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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?
The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...
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100,000 jellyfish stingers swarm Pattaya Beach in freak invasion
Holidaymakers got more than they bargained for on Pattaya Beach after a tidal wave of jellyfish, over 100,000 of them, was dumped along the sand in a slimy seaside shocker. Stunned tourists and locals yesterday, June 16, looked on as a 3-kilometre stretch of Pattaya Beach, from north to south, was smothered in jellyfish of all shapes and sizes, some…
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Warehouse pair caught with 1,200 meth pills in parcel mix-up
A warehouse manager and her partner, an employee at the same delivery company, were apprehended for allegedly inserting methamphetamine into a parcel. The arrest occurred today, June 17, when Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, alongside senior officers, instructed the Min Buri police investigation team to expand a probe into a drug trafficking network using parcels. This led to the capture…
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Covid cases surge with 70,000+ new infections in Thailand
Over the past week, a significant increase in Covid-19 cases has been observed nationwide, with 76,161 new infections and 40 additional deaths, raising concerns about the ongoing outbreak. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) reported that the data spans from May 24 to June 14, bringing the total number of infections since January 1 to 476,584. Of these new cases,…
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Grill rage! Man battered in Bangkok barbecue restaurant blunder
An innocent Thai man is seeking justice after he was attacked by two suspects at a barbecue restaurant in Bangkok on Sunday, June 15, simply for asking his friend, “Why are there not many people today?” The victim’s mother sought help yesterday from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive, explaining that her son was assaulted without provocation or reasonable cause. According to…
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Thai king supports troops at Thai-Cambodian border with gifts
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua showed his support for the troops guarding the Cambodian frontier, sending royal gifts and a personal message of encouragement in a rare public expression of concern for their welfare. The morale-boosting gesture took place yesterday, June 16, during a formal ceremony at the Ta Muen Thom Temple outpost in the Chong Bok border…
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Meth-ed up! Panic, pipes and punters in Pattaya drugs den bust
A dodgy den full of drugs, a surprise visit from an eager buyer, and a stashed bag of meth dumped in a panic, Pattaya’s latest narcotics crackdown has left a trail of busted users, fleeing suspects and flustered dealers. Thai police struck hard in two separate raids this week as part of a no-nonsense campaign to clean up Pattaya’s seedy…
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Rain of terror! 31 provinces braced as storms pour in from north
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for 31 provinces, highlighting heavy rainfall, particularly in the north, where 60% of the area is expected to be affected. Residents are advised to stay informed about the impacted areas. Today, June 17, the TMD forecast for the upcoming 24 hours indicates heavy rain in certain parts of north Thailand, while…
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Bang out of order! Bolt bikers busted for flogging DIY firearms
Two broke Bolt bikers swapped fares for firearms, flogging deadly DIY pistols in the heart of Pattaya to make ends meet, until a Facebook sting brought their side hustle to a screeching halt. In a dramatic late-night bust on June 15, Thai police arrested two motorcycle taxi riders in central Pattaya for producing and selling home-modified firearms, as part of…
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Unidentified man found hanged in Kamala, Phuket
Police in Phuket are investigating the death of an unidentified man whose body was found hanging from a mangosteen tree beside a small plantation in Kamala yesterday morning, June 15. The body was discovered around 9.30am near the Yai Bua workers’ camp in Moo 5. Officers from Kamala Police Station, along with forensic teams from Vachira Phuket Hospital and rescue…
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Ayutthaya man guns down neighbour in decade-long feud
An Ayutthaya man shot and killed his neighbour today, June 16, after a heated argument reportedly stemming from a long-standing dispute that had lasted over 10 years. The incident occurred outside an electrical appliance repair shop in Uthai district. Police were alerted to a shooting following a violent altercation and arrived at the scene with hospital staff and rescue workers.…
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Thai actor slammed over pregnancy scandal and unprotected sex
An entertainment agency terminated its contract with a Thai actor after he was accused of engaging in unprotected sex with multiple women and forcing a pregnant woman into having an abortion. He allegedly told the woman that he refused to use condoms because “it wastes plastic.” The allegations came to light after a user on X (formerly Twitter) publicly exposed…
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Land dispute leads to double murder-suicide in Phetchabun
In Phetchabun province yesterday, June 15, a 64 year old man allegedly murdered two individuals before taking his own life. The tragedy is believed to have been sparked by a land dispute occurring near the Luang Pu Lamai Herbal Forest. Police Colonel Thiansin Chaidejkul, Deputy Inspector at Mueang Phetchabun Police Station, was notified of the incident. Upon arrival with medical personnel…
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Phuket garden blast injures two, teens suspected of planting bomb
In Ratsada, Phuket, a homemade explosive disguised as a large garland detonated in a residential garden last Friday afternoon, June 13, causing minor injuries to two individuals. Police are currently searching for a group of teenagers suspected of planting the device. The incident was reported to the Phuket police at approximately 5.35pm. Officers from the Phuket City Police, along with…
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PM Paetongtarn hits back at Cambodian border ultimatum
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has vowed not to bow to pressure or misinformation following Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen’s 24-hour ultimatum demanding Thailand fully reopen all border checkpoints. Speaking after a two-hour meeting reviewing last weekend’s Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) session, Paetongtarn described the talks as a success. She said both nations agreed on the discussion framework, consistent with…
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Foreign man caught on viral video kissing Naga statue in Phuket
A foreign man went viral on Thai social media after locals witnessed him making a wish and kissing a Naga statue in Phuket. Photos and videos of the incident were widely shared online. The Phuket Times Facebook page posted images and a video of the man today, June 16, with a caption reading, “Kissing a Naga statue. He’s so into…
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Labour Ministry cracks down on illegal expatriate employment
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has directed a crackdown on expats working illegally in occupations reserved for Thai nationals. This decision follows over 4,400 arrests for such offences over the past nine months. Labour Ministry spokesperson Phumphat Muanchan stated that Phiphat instructed agencies to collaborate in safeguarding domestic jobs, stressing that illegal employment should not be normalised despite its widespread occurrence.…
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Chinese scam suspect caught red-handed at ATM in Pattaya
A 29 year old Chinese man, suspected of being part of a major transnational call centre scam, was arrested outside a 7-Eleven in Pattaya yesterday, June 15, while withdrawing almost a million baht from an ATM. Officers from the Pattaya City Police Station and the Chon Buri Transnational Crime Suppression Unit apprehended the man, identified as Zhu Jiagen, while he…
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Thailand and US to begin trade tariff talks
Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan has announced that Thailand and the United States are currently in talks, set to initiate technical-level discussions regarding the US tariff regime. Both countries have been actively preparing for these discussions, with the Thai Cabinet approving a negotiation framework last on June 10. On June 7, the US expressed its willingness to engage in talks, a…
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Cheating couple caught by their spouses at Surin love hotel
A Thai man joined forces with the legal partner of his wife’s secret affair to catch their cheating partners red-handed at a love hotel in the Isaan province of Surin on Saturday, June 14. Officers from Mueang Surin Police Station were called to intervene in an altercation at a love hotel in the Khwao Sinarin district on Saturday afternoon. Upon arrival, they…
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Thai PM won’t dissolve House for political gain, says Anutin
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced yesterday, June 15, that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will not dissolve the House of Representatives merely for political gain. However, he acknowledged that dissolving the House towards the end of a government’s term is a common practice that might enhance administrative efficiency. Regarding recent reports of shifting alliances within the coalition, Anutin, who also…
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Tourist fined 5,000 baht after jeep stuck on beach in Phuket
A 22 year old tourist faced a fine after his jeep got stuck in the sand at Layi Beach in Kamala, Phuket, much to the ire of locals and online users. The incident, which occurred on June 14, was captured in a video shared by officials, showing Kamala police officers assisting in freeing the Phuket-registered white jeep. The footage prompted…
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Warehouse worker dies after fall from mezzanine in Samut Prakan
A 54 year old warehouse worker was discovered deceased after falling from a mezzanine floor approximately 3 metres high. The incident occurred in a warehouse in Bang Chak, Phra Pradaeng district, Samut Prakan province. Police Lieutenant Issarath Tansuk, an investigator from Phra Pradaeng Police Station, was informed of the accident around 8am today, June 16 and proceeded to the scene…
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Man found dead on bus in Lampang, no foul play suspected
A 38 year old man was found dead on a bus at the bus terminal in Lampang province. The man, a resident of Phichai subdistrict, Mueang district, Lampang, showed no signs of assault but had bruises on his left leg with blood seeping out. Police were alerted today, June 16, after the bus travelling from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai…
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Nakhon Si Thammarat demands removal of 15-year unused hydropower plant
Residents of Nakhon Si Thammarat are voicing their dissatisfaction with the Keereewong Project, a community hydropower plant that has remained inactive for nearly 15 years despite an initial construction budget of 20 million baht. Locals are now calling for the removal of the unused facility to reclaim the land for community use. The hydropower plant, located in Mueang subdistrict, Lan…
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Retired Thai nurse loses 12 million baht in romance scam
A retired Thai nurse lost nearly 12 million baht in a romance scam after being contacted by a scammer via the TikTok application last year. The 65 year old victim sought assistance from the Foundation Campaigning to Reclaim Social Justice yesterday, June 15. She said she had no knowledge of the law and did not know where to begin taking legal…
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Thai man drowns while trying to save pet bird in Chiang Mai reservoir
A Thai man drowned in the Nong Khiao Reservoir in the northern province of Chiang Mai yesterday, June 15, after attempting to save his pet bird from drowning. The bird reportedly died in the incident. Rescue workers from the Kuson Songkhro Chiang Mai Foundation, Phra Kru Odd Chedi Luang Temple Foundation, and Phetchakasem Foundation rushed to the reservoir in Chai…
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Bangkok police seize 600,000 meth pills in Nonthaburi raid
Police in Bangkok apprehended a couple in Nonthaburi with 600,000 methamphetamine pills hidden in a rented room. Police also found a firearm and ammunition. The couple admitted they were paid 2,000 baht per sack for transportation. Yesterday, June 15, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, along with senior officers including Police Major General Napasil Poolsaard, Police Major General Pallop Aremlaa, Police…
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Man arrested in Kalasin for abusing stepdaughter
A 34 year old man, Anon, has been arrested for allegedly abusing his 4 year old stepdaughter in front of her mother, who was too afraid of him to intervene. This distressing incident came to light when the child’s grandmother noticed signs of abuse and reported it to the police yesterday, June 15. Police Colonel Kukong Disawat, along with other…
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New guidelines allow vehicle seizure for drunk drivers, expert supports
The Office of the Attorney-General’s recent guidelines on drunk driving, allowing courts to seize offenders’ vehicles, have gained support from an academic, aiming to deter repeated violations. Pokpong Srisanit, dean of the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University, endorsed the guidelines, highlighting that drunk driving demonstrates a blatant disregard for public safety, warranting potential asset forfeiture. He explained that in…
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Thailand and Cambodia make conflicting announcements after boundary meeting
Thailand and Cambodia made conflicting announcements following the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, yesterday, June 15. Tensions between the two nations flared on May 28 in the disputed border area known as Chon Bok in Thailand and the Emerald Triangle in Cambodia. Military forces from both sides briefly clashed, with the confrontation lasting around half…
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