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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The Thaiger key takeaways Not declaring pre-existing conditions can result in denied claims, high costs, or visa problems. Cigna provides coverage for common chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis with high limits and direct billing. Honest disclosure ensures proper coverage,...
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Julapun poised to lead Pheu Thai reboot after Paetongtarn’s exit
The Pheu Thai Party is undergoing a major leadership shakeup after Paetongtarn Shinawatra resigned, paving the way for a new figure to guide the party through political headwinds. The shakeup has positioned Julapun Amornvivat as the leading candidate to take the reins, with a formal decision expected at the party’s general assembly on October 31. Julapun, known for his moderate…
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4 foreigners arrested in Phuket for operating restricted businesses
Phuket Immigration officers arrested four foreigners for illegally operating businesses in Patong, including a motorcycle rental shop, a travel agency, a barber shop, and restaurants. Immigration officials launched raids on five businesses along Phra Baramee Road and Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road in Patong sub-district, Kathu district, following complaints from residents. During the inspection, officers found an Israeli man, whose name…
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Thai monk arrested for sexual abuse of 4 novices in Bueng Kan
Police arrested a Thai monk in the Isaan province of Bueng Kan for sexually abusing four young novices and attempting to conceal the matter by offering the victims 300,000 baht. The sexual assault at a temple in Bueng Kan came to light after Chalida “Ton Or” Palamart, the founder of the non-profit organisation Be One, shared details of the incident…
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SRT ramps up legal fight over land grabs in Buriram plots
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has launched fresh legal action to evict those occupying its land in Buriram, aiming to reclaim 15 plots through the courts. The SRT is intensifying its efforts to reclaim state land in Buriram, filing fresh lawsuits to evict alleged trespassers from 15 plots in the Khao Kradong area. The move follows earlier legal action…
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Thai woman duped out of 1 million baht by fake police call centre scam
A Thai woman lost more than 1 million baht to a call centre scammer who posed as a police officer and issued a fake legal charge against her. She said she had been saving the money since she was 15 through various part-time jobs. The 25 year old recent graduate, Ploy, filed a complaint with Huai Khwang Police Station yesterday,…
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Thailand, Cambodia to sign peace path deal with US backing
Thailand and Cambodia will sign a joint declaration this Sunday, witnessed by the US and Malaysia, outlining steps to ease border tensions and boost cooperation. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeaw revealed the development during an interview today, October 24, ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit, noting the declaration, to be signed on October 26, outlines mutual steps towards de-escalation and cooperation.…
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Cattle farmer bludgeons rival in central Thailand pond row
A long-running dispute between two workers in central Thailand turned deadly when one man killed the other during a heated argument. A bitter turf war between a cattle farmer and a shrimp pond caretaker in Nakhon Pathom exploded into violence this week, ending with one man beaten to death and the other in police custody. Yesterday, October 23, at 12.20pm,…
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Thai police probe report of 11 Koreans kidnapped in Thailand
Thai police are investigating claims from South Korean media that 11 Korean nationals were kidnapped while visiting Thailand, sparking international concern. Police Major General Chaturaphat Piromkaew, Commander of the Foreign Affairs Division and Deputy Police Spokesperson of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), addressed the report today, October 24, stating that the claims are currently under review. He emphasised that, at…
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Divers missing off Koh Racha found clinging to seaside rocks
Two tourists went missing during a dive near Koh Racha Noi and were rescued hours later after a coordinated search by Thai naval and rescue teams. The alarm was raised around 3pm yesterday, October 23, when staff at The Racha Hotel on nearby Koh Racha Yai reported that two tourists, a Thai national and a German, had failed to return…
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Top lawyer questions Thai activist’s charity over shady finances (video)
A prominent lawyer has called on the Interior Ministry to investigate a foundation linked to a well-known activist, raising concerns over its finances. Prominent Thai lawyer Decha Kittivittayanan is calling for a full investigation into the Gun Jompalang Chuai Su Foundation, questioning whether it truly serves a charitable purpose or operates as a financial front. The foundation, which is associated…
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Thai government moves to bring back 2 gifted elephants from Sri Lanka
The Thai government is set to hold talks with Sri Lanka on October 28 to bring back two elephants that were gifted by Thailand, following reports of poor living conditions and alleged mistreatment. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Suchart Chomklin, wrote on his Facebook page yesterday, October 23, that he plans to fly urgently…
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Thailand video news | Thailand set to loosen alcohol laws and extend nightlife hours, Exploring Thailand’s ghostly landmarks
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover the latest stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia — including Prime Minister Anutin’s plans to relax alcohol laws and extend nightlife hours, allegations that Prince Andrew misused Thai trade trips for personal leisure, and a look at some of Thailand’s most haunted landmarks to explore this spooky season. Thailand set…
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Foreign man goes viral for swimming in floodwater on Bangla Road, Phuket
A foreign man went viral on Thai social media after a video showed him sitting on a rubber ring and enjoying the floodwater on Bangla Road in Phuket. A Thai man filmed the foreigner floating in the middle of the flooded road and shared the video on his Facebook account yesterday, October 23, with a caption reading, “#NewSwimmingPoolNearMe #Happiness #BanglaPatong.”…
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Illegal gambling ring arrested by undercover cops in Chon Buri
Thirteen people were arrested during a sting operation at a Chon Buri fishing pond, where undercover officers caught them gambling on high-low games. The raid was led by Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon at 8.06pm yesterday, October 23. Acting on complaints from locals about frequent gambling gatherings, officials devised a covert plan to infiltrate the site. Undercover officers, disguised…
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Samsen Police Station 70% torn down as sinkhole threat escalates (video)
The demolition of Bangkok’s Samsen Police Station is now 70% complete and will finish ahead of schedule, according to officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The move comes after a massive sinkhole opened near the site last month, prompting urgent safety concerns. Work continued yesterday, October 23, with fire trucks spraying down Samsen Road to control dust. The sinkhole,…
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Thai man throws rock at girlfriend’s employer after fight over 50 baht
A Thai man threw a rock at his girlfriend’s employer at a restaurant in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok after becoming angry when the woman borrowed 50 baht from him. The victim, 30 year old Nattapong, the owner of a restaurant in the Talad Khwan sub-district of Nonthaburi, filed a complaint against 30 year old Thai man Thossaphon following a physical…
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Storm chaos looms as heavy rain and floods hit Thailand
Heavy rain, strong winds, and high waves are sweeping across Thailand as a monsoon trough causes flash floods and disruptions in several regions. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned that residents in the south should stay alert for sudden downpours and flooding, especially near foothills, low-lying areas, and waterways. Travelling through flood-prone zones is strongly discouraged. In the upper…
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Pattaya tots locked in BMV saved after 30-minute ordeal
Two toddlers were rescued by emergency responders in Pattaya after becoming trapped inside a locked car parked near a hospital for over 30 minutes. The incident unfolded on Tuesday, October 21, in the car park behind Bhatamakun Hospital in Naklua. A black BMW sedan became the unintended prison for a one year old girl and her four year old brother…
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Racing teens arrested as police sweep Phuket festival hotspot
Police in Phuket detained dozens of youths and seized modified motorbikes during late-night patrols aimed at ensuring safety during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. The crackdown saw 45 young people detained and 13 illegally modified motorbikes seized during a late-night sweep at Saphan Hin. The operation began yesterday evening, October 22, and continued into the early hours of today, October 23.…
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3 men pose as police and steal 46,000 baht from Chinese tourist in Bangkok
Police arrested one of three men who posed as police officers and stole about 46,000 baht from a Chinese tourist in Huai Khwang, Bangkok, today, October 23. The victim, Lyu Wanyuan, filed a complaint with Huai Khwang Police Station after losing 11,000 Hong Kong dollars, about 46,000 baht, to the gang. The incident occurred outside a hotel on Ratchadaphisek Road.…
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Thai teen couple caught in motorbike romp near Phuket tourist site
A teenage couple caused public outrage after being filmed engaging in intimate behaviour on a parked motorbike along a popular tourist road in Phuket. The incident, which took place yesterday evening, October 22, quickly drew widespread criticism after a bystander recorded the duo engaging in what appeared to be an intimate moment on a parked motorcycle. The footage, later shared…
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Thai mother denies sending daughter to work for scam gang in Cambodia
A Thai woman denied allegations made by her ex-husband, who accused her of sending their 19 year old daughter to work for a call centre scam in Cambodia for money. The father, 47 year old Joe, appealed for help after losing contact with his daughter, 19 year old Plaifa, also known as Mew. Joe said he only discovered that his daughter…
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Indian tourists fleeced after beach fling turns sour in Pattaya
Two Indian tourists reported to Pattaya police that a woman they met on the beach stole over 50,000 baht from them after visiting their hotel room. The incident occurred around 1am today, October 23, when 52 year old Anower and 38 year old Mamun encountered a young woman on Pattaya Beach, Soi 13/4, in Bang Lamung district. The men, captivated…
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Korean kidnappings in Thailand trigger travel safety alarm
South Korean officials raised concerns after a rise in kidnappings involving their citizens during visits to Thailand, a top destination for Korean tourists. According to a report by The Korea Economic Daily, 11 South Koreans have been kidnapped in Thailand so far this year, marking a disturbing jump from zero cases in 2021. The statistics, based on Ministry of Foreign…
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Prince Andrew accused of royal romps on Thai taxpayer dime
A former UK official has alleged that Prince Andrew used taxpayer-funded trips to Thailand to meet women while serving as a government trade representative. According to Ian Proud, a former senior diplomat at the British Embassy in Bangkok, the disgraced royal regularly mixed business with pleasure during his visits to Thailand as the UK’s special trade envoy. “The prince would…
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2 injuries reported after bus crashes into truck carrying concrete piles
A public bus crashed into a truck carrying concrete piles on a road in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok this morning, October 23, injuring the driver and the female fare collector. Khlong Luang Police Station received a report of the accident involving a bus and a truck carrying concrete piles at 5.30am. The incident occurred on Phahonyothin Road in Khlong…
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival vendors told to clean up and price up
Officials in Phuket inspected food vendors to ensure fair pricing and food safety during the Vegetarian Festival. The Phuket Provincial Commerce Office and local health officials have launched a series of inspections on vendors taking part in the annual festival, urging them to display clear prices and maintain proper hygiene standards. Officers visited stalls at Kathu Shrine on October 21,…
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Thai football boss defends axing coach after big win shock
Thailand’s football association removed the national team coach after an internal review, sparking public backlash just before key qualifying matches. Masatada Ishii, who had been at the helm of the Thai national football team since December 2023, was dismissed in a surprise announcement from the Football Association of Thailand (FA Thailand) yesterday. The news sparked a wave of backlash from…
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PM Anutin pushes 4am pub hours and nationwide booze revamp
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has proposed lifting alcohol zoning laws and extending pub hours to boost revenue and modernise nightlife regulations nationwide. Anutin has ordered the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Public Health to study the nationwide removal of zoning restrictions on alcohol sales and extend closing times for entertainment venues from 2am to 4am. The plan also…
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Gone too soon: Thai teen financial whiz dies after long cancer fight (video)
A young financial educator passed away after a long battle with illness, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, wisdom, and inspiration for many. Teenage prodigy Phasawin “Win” Tantiniti, who became known for his appearances on the hit TV show Manut Tang Wai มนุษย์ต่างวัย (People of Different Ages), passed away today, October 23, after battling cancer for most of his life.…
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