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 Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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RTAF unveils new US-built AT-6TH attack jets in Chiang Mai
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has inducted new US-made AT-6TH light attack aircraft into service in Chiang Mai to strengthen border patrol and anti-narcotics missions. RTAF commander Panpakdee Pattanakul confirmed the deployment on Thursday, September 4, saying that the new fleet replaces the ageing L-39ZA/ART aircraft. The AT-6TH planes were acquired under an Integrity Pact agreement with Textron Aviation…
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AI and satellites join fight against Thailand’s toxic dust
Thailand is turning to artificial intelligence and satellites in a high-tech push to predict and tackle deadly PM2.5 smog before it chokes the nation. The Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), the Pollution Control Department (PCD) and satellite operator Thaicom have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create an AI-driven platform for managing fine dust pollution. The…
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China slowdown drags Thailand tourist arrivals down 7%
Thailand recorded a decline in foreign tourist arrivals and revenue as the tourism ministry reported fewer visitors from key markets, led by China and Malaysia. Thailand welcomed 21.88 million international visitors between January and August, according to data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The figure represents a 7.16% drop compared with the same period last year, with revenue…
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Patong man arrested with methamphetamine in pre-dawn drug raid
A Thai man was arrested in Patong during a pre-dawn raid when district officers discovered methamphetamine, part of an ongoing anti-drug campaign. Officials in Kathu district launched a pre-dawn operation in Patong this week, arresting a Thai man for possession of meth as part of the ongoing No Drugs, No Dealers campaign. The raid, carried out at 1.30am on Tuesday,…
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Pheu Thai prepares for opposition role after prime ministerial defeat
Pheu Thai was pushed into opposition after losing the prime ministerial vote, while Anutin Charnvirakul secured victory with majority support in Parliament. Thailand’s Parliament witnessed a decisive vote yesterday, September 5, confirming Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul as the nation’s 32nd prime minister. He secured 311 votes, well above the 247 needed for a majority, defeating Pheu Thai candidate Chaikasem…
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Pattaya tourist beaten after alleged groping sparks street fight
A foreign man was assaulted on Pattaya’s Walking Street after allegedly groping a woman, with the clash captured on video and shared widely online. A 15-second clip of the altercation, posted on Facebook on September 3 by user Achirawit Phonthayan, has already racked up more than 150,000 views and sparked fierce debate online. The footage shows a foreign man being…
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Bangkok Cultural Centre MRT stays open after flood chaos hits
Flooding hit Bangkok’s Cultural Centre MRT station after heavy rain and nearby construction works, though the line remains open with partial access. Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM) has moved to reassure passengers after flooding hit the Cultural Centre MRT station this week. The company confirmed that the downpour, combined with nearby construction, caused water to spill into…
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Phuket eatery raided for using all-Myanmar staff illegally
A Myanmar national was arrested in Phuket after officials raided a restaurant found to be illegally operated and staffed entirely by foreign workers. The venue, named Thu Nge Chin Sine, is located behind Public Market 1 on Bangkok Road in Phuket Town. It was raided following complaints from residents about its operations, according to the Bangkok Post. A team of…
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Pattaya road safety drive wraps up with helmets and hope
A leading insurer partnered with local officials in Pattaya to wrap up a road safety campaign aimed at reducing accidents and promoting safer driving habits. Sompo Insurance (Thailand) Co., Ltd. has officially concluded its road safety initiative Drive Safe, Live Safe: Disciplined Driving, Assured Safety in Pattaya City, delivering a major boost to local traffic safety efforts. The global non-life…
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Bangkok on flood alert as heavy rains hammer Thailand
Heavy rain is sweeping across Thailand, prompting warnings of flash floods and landslides as severe weather hits multiple regions, including the capital. As heavy rain continues to batter the country today, September 6, weather warnings have been issued for 49 provinces, including Bangkok, with a 70% chance of flash flooding and landslides. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warned that severe…
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Agoda names Khao Yai National Park as Asia’s 2nd best rural destination
One of the leading travel platforms, Agoda, ranked Khao Yai National Park as the second most popular rural destination in Asia for travellers seeking an escape from the city. Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan announced today, September 5, that Agoda placed Khao Yai just behind the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. Other destinations included in the list are Puncak (Indonesia), Fujikawaguchiko…
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Doraemon makes Thai TV debut with Ayutthaya adventure
Fans of Japan’s most famous robotic cat will finally see Doraemon and his gang in Thailand on local TV, with MCOT Plc confirming the broadcast of a special episode tomorrow. The long-awaited adventure, titled I Want to Meet That Cat in Thailand, will air at 9am tomorrow, September 6, on Channel 30, marking Doraemon’s official debut on Thai screens. “Tomorrow!…
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74 year old imposter doctor arrested in Bangkok clinic, shocking colleagues
A Thai man impersonated a doctor to work at a clinic in the Lat Phrao area of Bangkok. He confessed that he wanted to earn a high salary to fund his gambling addiction. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau Division 3 received a complaint about the impersonation. The complainant reported that the identity and certificate of Dr Manit Jaruwan were…
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Pattaya gears up for ‘LOMA RUN On The Beach 2025’ charity race
Pattaya officials are preparing for the return of the 11th annual LOMA RUN On The Beach, a charity walk-run scheduled to take place later this month on Jomtien Beach. The event is organised by the HHN Foundation for Thai Children, in cooperation with Pattaya City and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (Pattaya Office). The charity race aims to promote fitness,…
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Thai girl repeatedly raped in scheme by grandma to extort money
A 12 year old Thai girl fell victim to repeated sexual assaults staged by her grandmother and half-sister, who later threatened and extorted the rapists. The suspects reportedly earned over 1 million baht from the human trafficking. A 40 year old Thai father, Art, yesterday, September 4, brought the abuse of his teenage daughter to the attention of the non-profit…
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Bangkok pushes waste reform with no mixed waste drive
Bangkok officials announced a new waste management campaign, where households will be encouraged to separate rubbish as part of reforms aimed at changing public behaviour and improving citywide sustainability. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is preparing to roll out sweeping waste management reforms on October 1, with its No Mixed Waste initiative already attracting more than 239,000 households. The programme…
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Phuket ramps up drug-free drive with workplace testing push
Phuket officials are stepping up their campaign to make workplaces drug-free, with more than 2,500 employees screened, several companies certified, and dozens of staff referred for treatment. At a meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Suwit Phansengiam at the Phuket Provincial Labour Protection and Welfare Office, officials reviewed progress on the province’s drug-free labour initiative this year. The scheme is designed…
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Pattaya cops arrest duo in call centre mule bank account scam
Police in Pattaya arrested a Thai woman and a Malaysian man after a bank alerted officers to suspicious withdrawals linked to a call centre scam. Pattaya City Police, led by Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyoo, arrested a Thai woman and a Malaysian man on Wednesday, September 3, for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated call centre scam using mule bank accounts.…
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Phuket shop seeks foreign woman caught swapping price tags
A clothes shop owner in Phuket is offering a reward of 6,000 baht to anyone with information about a foreign woman who secretly swapped a price tag in order to pay less for an item. The shop owner shared CCTV footage of the incident with the Newshawk Phuket Facebook page yesterday, September 4, seeking help from the online community to…
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Democrats to abstain as Anutin nears prime minister vote
The Democrat Party has confirmed that its MPs will abstain from voting in the upcoming prime ministerial selection, a move likely to strengthen Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul’s chances of clinching the top job. Deputy leader Pramual Pongthavaradet, who also serves as chair of the Democrat MPs and represents Prachuap Khiri Khan, convened the party’s parliamentary members at 9.30am today,…
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Pattaya clash: Indian tourist bloodied by transgender’s high heel
A late-night confrontation on Pattaya Beach turned violent when an Indian tourist was left bleeding after being struck on the head with a high-heeled shoe during a dispute with a transgender sex worker. The incident occurred around 3am today, September 5, on the busy beachside strip in Chon Buri province. The victim, 25 year old Suresh, an Indian national, later…
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French man stabs himself with scissors at Hat Yai market
A French man stabbed himself with scissors at a market in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, yesterday, September 4. His motive remains unknown. Officers from Hat Yai Police Station were called to investigate a shocking self-stabbing outside a chicken rice restaurant in Kim Yong Market at around 3.30pm. Rescuers from the Tong Sia Siang Teung Foundation also attended the scene.…
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Thailand aims for top 100 green tourism status by 2030
Thailand is stepping up its eco-game with the launch of the Thailand Green Tourism Plan 2030, aiming to position the nation’s destinations among the world’s top 100 sustainable tourism hotspots by 2030. The plan, themed Igniting the Path to Global Green Success, was announced by the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The goal is clear:…
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Thailand video news Scottish Tourist’s Trip Cut Short After Ex-Partner Cancels Passport, Public Pushback Grows Against Pattaya Beach Camping Proposal
Thailand’s political deadlock continues as the House Speaker rejected Pheu Thai’s request to dissolve parliament, while confirming a prime ministerial vote later this week. The party is keeping dissolution as a strategic option, though analysts warn it could ultimately weaken its position. Thaksin Heads to Singapore for Health Check, rerouted to Dubai Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra travelled to…
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Phuket taxi drivers face threats in clash over illegal ride-hailing service
A group of taxi drivers in Phuket reported receiving threats from an alleged illegal taxi driver after one of them photographed the suspect in an attempt to expose his violation of the law. The taxi drivers, who operate in the Kata Beach area, shared details of the threat with local news outlet Neshawk Phuket yesterday, September 4. They also released…
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Ex-PM Thaksin pledges return to face court after surprise Dubai trip
The former Prime Minister (PM) of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, flew to Dubai last night, September 4, reportedly to seek medical treatment. He promised to return to Thailand before September 8 to appear in court on September 9. Thaksin faces charges under the Computer Crime Act and Section 112 of the Criminal Law, also known as the lèse majesté law, stemming…
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Anutin poised to take top job as PM vote nears
Anutin Charnvirakul is expected to be confirmed as Thailand’s next prime minister today, following a key political shift involving party alliances and a planned vote. House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha confirmed that the parliamentary vote for the new Prime Minister will be held today, September 5. The move follows the latest twist in Thailand’s turbulent political landscape, which now…
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Torrential rain lashes Thailand, TMD warns of flash floods
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) today warned of heavy rainfall across 43 provinces, urging residents to stay alert for flash floods and runoff caused by a strong monsoon system sweeping the country. This weather pattern results from a monsoon trough passing through the lower North, upper central, and lower northeastern regions, combined with a moderate southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea,…
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Scotsman’s Thailand trip cut short after ex cancels passport
A Scottish holidaymaker’s dream trip to Thailand turned into a nightmare when his ex-partner cancelled his passport, leading to his detention at the airport and subsequent deportation back to the UK. William Barr, from Inverkeithing, Fife, was detained by immigration officers as soon as he arrived in Phuket, and ultimately deported back to the UK before his holiday even began. “I…
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Airbnb names Phuket’s Rawai Beach in top foodie destination for 2025
The short-term accommodation rental platform Airbnb included Rawai Beach in Phuket in its 2025 Summer Travel Trends as one of the world’s top destinations for food lovers. Airbnb’s 2025 survey reveals that more travellers are turning away from overcrowded capitals and instead choosing lesser-known hidden gems. This trend highlights a global shift from congested urban centres to more accessible, culture-rich destinations.…
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