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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Starting a new life abroad is exciting—new culture, new lifestyle, and new chances to grow. But living far from home also means taking steps to protect your health in unfamiliar surroundings. Without the right coverage, even small health issues can...
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White lines, don’t do it! British man nabbed in drugs & visa overstay
A British man’s island joyride ended in handcuffs in Koh Samui after he reportedly tried to dodge a police stop, only to be caught with drugs in his bag and an expired visa in his passport. What started as a routine patrol turned into a high-speed chase through the streets of Koh Samui after a British man gave police the…
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Samut Sakhon man arrested after Songkran shooting incident
A 20 year old man from Samut Sakhon has been arrested following a shooting incident during the Songkran festival. He claims to have been provoked by the victim, who allegedly rode a motorcycle to cut in front of him. The suspect, recently released from prison for a theft conviction, was taken into custody yesterday, April 23. Police Major General Khomsit…
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2 foreign tourists found dead in Phuket hotels
A holiday in paradise ended in tragedy yesterday after a 52 year old Swedish tourist was found dead in his hotel room in Patong, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his sudden death. Patong police were alerted to the incident at approximately 12.58pm yesterday, April 23. Officers quickly responded to the scene on Thaweewong Road, along with emergency…
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Thai university professor blames AI for nude pre-dick-ament
A Thai university professor blamed an artificial intelligence (AI) photo editor for a nude image of himself that circulated on social media platforms. The Facebook news page Big Kren recently reported on a group, known as OutdoorHDY, who are allegedly involved in outdoor sexual activities and produced pornographic videos at several public locations in the southern province of Songkhla. The group…
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Pattaya’s new parking rules spark confusion and complaints
Motorists in Pattaya may want to double-check where they park from now on, or risk fines, towing, and a whole lot of frustration. In a bid to unclog its traffic-choked streets, Pattaya City has rolled out new parking regulations on Pattaya South Road and Thepprasit Road, hoping to ease congestion and restore some order to the city’s notoriously chaotic roads.…
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Massive fire devastates Phanom Sarakham market, destroying 12 homes
A fire broke out at the old market in Phanom Sarakham, Chachoengsao province requiring 30 fire trucks to contain the blaze. The fire yesterday, April 23, at 11.30pm, resulted in the destruction of 12 homes, but no injuries or fatalities have been reported. Rescue teams in Phanom Sarakham were alerted by locals about the fire, which occurred on Sukhaphiban 5…
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Phuket Airport baggage belt still broken amid repairs
Holidaymakers flying out of Phuket are being urged to stay calm, despite ongoing baggage belt breakdowns that continue to cause delays at Thailand’s second-busiest international gateway. Yesterday, April 23, Phuket International Airport (HKT) confirmed that one of its four main baggage conveyor belts in the international terminal remains out of action, while three lines have been repaired and are back…
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Foreign man causes scene at Bangkok hotel over deposit dispute
A foreign man caused a commotion at a hotel in Bangkok, accusing the Thai staff of cheating him and his family by charging them extra. The bedlam was caused after the staff requested a deposit for the rooms they had booked. The TikTok user Stantheman705 shared a video of the foreign family arguing with Thai hotel staff on Sunday, April…
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Royal Thai Navy captures illegal Indonesian fishing vessel near Koh Lipe
The Royal Thai Navy’s Region 3 Command apprehended an Indonesian fishing vessel illegally fishing in Thai waters near Koh Lipe. Five crew members were detained yesterday, April 23. The operation was led by the director of the Maritime National Interest Protection Command Centre, Region 3, Vice Admiral Suwat Donsakul. Vice Admiral Suwat instructed Commander Saenthai Buaniam, the deputy director of…
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Search is on for Thailand’s next global goodwill heroes
Think you, or someone you know, has what it takes to put Thailand on the global map? The search is on for the next generation of Thailand’s goodwill ambassadors, as nominations open for the fourth annual Thailand Public Diplomacy Awards. Launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Thailand Foundation, the prestigious awards recognise individuals, groups, and organisations whose efforts have…
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Suspect arrested in Songkhla monk shooting
Police have apprehended a suspect in the shooting of a novice monk collecting alms in Saba Yoi district, Songkhla province. The weapon used in the crime was reportedly stolen from a police officer in Na Pradu Police Station. The suspect, identified as Nasri (surname withheld), was captured at his residence following tips from residents and evidence from CCTV footage and…
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Thailand’s war on cyber fraud gets a major upgrade
Thailand is beefing up its fight against online scams in a big way — and it’s coming for the fraudsters faster than ever. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) is set to transform its Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre into a fully-fledged department, following the implementation of a powerful new emergency decree that came into effect on April 13.…
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8,000 runners set for biggest Phuket marathon yet
Lace up those trainers and pack your sunblock — the Laguna Phuket Marathon 2025 is set to be the biggest yet, drawing more than 8,000 runners from 50 countries for an unforgettable weekend of sweat, speed, and stunning scenery. Phuket Governor Sopon Suwannarat and Laguna Phuket’s Managing Director Paul Wilson officially launched the event at a press conference in Bangkok yesterday, April…
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Thai woman’s devotion to Buriram cult blamed for husband’s death
A strong belief in a cult by a Thai woman in the Isaan province of Buriram allegedly led to the death of her husband, who suffered from tuberculosis (TB) and severe malnutrition. A photograph of the home of the 59 year old woman, Boonrian, was shared on social media, eliciting sympathy from the public. The house is without walls or…
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Panic button: Thailand to blast phones with emergency alert tests
Don’t panic if your phone suddenly screams at you in May — it’s not the end of the world, just a test. Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has announced a nationwide test of its emergency Cell Broadcast alert system, with thousands of phones set to blare warnings across selected locations. The staged tests are scheduled for May…
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Bomb attack in Pattani leaves seven injured in volunteer vehicle (video)
A bomb attack targeted a vehicle belonging to a volunteer defence force in Thung Yang Daeng district, Pattani province, injuring seven personnel. The incident occurred yesterday, April 23, at 3.16pm when the armoured pickup truck was crossing the Pakuh Bridge towards the Khomis market. The perpetrators and their numbers remain unknown, as the explosive detonated along the highway. The injured…
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Gambling site link to academic scandal uncovered in Bangkok
Evidence, consisting of secret chat logs and money transfer slips, has emerged linking a notorious gambling website operator to an academic scandal involving a police general. Yesterday, April 23, at the Technology Crime Suppression Division 1, Police Major General Siriwat Deephor, head of the division, announced the arrest of 53 year old Kanittha. She was apprehended at her residence in…
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Chinese tourists favour Vietnam over Thailand amid rising costs
Thailand has fallen behind Vietnam as the most-visited Southeast Asian destination for Chinese tourists in the first quarter. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) subsequently urged the government to lower travel costs, which are currently 30% higher than Vietnam’s, and enhance Thailand’s appeal with new attractions. The Tourism and Sports Ministry recorded 1.3 million Chinese visitors to Thailand during…
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Jealous Thai teen confesses to fatal abuse of 4 year old adopted brother
Police arrested an 18 year old Thai teen in the central province of Prachin Buri for the fatal abuse of a four year old boy, whom his father had adopted. The suspect reportedly admitted to harming the child out of jealousy. The 52 year old man, Rattana Saengsuwimon, reported the death of his adopted son, Kao, to officers at Rabopai…
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Commerce Ministry targets foreign nominees in 6 sectors
The Commerce Ministry has updated its nominee inspection strategy, focusing on six high-risk sectors. Auramon Supthaweethum, Director General of the Department of Business Development (DBD), stated that the agency is intensifying investigations into businesses suspected of using Thai nationals as nominees to conceal foreign ownership. This initiative aims to address the issue of foreign-operated nominee businesses that affect investor confidence…
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Deadly heatwave to scorch Phuket, Bangkok and 35 provinces
Thailand is bracing for a brutal blast of heat, with public health officials warning that a life-threatening heatwave is set to grip Phuket, Bangkok, and 35 other provinces. The Department of Health has raised the alarm, predicting the heat index, the temperature people feel when humidity is factored in, will soar to dangerously high levels. Phuket is expected to hit…
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Bangkok man arrested after deadly dispute over motorcycle noise
A 29 year old man was apprehended at the emergency room of Bhumibol Hospital in Bangkok after fatally stabbing his 64 year old neighbour. The incident stemmed from a heated argument over motorcycle noise. The suspect, Jeerapat also known as Beer, claimed the engine was stalling, necessitating constant revving. Yesterday, April 23, around 8pm, police received reports of a violent…
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Phumtham denies visa scandal derailed US trade talks
Rumours are swirling about US visa sanctions throwing a spanner in Thailand’s trade negotiations but Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai says it’s all smoke and no fire. In a press briefing yesterday, April 23, Phumtham hit back at claims that visa bans, imposed over Thailand’s controversial deportation of Uyghur refugees to China in February, had sidelined key Thai negotiators from upcoming…
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South Korean man injured in restaurant bill dispute with Pattaya women
A South Korean man sustained a cut wound to his hand after attempting to wrest a knife from a Thai woman during a dispute over a restaurant bill in Pattaya. Rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Dhammasathan Foundation were dispatched to a small alley near Pattaya Walking Street at around 9am, yesterday, April 23, to provide first aid to the 32…
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14 million baht vanishes from Thai Parliament savings co-op
A scandal is brewing at Parliament’s doorstep after a whopping 14 million baht mysteriously vanished from the Parliamentary Official Saving and Credit Cooperative. But despite the jaw-dropping fraud, House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha insists there’s no need to panic. According to Wan, the massive embezzlement won’t affect the cooperative’s members or its day-to-day operations. “It was fortunate that we…
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Love-sick monk shoots foreigner’s wife then kills himself in Thailand
A love-sick monk disrobed to go in search of a Norwegian man’s wife but when she rejected him he shot her before turning the gun on himself in a grisly murder–suicide attempt in southern Thailand. Officers in Nakhon Si Thammarat were called to a luxury two-storey home in Village 12, Klai Subdistrict, at around 4am, today, April 24, after neighbours…
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Thai coral recovery: over 60% of bleached reefs saved
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has successfully rescued over 60% of the coral affected by bleaching since last year. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director General of the DMCR, reported that since April last year, approximately 60-80% of coral in Thailand’s waters experienced bleaching. Of these, 60% have been successfully revived, while the remainder perished. The bleaching was attributed to…
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Thai pharmacist praised for offering free medicine to struggling family
A Thai father and his daughter returned to a pharmacy in the central province of Samut Sakhon to express their gratitude after free medicine from the shop helped the girl recover from an illness. The owner and pharmacist of the Baan Look Moo Drug Store in Samut Sakhon, Aoffy, shared the heartwarming story via a video on her TikTok account,…
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Baht to the future! Kucoin crashes into Thailand’s crypto scene
Thailand’s red-hot cryptocurrency scene is bracing for a fresh wave of competition as ERX Company Ltd teams up with global crypto giant KuCoin, unveiling a bold rebrand and a brand-new exchange platform. From April 22, the newly christened KuCoin Thailand will go live, offering a full suite of digital tokens and crypto products. KuCoin, headquartered in the Seychelles, is one…
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Miss Universe strips Thai beauty pageant of title after controversy
Thailand’s beauty pageant scene has been rocked by a shocking decision from the Miss Universe Organisation, which has officially stripped Suchata “Opal” Chuangsri of her third runner-up title following her participation in the Miss World Thailand event. The controversy began when Opal appeared at a business announcement for the Miss World 2025 competition, violating her contract by participating in another…
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