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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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Thailand video news Thailand Endorses UN Vote Supporting Two-State Palestine Solution, Japanese Teens Arrested in Japan for Smuggling Cannabis from Thailand
Thailand is navigating a diverse set of headlines — backing a UN vote on the two-state solution for Palestine, preparing to hike air travel fees, and losing its spot to Vietnam as the top destination for Chinese tourists. Domestically, poverty and household debt remain pressing challenges while authorities push for tougher penalties on repeat drunk drivers. Meanwhile, Japanese teens…
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Agoda touts Asia’s hidden gems in Tourism Day push
Agoda has highlighted rising interest in Asia’s secondary destinations as travellers seek unique experiences, with searches outpacing traditional hotspots this year. The digital travel platform revealed that accommodation searches for lesser-known spots are growing 15% faster than for traditional tourist hubs compared to the same period last year. The shift is particularly visible in countries such as Thailand, India, Indonesia,…
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French tourist drowns after late-night swim at Patong
A French tourist drowned on Patong Beach after being swept away by strong currents during a late-night swim, despite red warning flags along the shore. Patong Police confirmed the victim as 53 year old Laurent Simon, who had arrived on the island just a day earlier with his brother, sister and brother-in-law. The family reportedly entered the water behind the…
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Pattaya biker dies in high-speed smash with taxi
A motorcyclist died after crashing into a taxi making a U-turn on a Pattaya highway in the early hours, prompting police to launch an investigation. The collision occurred at 1am on Tuesday, September 16, on Highway 36, inbound to Pattaya, at a U-turn point. Police Lieutenant Janda Dermphan, Deputy Investigator with Bang Lamung Police Station, arrived at the scene with…
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Thai police fire rubber bullets at Cambodian border clash (video)
Thai riot police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse Cambodian civilians who clashed with security forces during a border confrontation in Sa Kaeo. The confrontation took place yesterday afternoon, September 17, in Khok Sung district, near Ban Nong Ya Kaeo, where the border is marked between posts No.42 and No.43. Thai police had earlier reinforced the area with…
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Drinkers in Thailand face 10,000 baht hit for after-hours pints
Drinkers in Thailand face fines for consuming alcohol in pubs and bars after legal hours, under tougher rules aimed at curbing late-night drinking. From November 8, anyone caught drinking in pubs and bars outside the permitted times faces fines of up to 10,000 baht. The Department of Provincial Administration confirmed the new penalties under an amendment to the Alcoholic Beverage…
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Thailand on alert as fierce monsoon rains threaten floods
Thailand prepares for more widespread monsoon rains, with the meteorological department warning of flash floods, rough seas, and heavy downpours across multiple regions this week. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reported that the monsoon trough is lying across the lower Central region, the East, and the lower Northeast, connecting to an active low-pressure cell over the South China Sea. Meanwhile,…
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Villagers in Northeast Thailand demand monk disrobe over woman
Villagers in Kalasin in Northeast Thailand confronted an abbot after he was found with a woman inside his quarters at night, sparking demands for his immediate disrobing. The disturbance broke out around 11pm yesterday, September 16, at a temple in Kae Pae subdistrict, Mueang district. A temple boy raised the alarm by beating a drum to alert the community after spotting…
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Woman dies after fall from Bangkok mall parking structure (video)
A woman in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao area died after falling from a shopping mall parking structure, with police now reviewing CCTV to determine the cause. The incident occurred at around 7.30pm yesterday, September 16, at a well-known department store in the Chatuchak district. Police Lieutenant Chakkrit Suwanwong, deputy inspector of Phahonyothin Police Station, coordinated with forensic officers, doctors from the…
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Nakhon Ratchasima man wins 12 million baht with lucky lottery bet
A man from Nakhon Ratchasima struck gold in the national lottery, winning 12 million baht after spending just 200 baht on tickets: a fraction of what he usually spends. The Government Lottery Office announced the results of yesterday’s draw, September 16, with the winning first prize number confirmed as 074646. Other results included front three-digit numbers 740 and 512, back…
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People’s Party leader stands firm on lese majeste reform stance
People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut reaffirmed his stance on Thailand’s lese majeste law, stressing that any reforms must follow court rulings. Speaking yesterday, September 16, Natthaphong expanded on comments he made in a recent interview with Time magazine, where he addressed the controversial law. The magazine quoted him: “Article 112 still causes problems in Thailand, and if we get power,…
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Vietjet to get first Boeing 737 MAX as tariff talks heat up
VietJet Air will receive its first Boeing 737 Max as Vietnam seeks to strengthen trade ties with the US while negotiations over tariffs continue. The handover marks a significant shift for VietJet, which currently operates an all-Airbus fleet, and comes as Vietnam continues delicate trade discussions with the United States over tariffs. A ceremony is scheduled on Sunday, September 21,…
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Australian man survives knife slash and hotel plunge in Pattaya
An Australian man in Chon Buri slashed his face with a knife before leaping from a sixth-floor hotel balcony, surviving the fall with serious injuries. The incident occurred today, September 17, at a seven-storey hotel on Soi Petchtrakul in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. Police Lieutenant Sonthaya Khanthrap, deputy inspector of Pattaya City Police Station, led a response…
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Foreign biker crashes head-on into Phuket showroom steps
A foreign motorcyclist in Phuket was caught on CCTV riding against traffic before crashing into a showroom, leaving him with minor injuries and viral fame. The incident occurred at around 5.15pm on Monday, September 15, on the northbound lanes of Thepkasattri Road in Koh Kaew. The rider, travelling against oncoming traffic, appeared to swerve to avoid a collision with another…
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Suspects arrested over 2.2m baht speedboat heist in Chon Buri
Police in Bang Lamung arrested three men accused of stealing a 2.2-million-baht speedboat, recovering the vessel and a pickup truck used in the alleged crime. The arrests were made yesterday, September 16, at 5pm by officers from Bang Lamung Police Station, led by Superintendent Police Colonel Sarawut Nuchanart, Deputy Superintendent of Investigations Police Major Kornphong Sukvisith, and Investigation Inspector Police…
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‘White Lotus’ stars wow Emmys with glowing praise for Thailand (video)
Stars of The White Lotus praised Thailand at the Emmy Awards, sharing their love for its beauty and cuisine after filming the show’s third season there. Thailand took centre stage at the 77th Emmy Awards when The White Lotus Season 3 stars Walton Goggins and Parker Posey shared heartfelt praise for the country, drawing applause from the Hollywood audience. The…
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Trang Airport opens new terminal after 4-year delay
Trang Airport has opened a new domestic terminal after years of construction delays, boosting capacity and marking a major step in regional air travel. The 1.07-billion-baht project finally saw a soft opening on September 5, when the terminal welcomed its first travellers. The launch followed extensive testing, including a simulation with 50 trial passengers to assess service procedures and identify…
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Japanese teens caught smuggling cannabis from Thailand to Japan
Two Japanese teenagers were arrested at Fukuoka Airport after flying in from Thailand with 14 kilogrammes of cannabis extract disguised inside instant curry packets. The 17 year old high school student from Kishiwada City in Osaka Prefecture, along with his 16 year old friend, was stopped by police after officers discovered 14kg of liquid containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in their luggage.…
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Khon Kaen man scoops 12 million baht lottery jackpot (video)
A resident of Khon Kaen has become Thailand’s latest millionaire after winning 12 million baht in the government lottery draw. The man struck gold with two first-prize tickets in a moment that has sent his entire village into celebration. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The winning number in the draw yesterday,…
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Baby girl killed after family pit bull turns violent in Uthai Thani
A baby girl was killed in Uthai Thani in northern Thailand when a family’s pit bull mauled her in a tragic accident, prompting police to investigate the attack. The accident left the baby’s family devastated when their two month old daughter was fatally mauled by a pet pit bull that reportedly mistook her for a toy. Police in Nong Chang…
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Monsoon mayhem: TMD warns of floods and dangerous seas
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of thunderstorms, flash floods and rough seas as the monsoon brings heavy rain across several regions. The monsoon trough lies across the lower Central, upper South and the East into an active low-pressure cell over the South China Sea, while a moderate southwesterly wind prevails over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf…
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Thailand’s casino bill could return in 2026 amid political shifts
Thailand’s long-running casino debate refuses to fade away. The cabinet had, earlier this year, given a green light to a draft law to create regulated casino-entertainment complexes, which led to a surge of optimism among investors and tourism operators. But the optimism didn’t last. Opposition from the Bhumjaithai Party, which quit the ruling coalition over the issue, and widespread protests…
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Phuket airport skips memorial for deadly One-Two-Go crash
Eighteen years after the One-Two-Go crash killed 90 people in Phuket, no memorial was held again, as Phuket International Airport instead staged dance shows. The crash of One-Two-Go flight OG269 on September 16, 2007, claimed 90 lives, yet Airports of Thailand (AoT) and its staff at Phuket airport have never held a memorial. No service was held in the days…
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Pattaya gamer flees with bag in brazen all-night shop theft
Police in Pattaya are searching for a thief who spent 10 hours in a gaming shop before fleeing with a bag packed with valuables, all caught on CCTV. A gaming shop in Soi Kor Phai, Pattaya, has released CCTV footage of a theft that took place in the early hours of Sunday, September 14, calling on the public to help…
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Abhisit tipped to retake reins of struggling Democrat Party
Abhisit Vejjajiva will return as leader of the Democrat Party after the resignation of Chalermchai Sri-on, prompting a new leadership transition. Former Prime Minister Abhisit will return as leader of the Democrat Party, according to confirmation from Sathit Wongnongtoei, a former party MP for Trang. The announcement follows the resignation of Chalermchai, who left the leadership citing health issues that…
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Thailand to test seaplane routes to boost island tourism
Thailand is launching a pilot project with seaplane routes in Trang, aiming to boost tourism by linking remote islands with major travel destinations. Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) has confirmed plans for a pilot seaplane tourism project that could revolutionise the country’s travel industry. The initiative, developed in partnership with private operators Siam Seaplane and Thai Seaplane, will begin test…
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The ultimate guide: 10 top things to do in Qatar for first-time visitors from Thailand
Flying from Bangkok into Doha feels like moving between worlds. The soft humidity of Suvarnabhumi Airport lingers on your skin, but as soon as you step into Hamad International Airport you are met with the cool whisper of air conditioning, the scent of polished marble, and the sight of soaring art installations – a yellow teddy bear by Urs Fischer…
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Buddhist council bans monks from acting as lottery seers
Thailand’s Sangha Council has reiterated its ban on monks acting as lottery fortune tellers, warning that the practice breaks religious discipline and the law. The reminder comes amid growing concern over monks engaging in inappropriate activities, with recent cases involving even senior clergy members. Officials said these actions not only undermine Buddhist principles but also erode the faith of devotees.…
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Monkey madness: Hundreds escape cages and run riot in Lopburi
Chaos erupted in Lopburi when hundreds of monkeys broke free from a shelter, invading homes, ransacking cars, and even storming a police station. Residents of Lopburi faced a wild spectacle today, September 16, as more than 100 monkeys escaped from the Pho Kao Ton Monkey Shelter in Mueang district. The mass breakout sparked panic in the area, with troops of…
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Thai vendor nearly dies after shingles treated with folk remedy
A vegetable vendor in Prachuap Khiri Khan was hospitalised after using a folk remedy for shingles, which led to severe blisters and a dangerous blood infection. A 39 year old vegetable vendor in Mueang district, Prachuap Khiri Khan, has shared her near-death ordeal after a traditional treatment for shingles spiralled into a life-threatening infection. The woman, identified only as A,…
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