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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Thai-Cambodian border tensions persist despite ceasefire
A week after a ceasefire came into effect along the Thai-Cambodian border, tensions remain high as Cambodia continues to raise allegations of territorial violations, while Thailand firmly rejects the claims and insists all military operations are within its sovereign borders. On January 4, Cambodian authorities issued a renewed statement accusing Thai forces of encroaching on areas in four provinces. The…
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Three Chinese nationals arrested with 8,600 SIM cards after illegal entry
Thai authorities have arrested three Chinese nationals for illegally entering Thailand after discovering nearly 10,000 international SIM cards in their possession during a border security operation in Sa Kaeo province. The arrests were made on the morning of January 5 following a joint operation by officers from Khlong Nam Sai Police Station, border patrol police, and immigration officials operating along…
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Belgian man alleges lack of treatment in Thai hospital due to unpaid bill
A Belgian man complained that he was detained in Thai hospital without proper care after he was unable to pay nearly 2 million baht in medical bills following a motorcycle accident that he claims was not his fault. The case was revealed through a fundraising campaign launched on Steunactie by 16 year old Belgian girl Julie, who is seeking financial help…
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Drunk motorcyclist crashes into trailer truck in Pattaya
A man was injured in the early hours of yesterday, January 4, after crashing his motorcycle into a trailer truck at an intersection in Pattaya. The incident took place around 2.30am, near the motorway junction in Nong Prue, northern Pattaya. Emergency responders from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation were called to the scene. Rescuers found a 51 year old man…
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Thailand video news | Thailand rolls out new sobriety screening rules for alcohol sellers, Green turtles nesting at Karon Beach marks seasonal wildlife event
In Thailand video news, Alex covers news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. The stories include new rules for screening sobriety by alcohol sellers, Mass traffic violations recorded over the New Year holiday, and a little later, the Immigration Bureau denies claims of long airport queues. Thailand Rolls Out New Sobriety Screening Rules for Alcohol Sellers Thailand’s health authorities…
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Fire destroys secondhand shop, vehicles damaged, police investigate
A fire that broke out before sunrise completely destroyed a secondhand goods shop and its attached warehouse in Chonburi province, damaging several vehicles and causing extensive property loss. No injuries were reported, but authorities say the full extent of the damage is still being assessed as forensic teams prepare to determine the cause. The blaze was reported at about 4.30am…
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Tourists filmed in public lewd act in Phuket renew visa-free concerns
Two foreign tourists were caught on camera engaging in a lewd act on a public street in Patong, Phuket, prompting online criticism and renewed debate over Thailand’s visa-free entry policy. The incident occurred in a nightlife area near Bangla Road. According to initial reports from the Phuket Times, the individuals, identified by the page and eyewitnesses as men of Middle…
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Family questions lone arrest in fatal Din Daeng group assault
Relatives of a 52-year-old man who was fatally assaulted in Bangkok have demanded justice, questioning why only one suspect has been arrested despite evidence that the attack involved a large group. The family says it is living in fear after receiving threats from people believed to be connected to the case. The assault occurred at about 11.40pm on December 30,…
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Cambodia allows 162 Thais to return, 6 wanted by police
Cambodia allowed 162 Thai nationals to return to Thailand through a border checkpoint in Chanthaburi province on Saturday, January 3, with six of them later found to be wanted criminals. Cambodian authorities reportedly pushed back hundreds of Thai workers who had been stranded in the country, sending them home via the Chanthaburi border following a ceasefire. According to Channel 7,…
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Thailand human trafficking police crackdown overview
The Royal Thai Police have announced an intensified nationwide crackdown on human trafficking, with a renewed focus on child sexual abuse, exploitation within the fishing industry, and crimes committed through online platforms. Authorities say the move comes in response to a rising number of cases and increasingly complex criminal methods, particularly those involving children and digital networks. Police General Thatchai…
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Teen motorbike gang arrested after gun attack on family
Police in Nakhon Si Thammarat have arrested five teenagers accused of chasing and shooting at a family of three after becoming enraged by a verbal warning to stop fighting with a rival group. The incident left a father, mother, and their young child injured and has renewed concerns over youth violence and firearms access in local communities. The arrests were…
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Drug-addicted son kills mother, dumps machete before entering village
Police in Amnat Charoen have arrested a 42 year old man after he allegedly killed his mother in a violent attack linked to drug abuse before walking through a nearby village covered in blood. The incident occurred at around 8.30am today, on January 4 at a house in Na Wiang subdistrict, Senangkhanikhom district. Officers were alerted after villagers reported a…
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Nearly 3,000 drunk driving cases recorded during New Year crackdown
Thailand’s probation authorities have reported nearly 3,000 drunk driving cases over a five-day period during the New Year holiday crackdown, with 3 provinces recording the highest numbers. According to Department of Probation, a total of 2,957 drunk driving cases were recorded between December 30 and January 3 as part of intensified road safety measures during the festive period. Today, on…
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Overloaded landfill prompts urgent waste crisis review in Phatthalung
Phatthalung authorities have launched an urgent review to address what officials describe as a growing waste management crisis, after inspections revealed severe environmental damage linked to an overloaded municipal landfill. The move follows a site visit to the province’s main dumpsite, which covers approximately 95 rai and currently receives more than 100 tonnes of waste per day. Officials warned that…
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Van collision injures driver as wild elephant crosses road
A serious road accident involving a wild elephant from Khao Yai National Park and a closed-box van has raised renewed concerns about road safety and human-wildlife coexistence in protected forest areas. The collision left the van driver seriously injured, while the elephant fled back into the forest with suspected injuries, prompting an urgent search by park officials. According to the…
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Thailand’s first high-speed rail project pushed back to 2030
Thailand’s first high-speed rail project, linking Bangkok with Nakhon Ratchasima, has been delayed by at least one year due to unresolved land acquisition issues and complications caused by overlapping infrastructure projects. Originally scheduled to begin operations in 2029, the Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima service is now expected to open in 2030, according to officials from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). Despite…
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Waiter killed after drunken customer attacks staff over missing ice
A dispute over missing ice escalated into a fatal stabbing after a drunken customer allegedly attacked restaurant staff in early this morning, January 4, leaving one man dead and another woman critically injured. Police received a report of the incident at around 4.30am and dispatched patrol officers to the scene, along with rescue workers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation. Three…
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Green sea turtle Phuket Karon beach nesting event
A rare and encouraging marine conservation event unfolded on Karon Beach in Phuket on Friday, when an adult female green sea turtle came ashore and laid a large clutch of eggs, drawing attention from both tourists and local officials. The nesting occurred at around 11am on January 3, 2026, along Karon Beach in Karon sub district, Muang district. Thai and…
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Power bank explosion injures woman in market
A woman was injured in Si Racha district, Chonburi province, after a power bank connected to her mobile phone exploded inside her handbag, causing burns to her arms and face and igniting her personal belongings, rescue officials said. The incident occurred at around 7.00pm on January 3, 2026, in the Sahapat Airport area, Moo 5, Bueng subdistrict. The Sawang Prateep…
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Illegal migrant smuggling Thailand pickup truck incident
Highway police have arrested a pickup truck driver and uncovered 25 undocumented Myanmar migrant workers after a late-night pursuit on a major road in Nakhon Sawan, highlighting ongoing risks faced by migrants and the persistence of human smuggling networks. The incident occurred on January 3, 2026, when officers from the Highway Police Division were conducting intensified patrols along known trafficking…
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Thai Cambodian border dispute: army reaffirms sovereignty
The Royal Thai Army has reaffirmed that a recently reorganized border area remains firmly within Thai sovereign territory, stating that the land has been subject to long-term encroachment by Cambodian forces and settlements. Army officials are urging the public to review official protest letters previously submitted by Thailand through the Memorandum of Understanding 43, known as MOU 43, which governs…
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Rama 2 Flood Rescue: GPS Navigation Error Incident
Five people narrowly escaped serious injury after a GPS navigation error led their vehicle into unexpectedly deep floodwater beneath a bridge on Rama 2 Road in Samut Songkhram province, almost completely submerging the van and trapping passengers inside. The incident occurred on January 3, 2026, when officers from Highway Police Station 1, Division 2, under the Highway Police Bureau, were…
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Myanmar rape-murder suspect deported as victim’s daughter demands justice
A Thai woman has sought public intervention after discovering that the Myanmar national accused of raping and murdering her mother was deported from Thailand despite the case still being under investigation. The complaint was submitted on Friday, January 2 to the Facebook page ‘Survive – Sai Mai Tong Rod,’ where the victim’s daughter claimed that immigration authorities released the suspect…
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Young man with three arrest warrants arrested while hiding in closed-box pickup at highway checkpoint
A 20-year-old man linked to multiple online fraud cases was arrested at a highway checkpoint in Kanchanaburi after police discovered him hiding inside the enclosed cargo area of a closed-box pickup truck. Officers later confirmed the suspect had three outstanding arrest warrants, in addition to five previous cases that had already entered the judicial process. The arrest followed an order…
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Royal Thai Navy detains 67 Cambodian migrants attempting illegal border crossing into Thailand
The Royal Thai Navy has detained 67 Cambodian migrant workers who attempted to illegally cross the Thai border in Chanthaburi province, authorities confirmed on January 3, 2026. The group included men, women, and children who officials said were fleeing severe economic hardship, unemployment, and food insecurity in their home communities. Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyapan, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy,…
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2nd Army Area raids scammer hideout, uncovers scripted fraud operations targeting multiple countries
The 2nd Army Area has raided a large scammer hideout in the Chong Chom border area of Surin province, uncovering an organized fraud operation that used detailed scripts, manuals, and national symbols to deceive victims in multiple countries. Authorities say the findings highlight the growing sophistication of transnational scam networks operating near Thailand’s borders. At 11.38am on January 3, 2026,…
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Second Army Area releases footage alleging Cambodian military activity near Preah Vihear
The Second Army Area on Saturday released video footage it claims shows Cambodian forces using areas near the Preah Vihear temple complex as an active military position, raising fresh security concerns along the Thai–Cambodian border. The footage was made public on January 3, 2026, at around 3.10pm, as Thai authorities continued close monitoring of border conditions. According to the Second…
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Will Thailand’s 2026 election reshape tourism, foreign investment, and transport policy?
As Thailand moves toward its 2026 general election, the future of the country’s tourism industry has become a central issue for investors, operators, and local communities. With tourism accounting for a significant share of national income, the policies adopted by the next government are expected to influence foreign direct investment, public safety, and long-term infrastructure planning, particularly in rail transport.…
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Fire destroys monk’s living quarters at Nimit Mai temple, investigation underway
A fire completely destroyed a monk’s living quarters at a well-known temple in the Nimit Mai area of Bangkok on the morning of January 3, 2026, prompting an urgent response from firefighters and an ongoing investigation into the cause of the blaze. The incident was reported at 8.27am through the 199 emergency hotline. Firefighters from the Bang Chan Fire and…
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Fire erupts in condo, woman hospitalized for smoke inhalation
A fire broke out inside a condominium unit in Bangkok’s Ladprao area on Thursday, sending thick smoke through the building and leaving a young woman hospitalized with smoke inhalation injuries. Authorities said the fire was quickly brought under control and is believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit in an air-conditioning unit. At around 12.15pm on January…
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