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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Moving to Thailand? Here are the health documents you should prepare before you go
The Thaiger key takeaways Valid passport, visa documents, health certificate, and vaccination records are essential for immigration and medical care in Thailand. Health insurance that meets visa requirements, like Cigna, provides protection, direct billing, and access to a wide hospital...
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Thailand braces for floods and heavy rains amid monsoon trough
Heavy rain and rough seas are expected across Thailand as a monsoon system moves in, prompting warnings for residents and travellers to stay alert. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warned that residents in affected areas should be cautious of heavy to very heavy rainfall, which could lead to flash floods and overflows, particularly along foothills, near waterways, and in low-lying…
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Thai king endorses Anutin’s new Cabinet of 36 ministers
Thailand’s new Cabinet was officially endorsed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, allowing the prime minister and ministers to take office following a recent leadership change. The announcement was published in the Royal Gazette today, September 19, allowing the ministers to proceed with their oath-taking ceremony before the king and formally present their policy statement to Parliament: Thailand’s final step…
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Chinese fugitive caught in Phuket after 272-day overstay
A Chinese man wanted for embezzlement was arrested in Phuket after being tracked to a restaurant by immigration officers for overstaying his visa in Thailand. The 37 year old man, identified only as Peng, was arrested by Phuket Immigration officers on Wednesday, September 17, after investigators tracked him to a Chinese restaurant in the Wichit area. Peng was wanted in…
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Pensioner’s 1 million baht scam foiled in central Thailand (video)
A man was caught by police after attempting to help a pensioner withdraw a large sum of cash from a bank account in suspicious circumstances. The attempted scam was stopped just in time thanks to quick-thinking bank staff who flagged suspicious behaviour and alerted police before the man could disappear with the cash. At around 3.30pm yesterday, September 18, officers…
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Thailand finance chief vows to steady baht, probe gold trade
Thailand’s incoming finance minister pledged to work with the central bank to stabilise the baht and investigate irregular capital flows and gold trading. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, who is set to take office as finance minister, made the pledge after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met with Thai Chamber of Commerce chairperson Poj Aramwattananont yesterday, September 18. Ekniti said he had already begun…
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Pattaya cannabis vendor claims highway police extorted cash
A young cannabis vendor reported to Bang Lamung police that highway officers stopped him on a motorway, assaulted him, and extorted tens of thousands of baht. The vendor, identified as 21 year old Khemudom “Boom” Fafueangwitayakul, filed a complaint with Bang Lamung Police on Wednesday, September 17. He alleged that between four and five highway officers pulled him over at…
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4 Brits arrested after robbing American lawyer in Phuket heist
Police in Phuket arrested four British nationals after an American tourist was ambushed on his motorbike and robbed of a luxury watch worth millions of baht. The violent attack, which was caught on dashcam and widely shared on social media, took place on Layan Soi 7 in Cherng Talay district, Thalang. A blue car struck the victim’s motorcycle before two…
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Northern Thailand machete attack leaves teen with severed wrist (video)
Police arrested a machete-wielding suspect at a Lamphun checkpoint after a violent Chiang Mai clash left several teenagers seriously injured. The suspect, identified only as Mong, was caught at a drug checkpoint in Mueang Tha district while attempting to flee on a motorcycle. Police said Mong was wanted for his role in a violent clash earlier this year that left…
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Thai AirAsia X unveils 3 new routes for December takeoff
Thai AirAsia X will launch three new international routes from Bangkok to destinations in Central Asia, Northern Asia, and the Middle East ahead of the holiday season. The budget long-haul carrier announced that it will begin services to Almaty, Sendai, and Riyadh, giving Thai travellers more choice for winter escapes while opening fresh gateways for inbound tourism. From December 1,…
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Thailand video news Thai Forces Use Rubber Bullets After Border Dispute with Cambodians, Monk Arrested for Meth Hidden in Alms Bowls in Bang Lamung
Thailand has seen a week of intense headlines spanning security, crime, culture, and commerce — from border clashes with Cambodia and calls for tougher action on animal cruelty, to stricter penalties on late-night drinking and a monk’s arrest for hiding meth in alms bowls. Meanwhile, Phuket reels from a high-profile robbery, Thaksin’s daughters visit him in prison, Shopee posts…
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American tourist rammed off bike and robbed in Phuket attack
An American tourist was attacked on a Phuket road when two men rammed his motorbike with an SUV before robbing him of a luxury watch and fleeing the scene. The assault happened at about 4.20pm yesterday, September 18, on Soi Layan Soi 7, heading towards Ban Phru Somphan, when a blue Ford Everest SUV struck the tourist’s red Honda motorbike…
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Bang Lamung trains 150 volunteers for disaster response
Bang Lamung has launched a disaster training programme to equip volunteers with the skills needed to protect residents and tourists during future emergencies. The opening ceremony took place at the district office’s Civic Hall, where Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharapatch Srinthanyanon launched the 2025 Volunteer Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Training Programme. The initiative, named Enhancing the Efficiency of Disaster Prevention…
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Taxi turf war erupts as Phuket drivers block cruise cab
Police intervened at Phuket’s main cruise port after local taxi drivers blocked an outside cab from collecting tourists, sparking a tense standoff. The confrontation erupted at about 3pm at Phuket Deep Sea Port in Wichit, shortly after the Genting Dream cruise liner arrived with 4,200 foreign tourists. According to police, around 60 community taxi drivers gathered at the pier and…
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Pattaya police bag award for teaming up with locals
Police in Pattaya have been honoured with a national award for launching a project that builds community cooperation to strengthen crime prevention efforts. The initiative, launched by Pattaya City Police Station, focuses on building a network where residents and police work together to tackle crime and improve safety in the city. It was singled out from more than 1,400 police…
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Knife thug robs Saraburi gold shop, takes customer hostage (video)
Police are hunting a knife-wielding robber who held a customer hostage during a gold shop robbery in Saraburi, central Thailand, escaping on a motorcycle with stolen jewellery. The incident took place at Por Udomsuk gold shop in Tha Lan market, Ban Mo district, at around 4.30pm on Wednesday, September 17. Police Captain Sombat Phonsing, deputy investigation chief at Banmor Police…
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Thailand battered by heavy rains as monsoon drags on
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of heavy rainfall across multiple regions, urging residents to brace for flash floods, runoff, and rough seas. The warning, issued yesterday, highlights a monsoon trough stretching across the central, eastern, and lower northeastern regions into an active low-pressure system over the South China Sea. At the same time, the southwest monsoon prevailing over the…
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Bang Lamung monk busted with meth hidden in alms bowls
A Buddhist monk in Bang Lamung was arrested after police discovered methamphetamine hidden in alms bowls and other items, following a public tip-off. The arrest took place yesterday, September 17, after officials received information via the Broken Down Bang Lamung LINE application, which allows residents to report crime and misconduct. Acting on the complaint, District Chief Patcharapat Srithanyanon led a joint…
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Thaksin’s daughters bring cash and comfort to jailed ex-PM
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra received a family visit at Klong Prem Central Prison, where his daughters offered moral support and left him with 15,000 baht for expenses. The visit came after the Supreme Court ordered Thaksin to serve a one-year prison term earlier this month, stemming from three cases concluded two years ago. He was transferred to Klong Prem…
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Pickup driver busted for fake tax sticker trick in Chumphon
Police in Chumphon, southern Thailand, arrested a pickup driver who altered his expired tax disc with a marker to avoid fees after he was caught during a routine highway checkpoint. The man, identified as 39 year old Nakarin from Ubon Ratchathani, was stopped at a checkpoint on Highway 41 in Wisai Tai, Sawi district, around 11am on Tuesday, September 16.…
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Hunt on for driver after car smashes Phuket U-turn barrier
Police in Phuket are searching for a driver who fled after crashing into a newly built U-turn barrier in Thalang, an incident caught on video and shared online. The crash happened late on Tuesday, September 16, near the Thalang power station in Baan Lipon, Srisoonthorn. The impact, captured on video and widely shared on social media, shows a sedan slamming…
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Thai curry rice championship set to spice up Bangkok
Thailand has launched a national curry rice championship to crown the country’s top chefs and promote Khao Gaeng as a global symbol of Thai culinary culture. The event, organised with the Thai Restaurant Association and other partners, aims to showcase Khao Gaeng as an iconic dish that reflects Thailand’s culinary heritage while boosting its profile on the global stage. Tourism…
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Shopee shatters records with 9.9 shopping spree frenzy
Online shopping platform Shopee celebrated the 10th anniversary of its 9.9 campaign with record-breaking sales, as Thai shoppers placed over 1 million orders within minutes of launch. According to Kongkrit Lawlertratana, head of marketing commercial at Shopee Thailand, shoppers placed over one million orders within just 30 minutes of the campaign launch on September 9. “The 9.9 campaign highlighted the…
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Lopburi villagers demand crackdown on serial animal abuser
Villagers in Lopburi are calling for urgent action after a 20 year old man was accused of repeatedly abusing animals, raising fears for community safety. The disturbing allegations emerged after a video clip circulated online showing the man sexually assaulting a female dog in a bathroom near his home in Wang Khon Khwang, Khok Samrong district. The footage, filmed by…
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50 Chumphon politicians jump ship to back Anutin’s Bhumjaithai
Around 50 politicians from Chumphon have defected from the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) to join Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party (BJT). The group was officially welcomed at BJT headquarters yesterday, September 17, by senior party figure Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. Among the defectors were Chumphon MPs Chumpol Chulasai and Wichai Sudsawat, along with Nopporn Usit, president of the Chumphon Provincial…
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Trang man dies after ambulance fails to arrive in time (video)
A 60 year old man collapsed near a hospital in Trang and died after waiting in vain for an ambulance, raising questions over Thailand’s emergency response system. The victim, identified as Charoen, a hotel caretaker from Sikao district, was pronounced dead on September 12 after suffering an acute heart attack. His family say the tragedy highlights serious failures in the…
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Thailand video news Thailand Endorses UN Vote Supporting Two-State Palestine Solution, Japanese Teens Arrested in Japan for Smuggling Cannabis from Thailand
Thailand is navigating a diverse set of headlines — backing a UN vote on the two-state solution for Palestine, preparing to hike air travel fees, and losing its spot to Vietnam as the top destination for Chinese tourists. Domestically, poverty and household debt remain pressing challenges while authorities push for tougher penalties on repeat drunk drivers. Meanwhile, Japanese teens…
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Agoda touts Asia’s hidden gems in Tourism Day push
Agoda has highlighted rising interest in Asia’s secondary destinations as travellers seek unique experiences, with searches outpacing traditional hotspots this year. The digital travel platform revealed that accommodation searches for lesser-known spots are growing 15% faster than for traditional tourist hubs compared to the same period last year. The shift is particularly visible in countries such as Thailand, India, Indonesia,…
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French tourist drowns after late-night swim at Patong
A French tourist drowned on Patong Beach after being swept away by strong currents during a late-night swim, despite red warning flags along the shore. Patong Police confirmed the victim as 53 year old Laurent Simon, who had arrived on the island just a day earlier with his brother, sister and brother-in-law. The family reportedly entered the water behind the…
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Patong lifeguards warn as venomous bluebottles wash up
Lifeguards at Patong Beach have issued a warning after venomous Portuguese man o’ war jellyfish washed ashore, urging tourists to stay cautious in the water. Lifeguards raised the alarm after several of the creatures were found along the sand. Patong Surf Life Saving urged beachgoers not to touch or play with them, stressing that anyone stung should immediately seek assistance…
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Thai police fire rubber bullets at Cambodian border clash (video)
Thai riot police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse Cambodian civilians who clashed with security forces during a border confrontation in Sa Kaeo. The confrontation took place yesterday afternoon, September 17, in Khok Sung district, near Ban Nong Ya Kaeo, where the border is marked between posts No.42 and No.43. Thai police had earlier reinforced the area with…
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