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 Why long-term expats in Thailand say insurance is worth every baht
Thailand’s warm weather, low cost of living, and good healthcare attract many long-term expats, including retirees and remote workers. Life here feels easy and affordable, but medical costs can be high if something goes wrong. Private hospitals are popular because...
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Thai man dies surrounded by over 100 beer bottles in Rayong home
A Thai man died in his home in the eastern province of Rayong, with over 100 empty beer bottles discovered in his bedroom. Reports suggest he turned to heavy drinking due to severe personal stress. Rescue workers from the Siam Rayong Foundation were called to a house in the Ban Chang district to assist the man, who was reportedly suffering…
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Tonnes of toxic beef haul uncovered in Pathum Thani
More than 41 tonnes of dodgy beef and organ meat—allegedly soaked in toxic formalin—have been seized from a cold storage warehouse in Pathum Thani, sparking fears over contaminated food in Bangkok’s markets. Acting on a tip-off, officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), in coordination with officials from the Livestock Development Department, raided a sprawling cold storage facility covering…
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Flatline shocker: Two Foreign men found dead in Pattaya condo
Two foreign men were found dead in eerily similar circumstances just two hours apart, and just two floors apart, in a Pattaya condo, sparking a full-blown police probe into the bizarre double tragedy. Pattaya police were left scratching their heads yesterday, July 17, after the bodies of a Swedish man and an Australian man were discovered in separate rooms of…
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Paetongtarn vows Buddhism reboot after monk scandals
After a string of monk scandals that has left Thailand reeling, Culture Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stepped into the spotlight, promising a bold revamp to rescue the tarnished image of Buddhism. In a public statement on social media, Paetongtarn, who also heads the ruling Pheu Thai Party, declared her mission to restore public confidence in the country’s dominant religion, warning that…
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Thai MPs accuse government of trading national security for tariff cuts
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) MPs accused the government of concealing a significant deal with the United States from the public, claiming officials plan to allow the US to use a naval base in southern Thailand in exchange for a tariff reduction. A group of MPs from the Palang Pracharath Party, led by Phang Nga MP Chakaj Phatthanakitwibun, held a press…
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Charges urged against 229 over Thai Senate vote-rigging scandal
An investigative panel has urged charges against 229 people, including executives from the Bhumjaithai Party, related to allegations of extensive vote-rigging during Thailand’s Senate election last year. The Election Commission (EC) must now evaluate these findings to decide on further action, which might involve petitioning the Constitutional Court to disband the Bhumjaithai Party. The group of accused comprises 138 sitting…
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Durian and gone! Thai jailbird’s dream life stolen by ex-husband
A Thai woman who dreamed of a quiet life growing durians after prison was left in tears, after discovering her dodgy ex-husband flogged her home and orchard behind her back while she was locked up. Fresh out of prison and ready to rebuild her life, 53 year old Ratchaneeporn was hoping to return to her family home in Chumphon and…
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Thailand Video News | American caught smuggling 6.6kg of Heroin at Phuket Airport, Thailand taps crypto to attract digital-savvy tourists
A South Korean influencer goes viral in Pattaya with a bizarre “Kappa” haircut that has locals laughing and livestreamers watching. A Russian teenager is caught vandalising a Pattaya overpass with graffiti. In Hua Hin, live military-grade explosives discovered next to a bin spark a bomb squad emergency. A British tourist is violently assaulted in Chiang Mai over a disputed karaoke…
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Kuwait ’til dark: Pattaya’s Middle Eastern night riders in firing line
Young Middle Eastern night riders brought late-night mayhem to a Pattaya street this week, sparking a bust-up that had locals fuming and cops revving into action. A confrontation between two gangs of Middle Eastern youths on Soi Yen Sabai on July 16 sent tempers flaring and engines roaring, as the summer influx of Kuwaiti college kids hit Pattaya’s streets with…
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Frenchman in Phuket claims he buried dog alive by mistake
A Frenchman in Phuket defended himself against accusations of animal cruelty, claiming he believed one of his three Siberian Huskies had already died, prompting him to bury it in his yard. A foreign woman yesterday, July 17, took to an online community to raise concerns about the welfare of her neighbour’s Siberian Husky. She reported hearing a distressing howl and later witnessed…
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Trigger-nometry: Songthaew driver goes ballistic in Thai traffic tiff
A hot-headed songthaew driver lost the plot during a road rage bust-up in Chumphon, pulling out a gun and blasting two men in broad daylight after a row over right of way. The chaos erupted at around 3pm yesterday, July 17, just 300 metres from Chumphon City Hall, when a red public taxi pickup suddenly cut in front of a…
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Love feud sparks gunfight at Phatthalung sports event
What was meant to be a night of community celebration turned into a battleground, as a simmering love feud exploded in gunfire at a district sports event in the southern province of Phatthalung, leaving two teenagers fighting for their lives. Yesterday, July 17, officers from Pa Phayom Police Station responded to an emergency call reporting a shooting at the annual…
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Bangkok spa inferno guts building in early morning blaze
Flames ripped through a Bangkok spa at dawn today, sending thick black smoke billowing into the skies above Siam Square and gutting parts of a four-storey building. At 6.40am today, July 18, the 199 emergency hotline received a report of a fire raging at a commercial property on Siam Square Soi 3, off Rama I Road in Pathum Wan district.…
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Banking on trouble: SCB scales back as storm brews in Thailand
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is battening down the hatches and scaling back its operations for the next 12 to 18 months, warning of tough times ahead as Thailand’s economy hits choppy waters. SCB Chief Executive Kris Chantanotoke painted a bleak picture of the months to come, blaming soaring household debt, sluggish growth, and the threat of US tariffs for the…
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Shock decision: Electricity bills stay high despite energy dip
Electricity bills in Thailand are set to stay stubbornly high for the rest of the year, despite falling fuel costs, lower demand and a stronger baht. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has chosen to freeze the power tariff at 3.98 baht per unit, brushing aside options for a cheaper rate, even as economic conditions hinted at a possible reduction. The…
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Heavy rainfall and strong winds sweep Thailand amidst storm
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across Thailand, with strong winds expected in the upper Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand in the coming week starting tomorrow. This announcement coincides with Tropical Storm Vipa intensifying. The alert, announced today, July 18, highlights that numerous areas of Thailand are expected…
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Thailand booms as Hat Yai steals budget travel spotlight
Thailand continues to attract record-breaking numbers of tourists in 2025, with Chinese, Malaysian, and South Korean travellers leading the way. Meanwhile, Hat Yai is gaining traction as one of Asia’s most affordable and exciting travel hotspots. Agoda, one of Asia’s top digital travel platforms, has released fresh data showing Thailand continues to dominate regional tourism in the first half of…
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Thai man missing after bamboo hunt in Khon Kaen forest
A Thai man went missing on a mountain in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen after foraging for bamboo shoots with his family members on July 11. His mother reportedly provided “unclear information” to officials. The 52 year old mother, Samorn, filed a missing persons report at Nong Ruea Police Station on July 11, stating that her 24 year old…
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South Korean influencer goes viral with ‘kappa haircut’ in Pattaya
A South Korean social media influencer went viral on Thai social media for his unique haircut and hilarious video content, with Pattaya serving as the backdrop. The owner of Sixteen Barbershop Pattaya shared pictures and a video of the quirky South Korean customer on his Facebook page, Barber King, on July 11. The footage showed the man receiving an unusual…
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Thailand pushes China to fast-track fruit and rice exports
Thailand is turning up the heat on China to help fast-track its tastiest exports—from sweet tamarinds to juicy pomelos—in a high-stakes trade push aimed at cracking the world’s biggest consumer market. The Ministry of Commerce is pulling out all the stops to promote Thailand’s prized Geographical Indication (GI) products in China, urging Beijing’s top trade agency to speed up the…
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Russian teen busted for Pattaya pier graffiti
A 16 year old Russian boy has been caught red-handed after launching a midnight graffiti attack on Pattaya’s iconic Bali Hai Pier Overpass. In the early hours of today, July 17, Pattaya City’s Special Affairs Unit swooped in on the teen, identified only as Dobrynia, as he vandalised the structure with spray paint. The sharp-eyed officer spotted the youth in…
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NBTC to revise mobile tariffs, cheaper packages under 240 baht
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is revising mobile phone tariffs, encouraging operators to introduce cheaper Blue Flag Packages from the current cap of 240 baht per month. Yesterday, July 16, acting Secretary-General of the NBTC Trairat Viriyasirikul announced that today’s NBTC meeting covered a total of 86 agenda items, with 25 items reviewed. These included business operation permits,…
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Pattaya investigates oil pollution in local water source
In response to community complaints regarding a significant water source, an investigation has been initiated by local officials. Pattaya officials have launched an investigation into oil and grease pollution discovered in drainage near a local restaurant Concerns were raised about a drainage pipe situated near a popular cycling spot opposite a well-frequented restaurant, close to the Hot Two Point intersection…
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Boom in the bin: Hua Hin rocked by live grenade and C4 find
Rubbish collectors got more than they bargained for when a pile of deadly military explosives was discovered beside a bin in Hua Hin, sparking a full-scale bomb squad operation and a police investigation that’s now gripping the quiet coastal town. At around 11.30am yesterday, July 16, police were alerted by a concerned resident who spotted a suspicious object dumped next…
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Pattaya cops rescue Russians with highway bike push
Two stranded Russian tourists were left stunned—and grateful—after a team of Pattaya police officers came to their rescue in one of the city’s more unusual displays of public service: pushing a broken-down motorbike through traffic with nothing but a boot and big hearts. The drama unfolded around 9.40am yesterday, July 16, when the couple’s motorbike battery unexpectedly died right in…
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Thai firms face US tariffs amid trade war challenges
The Board of Investment (BoI) has introduced measures to support Thai entrepreneurs in coping with the repercussions of the US tariff policy and the ongoing trade war. These measures range from ceasing the promotion of solar panel manufacturing to encouraging the adoption of new technologies in factories. The decision regarding photovoltaic (PV) panel production is part of the BoI’s strategy…
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Phuket governor wins top honour for anti-drug crusade
Phuket’s top official just bagged a royal seal of approval—and a national spotlight—for leading the fight against drugs. Governor Sophon Suwannarat has been crowned with the coveted Outstanding Governor award for his role in championing the To be Number One campaign, a youth-focused anti-drug initiative that’s making waves across Thailand. The award was handed out during the star-studded To be Number…
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Thai transgender hairdresser asked for HIV test after client’s pimple bursts
A transgender hairdresser took to social media to share her shocking experience of a client and her mother fearing that she would spread HIV, even though she is HIV negative. The 35 year old hairdresser, Watchara “Emmy” U-phat, shared the story on Facebook on July 13, along with a photograph of her HIV test from Korat Medical Laboratory. The result…
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Ubon manhunt after machete attack leaves girl, 4, blind
Police in Det Udom district announced a manhunt for a suspect involved in the attack on a four year old girl, which left her blind. The suspect has a criminal record with over 10 drug-related cases. The incident occurred on June 28 in Ubon Ratchathani province. Ekaphop Luangprasert, the owner of the Saimai Must Survive Facebook page, visited Ubon Ratchathani…
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Teenagers steal 600 baht from gas station in Chon Buri
Five teenagers riding motorbikes, locally referred to as dek waen, were captured on CCTV committing theft at a gas station along Highway 331 towards Chachoengsao, in Moo 4, in Chon Buri, Thailand. The incident took place at 2.18am on July 13, . The CCTV footage reveals the group arriving on two motorbikes after fleeing a police checkpoint and stopping at…
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