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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Cambodia, Laos ban Thai livestock over anthrax fears
Cambodia and Laos have temporarily halted the importation of livestock and related products from Thailand to prevent the spread of anthrax. According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has implemented this precautionary measure and is closely monitoring the anthrax situation in Thailand. The ministry stated that while there are currently no anthrax cases in…
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Lampang and Phayao men arrested for running porn group
Police yesterday arrested two men from Lampang and Phayao, administrators of a secret online porn group named Boarding V.4, for distributing explicit content to increase engagement. The group, with over 500,000 followers, also advertised online gambling websites. Police Major General Witthaya Sriprasertphap, head of the Investigation Bureau, yesterday, May 7, ordered the arrest of 31 year old Pongsakorn and 30…
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Ex-Thai cop nabbed for stealing officers’ funds in Pathum Thani
A disgraced former police superintendent who vanished after allegedly swiping hundreds of thousands in officer allowances has finally been hauled in, ending a years-long game of cat and mouse. Yesterday, May 7, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) arrested Police Colonel Chaiwat, a former head of Lat Lum Kaeo Police Station in Pathum Thani, who had been on the run since…
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Thai politician arrested for drug trafficking in Bangkok bust
The People’s Party Samutprakarn’s Facebook page issued an apology to the public following the arrest of a party candidate for drug trafficking. Yesterday, May 7, police colonel investigators from Min Buri Police Station apprehended 27 year old Apivat, known as Fluke, with a substantial amount of drugs including 480,000 methamphetamine pills, 1 kilogramme of crystal methamphetamine, and 1 kilogramme of…
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Pattaya air con blaze sparks high-rise chaos
Panic swept through a Pattaya high-rise last night as a fire erupted on the 19th floor, forcing a frantic evacuation of terrified residents and tourists. The blaze broke out just after 8pm yesterday, May 7, at a 29-storey condominium located in Soi Chaiyapruek 3. According to the Pattaya City Disaster Relief Centre, flames were first spotted in Room 1911, with…
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Two soldiers injured in Yala province IED attack
Two soldiers were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack targeting military engineers from the 15th Engineer Battalion. The incident occurred at 5pm yesterday, May 7, in Raman district, Yala province, as the soldiers were returning to their base after completing a canal dredging mission. The attack took place in front of a cemetery in the village of Kototura,…
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Trunk and disorderly! Reckless tourist fined for wild elephant selfie
A gung-ho tourist has been slapped with a fine after dangerously cosying up to a wild elephant in Khao Yai National Park, just months after another man was trunked off a moving pickup by a jumbo with attitude. The tourist travelling from Thailand’s eastern region to Khao Yai National Park yesterday, May 7, got far too close for comfort when…
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People’s Party slams pricey Thai Parliament car park project
The People’s Party (PP) disclosed details about another expensive parliamentary project involving the construction of a car park building. Parit Wacharasindhu, an MP from the opposition who leads a House committee focused on political development, mass communications, and public involvement, stated yesterday that the House of Representatives’ secretariat announced a successful bidder for a 104.5 million baht project to design…
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Rescue vehicle runs red light and kills woman on Lamphun road
A rescue vehicle ran a red light in the northern province of Lamphun and crashed into two motorcycles, resulting in the death of a Thai woman. Officers from Mueang Chi Police Station were alerted to the accident at Doi Ti Intersection on the Lampang–Chiang Mai Road at around 8.30pm on Tuesday, May 6. Witnesses reported that a rescue vehicle belonging…
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Midnight copper thief plunges Phuket villas into darkness
A cunning cable thief struck under the cover of darkness in Phuket’s Chalong area, cutting off power to six luxury homes, and leaving residents fuming and fearful of more attacks. At around midnight on Saturday, May 3, a thief dug into the ground at the Siwalee Village section of Land & Houses Park and made off with a bundle of…
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Bitcoin tipped to smash US$100k as crypto bulls charge ahead
Bitcoin is gearing up for a six-figure breakout, with crypto watchers boldly predicting the world’s biggest digital coin could hit a jaw-dropping US$100,000, even as the US central bank holds fire on interest rate cuts. Despite the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) likely keeping rates steady this week, optimism is soaring among investors, thanks to heavyweight institutions snapping up spot…
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Thai provinces braced for storms and heavy rain
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather forecast, predicting thunderstorms and strong winds across 40 provinces, including Bangkok, with heavy rainfall expected in the southern region covering 60% of the area. Residents are advised to exercise caution due to severe weather conditions today, May 8. In the next 24 hours, the upper part of Thailand will experience thunderstorms…
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Aussie tourist drowns near Phuket’s Koh Racha Yai
An Australian tourist tragically drowned on May 6, just off the coast of Phuket’s Racha Island, as he reportedly went for a swim while intoxicated. The 22 year old tourist was initially revived with CPR, but was pronounced dead upon his arrival at a nearby hospital. On May 6, at 2.28pm, the Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre (Pearl Centre) received a…
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Irishman arrested after late-night Pattaya bar brawl
It was a booze-fuelled brawl in the heart of Pattaya’s nightlife strip that left blood on the floor, staff in hospital, and an injured Irishman claiming he’s the real victim. At 3.19am today, May 7, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre in Pattaya received a call about a violent altercation at a beer bar in Soi 6, off Pattaya Second Road.…
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Female passenger steals taxi from Samut Prakan, flees towards Rayong
A female passenger stole a green and yellow taxi from a petrol station in the Bang Na area of Samut Prakan province today, May 7. She reportedly headed towards the eastern province of Rayong. The taxi driver, whose name was not disclosed, reported the theft to local police and JS100 Radio, hoping to enlist the help of other motorists in…
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Bangkok’s SAO collapse sparks charges and corruption probe
The fallout from the deadly collapse of a State Audit Office (SAO) building in March is spiralling into a legal and political firestorm, with engineers, local officials, and shady foreign firms all under the microscope. The Metropolitan Police Bureau is preparing to file multiple charges against engineers and SAO officials responsible for the construction of the building, which came crashing…
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Thai tourists tricked by scam travel agency, losing 5 million baht
A Thai man issued a warning to travel enthusiasts after he and his friends were tricked by a travel agency into purchasing a package tour to Pakistan, resulting in a loss of 240,000 baht. Numerous other victims have since come forward, with total losses estimated at around 5 million baht. The man shared details of the scam on his Facebook…
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Fish from hell: Thai trucker KO’d by flying tuna in Samut Prakan
In a freak accident that sounds more like a scene from a slapstick comedy than real life, a Thai truck driver was left bloodied and bruised after a massive frozen 40-kilogramme tuna fell from the sky, straight onto his head. The bizarre incident happened around 12pm today, May 7, at Suphanawa Pier, Lock 6, in Songkhonong subdistrict, Phra Pradaeng district,…
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30 homes in Samut Sakhon listed for sale due to structural issues
Following widespread concerns, a village in Tha Sai subdistrict, Mueang district, Samut Sakhon province, saw 30 houses being listed for sale due to numerous structural issues. The project identified reasons for the damage and pledged to address the situation promptly, explaining delays in resolution. Today, May 7, the Samut Sakhon provincial governor, Narit Niramaiwong, convened a meeting at the provincial…
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Thai F-16s scramble as Myanmar fighter sparks panic
A Myanmar fighter jet triggered a tense military response this week after flying close to Thai airspace in Kanchanaburi province, prompting the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to deploy two F-16 fighter jets to intercept what was initially classified as an unidentified aircraft. But according to Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, the drama never truly crossed the line, literally. “The aircraft…
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Burmese worker busted in Phuket for 1.1 million baht cash heist
A 23 year old Burmese worker has been arrested for stealing over 1.1 million baht from his employer’s home in Phuket. The Myanmar national, Nye Bo Thet, was arrested as part of a Cherng Talay Police crime suppression campaign running from May 1 to May 7. Police tracked the suspect down and nabbed him outside Building 92 of the Baan…
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Police bust motorcycle theft ring, arrest three suspects
In the early hours of this morning, police apprehended a group involved in motorcycle theft and illegal sales across borders. The operation, led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, resulted in the arrest of three suspects with existing warrants. Wuichai, also known as Kee, today, May 7, was captured on charges of night-time theft committed with an accomplice. The investigation…
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Million-baht bounty: EC offers big cash for election snitching
With municipal elections looming, Thailand’s Election Commission announced it will offer cash rewards of up to 1 million baht for tip-offs leading to proof of election fraud. The move comes amid mounting concerns over vote-buying and irregularities in the lead-up to the May 11 polls, which will see mayoral and council seats contested in 76 provinces. The payouts are part…
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Teen arrested after shooting incident over personal dispute
A teen suspect was arrested following a shooting incident involving 15 rounds, reportedly due to a personal dispute. The 19 year old suspect claimed self-defence, stating, “If we didn’t act, they would have,” following several previous altercations. The incident occurred when two people on a red PCX motorcycle, with an unidentified license plate, stopped and fired approximately 15 shots at the…
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3.0 earthquake hits Nakhon Si Thammarat, prompts evacuations
An earthquake measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale struck Nakhon Si Thammarat at 5.31am today, May 7. Residents in several subdistricts reported feeling tremors, and some areas heard loud noises. Hospitals swiftly evacuated buildings while assessing potential damage. The Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department detailed that the quake occurred at a depth of 1 kilometre in Sai…
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Thai man cites niece’s alleged abuse in murder of her husband
Police arrested a Thai man for the murder of his niece’s husband at a durian plantation in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. He confessed to taking revenge on behalf of his niece, who was repeatedly abused by her husband. Officers from Thasala Police Station responded to the death of 47 year old Thai man, Somchai, at the durian…
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Another brawl on Soi Bangla: Drunk tourists throw punches
In yet another chaotic display of tourist mayhem, a video of a drunken street fight between foreign visitors on the notorious Soi Bangla has gone viral, raising fresh concerns over alcohol-fuelled violence in Thailand’s party capital. The footage, posted by Facebook user Kim Wan today, May 7, captures a short but intense scuffle between intoxicated tourists in the early hours…
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Illegal cigarette network dismantled, 42 million baht fines issued
The Economic Crime Suppression Division, in collaboration with the Excise Department, dismantled a major international illegal cigarette trafficking network. Two Cambodian nationals, 35 year old Chiva Chuoy and 35 year old Nak Khoeun, were apprehended with 50,000 packs of illegal cigarettes, facing fines of up to 42 million baht (US$1.28 million). Yesterday, May 6, at 1.30pm, Police Major General Thasaphum…
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Motorway crash in Chon Buri leaves three trapped in wreckage
A collision on a motorway resulted in a pickup truck crashing into the rear of a trailer truck, leaving three people trapped in the wreckage. Rescue teams were called to the scene, using hydraulic equipment to extricate the victims and transport them to the hospital. The incident occurred at 10.30pm yesterday, May 6, along the inbound lane of the motorway…
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Fuel shock: Thailand hikes petrol and diesel tax as oil prices drop
Motorists across Thailand are bracing for higher fuel prices after the government officially announced a fresh hike in excise taxes on petrol and diesel, just as global oil prices are falling. The move was confirmed by a new ministerial regulation published in the Royal Gazette and will take effect from today, May 7. Issued by the Ministry of Finance, the regulation updates…
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