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 with family? Here’s how to cut health costs in Thailand
Relocating to Thailand with your family brings exciting new opportunities, but it also comes with the challenge of managing healthcare costs in a new system. Thailand has both public and private healthcare options, each offering different prices and quality of...
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Police uncover prostitution at Lop Buri massage parlour
Police recently conducted a major operation in a renowned traditional massage parlour in Mueang district, Lop Buri, uncovering illegal activities related to prostitution. Officers went undercover as clients, receiving an hour-long oil massage before being offered additional illicit services today, June 29. Police Major General Songkrod Krikkritaya directed Police Colonel Warit Pathumarak, along with Police Lieutenant Colonel Supot Thongmaeng and…
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Russian journalist robbed, escapes hotel in Pattaya with 2 million baht loss
On June 26, 26 year old Russian journalist David allegedly escaped from a hotel on Jomtien Soi 14 while handcuffed. He reported being attacked by fellow Russians who covered his head with a black bag, assaulted him, and sent a threatening video to his girlfriend. They forced him to transfer Bitcoin and stole a luxury watch worth over 2 million…
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Pattaya man’s motorcycle stolen by coworker, suspected sold for drugs
In Pattaya, Thailand, a 25 year old man named Sarawut Phuthotham has called for assistance in retrieving his stolen motorcycle, which vanished after being borrowed by a former coworker. Sarawut believes the motorcycle may have been sold to finance drug purchases. The incident took place on June 24 when Sarawut’s former coworker, identified as Beer, requested to borrow his red…
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Hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreak hits young children
The Department of Disease Control has confirmed that a hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak is currently affecting the country, primarily impacting children below five years old. Deputy government spokesperson Anukul Prueksa-anurak highlighted that the rise in cases aligns with the early onset of this year’s rainy season, which brings cooler temperatures and increased humidity, creating favourable conditions for…
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Fatal motorcycle crash claims life in Chiang Mai
A motorcycle accident in Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai, claimed the life of 33 year old Kritsada Ketprasatkon yesterday, June 28. He lost control of his motorcycle, crashing into a metal barrier, which resulted in his decapitation and the motorcycle catching fire. The incident happened at 12.43pm on the Chiang Rai-Doi Saket road near Ban Pa Daeng village. Police Lieutenant…
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Thousands protest in Bangkok, demand PM Shinawatra’s resignation
Protesters numbering in the thousands convened at Victory Monument in Bangkok yesterday, June 28, calling for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s resignation following a leaked phone conversation involving her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. This event marked the largest anti-government protest since the Pheu Thai Party assumed power in 2023. The demonstration was spearheaded by the Ruam Palang Paendin Pokpong…
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Wild tiger spotted observing researchers in Thai wildlife sanctuary (video)
In the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, a team of researchers from the Department of National Parks had an unusual encounter with a wild tiger that observed them quietly during their field mission. The sanctuary spans across Uthai Thani and Tak provinces. On June 28, the researchers were engaged in a tiger tracking and data collection mission when a tiger…
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Illegal e-cigarette factory raided in Pathum Thani, 29 arrested
In Pathum Thani’s Khu Khot district, police conducted a raid on an illegal e-cigarette manufacturing facility early yesterday morning. The operation led to the seizure of over 21,000 e-cigarette devices and the arrest of 29 people, including foreign nationals. With a court warrant, officers entered a three-storey commercial building on Phahon Yothin Soi 80 in Lam Luk Ka district, which…
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Chinese man nabbed over Thai entertainer’s fatal drug ordeal
A Chinese national has been apprehended after allegedly coercing a young Thai entertainer into drug use, leading to her death in a hotel. Duoyin Wu, who fled to Laos, surrendered under pressure from officials after being charged with drug-related offences. At 3pm yesterday, June 27, Police Major General Nopasin Poolsawat, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, along with Police…
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Protest showdown: Bangkok governor inspects Victory Monument
Bangkok braces itself for a day of tension and traffic chaos as Governor Chadchart Sittipunt swept into Victory Monument to personally oversee preparations for a massive political rally. This morning, Governor Chadchart, accompanied by Sobchoke Na Srito, Chief of Ratchathewi district, and a team of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials, toured the landmark to inspect safety arrangements and ensure everything…
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Power play: Pattaya races to finish underground cable overhaul
Pattaya’s ambitious plan to drag its tangled web of overhead wires underground is charging ahead—though not without a few bumps in the road. Deputy Mayor Manot Nongyai chaired the sixth progress meeting of the Big City Electrical System Development Project – Phase 1 (Pattaya), where officials shared the latest updates on the enormous infrastructure upgrade transforming the resort city’s power…
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Cambodia accused of mislabelling rice as Thai jasmine in China
Cambodia has been accused of falsely labelling its rice as Thai jasmine rice and selling it in China, prompting the Thai Ministry of Commerce to act swiftly. Yesterday, June 27, Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, director-general of the Department of International Trade Promotion, revealed that reports from Thai nationals in China indicated Cambodian rice was being sold in Chinese supermarkets with packaging displaying…
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Thai Airways takes off for charity in Oslo celebration
Thai Airways stepped up to support a high-profile charity walk-run in Oslo, Norway, combining fitness, friendship, and fundraising in a celebration of diplomatic history. On Sunday, June 22, the streets of Oslo came alive as Thai Airways joined the Royal Thai Embassy in Oslo and the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital to mark 120 years of Thai-Norwegian relations with a…
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Vape bust shock: Pattaya police nab man with 40 illegal e-cigs
A Pattaya man’s side hustle went up in smoke after police swooped in and seized a stash of illegal vapes in a sting that sent a clear warning to would-be e-cigarette dealers. Pattaya City Police, led by Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyoo, Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, launched a targeted crackdown aimed at shutting down the black market sale of…
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Giant king cobra invades Trang home, sparks lottery frenzy (video)
A giant king cobra caused panic in Trang province when it entered a home in search of prey, attacking a sizable cobra. Residents were alarmed by the incident and took note of the house number for lottery luck. Yesterday, June 27, Khajornkiat Kongkaew, known as “Nong Mew Bongla Trang” from the Bung Ya Bongla King network, was called to assist…
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Patong Beach bomb scare: Hidden explosives uncovered in sand
Holidaymakers were left rattled as police scoured Phuket’s beaches to unearth a series of hidden explosive devices planted by suspects intent on chaos. Police confirmed yesterday evening, June 27, that the last two devices connected to the suspects’ shocking confession have been safely recovered and neutralised. The first discovery was made at Patong Beach around 3.45pm, just 50 metres from…
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Drug den blitz: Bang Lamung cops bust bamboo hideout
Bang Lamung officials stormed a notorious bamboo hideout, rounding up suspected drug users in a sweeping crackdown. Yesterday, June 27 at 5pm, Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon led a coordinated operation targeting a known drug hotspot in Village 1, Khao Mai Kaew subdistrict. The mission, aimed at choking off local drug networks, was carried out under the supervision of…
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Russian drug kingpin hunted down in Phuket paradise bust
A Russian fugitive who thought he could hide in Phuket’s tropical playground has been dragged back into the spotlight after Thai police swooped in to end his run from justice. Phuket Immigration officers arrested 46 year old Igor, a Russian national, after uncovering he was wanted on an international Red Notice for drug trafficking and membership of a serious criminal…
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Thai PM promotes peace amid Hun Sen’s provocative claims
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has responded with a forgiving message following provocative remarks made by Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen during a recent livestream, amid escalating tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. Neither the 38 year old Thai PM nor her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have issued a formal response to Hun Sen’s comments. Instead, Paetongtarn shared a reflective…
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Thailand cannabis crackdown: New prescription rules spark outcry
Thailand’s cannabis free-for-all is coming to an abrupt end, with health chiefs vowing to tighten the rules on who can grow, sell, and smoke the controversial herb. Dr Tewan Thanirat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM), announced that stricter controls are on the way. Under the proposed regulations, anyone selling cannabis flower buds will…
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Pattaya cracks down on illegal ramps to tackle drainage issues
Pattaya is cracking down hard on illegal ramps obstructing public footpaths, with officials warning that unauthorised structures will be removed and could result in legal action. The renewed effort aims to tackle recurring drainage issues caused by the concrete ramps, which have long been a source of frustration for residents. This week, municipal teams from the Office of Public Works,…
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Injured Thai man lies to protect drunk girlfriend after car crash
A Thai man took the blame for a car crash in the central province of Chachoengsao to protect his drunk girlfriend, asking her to leave him at the scene despite suffering a head injury himself. Officers from Bang Pakong Police Station were alerted to the incident at around 3am today, June 27, after a sedan crashed into an electricity pole…
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People’s Alliance rallies to protect Koh Kut, oust Thai PM
The People’s Alliance for Democracy has kicked off a movement to protect Thailand’s sovereignty over Koh Kut, rallying against neighbouring Cambodia’s claims on the island. The movement, led by Kanyut Boonloy, a former civil servant and local leader, gathered around 200 people in Trat yesterday, June 26. Residents, civil servants, former civil servants, students, and merchants donned yellow shirts, waving…
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Flash floods devastate Chiang Rai: Homes and farmland destroyed
Chiang Rai province is reeling from catastrophic flooding after continuous heavy rainfall last night and this morning. Flash floods and mountain runoff have wreaked havoc across several districts, with Phaya Mengrai and Wiang Chai hit the hardest. The torrential downpours caused rivers of rainwater to cascade rapidly from the mountains, flooding low-lying areas and causing water levels to surge unexpectedly.…
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Thai govt urged to scrap casino bill over constitutional concerns
A Senate committee reviewing the controversial casino bill has called on the government to withdraw its draft legislation, warning that it could violate multiple sections of Thailand’s 2017 Constitution. Yesterday, June 26, Senator Veerapun Suvannamai, the chair of the panel, highlighted that the bill may breach Sections 3, 58, 63, and 65 of the Constitution. He explained that the legislation,…
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Aussie man searches for long-lost Thai mother, makes public plea
A 38 year old Australian man is making an emotional plea for help as he embarks on a mission that has consumed his entire life—finding his Thai mother. Jeffrey, who was separated from his mother when he was just a child, has spent decades searching for answers, clinging to the hope of a reunion. Born in Phuket, Jeffrey lived with…
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PAO official escapes rape attempt by colleague at Pathum Thani love hotel
A female official from a Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) narrowly escaped a rape attempt by a colleague at a love hotel in the central province of Pathum Thani on June 19. The victim complained to Kukot Police Station, accusing a member of the Khlong Luang PAO, Noppanan “Tee” Noocharoen, of attempted rape. The victim is reportedly a PAO official from a…
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Black beauty: Rare leopard spotted at Phetchaburi national park
Another rare black leopard has been spotted in Kaeng Krachan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Thailand. The sighting, which took place on Wednesday, June 25 at 5.20pm, sparked excitement among nature enthusiasts and wildlife experts. This breathtaking encounter was captured at the 18-kilometre mark of the park, a popular spot for butterfly-watching, highlighting the park’s rich biodiversity. Park Chief Mongkol Chaiphakdi…
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Phuket airport tightens security, passengers urged to arrive early
Phuket airport is on high alert following the discovery of an explosive device hidden in an abandoned motorcycle on its premises. Passengers are urged to arrive at least two hours early from today, as security measures have been tightened in the aftermath of the threat. The warning comes after bomb experts successfully neutralised the device found on Wednesday night, June…
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Thailand’s 36% US tariff at risk: Will minister secure a deal?
Thailand is on the edge of a crucial trade deadline with the US, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced today that he will be heading to the US next week for urgent trade negotiations. With Thailand facing a 36% tariff on its exports unless a deal is struck, time is running out for the kingdom to…
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