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 one hospital visit in Thailand could cost more than your whole trip
Thailand is a favourite spot for travellers who want to enjoy more while spending less. From cheap street food to low-cost hotels and fun attractions, it’s easy to stretch your budget here. But there’s one thing many people don’t think...
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No water in lungs: Thai party entertainer dies before entering river
An autopsy confirmed that a Thai party entertainer, whose body was found in a river in the central province of Kanchanaburi, died of a drug overdose, not by drowning. The family of the 28 year old party entertainer, Mark, sought justice after police delayed the investigation into his death. Mark’s mother and two sisters, along with another party entertainer, appeared…
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Splash and dash! Pattaya swamped as storm lashes city (video)
A torrential morning downpour left Pattaya swamped as a storm left roads underwater, traffic crawling, and snakes slithering into the chaos. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) revealed that there’s more to come. A heavy rainstorm hammered Bang Lamung district in Chon Buri for over an hour starting at 9.36am, yesterday, May 14, flooding large swathes of Pattaya and grinding morning…
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Pregnant woman and friend killed by lightning in Sisaket tragedy
A tragic incident occurred when a seven-month pregnant woman and her husband’s friend were fatally struck by lightning while seeking shelter under a tree in Sisaket province. The woman’s husband discovered the scene upon returning from delivering a load of eucalyptus wood. Police from Khukhan Station in Sisaket were informed by Khukhan Hospital staff about the critical condition of 35…
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Spice bar sizzler: Ex-flame blamed for fiery bust-up in Pattaya
A blazing row turned literal when a late-night fire tore through a Pattaya bar, with suspicions pointing squarely at the owner’s ex, who’d allegedly threatened to torch the place. Flames ripped through Anne’s Island Spice Bar in Soi Phratamnak 5 during the early hours of yesterday, May 14, sparking panic and a rapid emergency response. The blaze broke out around…
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Brace for a Thai’dal wave: Storms set to rain supreme across Thailand
Heavy rainfall and storms are anticipated across 50 provinces in Thailand, prompting warnings of flash floods and mountain runoffs. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts thunderstorms in Bangkok, with an 80% chance of precipitation on May 15. Over the next 24 hours, heavy rain is expected in parts of northern Thailand, the lower northeastern region, the central region including Bangkok…
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Brake-ing bad: Good Samaritan’s house guest nicks a ride
A Good Samaritan kindness nearly landed him in hot water, after the homeless man he took in turned out to be a sneaky thief with a stolen motorbike. The kindly man narrowly dodged legal drama after unknowingly harbouring a motorcycle thief under his own roof in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. The drama unfolded yesterday, May 14, when 39 year old Suthep…
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Phuket woman at large after stabbing victim over alleged affair
A Thai woman stabbed another woman outside a grocery store in the Wichit sub-district of Phuket on Monday, May 12, after alleging that the victim had an affair with her boyfriend. Officers from Wichit Police Station received a report of the stabbing outside the store and rushed to the scene to assist the victim, Samittra, who sustained a stab wound…
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Mother searched after monitor lizard found eating infant’s body
Locals in Samut Prakan province were left in panic after witnessing a monitor lizard consuming the lifeless body of an infant. Police officers are now searching for the mother of the dead child. At approximately 2pm today, May 14, the Facebook page NAKON 45 อัญวุฒิ โพธิ์อำไพ reported that rescuers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation rushed to Soi King Kaew 28…
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Chiang Mai lottery sales dip despite cultural event interest
In Chiang Mai, lottery ticket sales are seeing mixed results as the significance of key dates such as Visakha Bucha, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, and Coronation Day fuels interest. Despite this, vendors report a dip in sales due to the school term’s start. Today, May 14, it was observed that people are gradually purchasing lucky numbers at major markets around…
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True grit: New boss vows comeback cash in 100-day dash
True Corporation chief Sigve Brekke has hit the ground running, setting out a bold 100-day plan packed with promises of profit, digital dominance, and even a long-overdue payout to shareholders. Brekke, who took the reins as group chief executive in March, is banking on data, discipline and dividends to spark a revival at the telecom titan, following its blockbuster merger…
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New law expands venues selling alcohol despite Buddhist fest bans
The government is set to widen the scope of venues permitted to sell alcoholic beverages daily, following the enactment of a new law last week. This legislation allows five categories of venues to sell alcohol. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong stated that the new law, announced in the Royal Gazette on May 9 and effective from May 10, continues…
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Thai woman’s search finds missing mother ‘gone with the wind’
A Thai woman who was searching for her missing mother was shocked to find that her mum sold their shared home and was living happily alone. The mother accused her daughter of physically abusing her, prompting her to run away. The woman named Ree sought help from news agencies after her mother, Peng, disappeared from their shared home in the…
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Baht out of luck: Thai currency slips as greenback flexes muscle
The Thai baht is wobbling once again, with currency watchers bracing for a further slide this week as the mighty US dollar gathers steam following a temporary pause in the US-China tariff war. Analysts say the baht could weaken to as low as 33.80 per dollar in the coming days, as uncertainty lingers despite a fleeting boost in global market…
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Similan and Surin islands go off-grid: The strategy to restore Thailand’s marine paradise
Each year, at the start of the monsoon season, officials press pause on tourism at the Similan and Surin Islands. From May 16 to October 15, the national parks are officially closed to all visitors. This isn’t a random decision but an ongoing annual measure to maintain the balance of the marine ecosystem, reduce the impact of tourism, and allow…
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Man arrested for father’s murder, body found in septic tank
A man was arrested for allegedly killing his father and hiding the dismembered body in a septic tank, in Mueang Suea subdistrict, Phayakkhaphum Phisai district, Maha Sarakham province. On Monday, May 12, police were notified by Thongsai of the discovery of the body of his 84 year old father, Boonram, in the tank. Thongsai suspected his half-brother as the perpetrator,…
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Truce or just a tariff tease? Trump and Xi hit pause on trade war
The bitter trade war between the United States and China that rattled global markets is getting a breather — but don’t pop the champagne just yet. The US and China have agreed to suspend punishing tariffs on each other’s goods for 90 days, starting Wednesday, after a tense round of high-stakes talks in Geneva over the weekend. The temporary truce…
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Kratom and disorderly: Pattaya bar raided over illegal jungle juice
A Pattaya bar has landed in hot water after being caught red-handed selling kratom-laced cocktails and operating without a licence during a late-night sting by police and district officials. At around 9pm, yesterday, May 13, a special operations team from Pattaya City Police, alongside Bang Lamung district officers, swooped on a buzzing beer bar in Nong Prue, Chon Buri. The…
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Desperate Thai mother offers to sell organs to keep son alive
A Thai mother took to social media in a desperate attempt to sell her organs to raise funds to care for her one year old son and to seek a better home for the young boy. The 33 year old woman from the Isaan province of Sisaket initially shared photos of her son on Facebook to find an adoptive family.…
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Man apprehended in Bangkok over indecent filming charges
A 34 year old man was apprehended at a condominium in Bang Sue, Bangkok, following an investigation into allegations of indecent acts. Pirapong was charged under a Nakhon Si Thammarat court warrant for inappropriate behaviour towards people over 15 years old, using force in a public setting, which caused distress and humiliation. The incident occurred in 2023 when a 30 year…
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Pattaya tour boat boss calls tourists ‘animals’ in foul-mouthed tirade
A Pattaya tour boat operator has been forced to issue a grovelling apology after being caught on camera swearing at a boatload of foreign tourists: calling them “animals” in a foul-mouthed rant that’s since gone viral. The shocking outburst unfolded aboard a Koh Larn Relax tour boat during a snorkelling trip to Koh Sak last Saturday afternoon, and was exposed…
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Homemade rocket explosion causes panic at Thai festival (video)
A homemade rocket exploded at the weekend at its launch base in Yasothon province, just as it was about to soar into the sky. This incident, which took place on Saturday, May 10, caused locals to flee for safety. The homemade rocket festival, known as Bun Bang Fai, is a tradition in northeastern Thailand, celebrated to ask for rain from…
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Foreign beggar gang busted for using kids as cash bait in Pattaya
A foreign beggar gang using children and the disabled to pull in cash from tourists has been busted in a dramatic sting operation by immigration police in Pattaya. Undercover officers, posing as holidaymakers, swooped on a group of Cambodians spotted hustling money from passersby at popular tourist spots around the city. Some of the suspects were seen carrying two or…
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Military colonel linked to online gambling escapes arrest
A military colonel is facing an arrest warrant for allegedly running an online gambling network and hiding luxury vehicles in a military camp. Police seized assets worth 10 million baht and arrested six administrators. Yesterday, May 13, the Provincial Police Region 7 in Nakhon Pathom, led by Police Major General Pongpan Wongmaneethej, conducted operations at three locations linked to the…
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Man arrested in Surat Thani for assaulting niece
A 49 year old man was arrested in Surat Thani after being accused of sexually assaulting his wife’s 13 year old niece. The arrest followed a warrant issued by the Surat Thani Provincial Court on February 2, 2024. The suspect, Samphan, allegedly took advantage of his wife’s night shifts at a hospital to commit the assaults, threatening the girl not to…
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Cha-am theft ring busted, stolen goods used to buy methamphetamine
A group involved in numerous thefts across Cha-am, Phetchaburi, targeting electrical wires and appliances, was apprehended. The suspects, who used the stolen proceeds to purchase methamphetamine, were involved in nearly 10 cases. Victims can inspect the recovered items at Cha-am Police Station. Police Lieutenant General Naiwat Phadermchit led the operation yesterday, May 13, at 2.30pm. The suspects, identified as 47…
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Thai man murders 2 year old stepdaughter for interrupting sex
A Thai stepfather murdered his two year old disabled stepdaughter for interrupting him while he was having sex. The child’s body was later found in a river in the northern province of Chiang Rai, . Police apprehended the stepfather yesterday, May 13, after the girl’s family reported her missing on May 10. They stated to officers at Mae Fah Luang…
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Toyota Fortuner accident in Phetchabun claims life, injures another (video)
A Toyota Fortuner yesterday veered off course and crashed into two people waiting for a bus under a tree by a dual carriageway. The accident, yesterday, May 13, occurred near an intersection in Na Chaliang, Mueang Phetchabun district, resulting in one death and one injury. The incident was captured on CCTV and shared on the Facebook page ข่าวคนรักบ่อไทย (Khao Khon…
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Message in the sand: Nepali tailor found dead on Phuket beach
A mystery death on one of Phuket’s most popular beaches has left locals and tourists shaken, after a Nepali tailor was found hanged with a chilling message written in the sand beside him. The body of the man, later identified as Marike, was discovered beneath a pandanus tree on Kata Beach in the early hours of yesterday morning, May 13,…
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Chiang Rai massage parlour busted for illegal activities
Police in Chiang Rai arrested a massage parlour operating as a front for prostitution, utilising undercover agents to confirm illegal activities. The establishment charged between 1,000 and 3,000 baht per hour, depending on the employee’s age and appearance. Yesterday, May 13, Chiang Rai Governor Charin Thongsuk, alongside Police Major General Manop Senakul, the Chiang Rai Provincial Police chief, and Police…
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Phuket red mist: Daft foreign tourist climbs traffic light to go green
A hapless foreign tourist in Phuket sparked outrage after climbing a traffic light pole in the middle of the night, in a bizarre bid to turn it green. The impatient biker, riding through the Samkong intersection at 1.20am, today, May 14, decided he’d had enough of waiting at a red light. So, in a moment of madness, he ditched his…
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