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 What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?
The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...
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Officials raid Chon Buri plant over foul stench complaints
Officials inspected a recycling plant in Chon Buri after residents complained about foul odours, uncovering waste violations and environmental concerns. The inspection, carried out on November 5, was led by Ploylapas Singtothong, adviser to the industry minister, as part of the “Full Throttle” mobile inspection campaign. The facility, located in Bo Kwang Thong subdistrict, handles industrial waste processes including sorting,…
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Thai royals to make historic China visit for golden friendship
Thailand’s monarchs will make a state visit to China following an invitation from the president, to mark a key diplomatic anniversary between the nations. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida will embark on a historic state visit to China from November 13 to 17, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit commemorates 50 years of diplomatic ties…
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4 foreign tourists rescued after speedboat stranded off Phuket
Four foreign tourists were safely rescued after their speedboat became stranded on rocks near Maiton Island in Phuket yesterday. Vice Admiral Weerudom Muangjeen, Commander of the Third Naval Area Command, ordered officers from the Third Naval Area Command and the Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre Region 3 to rescue the four tourists after receiving a report that their speedboat was hit…
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Delivery man found dead after recent surgery in Sri Racha room
A delivery worker was found dead in his rented Sri Racha room after neighbours reported a foul smell, days after he told his boss he was going to see a doctor. Rescue services and police forced entry into Room 532/45 at a dormitory at around 9.30am yesterday, November 6. Inside, they found the body of 33 year old Thawatchai Naen…
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Thai senator sues ex-news anchor over Facebook post about alleged theft
A Thai senator is taking legal action against a former news anchor for defamation after she shared a Facebook post about his alleged theft on an expressway in 2021. The 40 year old former news anchor, Natthasinee “Kwan” Pinyopiyavid, visited Na Jomtien Police Station in Chon Buri yesterday, November 5, to acknowledge the defamation accusation made by a senator whose…
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UK sanctions hit Thai firms over Russia war links
The UK has sanctioned four Thai companies for allegedly aiding Russia’s war in Ukraine, prompting Thai authorities to warn businesses of reputational risks. Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade (DFT), under the Ministry of Commerce, confirmed the development following an announcement by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The UK’s latest round of designations targeted 39 individuals and entities…
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Bangkok hauls in 390k krathongs after quieter festival night
City Hall workers in Bangkok collected over 390,000 krathong floats after the Loy Krathong Festival, marking a notable drop from the previous year’s total. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials collected a total of 391,027 krathong floats from canals, rivers and lakes across the capital following last night’s (November 5) Loy Krathong festival, a 24% drop compared to the same event…
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Frenchman and two Thais save woman from suicide in Chao Phraya River
A Frenchman and two Thai nationals saved a heartbroken woman from a suicide attempt in the Chao Phraya River in Chai Nat province yesterday, November 5. CCTV footage of the incident, shared by Channel 7, showed the woman, aged around 30, climbing over a riverside fence before jumping into the water. The incident occurred in the Mueang Chai Nat district…
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Trusted transwoman helper accused of stealing gold from elderly woman
Police arrested a Thai transwoman for stealing a gold necklace from a 68 year old woman in Sattahip, Chon Buri province. The 68 year old victim, Maew, filed a complaint with Sattahip Police Station on November 3 after her gold necklace, worth around 31,000 baht, went missing. Maew told officers she suspected the transwoman, later identified as 48 year old…
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Thai man arrested in Pattaya for sawing off police wheel lock
A man was arrested in Pattaya after he attempted to saw off a police wheel lock in a public area following a parking violation and a domestic dispute. The incident unfolded on November 4 along South Pattaya Road, where 37 year old Watcharapong Phangnamdam, a native of Kalasin province, parked his Yamaha Filano motorcycle in a restricted zone. Police responded…
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Phuket braces for floods as storm lashes Andaman coast
Phuket officials have warned residents to prepare for flash floods, heavy rain, and strong winds as a powerful monsoon system moves across the island. Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra has issued an urgent public warning as intensified southwesterly monsoon winds fuel extreme weather across the Andaman coast. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts continuous rainfall from November 5 to 10, with…
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Female Bangkok taxi rider thanks heroes who save her from rape attempt
A female motorcycle taxi rider is searching for the good samaritans who saved her from being raped by a male passenger on November 1 in Lat Krabang district of Bangkok. The female rider, identified only as May, took to social media on November 3 to look for those who came to her aid and to share her story as a…
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Chon Buri man threatens neighbour with gun in cat-related dispute
A Thai man threatened his neighbour with a gun on Tuesday, November 4, after the neighbour’s cat ate grass in front of his home in Chon Buri province. The 53 year old victim, Yongyot, reached out to several news agencies out of concern for himself, his family members, and his cat named Panda. The incident occurred on Tuesday night in a…
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Anutin brushes off Hun Sen’s 500-year border closure jibe
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed pointed remarks made by Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, who claimed Cambodia could withstand a closed Thai-Cambodian border for “500 years.” Speaking to reporters, Anutin played down the comments. “I haven’t read them.” Hun Sen had taken to Facebook to assert that Cambodia never asked Thailand to reopen any crossings, stating that it was…
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Thai girl, 12, rescued after getting trafficked to Tokyo by mother
A 12 year old Thai girl has been rescued from a Tokyo massage parlour where she was forced to serve dozens of customers in a month-long trafficking ordeal orchestrated by the establishment’s owner and her own mother. The girl was forced to work in a massage parlour, serving approximately 60 customers in just one month whilst generating 627,000 yen (around…
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BMW driver pays 5.5 million baht after killing mother and 2 children in Chumphon
A Thai BMW driver faces four years and seven months in prison after a fatal accident that killed a mother and her two children in the southern province of Chumphon last year. She was later granted temporary release. The crash occurred on a highway in Chumphon at around 7.40pm on November 27 last year, when a BMW collided with a…
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Boy, 5, electrocuted on school swing in Northeast Thailand
A five year old boy in Northeast Thailand died after being electrocuted while playing on a school swing, prompting questions over campus safety. The incident occurred on Tuesday, November 4, at a school in Non Suwan district, Buriram province, while the child was playing in the school’s outdoor playground during school hours. Relatives have identified the victim as Atsawin, a…
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Bank of Thailand to roll out new 50 and 100 baht polymer banknotes
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is set to introduce new 50 and 100 baht polymer banknotes, which will officially enter circulation on November 21. BOT Governor, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, said the new banknotes, made from a special polymer material, are more durable and resistant to moisture and dirt. The change aims to keep banknotes cleaner, longer-lasting, and more environmentally friendly. The…
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Thailand to slap import duties on all low-value online goods
Thailand’s Customs Department will begin imposing import duties on low-value online goods to boost revenue and support fair competition for local businesses. The move, aimed at levelling the playing field for local businesses, will target goods previously exempt from import duties and applies to any item valued under 1,500 baht, even those costing just 1 baht. Phanthong Loykulnanta, director-general of…
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Kenyan woman drives car into Chiang Mai moat on Loy Krathong night
A Kenyan woman accidentally drove her red Nissan sedan into a Chiang Mai moat on Loy Krathong night, November 5, after being startled by firecrackers and children’s screams. Channel 7 reported that the accident occurred in front of Wat Lok Molee last night, where attendees were enjoying the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivals. Witnesses alerted officers from Mueang Chiang Mai…
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Patong tunnel will be built, says transport minister amid backlash
Thailand’s transport minister has confirmed a long-delayed tunnel project will proceed as planned, following public backlash and confusion over recent changes. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn moved swiftly to calm the storm, releasing multiple statements through Phuket’s Public Relations Department late Sunday, November 2, to reassure residents and business leaders that the government remains committed to the…
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Thai woman claims rape by three Chinese men in Pattaya home
A Thai woman has accused three Chinese men of raping her at a private residence in Pattaya after a night out at a karaoke bar. The men reportedly met the woman at a pub before inviting her to the house, where the alleged assault took place. The 21 year old woman, identified only as May, filed a complaint with officers…
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Bangkok warehouse erupts in fireball and explosions overnight
A fire broke out at a warehouse in Bangkok during the early hours, causing explosions and thick smoke as firefighters rushed to contain the fast-spreading blaze. The inferno occurred at around 1.45am today, November 6, in Soi Rat Burana 29, in the Rat Burana district of Bangkok. Thick black smoke and intermittent blasts terrified locals as firefighters scrambled to contain…
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Pattaya biker fights for life after smashing into garbage truck
A motorcyclist was critically injured after crashing into a garbage truck during heavy rain on a major road in Pattaya in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crash occurred around 3.30am on November 2 on Sukhumvit Road, inbound to Chon Buri, as torrential rain soaked the streets. The slick road surface is believed to have played a major role…
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Russian QR code drug runner found hiding in Koh Samui hotel
A Russian man wanted for promoting drugs via QR codes was arrested by immigration police after fleeing Phuket and hiding at a hotel on Koh Samui. The suspect, 27 year old Semen Kasparian (also reported as Semian Gaspayan) was arrested by Surat Thani Immigration Police today, November 6, after fleeing an arrest warrant issued in Phuket. The Russian national is…
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Chon Buri worker dies on hammock after booze row with wife
A municipal worker in Chon Buri was found dead on a hammock behind his office after being kicked out by his wife following a dispute over his drinking. Police were called to the Laem Chabang City Municipality staff quarters in Thung Sukhla subdistrict around 8.30am on Monday, November 3, after a 39 year old employee was discovered motionless behind the…
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Foreign man threatens Phuket hotel staff after being denied entry with cat
A foreign man allegedly threatened to stab and shoot a hotel employee in Phuket yesterday, November 6, after being refused permission to bring a cat into the accommodation. The victim shared details of the violent behaviour with the Phuket Times Facebook page, which also released CCTV footage capturing part of the incident. In the video, the foreign man, dressed in…
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Phuket bosses demand action on Kathu-Patong tunnel plan
Business leaders in Phuket are urging the government to move forward with a vital tunnel project, warning that proposed changes could cause costly delays. At a recent press conference, 24 private-sector organisations joined forces to urge the Transport Ministry to move forward without further alterations or delays. The 3.98-kilometre tunnel, approved by the Cabinet on August 26, comes with a…
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Thailand braces for cool snaps and storms as Kalmaegi nears
Thailand will face cooler mornings in the north and storms in the south, as changing weather patterns and an incoming typhoon bring shifting conditions. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for shifting weather patterns influenced by a monsoon trough stretching across the upper south, the Gulf of Thailand, and into a low-pressure cell over Vietnam’s coastal region.…
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Finnair piles on Thailand flights for winter sun seekers
Finnair has announced it will boost flights to Thailand for the upcoming winter season, aiming to meet rising demand from European travellers seeking warmth. The airline will offer 25 weekly flights to the kingdom, marking a significant increase in capacity and forward planning for the Nordic carrier. Currently operating three daily services to Thailand, Finnair is adding another daily flight…
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