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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How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Legless British tourist sprawls sparks mile-long jam in Pattaya
A legless British tourist brought central Pattaya to a standstill after collapsing in the middle of a busy road and refusing to move, triggering a tailback nearly a kilometre long. The bizarre booze-fuelled blockade unfolded at 5pm on June 23, when stunned drivers reported a foreign man lying across the entrance to Soi 11, just off Pattaya Central Road. Senior…
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73 year old woman falls to death from Bangkok condominium
A 73 year old woman tragically fell to her death from the 21st floor of a condominium in the Charansanitwong area, Bangkok. According to rescue workers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, the woman fell from the 17th floor, with her body landing in two parts: one half on the fifth floor, near a fitness room, and the other at ground level.…
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Bolt from the blue: Knifeman clash sparks soi showdown in Pattaya
A row over a blocked driveway nearly turned bloody in central Pattaya after a Bolt motorbike taxi driver allegedly pulled a knife during a furious bust-up with a resident. The drama unfolded around 5.42pm on June 22 in Soi Taengmo, just off the bustling Buakhao strip, when 44 year old Thanisorn Polsongkram, known to locals as James, tried to move…
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Paetongtarn visits Sa Kaeo for border security and crime talks
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is scheduled to visit Sa Kaeo province today to provide support to frontline personnel amid increased border security measures and rising concerns over cross-border crime. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub announced yesterday, June 25, that the visit will start at 10am and will be attended by key Cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham…
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Burning questions: Inferno brews above famed Pattaya beer bar
Staff, holidaymakers and residents fled in panic after an inferno tore through a room above a popular Pattaya beer bar, sending flames and thick smoke pouring into the street. The fire broke out at 5.06pm, yesterday, June 25, in a four-storey building housing The Chalawan Beer Bar on the ground floor, with residential rooms above. It sparked a full-scale emergency…
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Thailand urged to act on gender law after marriage bill
Advocates are calling on the government to speed up the enactment of a gender recognition law following Thailand’s historic legalisation of same-sex marriage. People’s Party MP Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Children, Youth, Women, Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Ethnic Groups and LGBTI+, stated, “Gender recognition is our next mission.” Tunyawaj addressed this during the Law Out…
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Heavy thunderstorms to hit 50 Thai provinces, warnings issued
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today forecasted increased thunderstorms, predicting heavy rainfall in 70% of the three regions. Fifty provinces are expected to face severe weather, prompting warnings about flash floods, forest runoff, and landslides. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that northern Thailand will experience more widespread thunderstorms and isolated heavy rain, particularly in the eastern…
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Motorcycle crash leaves trio bloodied in late-night Pattaya smash
A late-night motorcycle crash left three people sprawled across the tarmac in a tangled mess of twisted metal and bloodied limbs after two black Honda PCX scooters collided head-on in Soi Khao Noi, Pattaya. The smash happened just after midnight, today, June 26, prompting a rapid response from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan rescue team. At the scene, medics found both…
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2 rescued from ravine after motorbike crash near Patong
A dramatic rescue unfolded early this morning as two people were safely retrieved from a deep ravine after their motorbike crashed along the road to Tri Trang Beach, south of Patong. The Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation received an emergency call at 3.05am today, June 25, alerting them to the accident in which a motorbike had plunged into the ravine, leaving the…
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Chiang Rai café caught serving kratom tea to schoolkids
A café in Chiang Rai has been raided by local officials for illegally selling kratom leaf tea to teenage students. The operation, led by Chiang Rai Governor Charin Thongsuk, uncovered a disturbing trend of youths consuming the stimulant-laced tea during school hours and late into the night. Officers found 19 students, some still in school uniform, at the café on…
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Black kitten survives 240km ride under car and finds forever home in Udon Thani
A black stray kitten survived after clinging to the drive shaft under a car for 240 kilometres and eventually found a forever home in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The 58 year old railway officer, Wipachet Soikliao, called rescuers from the Songserm Dham Udon Thani Foundation to help him and his colleagues search for a cat in their welfare…
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MP Rangsiman wins defamation case against ex-senator Upakit
In a major legal victory for opposition MP Rangsiman Rome, the Criminal Court has acquitted him of defamation charges brought by former senator Upakit Pachariyangkun. The court ruled that Rangsiman’s remarks were made in good faith, as part of his duty as a Member of Parliament, and did not constitute defamation. The case stemmed from comments Rangsiman made on April…
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Thailand’s cannabis crackdown: New rules could kill the green rush
Thailand promised to introduce tough new rules to regulate the sale and use of cannabis products in the country. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin signed a new regulation yesterday, June 24, which aims to crack down on widespread cannabis sales, restricting usage and access even further. Under the new rules, all cannabis purchases will now require a medical prescription. Consumers…
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Finnish murder suspect arrested in Thailand by undercover police
Immigration Division 3 investigators disguised themselves as fitness trainers to apprehend an international criminal hiding in Thailand. Finnish national Daniel Reijo Karvonen, wanted for murder and drug-related crimes, was arrested yesterday, June 24, after being under investigation for some time. At 1.30pm, Police Major General Chairit Anurit, head of Immigration Division 3, ordered a team to conduct a raid on…
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Bhumjaithai’s no-confidence motion delayed until July
As the political scene in Thailand heats up, the Bhumjaithai Party’s attempt to initiate a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is likely to be delayed. The chief government whip, Wisut Chai-aroon, indicated that a censure debate could take place in late July, advising the newly formed opposition party to exercise caution before rushing into its role. Responding to…
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Thai businessman loses 22 million baht to mistress, posing as royalty
A Thai businessman lost about 22 million baht to a romance scammer who also posed as royalty to gain his trust. The victim, Thian, and his family appeared on the news programme Hone Krasae to share their story with the public in the hope of finding a solution. Thian explained that he and his wife, Joei, operated a window-cleaning business, but…
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English teacher in Nonthaburi arrested for indecent conduct with students
Police officers in Sai Noi district, Nonthaburi, apprehended 42 year old Thai English teacher from a local college following allegations of indecent conduct involving five students. The arrest, yesterday, June 24, followed a warrant issued by the Nonthaburi Provincial Court, no. J.836/2568. The investigation began when unusual electricity consumption at the director’s unoccupied residence raised suspicions. The power usage had increased…
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Thailand’s overhyped hotspots: Why you should skip the crowds
Once considered the must-visit hotspots of Thailand, cities like Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai, are now losing their appeal among seasoned travellers. Overcrowding, rising prices, and the overwhelming shift toward mass tourism have tainted these once-iconic destinations, leaving many visitors feeling disconnected from the authentic cultural experiences that first attracted them. As a result, more and more travellers are…
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Police uncover Thai nominee company in 500 million baht scheme
Thai police conducted searches in three provinces to target a nominee company run by Chinese investors that leased heavy machinery. It was discovered that Thai employees were designated as the company’s directors, with transactions exceeding 500 million baht. Police Major General Thanphoom Charupraphat, commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division, directed Police Colonel Naruephon Karuna and Police Colonel Krit Woratat…
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Pattaya releases 100,000 shrimp and sea snails to boost marine life
Pattaya is taking significant steps to protect its coastal ecosystem with a major marine animal release event. Deputy Mayor Krissana Boonsawat led the initiative, which saw the release of 100,000 juvenile whiteleg shrimp and 1,000 spotted Babylon sea snails into the sea off Jomtien Beach. Organised in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, the Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Centre…
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Anutin rejects cannabis mishandling claims, opposes casinos
Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul rejected accusations that his party mishandled the cannabis policy, particularly its medical use, and distanced himself from proposals to legalise casinos. Speaking out on the issue, Anutin dismissed the government’s recent plan to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, allowing only medical use, as a reversal of Bhumjaithai’s earlier work, claiming that his party had already…
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Man arrested in Pattaya for copper rods theft worth 100,000 baht
A 45 year old man was apprehended by police while visiting his wife in Pattaya Special Prison yesterday, June 24. He, Yongyut, stands accused of stealing copper lightning rods from numerous petrol stations across Chon Buri, causing damage exceeding 100,000 baht. The arrest was conducted by Police Lieutenant Colonel Kornpong Sukwisit, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at Bang Lamung Police Station,…
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Chinese investment boosts amulet trade in Bangkok’s Pantip Plaza
The amulet business in Bangkok’s Pantip Plaza is booming, with foreign investors, especially from China, driving the trade of Thai Buddhist amulets and sacred objects. The market, once dominated by Thai collectors, has transformed into a major hub for Chinese investors, who have set up shop in the mall to cater to their fellow countrymen. Despite a slight downturn in…
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Man arrested for selling drugs to Koh Pha Ngan tourists
A 22 year old man was arrested for persistently offering drugs to tourists for beach parties on Koh Pha Ngan. The incident occurred at 4pm yesterday, June 24, when Police Lieutenant Vinij Boonchit, Tourism Police Section 5, Division 2, with his investigative team, apprehended Sarayuth with 73.82 grammes of crystal methamphetamine and 150 methamphetamine pills. The arrest took place near…
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Cambodian man dies in storm drain fishing tragedy
A Cambodian man’s tragic death in a storm drain has prompted a warning against fishing in such locations. The 33 year old, identified as Chuean Ra, also known as Yao, was found dead yesterday, June 24, after being trapped for 72 hours in a drain at a water treatment station in Nakhon Ratchasima. On June 22, rescue services received a…
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Smoked: Phuket raid seizes 30,000 illegal cigarettes, woman arrested
Phuket police have made a significant bust, seizing nearly 30,000 illegal cigarettes and arresting a woman in a raid on a rental room in the Ratsada neighbourhood. The operation, carried out on Monday, June 23, follows complaints about the illegal sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to the public and minors. The raid targeted a rental property in Village 6…
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Teenagers arrested for bombing outside Chai Wan Hospital
Thirteen unruly teenagers were apprehended following an incident where they threw homemade bombs outside Chai Wan Hospital in Udon Thani. The explosions, eight in total, alarmed patients and medical staff. The group, who were later caught by the police, claimed they had learnt to create the bombs via the popular YouTube channel. Police Colonel Ratphonchai Pensongkhram from Chai Wan Police…
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China and Thailand strengthen ties on 50th diplomatic anniversary
In a bold reaffirmation of its commitment to strengthening relations with Thailand, China’s Foreign Ministry has pledged to enhance cooperation on law enforcement and mutual growth. This comes as a nine-member Thai delegation, led by Tej Bunnag, Secretary General of the Thai Red Cross Society and former foreign minister, visits Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between…
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Drunken Turkish teenager gets slapped by Thai woman in Bangkok
A drunken Turkish teenager kicked off on Bangkok’s backpacker strip after losing his passport and ended up slapped, tackled, and cuffed after lashing out at a Thai woman near Khao San Road. The 18 year old was arrested in the early hours of yesterday, morning, June 24, after a booze-fuelled meltdown that turned violent, leaving bystanders shocked and police dragging…
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Cambodia hits back at Thailand’s ‘irrational claims’ over energy cuts
Cambodia has hit back at Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s recent claims regarding the cutting of energy supplies between the two nations. On Monday, June 23, Paetongtarn accused Cambodia of cutting off electricity, Internet, and oil and gas supplies to Thailand to combat cross-border crimes. However, Cambodia’s government spokesperson has labelled these claims as “irrational,” asserting that it was Cambodia…
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