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 Best weed shops in Chinatown, Bangkok [2025]
Bangkok's Chinatown isn't just for roast duck, gold shops, and neon-lit chaos anymore. Head over to Yaowarat Road and you'll find another kind of smoke drifting through the air. Yes, the weed scene had landed. Loud, proud, and surprisingly stylish....
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Lottery luck: Past winning numbers revealed
A comprehensive list of winning lottery numbers from January over the past 10 years, as provided by Sanook News, is presented below as the lottery draw for January 2 approaches. The statistics reveal potential lucky numbers based on previous draws. In analysing the lottery results from January over the last decade, several patterns and recurring numbers emerge. This historical data…
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Thai ‘wizard’ halts ritual after viral couple intercourse chanting video
A Thai “wizard” in the Isaan province of Udon Thani ended an explicit ritual after a video of him chanting in front of a foreign couple during sexual activity went viral on Thai social media. The ritual came to public attention after the Facebook page Esor News shared details on Wednesday, December 25. The page posted a picture of a…
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From hippo stardom to scandals: Thailand’s unforgettable 2024
What a whirlwind year it’s been for Thailand’s lifestyle and entertainment scene! From record-breaking achievements to shocking scandals, 2024 was packed with drama, joy, and surprises that left the world watching in awe. Here’s a look at the personalities who defined the year. Move over Kardashians; Moo Deng is here! Born on July 10, this pygmy hippo turned into an…
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Thailand celebrates National Wildlife Protection Day
Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) celebrated National Wildlife Protection Day yesterday with the theme World – Wild – Life Balance: Sustainable Ecosystems for People, Wildlife, and Forests. The event included the official opening of the National Park Tourism Year 2025, aiming to enhance Thailand’s beaches to international standards. The ceremony took place at the Government…
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Missing Bangladeshi man found high on crystal meth in Bangkok hotel
Police yesterday, December 26, found a Bangladeshi man, reported missing by his concerned mother, relaxing and using crystal methamphetamine in a hotel room in the Bang Na area of Bangkok. Officers from the Immigration Bureau launched a search for the 30 year old Bangladeshi financial consultant, Abu Alkasim, after his mother reported him missing. She revealed that she lost contact…
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Thailand allows daily airport alcohol sales to boost tourism
The Prime Minister’s Office has implemented a regulation allowing the daily sale of alcoholic beverages at major international airports. This directive, detailed in the Royal Gazette on Christmas Day, became effective yesterday, December 26. The modification aims to align legal practices with the current situation, an observer noted. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, following the counsel of the Alcoholic Beverage Control…
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Thailand’s top destinations gear up for new year surge
A jaw-dropping wave of tourists is set to descend on Thailand’s favourite hotspots this new year, with Phuket leading the charge and Chiang Mai hot on its heels. Here’s how the Land of Smiles is gearing up for the festive frenzy. Phuket is bracing for an influx of over 230,000 visitors between December 28 and January 1, projected to inject…
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Thai tourist police arrest 20 foreign sex workers on Pattaya Beach
Thai tourist police officers arrested 20 foreign sex workers for illegally working and offering sexual services on Pattaya Beach in the early hours of today. Officers from the Pattaya Tourist Office announced the crackdown on foreign sex workers to the public. They revealed that the arrests were made at about 1am today following complaints from both locals and tourists in…
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Frenchman loses 6,000 euros to foreign sex worker in Phuket
A Frenchman lost 6,000 euros in cash (approximately 210,000 baht) to a sex worker of colour in Phuket on Christmas night, December 25. The Facebook news page Phuket Times reported today that the French victim took a foreign sex worker to a hotel after a Christmas party in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket. He was intoxicated and subsequently fell asleep.…
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Fight breaks out between 2 foreign men on Bangla Road in Phuket
Two foreign men engaged in a fight using Muay Thai and wrestling skills on Bangla Road in Phuket on December 25, drawing hilarious comments. Some Thai netizens remarked that it was just another typical day on Bangla Road. A video of the altercation between the two men was shared yesterday, December 26, on the Facebook pages of Phuket Times and…
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Festive cops hit Pattaya Walking Street with candies
Tourists in Pattaya got an unexpected festive surprise on Christmas Day as the city’s Tourist Police doled out sweets to delighted visitors while promoting the Thailand Tourist Police app, a tool designed to enhance safety and provide quick assistance across the country. “Safety doesn’t take a holiday,” quipped one officer, handing out candy to a group of tourists. The app,…
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Man’s goodwill exploited as woman steals motorcycle in Chon Buri
A 57 year old man fell victim to a theft after his goodwill gesture was exploited by a woman who absconded with his motorcycle. The incident unfolded yesterday, December 26, in the area of Moo 5, Ban Phu Thai, Khao Mai Kaew subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Thaworn, a construction worker, had reported the theft to Surasing Sookmak,…
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Traffic congestion rises as Thai motorists head home for new year
Traffic congestion has begun as people return home for the new year celebrations. Roads across Saraburi, particularly Phahonyothin and Route 304, are seeing increased volumes of vehicles, prompting traffic police to expedite the flow towards the gateway to Isaan. Reports yesterday highlighted the growing traffic on Friendship Highway as people journey back to their hometowns for the new year festivities.…
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Thai police halt illegal migrant smuggling in dramatic Phetchabun chase
A dramatic chase unfolded yesterday, December 26, as police pursued a group smuggling illegal migrant workers in Thailand. Two vehicles, packed with a total of 26 individuals, were intercepted in Phetchabun, revealing an illicit operation that charged 1,000 baht per head. Police officer Warabodin Lertsupasinstit, leading the Highway Police Division 5, was alerted to a potential smuggling attempt involving migrants…
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4 Pattaya teenagers arrested for brutally attacking and robbing Belgian man
Police arrested four Thai teenagers yesterday, for brutally assaulting and robbing an 80 year old Belgian man in Pattaya on Christmas Eve, December 24. A 38 year old Thai woman, Phonthip, alerted officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station and rescuers to assist the injured Belgian man, identified as 80 year old Richard Ander M. Van Bogaert, at a village in…
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Motorcyclist dies in Lampang crash, tragic call reveals news
A tragic accident claimed the life of a young man when his motorcycle veered off the road and struck a utility pole, resulting in his immediate death. While police and medical personnel were examining the scene, a call came through on the deceased’s phone, delivering the heartbreaking news to a shocked woman. Around 8.45pm yesterday, December 26, Siriwetch Jaisanwong, a…
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From seed to fortune: The Chearavanont family’s billion-dollar rise
What started as a humble seed shop in Bangkok has blossomed into one of the world’s wealthiest empires. The Chearavanont family, with a staggering net worth of US$44.1 billion (approximately 1.5 trillion baht), ranks 19th on Bloomberg’s list of the 25 richest families globally. Here’s how they did it. A century ago, brothers Chia Ek Chor and Chia Siew Whooy…
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Thai father kills 2 children before committing suicide, only 8 year old boy survives
A desperate Thai father committed a murder-suicide involving his three children after his wife requested a divorce to start a new family. Tragically, only an eight year old boy survived the horrific incident. The distressing event took place in a bathroom near Mae Khao Tom Reservoir in the northern province of Chiang Rai at around 7.30am on Wednesday, December 25.…
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Thailand video news | British Woman Arrested for Drunken Hotel Incident in Pattaya, Dutchman Injured in Poolside Fall in Pattaya
Today we’ll be talking about the tragic death of a Thai influencer in a drinking challenge, a baby gorilla smuggling plot foiled by authorities, and a little later leaders in South Korea, Cambodia, and Taiwan all facing dire legal challenges. British Woman Arrested for Drunken Hotel Incident in Pattaya A British holidaymaker’s Christmas took a wild turn after an alleged…
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SRT ready to take over delayed 120-billion-baht airport rail project
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is poised to take over the high-speed rail (HSR) project connecting Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and U-Tapao airports if the current contractor falls short. This project, delayed for five years, is currently managed by Asia Era One, a joint venture involving CP Group. SRT’s governor, Veeris Ammarapala, expressed readiness to assume control should the Eastern…
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Thailand to impose stricter penalties for drunk drivers
Drunk drivers in Thailand will soon face stricter penalties, as announced by Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. The government plans to collaborate with the Interior Ministry to enforce tougher laws aimed at reducing traffic accidents. Suriya highlighted the growing concern over traffic accidents, especially those caused by drunk driving, smartphone distractions, drowsiness, speeding, and other traffic violations. According to the Don’t…
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Thai actor DJ Man freed after acquittal in Forex-3D fraud case
Thai actor Pattanapol Mintakhin aka DJ Man was released from prison after being acquitted in the Forex-3D fraud case. The court’s decision brought relief to his family, who were eagerly waiting outside the Bangkok Remand Prison. DJ Man, who had been in custody, was greeted by his parents and ex-wife, Baitoey, upon his release. Emerging from the prison at 7.55pm…
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Bangkok to Loei bus crash in Chum Phae leaves one dead
A Bangkok to Loei bus tragically veered off the road in Chum Phae, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. Rescue teams promptly responded to the scene to offer assistance and transport the injured to hospital facilities. The accident occurred at 6.50am today, December 27, when the bus lost control near the Don Lan Forest Park junction on Maliwan Road…
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Thailand boosts child welfare benefits to 1,000 baht monthly
Thailand’s Social Security Office (SSO) has announced an increase in child welfare benefits for insured individuals, with payments rising from 800 baht to 1,000 baht per month per child. This adjustment will take effect in January 2025, following a decision made by the Cabinet on December 17. The move is aimed at encouraging childbirth among insured citizens, as Thailand faces…
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Elephant rampage devastates village in Chanthaburi province
A group of wild elephants recently stormed a village in Khlong Daeng, Chanthaburi province, causing significant damage to a house and rubber plantation. This incident followed merely two days after a young male elephant was shot and killed in the area. Residents alerted local police after several elephants invaded the village, wreaking havoc by destroying a house and toppling numerous…
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Indian customs seize haul of weed smuggled from Bangkok
Five travellers arriving from Bangkok were busted in a brazen smuggling attempt at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Christmas Day. Indian customs officials seized a staggering 26 kilogrammes of hydroponic marijuana—worth 26 Indian crores (approximately 104 million baht)—ingeniously concealed in everyday household items. Acting on a tip-off, the Indian Customs Department intercepted the suspects shortly after they…
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Top official inspects Phuket’s safety amid landslide scandal
A high-profile visit to Phuket has reignited scrutiny over the island’s safety protocols and infrastructure as former Vice Governor and now Inspector-General of the Ministry of Interior, Supoj Rodruang Na Nongkhai, returned on Christmas Day. Supoj, whose career has soared since leaving Phuket in 2020, arrived to review critical policies including tsunami preparedness, illegal hotels, and landslide prevention. Accompanied by…
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Cyber theft in Udon Thani drains 2.4 million baht from firm
A significant cyber theft incident involving a mobile banking app has emerged, affecting an accountancy firm in Udon Thani. The firm found its bank accounts emptied of 2.4 million baht across three banks, and the lack of notification about these transactions has raised serious concerns. Ornanong Boonto, managing director of a company in Moomon, Mueang district, shared her experience to…
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Young man dies in big bike and pickup collision near sugarcane field
A tragic accident occurred when a young man tragically lost his life in a collision between a big bike and a pickup truck near a sugarcane field. The incident prompted police to initiate an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. At 7.30pm yesterday, December 26, Noppol Han Khunthod, an investigator from Khao Din Police Station in Photharam district,…
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Holiday mayhem: Govt unveils free tolls plan for New Year’s Eve
The Thai government has announced measures to ease the expected holiday travel chaos. With a staggering 34 million trips anticipated, the Ministry of Transport has unveiled a chaotic cocktail of free tolls, trial road openings, and even free camping spots in a desperate bid to keep the nation moving. Happiness Festival Everywhere in Thailand is the rather optimistic slogan for…
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