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 much travel insurance should cost you in Thailand (By trip length)
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Sri Lankan man caught smuggling snakes in underwear at Bangkok airport
Officials from the Thailand Wildlife Enforcement Network (Thailand WEN) arrested a Sri Lankan man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok for wildlife trafficking after discovering three snakes hidden in his underwear. Phonlawee Buchakiat, Director of the Wildlife Crime Intelligence Centre, reported the successful operation on the official Facebook page of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation yesterday,…
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Red Bull tycoon tops Thailand rich list with US$44.5 billion fortune
Red Bull really does give you wings—especially if your name is Chalerm Yoovidhya. The co-owner of the world-famous energy drink has officially been crowned Thailand’s richest man this year, boasting a staggering net worth of US$44.5 billion (1.4 trillion baht), according to Forbes magazine. Chalerm’s jaw-dropping fortune saw an eye-watering leap of US$8.5 billion, marking a 24% surge from the previous year.…
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Pattaya bar workers fed as tourist drought bites hard
Struggling bar workers in Pattaya were served a dose of comfort this week, in the form of steaming noodles and basic supplies, as tourism dries up and bar owners face mounting bills. Lisa Hamilton, President of the Pattaya Nightlife Business Association, yesterday, July 3, led a charitable drive on Walking Street, handing out dry food, eggs, instant noodles, and over…
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Seasonal deluge: Heavy downpours continue to drench Thailand
Heavy rainfall is predicted for 70% of areas across north, northeast, and East Thailand today, with 41 provinces facing heavy downpours and severe weather conditions. Flash floods are anticipated, including in Bangkok, as a strong monsoon trough affects the region. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) indicates that heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the upper north, upper northeast,…
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Facebook flirt turns to threats: Thai woman blackmailed for 50,000 baht
A Thai durian vendor in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok filed a police complaint against a man who tricked her into sharing explicit images and later blackmailed her for 50,000 baht. The 36 year old victim, accompanied by her lawyer, visited Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station on Wednesday, July 2, to lodge the complaint. She also shared the details of her ordeal with…
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Norse Atlantic soars with new Thailand routes, slashes US services
Norse Atlantic Airways is ramping up its winter schedule, adding four exciting new routes connecting Europe with Thailand as part of its ongoing expansion into Southeast Asia. Set to launch in October and December, these new flights are designed to tap into the surging demand for travel to Thailand, one of the top destinations for European leisure travellers. The carrier…
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Phuket kicks off health expo to boost wellness tourism
Phuket is on a mission to become the world’s top wellness tourism hub, and the island is off to a strong start with the launch of the Phuket Health Expo 2025. Kicking off yesterday, July 2, the five-day event, held at Central Festival Phuket, aims to position the island as the ultimate destination for health, wellness, and lifestyle tourism. The…
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Skin scare: Thailand warns of itchy rash this rainy season
Thailand’s rainy season brings more than just wet weather—health officials are now alerting the public to a skin condition that commonly strikes during these damp months: Pityriasis Rosea. The Department of Medical Services has issued a health advisory urging citizens to be on the lookout for this uncomfortable rash that can affect thousands. Deputy government spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan revealed that…
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Pattaya targets Japan: Roadshow in Osaka aims to boost tourism
Pattaya is setting its sights on Japan as a prime tourist market. The city recently hosted the Pattaya Variety Roadshow to Japan 2025 in Osaka, aiming to boost its appeal and showcase its attractions to Japanese travellers. Led by Thitiphan Petchtrakul, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya, the event aimed to showcase the city’s tourism offerings and expand its appeal to the…
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Phetchabun temple dismantles building after decade-long dispute
The committee behind a prominent temple in Phetchabun has dismantled a religious building after a decade-long dispute. The founder of the building offered a different perspective, stating the centre was established today, July 3. A Facebook user posted a video showing an excavator demolishing structures at the religious centre within a temple in Na Chaliang subdistrict, Nong Phai district, Phetchabun.…
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Bangkok to dim down blinding billboards with new regulations
Bangkok’s skyline is about to get a little less dazzling, as the Bangkok Metropolitan Council takes action to tackle the growing issue of excessively bright billboards. In a bid to protect residents’ eyes and prevent dangerous distractions for drivers, the council has approved a new regulation to limit light intensity from illuminated advertisements. Yesterday, July 2, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt…
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Thai cannabis dispensaries must become medical clinics to stay legal
Cannabis dispensaries in Thailand will need to transition into medical clinics to operate legally, according to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. Doctor Somlerk Jeungsmarn, the department’s chief, stated that a draft ministerial regulation is in development to manage the medical use of cannabis, as the government aims to tighten its regulations on the plant. This regulation will…
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Driver crashes into pole on Bang Kruai-Sai Noi Road
A white Honda Civic veered off the road and collided with an electricity pole on Bang Kruai-Sai Noi Road near the Bang Bua Thong Land Department intersection in Son Loi subdistrict, Bang Bua Thong district, Nonthaburi province. The accident occurred at 4.30am today, July 3, and police from Bang Bua Thong Police Station, along with Ruam Katanyu Foundation emergency services,…
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Cha-am bypass opens key intersection as part of major expansion
The long-awaited opening of a new intersection on the Cha-am bypass is set to revolutionise travel between Cha-am and Hua Hin, with the newly launched overpass marking a significant step in the ongoing development of Highway 37. The overpass, located at the Huai Ta Paet intersection in Sampraya subdistrict, Cha-am district, opened to traffic at the end of last month,…
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Trang police arrest more suspects in 200,000 baht murder case
Police in Trang province apprehended two more suspects in the abduction and murder of 33 year old Taweechai Promsangchan. The investigation reveals links to a drug trafficking gang, with a shocking detail that firearms were handed to minors for the execution. The murder was allegedly commissioned for a fee of 200,000 baht. The case began when Taweechai’s body was discovered…
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Sinkhole shocker: Road caves in on Jomtien road
A gaping hole on Phra Tamnak Road near Soi 5 in Pattaya has left locals stunned and worried after a section of road suddenly caved in, creating a dangerous hazard for drivers, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. When the Jomtien municipal enforcement team was alerted to the sinkhole, they sprang into action, promptly inspecting the scene and coordinating with other city departments…
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Thai man rides naked with dildos strapped to bike in Chiang Mai
A man from Chiang Mai’s San Sai district has stunned villagers after riding naked on his motorbike with three giant dildos strapped to the side. The shocking incident, which was caught on camera, shows a 49 year old man from Lampang, later identified as Kluay, cruising through the village of Chedi Mae Krua while fully naked, with the phallic-shaped prop…
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Pattaya locals capture man pretending to be drunk after theft
A man suspected of motorcycle theft was apprehended by locals in an alleyway after unsuccessfully attempting to evade capture by pretending to be intoxicated in Pattaya. The incident took place at 7.30am today, July 3, at the intersection of Soi Bongkot and Soi Arunothai. The Pattaya City Police Station was alerted following this event. Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo, Superintendent of Pattaya…
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South Thailand lends backdrop to latest ‘Jurassic World’ blockbuster
Today marks a day of excitement for fans of the Jurassic Park franchise as the latest instalment from the blockbuster is released. Jurassic World: Rebirth is out in cinemas across the globe today, July 3. The seventh instalment of the Jurassic Park franchise was filmed across three southern provinces: Krabi, Phang Nga and Trang. Production ran from June 13 to…
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Teenage mother returns for baby abandoned at temple, fearing imprisonment
A Thai teenage girl abandoned her newborn baby at a temple in the Isaan province of Buriram, before returning to retrieve the child out of fear of legal consequences. A monk at Mueang Nuea Temple in Buriram shared a photo of the infant on his Facebook account to locate the baby’s mother. The child was first discovered by 74 year…
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Police bust counterfeit vehicle tax ring in Ratchada car rental
The Metropolitan Police Bureau searched a car rental tent in the Ratchada area, uncovering counterfeit vehicle tax discs. With a court warrant, police searched four locations yesterday, July 2, following an investigation in June, where two people were arrested for forging official documents. The operation was led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Police Major General Noppasil Punsawat, and their…
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Fast lane success: South Thailand road project ahead of schedule
Motorists and businesses in Nakhon Si Thammarat, South Thailand, can look forward to smoother journeys sooner than expected, as the Chalermphrakiat Road extension is speeding ahead of schedule. The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) has announced rapid progress on the massive infrastructure project, which promises to slash traffic congestion and supercharge the local economy. Montri Dechasakulsom, DRR Director General, revealed…
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Police bust Buriram gambling networks handling 1.8 million baht monthly
Police dismantled two online gambling networks in Buriram, arresting their operators who confessed to previously working as administrators before launching their own platforms. These operations reportedly handled over 1.8 million baht monthly. At 9am yesterday, July 2, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiwphat, head of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, instructed Police Major General Kritchat Bumrungattano, Police Colonel Tiwa Sophacharoen, and…
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Nonthaburi taxi driver dumps schoolgirls and grabs double fare
A group of terrified schoolgirls were left stranded in the rain after a furious taxi driver booted them out of his cab, demanded double payment, and then sped off without so much as an apology. The shocking incident unfolded on Tuesday, July 1, when six students from a well-known girls’ school in Nonthaburi climbed into a green taxi to celebrate…
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4 of 7 suspects arrested for 3.4 million baht robbery in Bangkok car park
Police arrested four out of seven suspects who robbed three victims of 3.4 million baht in the car park of a shopping mall in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao area on Monday, June 30. A seven-member criminal gang lured the three victims into exchanging 3.4 million baht in cash for 100,000 USDT in cryptocurrency at the shopping mall. The victims were then…
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Viet’s all, folks: Thailand left in digital ID dust by Vietnam
Thailand has been caught napping again, as Vietnam surges ahead with yet another bold move to woo foreigners, slashing red tape and rolling out sleek new digital IDs for its growing expat population. On July 1, Hanoi launched a 50-day campaign to hand out free electronic identification to foreigners living, working, or studying in the country, and it’s already being…
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7 Phuket cannabis shops shut down in crackdown blitz
A major cannabis crackdown has rocked Phuket’s Cherng Talay area after officials swooped in and shut down seven shops caught flouting regulations in broad daylight. The Thalang District Office wasted no time ordering the immediate suspension of licences following a coordinated raid that exposed a litany of offences, ranging from illegal sales to on-site smoking. The operation unfolded yesterday, July…
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Man found dead at Nakhon Ratchasima school prompts closure
A man, approximately 30 years old, was found dead after falling from the sixth floor of a prominent school in Nakhon Ratchasima. This incident led to the school director announcing a one-day closure as police investigate the circumstances. At 7.30am today, July 3, police in Mueang district, Nakhon Ratchasima, were alerted to a fatality at the large co-educational secondary school,…
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Outgoing minister Phumtham approves submarine deal before exit
Outgoing Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed he approved the long-delayed submarine procurement deal before leaving office, marking it as one of his final decisions. The agreement awaits placement on the Cabinet agenda for final endorsement. Following a farewell ceremony at the ministry yesterday, July 2, Phumtham stated that the deal was signed before the end of last month in his…
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Thai abbot denies staging 23 million baht theft at Bangkok temple
A Thai abbot denied staging a 23 million baht theft, maintaining his innocence, despite police discovering that he covered the lenses of security cameras in his office with paper. The abbot of Mueang Temple in Bangkok, 78 year old Phra Ratchawatchara Phattanatorn, reported the loss of 10 million baht in cash and nearly 13 million baht in gold bars to…
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