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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Pattaya’s new drainage system ready for rainy season
Pattaya City is gearing up for the rainy season with a major new upgrade to its drainage system, designed to combat flooding in central areas. On Thursday, April 24, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet inspected and tested the newly completed Phase 1 of the Eastern Railway Parallel Road Drainage System, ensuring it’s ready for heavy rainfall. The drainage project, part of…
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Phuket road rage leads to livestreamed assault, man arrested
Shocking footage has surfaced of a violent road rage incident on the streets of Phuket, leading to the arrest of a 34 year old man who brutally assaulted a 46 year old driver. The disturbing altercation unfolded yesterday, April 25, on Chao Fah Suan Luang Road, when Nattapol, known as Pa Joke Wat Thep, chased down Chatchai’s vehicle, crashed into…
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Police arrest restaurant murder suspect in Kanchanaburi
Police have apprehended a 25 year old suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a 17 year old girl, following his attempt to evade capture in the western province of Kanchanaburi. The incident occurred on a road in Lam Sam Kaew subdistrict, Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani province, where the victim was shot and later died in hospital.…
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Woman attacked near Sattahip beach, deranged suspect arrested
A horrific attack near Sattahip’s Abhakornkiatiwong Hospital has left a 52 year old woman severely injured and a suspect in psychiatric evaluation. Police were called to the scene after a violent assault near the beach, leading to a swift response from rescue teams and medical staff. Upon arrival, officers found Namnong Samsi, bleeding heavily from a brutal head wound inflicted…
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Thai-Australian police unite to combat transnational crime networks
Thai and Australian police have initiated a collaborative operation to dismantle transnational criminal networks. This joint effort targets crimes like narcotics, child exploitation, and cryptocurrency-based money laundering, aiming to tackle complex issues that cross international borders. Earlier this month, Police Lieutenant General Jirabhop Bhuridej, Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police’s Central Investigation Bureau, led a delegation to Australia for discussions…
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Phuket police bust Russian woman in prostitution crackdown
Police in Phuket have arrested a Russian national involved in a prostitution ring in a latest crackdown. On Thursday, April 24, officers working under the command of Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police, arrested a 28 year old Russian woman at a hotel in Phuket Town. The arrest was made under the Prevention and Suppression of…
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PM Paetongtarn leaves hospital after fever recovery
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was discharged from hospital after recovering from a high fever, according to government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub yesterday, April 25. The 38 year old PM was admitted to hospital on Thursday evening, April 24, following her return from a two-day official visit to Cambodia. After a medical examination yesterday, doctors found her condition had improved and…
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Chiang Mai cafe accused of creating ‘human zoo’ amid criticism
Criticism has been directed at a Chiang Mai cafe located in a former tobacco factory, which allows visitors to observe workers sorting tobacco leaves, with some accusing it of creating a “human zoo.“ The controversy began after a customer posted an image on social media, capturing her visit to Yen.CNX cafe with workers visible behind a glass partition, sorting leaves…
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New liquid and gel rules enforced at Thailand airports
Thailand has introduced new rules governing how liquids, gels, and aerosols (LGAs) can be carried in hand luggage, tightening security measures at airports nationwide. The new regulations, which came into effect on Tuesday, April 22, were published in the Royal Gazette and supersede those introduced in 2019. “These updated rules, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), aim…
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Man killed in high-speed crash into parked truck in Phuket
A 55 year old man was killed in a horrifying crash early this morning when his sedan slammed into a stationary trailer truck on the bypass road in Phuket. The tragic accident unfolded at around 1.50am today, April 25, in front of the Kee Hin outlet. “At the scene, officers found a 22-wheeled trailer truck, registered in Chumphon, parked on…
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French fugitive busted at Phuket Airport over assault charge
A wanted French national thought he could slip into Thailand unnoticed but Phuket’s sharp-eyed immigration and police officers had other plans. In a dramatic early morning arrest, a 31 year old Frenchman was apprehended at Phuket International Airport yesterday, April 24 at around 7.40am. The arrest was made inside the international arrivals hall, where officers were waiting to intercept him…
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3 Thai teenagers suspected of murdering friend in Lop Buri dam
A Thai mother suspects three teenagers of murdering her 15 year old son and abandoning his body in a dam in the central province of Lop Buri, before fabricating a story that he had drowned. The lifeless body of the teenager, Thunwa, was discovered floating face down in the Pasak Chonlasit Dam on April 18. The Ruamkatanyu Rescue Foundation was initially unable…
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Train slams pickup as driver ignores barrier in Sattahip
A 69 year old man is lucky to be alive after a shocking collision with a freight train in Sattahip that left his pickup truck mangled and his body seriously injured. At 9.50am yesterday, April 24, Sattahip Police were alerted to a dramatic accident at a railway crossing near Ban Noen Samakkhi in Chon Buri province. The crash involved a…
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Pattaya lifts out of order after Wan Lai water chaos
The aftermath of Pattaya’s wild Wan Lai water festival has left more than just soaked streets, some public elevators are out of order, causing frustration and major accessibility issues across the city. As the celebrations fade, the Cleanliness Control Division of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has launched a deep-cleaning operation, targeting lifts in public areas hit hardest…
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Phuket seafront restaurant busted for land grab
A popular Phuket restaurant with stunning sea views is under fire after police swooped in and seized over 4 rai of land, citing illegal forest encroachment and unlicensed construction. The high-profile raid has rocked the east side of Phuket Town, exposing serious environmental violations hidden behind a picturesque dining experience. Yesterday, April 24, officials from the Phuket Provincial Forestry Office,…
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Drunk Thai driver pretends to be foreigner after crashing 2 cars
A heavily drunk Thai driver pretended to be a foreigner in an attempt to avoid legal consequences after crashing her car into two vehicles in Bangkok. Two TikTok users shared videos of the incident yesterday, on April 24, which reportedly took place in Soi Mahad Thai in the Ramkhamhaeng area of Bangkok. The driver of the white hatchback, who caused…
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Tour de theft: Israeli’s bike swiped in Bangkok, found on Facebook
A cheeky thief tried to cash in on a stolen bike belonging to an Israeli tourist by flogging it on Facebook but got caught peddling his crime to an undercover cop. Bangkok police nabbed the suspect who allegedly nicked a pricey bike from a visiting tourist in Yaowarat, Chinatown’s bustling food and shopping district, before listing it online for a…
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Pattaya woman saved seconds before suicide attempt
In a dramatic late-night rescue, a young woman was pulled from the brink of tragedy after attempting to jump off a pedestrian overpass on Sukhumvit Road in Central Pattaya. The heart-stopping incident unfolded just after midnight at 12.16am yesterday, April 24, when the Pattaya Rescue Centre received a frantic call from a concerned passerby. A distressed woman, believed to be…
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Blade runner: Thai man sparks hospital horror in Chiang Mai
Panic gripped a Chiang Mai hospital this morning after a knife-wielding Thai man stormed the outpatient ward, threatening to slash his own throat in front of terrified staff and patients. The dramatic standoff unfolded around 11.30am, today, April 25, when the unhinged man burst into McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai, clutching a knife and pressing it to his own neck…
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Phuket earthquake sinking rumour slammed as fake news
Rumours that Phuket could vanish beneath the waves after a major earthquake sent shockwaves across social media but officials say it’s all nonsense. The Anti-Fake News Centre stepped in yesterday, April 24, to squash a viral claim suggesting that the popular Thai island could sink into the sea following a massive tremor. The panic-inducing posts also alleged a catastrophic death…
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Pattaya police arrest Uzbek national with counterfeit US$3,000
A swift police operation in Pattaya led to the arrest of a 31 year old Uzbek national today. He was caught red-handed with 30 counterfeit US$100 bills, triggering a wave of concern among local businesses. “After a report from a currency exchange shop, which revealed that a foreign tourist had exchanged US$3,000 for Thai baht only to discover the bills…
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Deadly tropical sandfly behind fatal fever cases in Thailand
A rare but potentially deadly disease spread by a common sandfly has claimed two lives in Thailand this year, as health chiefs warn locals and travellers to slap on the bug spray and stay alert. Thailand has recorded over 40 cases of Leishmaniasis, a tropical disease transmitted by sandflies, with two deaths confirmed so far in 2025 – one in…
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Down with fever: PM Paetongtarn hospitalised after Cambodia trip
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was rushed to the hospital last night after returning from an official trip to Cambodia, according to Government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsap. “Paetongtarn had a packed schedule in Cambodia from Wednesday to Thursday, meeting with officials and discussing important issues,” Jirayu explained. After departing Cambodia around 2pm yesterday, April 24, she arrived back in Thailand at approximately…
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Thai transwoman commits suicide after losing 7 million baht in scam
A Thai transwoman committed suicide in her parked car outside her barbecue restaurant in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, after reportedly losing over 7 million baht in an investment scam. A worker at the restaurant in Bang Kruai district noticed the vehicle belonging to his transgender employer, Sarut, parked outside unusually early on the morning of April 24. He became suspicious,…
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Phuket flyer dodges tornado terror as storm grounds landing (video)
A Thai tourist got more turbulence than he bargained for today on a family getaway to Phuket, when a tornado ripped through the skies, forcing his flight to abort landing mid-descent. Gripped by fear, the shaken passenger admitted he chanted prayers as the plane circled the island for half an hour waiting for the skies to clear. Holiday plans turned…
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20 test positive for meth in surprise Phuket drug screening
Thalang district officials uncovered a disturbing 20 cases of methamphetamine (meth) use during a surprise drug screening operation in Pa Khlok. The operation on Wednesday, April 23, part of a wider crackdown on drug abuse, involved a special operations team from the Thalang district administration, village headmen, public health volunteers, and Thalang Police. “Officers set up checkpoints in three key…
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Foreign man to face charges for drifting car on mountain road
Police plan to summon a foreign man for drifting his luxury car on Phu Thap Buek mountain in the northern province of Phetchabun after a video of the dangerous driving went viral on the TikTok application. The Thai TikToker, @lolono.re, shared the video of the car drifting yesterday, April 24, with a caption that read, “Brilliant! #Phetchabun #PhuThapBuek.” The video…
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Thai police defend probe into Chulalongkorn exam leak scandal
Thailand’s Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) defended its involvement in the investigation of a 2023 exam paper leak at Chulalongkorn University. The case allegedly implicates a former senior police officer who was then enrolled in a special undergraduate law programme. On Wednesday, April 23, the TCSD commissioner, Police Major General Siriwat Dipho, stressed that the investigation is being conducted impartially…
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Phuket fishing tragedy: Man dies after being swept into sea
A man tragically lost his life after being swept into the sea by a huge wave while fishing at Laem Sing Beach. The horrific incident occurred around 3.40pm, yesterday, April 24, when a foreign tourist in the area witnessed the man being knocked off the rocks and into the water at the southern tip of the beach. “Seeing him fall,…
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Thailand video news | Brit Arrested for Drugs and Overstaying in Koh Samui, Indians Caught Smuggling Hydroponic Weed from Bangkok to Mumbai
In today’s regional news update by Jay and Alex, law enforcement across Southeast Asia remains active, from drug busts in Thailand and India to visa crackdowns and safety investigations. Meanwhile, political shifts are underway in Singapore ahead of the general election, and new public health regulations are rolling out in Malaysia. Tensions surrounding foreign influence in the Philippines and infrastructure…
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