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 How one hospital visit in Thailand could cost more than your whole trip
Thailand is a favourite spot for travellers who want to enjoy more while spending less. From cheap street food to low-cost hotels and fun attractions, it’s easy to stretch your budget here. But there’s one thing many people don’t think...
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Double numbers dominate June 1 lottery history
Excitement is building as the Government Lottery Office (GLO) prepares for the June 1 draw, set to take place at The One Convention Hall in Bueng Kan Province. But before the big day, lottery enthusiasts are already analysing a decade of results to uncover fascinating patterns and lucky numbers. From 2015 to 2024, Khaosod Online has tracked government lottery results…
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Pattaya condo bust: Chinese man arrested for Facebook scam
A Chinese man was arrested in Pattaya after allegedly running a fake online market scheme that conned victims out of tens of thousands of baht, with assets worth around 9 million baht seized by police. The suspect, identified only as 30 year old Li, was apprehended at a condominium in Na Kluea subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, following…
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High and dry: British bloke nicked in Euro cannabis run flop
A British man has been caught red-handed trying to smuggle a suitcase crammed with cannabis from Bangkok to Newcastle, the latest bust in a growing string of drug mule disasters linked to Thailand. The 31 year old was stopped at Vienna International Airport, yesterday, May 27, during a transit stop en route from Bangkok to Newcastle via Frankfurt, and was…
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Pattaya condo tragedy: Swiss man devastated by partner’s suicide
A quiet condo in Pattaya was rocked by tragedy in the early hours of today when a 53 year old woman was found dead in an apparent suicide. Police received the distressing report at approximately 2.46am from a residence in Nong Prue, Pattaya, Chon Buri province. Upon arrival, Lieutenant Chaineret Phengkaen, deputy investigator at the Dongtan sub-branch of Pattaya City…
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Phuket boosts tourism with 7 new developments
Phuket’s booming tourism industry is set for a fresh injection of new developments as four hotels and three condominiums received approval from the Expert Committee on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) during a recent meeting. The third EIA committee gathering of the year took place at the Phuket Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, chaired by Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai. The…
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ATM hacker’s ‘jackpot’ sting fizzles as Bulgarian suspect nabbed
A slick Bulgarian cyber crook who posed as an ATM repairman to unleash a “jackpot” virus on machines across Thailand has been nicked after cops raided his posh hideout in Nonthaburi. Cyber cops busted a criminal ring allegedly led by a 50 year old Bulgarian man who used high-tech trickery to sabotage ATM machines and siphon sensitive data, crippling 13…
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Bangkok ride-hail row erupts over forced toll fee (video)
A viral TikTok video has ignited fierce debate over passenger rights after a Bangkok woman claimed her ride-hail driver ignored her route instructions and demanded she pay a toll she hadn’t agreed to. The incident came to light when TikTok user @aomsintupleng shared footage of the heated exchange during a ride. She said she had told the driver to avoid…
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Mud and done it! Phuket villa project sinks after landslide scandal
A swanky Phuket villa project has been slapped with a construction ban after furious locals complained it was turning their neighbourhood into a mudbath. The VIP Galaxy Villa development in Rawai was ordered to down tools earlier this month after a series of alleged planning breaches, including triggering mudslides onto public land. The two-storey luxury pad project, built from reinforced…
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Retired police officer rapes Cambodian girl under wife’s complicity
A retired police officer raped a 13 year old Cambodian girl, who worked at his grocery store in the central province of Nakhon Pathom, and reportedly forced her to watch him having sex with his wife. Chalida “Ton Or” Palamart, founder of the non-profit organisation Be One, accompanied a Cambodian woman and her teenage daughter to Mueang Nakhon Pathom Police…
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Trans and out: British transwoman fleeing UK ‘hate’ for Thailand
A British transwoman says she’s preparing to flee the country after a bombshell Supreme Court ruling left her fearing for her life on the streets of the United Kingdom. Alexis Solia, a content creator and activist, says she’s endured years of abuse simply for existing, but last month’s landmark ruling that “sex” in the Equality Act means biological sex was,…
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New regulation updates fees for Thai historical sites and museums
Visitors to Thailand’s national museums and registered historical sites should prepare to pay updated entry fees following a new ministerial regulation announced today. Published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette, the regulation immediately revises the charges for entry to these cultural landmarks, aiming to modernise fees that had remained unchanged since 2008. The culture minister enacted the regulation under the…
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Borderline madness as Thai and Cambodian troops trade fire
Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged gunfire in the early hours of yesterday morning in a tense border flare-up that’s reignited fears of conflict in a disputed stretch of jungle in Ubon Ratchathani province. Shots rang out just before sunrise near Chong Bok, in Nam Yuen district, when Thai troops approached Cambodian soldiers who had crossed into contested territory, sparking a…
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Thai woman’s depression cure bid ends in father’s sexual assault
A 20 year old Thai woman, hoping to cure her depression, moved to live with her biological father in the central province of Samut Prakan but ended up being sexually assaulted by him. The victim filed a complaint against her 42 year old father, Somkuan, at Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station on Monday, May 26 and provided a voice recording…
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British holidaymaker dies after snorting killer cocktail in Bangkok
A fun-loving British holidaymaker died in a Bangkok hotel room after snorting what she thought was cocaine, only for it to be a deadly cocktail of heroin, tranquillisers and sleeping pills, an inquest has heard. Rebecca Turner, had been travelling in Thailand with her partner when the pair took a line of white powder, unaware it was a lethal blend…
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Si Racha arson attempt foiled after drug-fuelled attack
A drug-fuelled rampage nearly ended in disaster in Bo Win, Si Racha district, yesterday when a man smashed household items and tried to set fire to a relative’s home — but quick action from local officials stopped the chaos in its tracks. At around 1pm, yesterday, May 27, police apprehended 30 year old Saharat Nuangjamnong after reports surfaced of a…
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Thai Defence Ministry appoints first ever female spokesperson
The Thai Defence Ministry has appointed its first female spokesperson, marking a major milestone in the traditionally male-dominated military sector. The historic appointment signals a fresh, progressive direction for the ministry’s communications and public engagement efforts. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai approved the appointment yesterday, May 27, making Colonel Dr Dangjai Souvannakitti the first woman to hold…
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Aussie brothers banged up after brawl in Sin City, Pattaya (video)
Two Aussie brothers have turned themselves in after a boozy bar brawl in Thailand’s party capital left one tourist bloodied and battered, the latest drama in a string of shocking incidents involving Australians in Pattaya. Carlos Anthony Madafferi, and his 20 year old younger brother Isaac Biagio Madafferi, walked into a local police station on Monday, May 26, after footage…
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Malaysian man robs Chinese influencer to fund Chiang Mai holiday
A 34 year old Malaysian man robbed a Chinese influencer and university student of 135,000 baht in the northern province of Chiang Mai, claiming he needed the money to fund his holiday. Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station officers held a press conference yesterday, May 27, to reveal details of the case. The suspect, identified as Eng Chee Hon, allegedly committed…
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PM Paetongtarn champions green economy at Malaysia summit
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made waves yesterday at the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Malaysia, unveiling a three-pronged strategy aimed at boosting economic prosperity, protecting human resources, and preserving the environment. Speaking at the high-profile gathering, the 38 year old Thai premier urged deeper collaboration between ASEAN and Gulf countries to tackle pressing challenges while seizing new…
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Bitcoin hit! Crypto king eyes US$130k in grown-up glow-up
Bitcoin is not just for the tech bros and crypto cowboys anymore, it’s all grown up, flashing serious financial muscle as analysts tip it to smash through the US$130,000 barrier by year’s end. Following a high of US$111,000 last Thursday, financial analysts now peg bitcoin’s next major resistance at US$130,000, as the world’s top digital currency shakes off its wild-child…
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Indian thief performs wai before fleeing with 93,000 baht
An Indian man robbed nearly 100,000 baht from a currency exchange shop in the Bangrak district of Bangkok on Monday and performed a wai before fleeing the scene. He was ultimately arrested yesterday, May 27. Officers from Bangrak Police Station received complaints from two currency exchange shops in the area: X-ONE Currency Exchange Centre on Surawong Road and WISE Exchange…
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Takin’ the mic! Thaksin pops up to preach on drugs
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has emerged from the shadows once again, this time turning up at the country’s top anti-narcotics office to lecture on drugs, all while dodging fresh rumours he’s planning another great escape. The former Thai premier rocked up at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) in Bangkok yesterday, May 27, brushing aside speculation…
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Rainy wreck: Wild crash smashes noodle shop in Chon Buri
What started as a rainy afternoon bowl of noodles turned into a high-speed horror show when a sedan slammed into a roadside shop in Chon Buri, sending bowls, broth, and chairs flying in every direction. The chaos unfolded at around 3pm yesterday, May 27, on Highway 331 in Khao Mai Kaew, heading towards Bowin. Officers from Huay Yai Police Station…
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Pom-pom pow! Big Pom swings at reporter in ‘strength test’ stunt
Controversial Thai MP “Big Pom” stirred up fresh outrage after pretending to punch a female reporter during a bizarre exchange at party HQ, all while dodging serious questions on political rifts and budget bust-ups. General Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), was back in front of the press yesterday, May 27, for the first time since taking…
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Thailand braces for more rainfall, TMD warns of flash floods
Weather conditions in Thailand are set to bring heavy rainfall across 48 provinces, including the north, northeast, Bangkok, and eastern Thailand. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of potential flash floods in some areas due to a 70-80% chance of rain. Residents in these regions should be cautious of heavy rainfall and accumulated precipitation, which may lead to flash floods,…
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Phuket transwoman arrested for pickpocketing Turkish tourist
Police arrested a Thai transwoman for pickpocketing a Turkish tourist in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket in the early hours of this morning. Stolen cash amounting to 4,000 baht was recovered. The 38 year old Turkish tourist filed a complaint with officers at Patong Police Station at 4am today, May 27. He suspected a transwoman of stealing 4,000 baht in cash…
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Mexican actress battles brutal heat filming in Bangkok
A Mexican actress has opened up about the punishing heat she endured while filming the new action movie Fountain of Youth in Bangkok, calling it one of the toughest challenges on set. In a recent Zoom interview with The Star, actress Eiza González revealed how the scorching Thai weather made her shoot physically gruelling. “When we watch movies, we rarely think about the…
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Elephants find freedom and healing at Thailand’s Samui sanctuary
In the lush greenery of Koh Samui’s Bo Phut district, two elephants have discovered the ultimate way to beat the sizzling May heat: cooling off in a pool and rolling in mud at the Samui Elephant Sanctuary. Kaew Ta and Kham Phean, both in their mid-60s, enjoy this peaceful retirement after years of harsh labour in logging and tourism. The…
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False alarm: No volcano threat in Isaan’s Buriram
A mysterious rumbling heard by mushroom pickers near a long-dormant volcano outside Buriram city sparked local fears of an eruption, but officials have now confirmed it was merely the sound of underground water. Last Thursday, May 22, villagers collecting wild mushrooms at the base of Khao Kradong in Mueang district recorded eerie rumbling noises on their phones. One man shared…
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Phuket anti-corruption chief slams dropped appeal in graft case
Phuket’s top anti-corruption official has sharply criticised the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for declining to appeal the overturned conviction of MaAnn Samran, a former local official convicted of corruption but later acquitted on appeal. MaAnn, once the powerful Chief of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) overseeing Phuket’s prized beach areas, including Bang Tao, was sentenced in…
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