates
Thailand’s troubled submarine deal and ambitious warship plans are caught in political limbo, with the Pheu Thai-led government showing little urgency in making key defence decisions. As Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra prepares for a censure debate later this month, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN)’s long-stalled projects remain up in the air. The RTN initially accepted China’s offer of an S26T…
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Fatal nap! Driver falls asleep, kills passenger in highway horror
A devastating accident on Highway 11 in Nakhon Sawan province tragically claimed the life of a young passenger this morning after a driver fell asleep at behind the wheel. At around 2.40am, today, March 7, a Toyota pickup truck slammed into the back of a parked 18-wheeler, resulting in calamitous damage and heartbreak. The scene at kilometre markers 13 and…
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Thailand’s new law to tackle online sexual harassment
Thailand is taking a bold step towards protecting victims of sexual harassment and privacy violations with a groundbreaking new bill that grants victims direct access to the courts—bypassing the slow bureaucratic process that has long delayed justice. Patcharin Samsiripong, Vice Chairwoman of the House Committee on the Draft Act to Amend the Criminal Code, announced that the committee had carefully…
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Fury on the streets: Protesters clash with govt over casino bill
Angry protesters stormed the Finance Ministry yesterday, demanding the government scrap its controversial plan to legalise casinos. The demonstration, led by three hardline groups, accused Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat of backing a bill that, they claim, will open the floodgates for Thai gamblers rather than targeting foreign tourists. The Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform, the Dharma…
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Thai farmers urged to go bananas for ripe returns
The Government of Thailand is urging beleaguered Thai farmers to pivot to bananas from rice as a strategy to bolster their earnings amidst plummeting rice prices. Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan dropped the fruity bombshell while addressing People’s Party MP Narongdech Ularnkul’s concerns about rice price stabilisation. “A rice oversupply is crushing prices, and bananas could be the alternative farmers need.…
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