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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Jet fuel spill in Khon Kaen prompts emergency response
A collision involving an 18-wheel truck and a truck carrying 48,000 litres of jet fuel occurred in Khon Kaen province. Emergency services yesterday, March 17, worked to transfer the highly flammable fuel, which is three times more volatile than petrol, to prevent any ignition. The incident took place on a bypass road in Khon Kaen’s Mueang district, specifically between Ban…
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Vape and escape: Pattaya police snuff out illicit puff trade
In a bold move to clamp down on the illegal vape trade, Pattaya City Police arrested three in a late-night sting operation. The raid resulted in the confiscation of seven fruit-flavoured vapes and the arrest of the suspects for illegally selling electronic cigarettes. At around 11.36pm, yesterday, March 17, the police launched the operation after gathering intelligence about a group…
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Truck driver shot in Chon Buri road rage incident
A trailer truck driver was shot in the arm after a terrifying encounter with another vehicle. The incident occurred at 4pm, yesterday, March 17, in Chon Buri’s Phanat Nikhom district. The police were alerted to the shooting near Pho Tak intersection in Namatuem subdistrict. Upon arrival, they found a white and blue Isuzu truck with bullet holes in its windshield…
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British pedophile’s 27-year run in Thailand ends (video)
A notorious British paedophile, who evaded capture for nearly three decades by living under a stolen identity in Thailand, has finally been brought to justice. Richard Burrows, faced Chester Crown Court and was found guilty of a staggering 54 offences against young boys, marking the end of one of the UK’s longest-running manhunts. The shocking extent of Burrows’ crimes was…
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Breath of trouble: Drunk Thai asthmatic attacks hospital staff
A drunk Thai man with asthma attacked three medical workers at a hospital in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, claiming he was simply afraid of dying from medical devices. Pictures and videos showing a Thai patient attacking medical workers at Nong Han Hospital in Udon Thani circulated on Thai social media yesterday, March 17. Three medical workers were injured…
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Severe hailstorm in Ratchaburi damages homes and crops
A severe summer storm in Ratchaburi, accompanied by a hailstorm, has caused extensive damage to homes and agriculture, affecting around 200 households and 50 rai of crops. The storm struck the Kaem On subdistrict in Chom Bueng district on Sunday, March 16, toppling trees and causing major power outages. Local officials, including Chom Bueng’s district officer, Taweesin Songcharoen, and Kaem…
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Thailand considers raising pension age to 65, SSO clarifies
The Social Security Office (SSO) has clarified that the proposed increase in the retirement age for pension eligibility from 55 to 65 is a suggestion from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and is not yet implemented in Thailand. SSO Secretary General Marasri Jairangsee indicated that this idea, initially presented by the ILO, has been under consideration by the SSO since…
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Iranian tasered after trying to stab Phuket hotel workers with syringe
Thai police officers used a stun gun to subdue an Iranian man who went on a rampage yesterday at a hotel in the Karon area of Phuket and attempted to stab hotel workers with a syringe. Officers from Karon Police Station were alerted to the foreign man’s rampage at 6.11pm yesterday, March 17, and rushed to the scene. The suspect…
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Thailand halves visa-free stay to curb illegal business activities
Thailand plans to shorten the visa-free stay period from 60 to 30 days to mitigate the misuse of the visa exemption programme by illegal businesses. This decision follows a principle agreement among relevant government officials, as reported by the Tourism and Sports Ministry. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong indicated that the Foreign Ministry has acknowledged the issue, which has…
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Bangkok road sweeper gains fame as model after portrait by Russian man
A Thai road sweeper went viral on social media after a Russian photographer shared her portrait from a street photoshoot in Bangkok’s Chinatown on his TikTok account on Friday, March 14. The Russian photographer, Semyon Rezchikov, typically shares videos of himself taking portraits of people he meets on the street in each country he visits. The video shows the reaction…
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Thai and mighty: Thunderstorms roll in with a chilly twist
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of thunderstorms across 28 provinces from today, including Bangkok, with strong winds and hail expected in some areas. Temperatures are predicted to drop by up to 3 degrees Celsius. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates thunderstorms, strong winds, and possible hail in the northern, central, and southern upper regions of Thailand,…
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Police colonel caught with cheat sheet in Thai judicial exam
A police colonel was reportedly caught bringing a cheat sheet into a judicial examination room, as confirmed by the Administrative Court, who assured that no examination leak occurred. The incident, highlighted by the social media page Big Krian, happened on March 15. The Administrative Court’s office issued a statement today, March 17, addressing the situation where an exam candidate brought…
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Thai tomboy breaks up with girlfriend for refusing to back false assault
A Thai tomboy broke up with her girlfriend last night after the woman refused to support her false claim of physical assault at an entertainment venue in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. Officers from Bangpu Police Station and rescuers from the Ruam Kusol Samut Prakan Foundation were alerted to a physical assault at a bar in Soi Bang Lam Phee…
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Volunteer escapes car bomb attack in Pattani, vehicle damaged
A female territorial defence volunteer today narrowly escaped a car bombing in Pattani province. The explosion severely damaged her vehicle, which caught fire. Emergency services responded promptly to assist at the scene. At 10am, today, March 17, the incident occurred in Mueang district’s Moo 2, Ban Cho Kapo, Karubi subdistrict. The volunteer, Suriyanee, was en route to work from her residence…
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Thai woman loses hand after shirt caught in motorcycle wheel
A Thai woman lost her left hand at the weekend after her shirt was caught by the wheel of a motorcycle while travelling on a road in the southern province of Songkhla. CCTV footage of the motorcycle accident circulated on Thai social media platforms after it occurred on Saturday, March 15. The video showed the victim, 55 year old Sudarat…
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Arrested Thai woman laughs after brutal murder of transwoman
Police arrested a Thai woman at the weekend, suspected of having a mental illness, for the brutal murder of a transwoman in the eastern province of Rayong. A 29 year old Thai man, Prasit Yeesunhom, filed a complaint at Pluak Daeng Police Station on Friday, March 14, stating that his friend had stumbled upon the dead body of a woman…
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Slapstick: Foreign man, ladyboy clash in Pattaya showdown (video)
A dispute over a motorcycle in the early hours of this morning spiralled into a fiery face-off between a foreign man and a ladyboy on the vibrant streets of Pattaya. The foreigner found himself on the receiving end of a stinging slap from a ladyboy, sparking a call for order in the bustling seaside resort. The altercation erupted at 1am,…
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Thai woman alleges black magic after ex-colleague’s strange rituals
A woman turned to a social media page for help after accusing a former colleague of using black magic against her. The black magic dabbling colleague alleged Bow stole her boyfriend, despite never meeting him. The incident occurred yesterday, March 16, at the office of the Sai Mai Must Survive page. Bow, a 28 year old woman from the Sukhapiban…
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Man shoots temple disciple in Pathum Thani, claims self-defence
An altercation in Pathum Thani led to gunshots when a man opened fire and injured a temple disciple, claiming self-defence. Eyewitnesses shared that the pair had an ongoing dispute for quite some time leading up to the near-deadly confrontation. Yesterday, March 16, officers from Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station in Pathum Thani responded to reports of a shooting in front…
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Police nab drug dealer with 43 kilos of meth in Nakhon Pathom
Thai police apprehended a drug dealer in Nakhon Pathom province, recovering 43 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, 2,000 methamphetamine pills, and over 800 e-cigarettes. Officials suspect connections to a car pawn gang and plan to coordinate with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board for asset seizure. Investigations by Metropolitan Investigation Team 8 led to the arrest of 38 year old…
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Baht luck: German and Indian tourists pickpocketed in Pattaya
A German man yesterday lost about 6,000 baht in cash while an Indian man lost over 13,000 baht in a pickpocketing incident in Pattaya. The 67 year old German victim, Manfred Frey, along with his Thai wife and his friend, visited Mueang Pattaya Police Station yesterday, March 16, to report the theft. He stated that he was pickpocketed outside a…
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Shoddy washing machine sparks fire in Pattaya
A fire broke out in a large housing estate in Pattaya last night when a clothes dryer caught fire in a home within the Ek Mongkol 4 community in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district. Emergency services and Pattaya’s Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan rescue team quickly responded to the scene at at 9pm, yesterday, March 16, to contain the situation. The fire…
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Thai tourism ministry cracks down on foreign-led tour businesses
The Ministry of Tourism affirmed its commitment to investigating foreign businesses and nominee operations in key tourist areas. In 2024, 40 licences were revoked. The ministry insists that tour companies and guides must be Thai. Natreeya Thaweewong, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, yesterday, March 16, addressed concerns raised by a former Phuket MP regarding foreign…
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Bolt from the blue: Transport Ministry speeds up rider crackdown
The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has put the pedal to the metal with Bolt, urging a rapid revamp of rider registrations to meet the Department of Land Transport (DLT) standards. The move aims to deliver safe and cost-effective services across Bolt’s platforms, as revealed by MoT Deputy Permanent Secretary Sorapong Paitoonphong. Following a high-profile meeting, Sorapong highlighted key resolutions, including…
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Community aids suicidal woman at Bang Pakong pier
Police and rescue services in Chachoengsao intervened to aid a 54 year old woman contemplating ending her life at the Bang Pakong pier behind the Chachoengsao Vocational College. The woman, Add, seen crying and wearing a motorcycle taxi vest, was safely brought to safety by rescue personnel yesterday, March 16. Add shared her story, revealing her deep sorrow over her inability…
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Dope busted: British nationals caught in Kho Samui cannabis caper
Four British nationals were collared in Thailand for their alleged role in a colossal cannabis smuggling scheme. The suspects were apprehended at Koh Samui Airport with a staggering 131 kilogrammes of marijuana as they prepared to jet back to the United Kingdom. The bust, yesterday, March 16, was a coordinated effort by the Surat Thani Immigration Investigation Unit, Koh Samui…
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Thai couple bring 24kg of cannabis to Japan in luggage mix-up
A Thai couple and their tour guide narrowly avoided charges after the couple mistakenly took the wrong luggage, belonging to a foreigner, and entered Japan with 24 kilogrammes of cannabis, which is illegal in the country. A Thai tour guide posted in a Facebook group called กลุ่มคนชอบตะลอนเที่ยวญี่ปุ่น (meaning a group for anyone who loves travelling around Japan) on Friday, March…
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Motorcycle crash on Highway 331 kills couple in Chachoengsao
A tragic accident occurred yesterday involving a motorcycle carrying three people that collided with a Toyota Fortuner on Highway 331 in Phanom Sarakham district, Chachoengsao province. The crash resulted in the death of a married couple, while another person sustained serious injuries. Police Lieutenant Pattana Pinich from the Nong Nae Police Station received a report about the accident and proceeded…
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Rescue diver’s body found in Ping River after fishing accident
The body of a 34 year old rescue diver, has been discovered in the Ping River after he went missing while fishing. His body was found yesterday, March 16 at a whirlpool, following an extensive overnight search by a rescue team in Chiang Mai province. On March 15, Tonkla or Ditsakorn was fishing near a sand pier in Hod district,…
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Thailand video news | Chiang Mai tops global air pollution rankings amid regional fires, Java’s sinking coast displaces residents
In today’s Thailand news update, Alex and Jay bring the latest headlines from across the region. Thai authorities arrested four foreign nationals at Samui Airport for smuggling 110 kg of cannabis, just a day after another major bust. Meanwhile, Chiang Mai has topped the global air pollution rankings due to cross-border fires, sparking health concerns. In entertainment, Kim Soo-hyun’s past…
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