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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Sponsored Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Thai man claims no intent after his dog dies hanging from truck
A Thai man claimed he did not intend to abuse his pet dog after a viral video showed the animal hanging from his pickup truck while travelling on a road in Udon Thani province. A motorist told the Hone Krasae news programme that he spotted a brown dog hanging from the right side of a pickup truck at around 7pm…
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Thailand signs Gripen Fighter Jet deal with Sweden
Yesterday, 25 August, at 12.20pm local time in Stockholm, Sweden, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampong witnessed the signing of three agreements to purchase Gripen E/F fighter jets. The first agreement covers the purchase of four Gripen E/F jets under Phase 1, valued at 19.5 billion baht (US$600 million). Air Force Commander General Panpakdee Patanakul signed on behalf of Thailand, while…
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Filipino crewman found hanged on gas tanker off Phuket
Police in Phuket are investigating the death of a Filipino crewman who was found hanged aboard a Singapore-flagged gas tanker anchored off Ao Makham. The body of 28 year old John Bernice Tio Brioso was discovered at around 5pm yesterday, August 25, aboard the Hoegh Gandria, which was moored off Wichit. The vessel’s captain, Nikolic Drasco, immediately alerted Thai police.…
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Thailand eyes 5 million Malaysian tourists amid China competition
Malaysia’s tourist target for this year has been adjusted to 5 million, mirroring the figures from 2024, yet this market might achieve a similar number of arrivals as China, remaining unaffected by the border province conditions. Patsee Permvongsenee, the executive director for the ASEAN, South Asia, and South Pacific region at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), noted optimism for…
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Ex-abbot and spiritual medium arrested in AIDS donation embezzlement scandal
Police arrested a former abbot of Phra Bat Nampu Temple and a spiritual medium close to him earlier today, August 26, following the donation embezzlement. The ex-abbot, identified as Alongkot, and the spiritual medium, Sakesan “Bee” Subsuebsakun, had been under investigation over allegations of embezzling donations intended for AIDS patients. Both were suspected of misappropriating funds for personal gain. Alongkot…
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Drug crackdown in Suphan Buri sees monks defrocked, detained
Yesterday, August 25, a drug crackdown in Dan Chang district, Suphan Buri, resulted in five monks and a temple painter being defrocked and detained. This action followed complaints from locals about drug use among monks at two temples in the area. District chief Phan Suksawaeng directed district security officer Phisut Santinakh to lead the operation, which involved local administrative officials…
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Bloody mess: British man slashes neck and wrists at Pattaya hotel
Pattaya police are investigating a shocking incident after a British man slashed his neck and wrists inside a busy hotel, leaving staff scrambling to save his life. Emergency services raced to the scene on Second Road on August 23, following reports that a foreign man was seriously harming himself. Rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation arrived with Pattaya City…
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Man attacks ex-girlfriend, leaps from seventh floor in Samut Prakan
A violent incident occurred in Samut Prakan, where a 24 year old man, Somschai, attacked his ex-girlfriend and her friend with a knife before jumping from the seventh floor of an apartment building. The police received the report at 4.30pm yesterday, August 25, responding promptly alongside emergency services to the scene at a residence in Bang Sao Thong district. Upon…
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Opposition MPs hit with 300 million baht energy defamation suit
Three senior members of the opposition People’s Party (PP) are facing a massive defamation lawsuit from one of Thailand’s energy giants, accused of smearing its reputation in a row over electricity pricing. PP leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut and list MPs Woraphob Wiriyaroj and Supachot Chaiyasat appeared at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road yesterday, August 25, for a preliminary hearing in…
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Thai troops to retaliate against Cambodian border encroachments
Thai soldiers have been granted permission to retaliate immediately if Cambodian troops are detected encroaching on Thai territory. This decision follows reports of Cambodian soldiers, believed to be from the Bodyguard Headquarters unit of Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, being observed near the border monitoring Thai patrols. On August 24, the 2nd Army Region accused Cambodian soldiers of illegally entering…
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Phetchaburi considers alcohol sales on Buddhist days to boost tourism
Phetchaburi is considering permitting the sale of alcoholic beverages on Cha-am beach and surrounding areas during five significant Buddhist days to enhance tourism and boost the local economy. Deputy provincial governor Wanpen Mungsri announced yesterday, August 25, that the proposal suggests allowing alcohol sales on Visakha Bucha, Asarnha Bucha, Makha Bucha, Buddhist Lent, and the end of Buddhist Lent days.…
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Fitness trainer in Bangkok severely injured in fall from building
A 35 year old fitness trainer fell from a three-storey building within Soi Suksawat 62, sustaining severe injuries. The exact cause remains unclear, pending an interview with the injured party. The incident occurred at 10.30pm on August 25, when officers from Rat Burana Police Station and volunteers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation responded to the scene in Bang Mod,…
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Unlicensed tourists hit with fines in Phuket road blitz
Phuket’s tourist roads are under the spotlight after police revealed more than 17,000 foreigners have already been fined this year for driving without a licence. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Major General Sinlert Sukhum confirmed the staggering figure at a provincial meeting yesterday, August 25, chaired by Governor Sophon Suwannarat at Phuket Provincial Hall. Between August 1 and 22 alone, police…
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Four arrested in northern Thailand with 8.2 million meth tablets
On August 25, police in the north announced the arrest of four people in connection with two major drug smuggling cases, seizing over 8.2 million methamphetamine tablets and two vehicles. The suspects admitted to having evaded capture on three previous occasions. Police Lieutenant General Kritthapol Yeesakhorn, alongside Lampang provincial officials, including Nitiya Pongpanich, deputy governor of Lampang province, disclosed details…
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Thai car production slumps as debt and tariffs bite
The Thai automotive sector continues to face challenges this year, with total car production declining by 5.73% year-on-year in the first seven months, impacting employment in car manufacturing plants. Between January and July, 835,331 units were produced. In July alone, manufacturing reached 110,616 units, marking an 11% decrease compared with the previous year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries…
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Thailand video news British Couple’s Thai Retirement Dream Shatters in Legal and Financial Crisis,Bangkok Launches 20-Baht Train Fare Registration Despite Legislative Hurdles
Thailand faces a week of contrasts, from tense border disputes and diplomatic appeals to sweeping policy shifts and cultural milestones. The army’s shoot-to-kill directive against Cambodian troops underscores rising regional frictions, while protests in Phnom Penh spotlight the fallout of recent clashes. Domestically, a legal crackdown on drunk driving, storm alerts, and Bangkok’s push for a 20-baht train…
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Thai goods smuggling thwarted at Cambodia border (video)
In the district of Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo province, Thai officials intercepted an attempt to smuggle Thai goods into Cambodia. While patrolling at Ban Nong Prue, Moo 7, Phan Suek subdistrict, the Burapha Task Force and the 1204th Ranger Company identified two suspicious people pushing carts loaded with large sacks. Upon noticing the officials, the suspects abandoned the carts and quickly…
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SmartLynx Thailand lands first jet ahead of big launch
A new player is taxiing onto Thailand’s aviation scene as Thai SmartLynx Airlines has taken delivery of its very first aircraft, an Airbus A320, signalling its ambitious entry into the country’s skies. The 13.4 year old narrowbody jet, now carrying the Thai registration HS-SXA, touched down at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport on August 22. Previously flown by SilkAir, the A320…
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Missing teen found dazed on Udon Thani bridge, parents relieved
A missing 14 year old boy, locally known as Nong Bank, was found in a dazed state sitting on a bridge in Udon Thani province. He had disappeared from his home in Nong Han district with his motorcycle, prompting his parents to seek assistance through social media. Nong Bank was discovered by Wasan Pathumchai, village head of Ban Chan, Moo…
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British expat’s £1.5 million Thai dream ends in jail nightmare
What began as a dream retirement in Thailand for a British expat spiralled into a nightmare of prison cells, financial ruin, and heartbreak. Martin Savage, a 65 year old retired engineer, says a bitter boundary row with a neighbour over a driveway ultimately cost him everything: his £1.5 million (around 67.5 million baht) property portfolio, his retirement fund, and his…
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Phuket tourists ignore beach red flags, attacks lifeguards
Foreign tourists spat on and assaulted Thai lifeguards on Nai Han Beach in Phuket yesterday, August 25, after the guards warned them not to swim in the sea for their own safety. Witnesses filmed the attack and shared the video with the Newshawk Phuket Facebook page to expose the tourists’ violent behaviour and demand action from local police and relevant…
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Pickup’s sudden turn leaves Pattaya bikers in agony
A routine morning ride turned to chaos in Pattaya yesterday when a motorcycle slammed into a pickup truck, leaving two young riders with serious injuries. At around 9am yesterday, August 25, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Team rushed to the scene of the collision on Chaiyaphruek Road in the Pong-Khao Mai Kaew area. The crash involved a grey Forza 350…
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Passenger plunges from bridge after Bangkok taxi driver falls asleep
An app-based motorcycle taxi rider fell asleep and crashed into a bridge railing in Bangkok, causing his female passenger to plunge onto the road below. The moment was captured on video and shared on TikTok by user @rnatpakan, showing the woman falling from the bridge at the Ratchayothin Intersection in the Chatuchak district at about 7am yesterday, August 25. She…
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Chiang Rai drug bust uncovers 3.5 million meth tablets
Police, military, and administrative officials collaborated in Chiang Rai to dismantle a major drug trafficking gang, seizing 3.5 million methamphetamine tablets and 60 kilogrammes of crystal meth at a petrol station. The operation led to further asset seizures, including cash and properties. On August 24, law enforcement agencies, including the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and regional police, conducted…
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Tropical storm Kajiki brings heavy rain and strong winds to Thailand
Tropical Storm Kajiki made landfall in Thailand this morning, impacting upper northeastern regions before weakening and moving into Nan province by the evening. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for heavy rainfall in 40 provinces today, August 26. Over the next 24 hours, heavy rain is expected in areas of northern, upper northeastern, eastern, and western southern…
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Thai man loses 40,000 baht after allowing friend to access debit card
A Thai man finally received justice nine years after losing 40,000 baht to a trusted friend, whom he had allowed access to his debit card and password. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested 65 year old Suthee, who had been evading capture for nine years. He was charged with two offences committed against his colleague in 2016, including: Section 269/5…
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Teen gunman arrested for shooting 15 year old girl on Pathum Thani road
Police arrested a teen gunman for shooting a 15 year old girl on a road in the central province of Pathum Thani, allegedly following a conflict with her male friend. Officers from Kukot Police Station were alerted to the shooting at about 4.30pm on Friday, August 22. The incident took place in Soi Samun Rattanakhon, Lat Sawai sub-district, Lam Luk Ka…
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Brake failure causes truck crash on steep Mae Hong Son road
A 10-wheel truck transporting fertiliser to Mae Hong Son experienced brake failure while descending a steep slope on Road 108. To prevent a more severe accident, the driver opted to steer the vehicle into a hillside, resulting in injuries yesterday, August 24. Police from the Mae Sariang Police Station in Mae Hong Son were informed of the truck’s collision with…
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Man steals lottery tickets worth over 27,200 baht in Bangkok
A man has been apprehended for stealing 272 lottery tickets worth over 27,200 baht, confessing his motive was to pay overdue instalments on his car. The incident occurred outside a noodle shop on Panya Inthra Road in Khan Na Yao district, Bangkok. The vendor had left the tickets with a friend while visiting the restroom. The thief threatened the friend,…
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Dutch tourists attacked by foreigners outside Phuket hotel
Police in Phuket are investigating after two Dutch tourists were assaulted by two unidentified foreign men outside a hotel in Karon early on the morning of August 23. The incident took place around 12.15am on Kata Road, according to the Karon Police. The victims, identified as Maximilian and Michelle, reported to the police that they were approached by two male…
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