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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UAE tourist loses 14,500 baht to foreign pickpockets in Pattaya
A tourist from the United Arab Emirates lost around 14,500 baht in cash after being pickpocketed by two foreign men in Pattaya yesterday, January 14. The victim, 45 year old Mohamed Abdelkaliq Abdalla Khadim Almaazmi, filed a complaint with Mueang Pattaya Police Station at around 7am on Tuesday, January 13, after realising that cash had gone missing from his trouser…
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Thailand News|Massive crane collapse in Korat trains claims dozens of lives,Thailand sees strong tourist numbers in early 2026, Thailand’s night markets shine in global rankings
Today we’ll be giving you an update on the horrifying crane collapse that claimed dozens of lives yesterday, the United States is officially halting visa processing for Thai applicants in less than a week, and a little later we’ll try to brighten your day with news about tourism numbers, exotic wildlife, and Thailand’s thriving night markets. Massive Crane Collapse in…
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Nonthaburi police arrest Myanmar woman for teaching hairdressing
A Myanmar woman was arrested in Nonthaburi yesterday, January 14, for allegedly running an unlicensed hairdressing school for fellow Myanmar nationals in Bang Bua Thong, violating Thai labour laws that reserve the profession for citizens. The arrest followed an investigation by Nonthaburi immigration officers after video evidence emerged showing the woman teaching hairstyling at a house in Bua Thong…
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People’s Party MP candidate arrested over alleged online gambling links
Police arrested a Member of Parliament (MP) candidate from the People’s Party yesterday, January 14, at his home in Bangkok over alleged involvement in an online gambling network and money laundering. Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) raided the residence of 32 year old Ratchapong “Pond” Soisuwan at around 5.30pm. The property is located in Nuan Chan Village,…
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2 killed as crane collapses onto 2 vehicles on Rama II Road
At least two people were killed after a construction crane collapsed onto two vehicles travelling along Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon province near Bangkok this morning, January 15. The fatal incident occurred at around 9.25am outside the Paris Garden Hotel in the Tha Chin sub-district. The crane was part of a bridge construction project above Rama II Road, one…
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Anutin rejects 40k payout for victims of crane collapse
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed strong disapproval of the proposed 40,000 baht compensation for victims of a fatal crane collapse, urging the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to immediately revise its approach to victim support. Yesterday, January 14, Anutin visited the site where a crane collapsed during a railway construction project, killing over 30 people. He received a briefing from…
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SRT to sue contractor after 100m baht Korat train damage
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to sue the contractor responsible for a crane collapse that struck a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday, January 14, causing more than 100 million baht in damages and resulting in multiple casualties. The incident occurred at approximately 9.30am yesterday in Sikhio district and involved a high-speed rail construction site for the…
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Thailand among 75 nations hit by US visa processing suspension
The United States will temporarily suspend immigrant visa processing for Thailand and 74 other countries, effective January 21, 2026, as part of tighter immigration screening under its America First policy, the US State Department announced on January 14. The immigration visa freeze targets applicants from countries where migrants are said to disproportionately rely on public assistance after settling in the…
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ITD accepts responsibility after crane collapse kills 31 in Korat
Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited (ITD) issued an official statement expressing condolences and accepting responsibility following a crane collapse that struck a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Tuesday morning, January 14. The fatal incident occurred at around 9am when a construction crane from the elevated Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed railway project collapsed onto the Bangkok–Ubon Ratchathani passenger train as…
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SHIELD system unveiled at Thai-led trafficking talks with 18 nations
Thai police have intensified international efforts against human trafficking and cyber scams after officials from 18 countries met in Bangkok yesterday, January 13, to discuss cooperation, data sharing, and tools to tackle transnational crime. The high-level meeting took place at the Royal Thai Police headquarters and was chaired by Police General Thatchai Pitaneelabutr, deputy national police chief and director of…
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Longman’s beaked whale found in Thailand for first time
A rare deep-sea whale has been confirmed in Thai waters for the first time after a carcass washed ashore in Chanthaburi yesterday, January 13, prompting marine experts to investigate its exact species and cause of death. The whale was later identified as a Longman’s beaked whale, also known as Indopacetus pacificus, one of the least commonly observed cetaceans in the…
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Bus passengers clash after woman criticises driver over delays in traffic jam
A heated argument broke out between two passengers on a public bus in Bangkok after a woman repeatedly complained about slow driving during heavy traffic congestion, sparking irritation among fellow commuters. A witness shared a video of the incident on TikTok account @gotobedwithnext yesterday, January 13. The footage showed a woman dressed entirely in black engaging in a verbal confrontation…
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Distressed woman walks naked near hospital in Udon Thani
A woman caused a stir in Udon Thani yesterday, January 13, when she was seen walking naked in broad daylight near Udon Thani Central Hospital. What followed was a troubling account involving alleged abuse and a desperate cry for help. Police and rescue personnel were dispatched after a concerned citizen reported the incident around noon. The woman was found clothed…
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Thai rapist remains at large after drugging and raping 15 year old girl
A Thai mother demanded a punishment on a rapist who drugged and sexually assaulted her 15 year old daughter in Rayong province in 2024. The 52 year old victim’s mother met the commander of the Rayong Provincial Police, Pramote Ngampradit, to seek justice after the rape case had no development since it occurred in July of 2024. The suspect remains…
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Bird of prey spooks locals in Ang Thong with low swoops
A Brahminy kite has caused panic in a community in Ang Thong province after it began swooping at residents in broad daylight, raising questions about where the bird came from. The sightings were reported by villagers in Moo 11, Sawaeng Ha subdistrict of Sawaeng Ha district. Residents said the bird began flying low over the neighbourhood roughly a week ago,…
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People’s Party MP candidate sues Thai woman for staging vote-buying
A parliamentary candidate from the People’s Party in Saraburi province announced legal action against a woman who admitted staging a fake vote-buying incident to attract attention on social media. The controversy began on Monday, January 12, when a Thai woman posted a photo on her Facebook account, Rungnapa Kotphuthorn. The image showed a 1,000-baht banknote placed together with a election…
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6 boat workers at Chalong Bay Pier in Phuket tested positive for drugs
Phuket Tourist Police intensified safety measures at Chalong Bay Pier following a fatal speedboat accident involving a drug-fuelled driver, with random drug tests revealing that six boat workers tested positive for illegal substances. Officers from Phuket Tourist Police, Marine Police, Chalong Police Station, and Marine Department Region 5 jointly announced stricter controls targeting drug use among workers in the tourism…
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Thailand News | Drunken foreigner sparks chaos and passenger clash on Thai train, wanted french crime figure nabbed in Pattaya, Filipina tourist issues apology
Today we’ll be talking about some viral incidents on Thai Trains and hotel balconies, French and Russian crime figures being tracked down and arrested, and a little later Thailand is mulling age limits for social media users. 1) Drunken Foreigner Sparks Chaos and Passenger Clash on Thai Train A foreign man believed to be heavily intoxicated caused a disturbance on…
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Death toll rises to 22 in Korat train crash after crane collapse
Local rescue teams reported this afternoon, January 14, that the death toll from a train accident in Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, rose sharply from four to 22, with more than 50 people injured. The fatal incident occurred at around 9am on a railway line in the Baan Thanon Kot community in the Sikhiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima. The track…
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Myanmar man goes on car-smashing rampage in Satun
A Myanmar national was arrested yesterday morning, January 13, after allegedly damaging 19 parked vehicles in Satun’s La-ngu district using stones and a digging tool. The incident occurred around 3am in Moo 6, La-ngu subdistrict, where the suspect, a 45 year old man identified only as Saw, was captured on CCTV picking up a stone and smashing two cars parked…
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Baby elephant Khao Tom’s journey ends in Suphan Buri
A three-month-old elephant calf named Khao Tom died yesterday afternoon, January 13, in Suphan Buri after a rapid decline in health, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The female calf passed away at 3.40pm at the Bueng Chawak Wildlife Management Development Centre, where she had been receiving intensive care from veterinarians and wildlife officials. Her…
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Thai man attacks 3 Cambodian nationals after repeated ‘ladyboy’ taunts
A Thai worker at a cannabis shop in Bangkok physically attacked Cambodian customers after allegedly enduring repeated harassment and being mocked as a “ladyboy”. The shop owner released CCTV footage of the incident, which occurred at around 2am on Sunday, January 11, saying he wanted justice for his employee. The video shows the 26 year old shop worker, Jirayu, rushing…
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Cambodians fleeing poverty caught at Thai border in Chanthaburi
The Royal Thai Navy caught a group of Cambodian nationals yesterday, January 13, as they tried to enter Thailand illegally by walking through a forested section of the Chanthaburi border during the night. The arrests were carried out under the command of the Chanthaburi-Trat Border Protection Command. According to Royal Thai Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Parat Rattanachaiyaphan, 71 migrants, including…
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Russian mother flies to Pattaya to search for son missing with US$10,000
A Russian mother travelled to Pattaya to search for her son, who has been missing since January 7 after reportedly carrying US$10,000 in cash, or about 320,000 baht. The 51 year old Russian woman, Olga, gave an interview to Thai media through an interpreter in the early hours of today, January 14, expressing deep concern for the safety of her…
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Filipina tourist apologises after viral rant about English in Thailand
The Filipina tourist, Ann Berdin, who sparked online backlash for complaining that English is useless in Thailand, has responded in a video posted today, January 13, clarifying that she meant no harm and was simply sharing her experience. In the now-deleted viral clip, the tourist had vented her frustration, saying no one in Thailand seemed to understand English, including…
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Russian drug dealers arrested during ‘mushroom temple’ raid in Phuket
Police arrested two Russian men and seized around 10 kilogrammes of magic mushrooms during a raid on a property dubbed the “Mushroom Temple” in the Rawai district of Phuket today, January 13. A Russian woman managed to escape from the arrest. Officers from Chalong Police Station launched the operation after receiving complaints that Russian nationals were illegally selling magic mushrooms…
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Romance scammer cons Thai widow out of 500k baht
A widow from Nonthaburi filed a complaint yesterday, January 12, with a justice foundation after she was allegedly deceived by a man she met on a dating app, resulting in the loss of nearly 500,000 baht in cash and valuables. At the Foundation Campaigning to Reclaim Social Justice (CRSJ), 43 year old Manida, a lottery vendor, sought help from chairman…
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Foreign man assaults train officers sparking retaliation from Thai passengers
A foreign man, believed to be heavily intoxicated, allegedly assaulted two Thai train officers before being attacked by fellow passengers and forcibly removed from a train. The incident was filmed by a witness, Ameenah Tokyousoh, who shared the footage on his Facebook account yesterday, January 12. The video showed chaos inside a passenger carriage, but the exact route and location…
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Thai woman killed after saving colleague from loader accident in Phrae
A Thai woman lost her life in a tragic workplace accident in Phrae province after sacrificing herself to save a colleague from being struck by a loader at an agricultural product store. Officers from Mueang Phrae Police Station were alerted to the fatal incident at around 2.30pm yesterday, January 12. Police arrived at the agricultural product store in the Mae…
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Quick-thinking Thai teen outsmarts call centre scammer in Chai Nat
A call centre gang tried to scam an 18 year old student in Chai Nat out of 50,000 baht yesterday, January 12, but quick thinking and help from his parents and police turned the tables just in time. The student, nicknamed Ikkyu, received a morning call from someone claiming to be a mobile network manager, who accused him of involvement…
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