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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Californian man found dead in Patong hotel room
An American tourist was found dead in his Patong hotel room, prompting police to launch an investigation into the cause of death. Police have launched an investigation after a 31 year old American man was found dead in his hotel room on Nanai Road in Patong, Phuket. The tourist, who had travelled from California and checked into the hotel alone,…
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Chinese man caught posing as tour guide at Pattaya pier
A Chinese national was arrested in Pattaya after being caught guiding tourists without a licence, prompting legal action by tourism officials and police. The man was apprehended at Laem Bali Hai Pier. The operation was led by Jaturon Phakdeewanich, Director-General of the Department of Tourism, and Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phueak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police Bureau. The crackdown focused…
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More Thai women opting out of motherhood, survey shows
A nationwide survey conducted by the Thai Health Department has revealed that only 63% of Thai women aged 19 to 49 wish to have children, raising concerns about future birth rates and the need for stronger state support around reproductive health. The study, which included 404 women with an average age of 34.2, also found that just 53% possessed sufficient…
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Patong’s promenade revamp drags on with no end in sight
A major promenade upgrade in Patong has fallen behind schedule, with only partial progress made and no confirmed completion date. The long-awaited redevelopment of the Thaweewong Road promenade in Patong has hit a major snag, with only 30% of the work completed, well past its deadline and with no firm end date in sight. Kittisak Morasilp, Director of Patong Municipality’s…
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Chon Buri truck crash kills woman, injures 5 in pile-up
A fatal crash occurred when a truck overturned on a Chon Buri highway, triggering a multi-vehicle collision that left one person dead and several injured. The crash rocked Highway 331 in the early hours of yesterday, September 26, after an 18-wheeler lost control and triggered a four-vehicle pile-up in Khao Mai Kaew, Chon Buri. The incident occurred at 1.06am on…
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Thailand braces for Bualoy storm chaos with heavy floods ahead
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued the second warning regarding Tropical Storm Bualoy, forecasting heavy rainfall across regions in Thailand, including Bangkok, with an 80% chance of precipitation. Affected today, September 27, are 47 provinces, with intense rain expected in the northeast and eastern regions, particularly in provinces such as Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Chaiyaphum, Khon…
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‘Eel of fortune’ has locals hooked on lucky lottery numbers (video)
A rare albino eel with golden markings was discovered by a villager in Phetchabun, central Thailand, sparking a local lottery frenzy as residents sought lucky numbers. The fishy phenomenon emerged yesterday, September 25, after a video clip showing the striking eel went viral on social media. Filmed by Amnat Phonok, a resident of Phu Toei village in Wichian Buri district,…
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Russian pickup driver surrenders over viral sex video in Phuket
A Russian man surrendered to police today, September 26, admitting that he was the driver of the black pickup truck featured in the viral sex video in Phuket. The explicit footage, showing 23 year old Russian national Georgii and a 42 year old Thai woman engaging in sexual activity on the moving vehicle along Phuket Bypass Road, to the ire…
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RTAF signs mega deal for high-tech Airbus tanker jet
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has announced the purchase of an advanced Airbus 330 Multi Role Tanker Transport Plus (MRTT+) to strengthen aerial refuelling, transport, and rescue capabilities. The RTAF has taken a major leap in defence capabilities by placing an order for the A330 MRTT+, a cutting-edge refuelling and transport aircraft based on the advanced A330neo platform. The…
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Nearly 10 million smuggled cigarettes seized in Phuket sting
Phuket Airport Customs have intercepted a massive haul of illegal cigarettes worth more than 71 million baht in what is being hailed as one of the island’s largest-ever anti-smuggling operations. The seizure, confirmed by customs officials, involved a total of 9.57 million contraband cigarettes and was made as part of a national crackdown targeting violations of customs and intellectual property…
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Old woman saved after being left to scavenge for food in Bangkok condo
A non-profit organisation, Be One, rescued an elderly woman who had been abandoned to live alone in a Bangkok condominium and was forced to search for scraps of food in rubbish bins. A 35 year old resident of the same condominium, identified only as A, reported the matter to Be One in the hope of finding a solution. A explained…
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Apple Watch saves kayaker stranded at sea off Pattaya coast
A young kayaker was rescued off the coast of Pattaya after rough sea conditions capsized his vessel, prompting him to send an SOS alert via his Apple Watch. The man, identified as 24 year old Santiphong, was paddling from Krating Lai Beach to Koh Larn last night, September 25, when strong waves overwhelmed his kayak, flipping it and leaving him…
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Thai government pushes capital shake-up to win back investors
Thailand’s new government has unveiled plans to overhaul capital market regulations in a bid to restore investor confidence and boost economic growth. The newly installed administration has pledged to roll out urgent capital market reforms ahead of the next election in a bid to boost investor sentiment and economic momentum. At the centre of the plan is a sweeping regulatory…
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Body of Myanmar man found floating off Pattaya Beach
A Burmese man’s body was found floating near a popular beachside area in Pattaya late at night, prompting police to investigate the circumstances of his death. A 34 year old Myanmar national was discovered dead off the shores of Pattaya Beach late yesterday, September 25, in a case that has left police piecing together the final hours before his death.…
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Hungry elephant raids Korat BBQ shop in midnight rampage
A wild elephant from Khao Yai wandered into a barbecue restaurant in Nakhon Ratchasima during the night, causing damage while searching for food. The elephant, named Plai Biang Lek, was caught on CCTV casually wandering into a pork barbecue restaurant in Nakhon Ratchasima province during the early hours of yesterday, September 25, rummaging through the kitchen in search of a…
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Chiang Mai police caught extorting money from foreign tourist
A viral video emerged showing a police officer in Chiang Mai extorting money from a foreign motorcyclist, prompting an investigation into alleged corruption. The Facebook page Guru Guroo Chiang Mai shared the video yesterday, September 25, with the caption, “Another viral video! Thai police asked for ‘something’ from a foreign tourist. What’s that thing? The incident occurred near Chiang Mai…
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Thaksin put to work cleaning drains during prison sentence
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been assigned to supervise drain-cleaning work during his prison sentence, according to his daughter Paetongtarn. The 39 year old Pheu Thai Party leader revealed her father’s new role during a visit to Klong Prem Central Prison in Chatuchak, Bangkok, where Thaksin is serving a one-year sentence. The 76 year old veteran politician was sent…
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Rabies alert: Cat sparks animal epidemic zone in Bangkok
A rabid cat found in a Bangkok suburb has prompted officials to declare multiple areas epidemic zones to stop the spread of the deadly virus. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has declared multiple areas in and around the capital as temporary animal epidemic zones after a cat tested positive for rabies in Lam Luk Ka, Pathum Thani. The announcement, made…
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Thailand video news | Russian man arrested amid outcry over viral Phuket pickup “sex” video, Thai actor accuses police of lax response after major home theft
Thailand saw a turbulent week of headlines spanning crime, public safety, and politics. Authorities arrested two Russian nationals in separate high-profile cases — one linked to a viral Phuket “pickup sex” video and another for running an illegal motorbike rental on Koh Pha Ngan — while Bangkok officials scrambled to fix a leaking pipe near Samsen Road amid public fears.…
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Drug addict found dead in Chon Buri police station cell
A drug suspect was found dead in a Chon Buri police cell after being arrested following his mother’s plea for help over his increasingly violent behaviour. The 26 year old suspect, Thorntep Kaewsee, allegedly took his own life using a T-shirt, hanging himself from the iron bars inside his solitary confinement cell at Bowin Police Station. His mother, 61 year…
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Vajira Hospital reopens after Bangkok giant sinkhole scare (video)
A major Bangkok hospital was forced to close after a nearby road collapsed, but has now reopened after engineers confirmed the building is safe for use. Vajira Hospital resumed full medical services today, September 26, two days after a large sinkhole forced the temporary closure of the facility for safety reasons. The hospital, located on Samsaen Road, had shut down…
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Naked tourist dances on Soi Bangla, sparks online backlash
A foreign tourist shocked partygoers after stripping naked and dancing on a busy Phuket nightlife street, drawing criticism and concern from netizens. A video, lasting just 21 seconds, was shared on Facebook and quickly went viral. It shows a man undressing and dancing to loud music, completely oblivious to the stunned onlookers around him. He is later seen picking up…
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Chinese woman accuses Phuket taxi driver of sexual assault attempt
A Chinese woman sought help from locals on a roadside in Phuket after accusing a Thai app-based taxi driver of attempting to sexually assault her yesterday, September 25. Residents who assisted the woman shared details of the incident on the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday. The incident reportedly occurred at around 2am in the Patong area of Phuket. According to…
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Giant monitor lizard crashes dinner plans at Thai restaurant
A large monitor lizard wandered into a restaurant in Thailand, prompting staff to call rescue workers as startled customers fled the unexpected visitor. A large monitor lizard caused a stir at a restaurant in Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday, September 24, after it unexpectedly scaled a wall and entered the premises, prompting panic among early diners and staff. The reptile was spotted…
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Bangkok man found cut in half under bridge, organs missing
A man’s severed body was discovered under a bridge in Bangkok, prompting police to investigate the cause of death and possible links to foul play. A gruesome discovery was made in Bangkok’s Thung Khru district yesterday, September 25, when the severed and decomposing body of a 72 year old man was found under a bridge, with some organs missing and…
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Phuket pickup truck sex: Russian man banned and Thai woman arrested
Police yesterday, September 25, arrested a Thai woman who was caught having sex with a Russian man in the back of a moving pickup truck on a road in Phuket. She claimed the foreign man threatened her into making the video and paid her 1,000 baht. An explicit video of the Russian national, 23 year old Georgii, and the 42…
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Pattaya bike thief found asleep next to stolen motorcycle
A man was caught sleeping next to a stolen motorcycle in Pattaya after it was taken from a repair shop, prompting the owner to alert local police. A brazen motorcycle theft in Pattaya ended with the suspect being found fast asleep next to the stolen vehicle, still clutching the keys. Bunsit Chinnawattraprapha, a 30 year old motorcycle repair shop owner,…
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Phuket boat captain dies in 500kg meth bust at sea
A massive haul of meth was seized from a tourist boat in Phuket after a late-night raid, leaving one crew member dead while trying to escape arrest. More than 500 kilogrammes of crystal meth were seized from a tourist dive boat anchored in Chalong Bay, Phuket, during a late-night police operation. The vessel’s captain, a 61 year old Myanmar national…
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Storm warning: Wild weather and high waves batter Thailand
Thailand is bracing for more intense weather as the monsoon trough sweeps across the upper North and Northeast while typhoon Ragasa, now downgraded to a depression over China, fuels unstable conditions across the country. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of isolated heavy to very heavy rain across northern and northeastern regions, with flash floods and water runoff likely…
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Russian man arrested over viral Phuket pickup sex video
Police arrested a Russian man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok after he was caught in a viral video having sex on a moving pickup truck in Phuket. A Thai motorist who witnessed the explicit act filmed the couple and shared the footage on social media. The pair were seen engaging in sexual activity on the back of the pickup…
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