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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Phuket cops team up with school to fight drugs and helmet rebels
Wichit Police have joined forces with Darasamut School in Phuket in a bold new campaign to tackle teen drug use, vaping, and traffic law violations, all while promoting safer, smarter behaviour among students. The initiative, held under the direction of Wichit Police Chief Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang, was led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Wutthawat Liangbunchinda, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation. He…
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2 teenage girls rescued from Chon Buri karaoke bar prostitution
Police in Chon Buri raided a karaoke venue yesterday as part of a human trafficking investigation. The 59 year old owner is accused of exploiting underage girls for prostitution and operating without a licence. Police Major General Songkrot Krakritaya, commander of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD), directed the operation in collaboration with local police in Mueang Chon Buri district.…
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5th Thai-Laos bridge to boost trade to over 28 billion baht
The fifth Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge is set to open by the end of the year, boosting cross-border trade to over 28 billion baht. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, alongside Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, attended the concrete pouring ceremony for the bridge connecting Bueng Kan in Thailand and Bolikhamxai in Laos. This development aims to enhance…
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Motorcycle repairman dies in Bangkok collision with pickup truck
A tragic accident occurred last night when a collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck resulted in the death of a 34 year old motorcycle repairman. The incident took place at the entrance of Wat Thung Khru, located on Pracha Uthit Road in Bangkok’s Thung Khru district. Police Colonel Aphiwat Phuakinsang, Deputy Investigator of Thung Khru Police Station, responded…
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Knife-wielding man removed from Phuket streets
A mentally ill man accused of causing repeated panic in Phuket’s Soi Palai area has finally been removed from the community after over a year of complaints. The man, identified as Thiranai Chanphong, was taken into custody and transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital for psychiatric treatment on Thursday, June 5. The breakthrough came after frustrated landlady Pranee Boonsawang, 51, took…
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‘Arabian racers’ return: Daylight street chaos rocks Pattaya again
Street racing is once again plaguing Pattaya, with groups of Middle Eastern tourists — often referred to by locals as “Arabian racers” — taking over Sukhumvit Road in broad daylight. A viral dashcam clip circulating online shows three helmetless riders blasting off at a red light near Na Jomtien, treating the road like a racetrack while ignoring all traffic laws.…
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Bangkok serial thief busted with loot in Dusit district
A serial thief targeting Bangkok’s elite — including a judge and a government minister — was finally collared after a police bust in the capital’s Dusit district. Bangkok police have arrested 40 year old Tasanarat following a string of high-profile burglaries, including thefts from the homes of a former judge, a minister, and a former parliamentary chairman. The arrest, carried…
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Chon Buri oil spill sparks swift cleanup effort
An oil spill off Chon Buri’s coast triggered an urgent response, but officials say there’s no danger to Pattaya or Bang Saen. Thai authorities have sprung into action following a minor oil spill involving approximately 8,000 litres of Murban crude oil from the MT Phoenix Jamnagar, a massive 160,000-tonne VLCC tanker. The leak occurred around 1am yesterday, June 6, at…
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Princess Sirindhorn opens National Rice and Farmers Day event
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening of the 2025 National Rice and Farmers Day yesterday, June 6. The event, themed Advanced Agricultural Technology: Promoting New Age Farming and Sustaining Thai Farmers, saw the princess presenting certificates of honour to the central committee of national community rice centres and four outstanding farmers and agricultural institutions. The…
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Monster rains, surging seas and storm warnings slam Thailand
Thailand is bracing for more rain and isolated heavy downpours, with the lower central region — including Bangkok — along with the east and south facing the highest risk, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD)’s latest warning. The weather office said a moderate monsoon trough is moving south across the north, northeast, and upper central regions into a low-pressure…
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Thailand’s long-delayed airport high-speed rail finally back on track
Thailand is gearing up to sign a long-awaited contract for its high-speed rail project connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports – a transport game-changer that has faced over five years of delays. The 224 billion baht mega-project, overseen by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), was severely derailed by the Covid pandemic, which impacted infrastructure investments nationwide. A key…
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Thai woman finds 12 million baht in plastic box at condo rubbish area
A Thai woman discovered a plastic box containing 12 million baht in cash in the waste disposal area of her condominium in Nonthaburi province yesterday, June 5. The female condo resident, Usa, alerted officers from Pak Kret Police Station at around 8.30pm. The cash-filled plastic box was left in the rubbish area on the fourth floor of the condominium, located…
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4 suspects questioned after murder of gay Thai man in Surin
Police questioned four suspects after a gay Thai man was found dead in his home in the Isaan province of Surin on Wednesday, June 4, and his gold accessories, worth over 1 million baht, were reported missing. The 63 year old victim, Pratheep Kongthawee, was discovered lifeless near a sofa inside his home in Surin’s Mueang district. He sustained a…
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Phuket marine life in crisis as biologists save species
Marine biologists in Phuket are working tirelessly to protect the island’s marine life, with two sea turtle rescues and an investigation into the mysterious death of a dolphin. Yesterday, June 5, the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) and the Rare Marine Animal Rescue Network sprang into action after receiving reports of two critically endangered species in distress. The first rescue…
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Thai woman left to raise daughters and repay debt after husband comes out
A Thai woman is seeking justice, claiming her gay ex-husband abandoned her with the responsibility of raising their two daughters and repaying a debt of over one million baht after coming out. The single mother, Som (alias), appeared on the Channel 3 talk show Hone Krasae yesterday, June 5, to share her family troubles and to seek advice. She urged…
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Car flips on Pattaya highway; driver, passengers escape injuries
A car crash on Highway 36 in Pattaya left several people injured after a sedan overturned late yesterday. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation’s rescue centre received a call at 8.10pm yesterday, June 5, reporting the accident, and rescue teams rushed to the scene. The incident occurred near the intersection with Highway 331, heading towards Sattahip, in the Pong subdistrict. When…
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Thailand secures 12 Saab Gripen jets in 60 billion baht deal
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has confirmed its plan to acquire 12 Saab Gripen E and F fighter jets from Sweden, in a deal valued at 60 billion baht. The initial delivery is expected by 2029. Commander of the RTAF, Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul, announced yesterday, June 5, that the acquisition aims to replace Thailand’s ageing fleet of…
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Thailand launches free alcohol quality tests in 3 provinces
Thailand’s Excise Department is stepping up its efforts to improve the quality and safety of locally produced alcohol by launching a groundbreaking initiative aimed at ensuring community-made liquor meets safety standards. The Community Liquor Lab on Wheels programme, announced yesterday, June 5, by Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul, will deploy mobile laboratories to Lampang, Sakon Nakhon, and Songkhla—three provinces with…
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Loan officer arrested for embezzling nearly 700,000 baht from client
Police arrested a loan officer for embezzling nearly 700,000 baht from a client in the Isaan province of Buriram by deceiving the victim into applying for a loan. Over ten additional victims came forward after the initial complaint. A 32 year old Thai woman, Phatchara, filed a complaint against the loan officer, Weerayut, at Mueang Buriram Police Station on September…
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Thai healthcare scheme stable with 46 billion baht in reserves
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has assured the public that the 30-baht “gold card” Universal Healthcare Coverage scheme remains financially stable, with hospitals holding reserve funds of 46 billion baht after liabilities. During a meeting of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) board, Somsak addressed concerns regarding hospital budget deficits, which some attribute to the scheme’s compensation mechanism. Critics argue…
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Tensions rise: Thai-Cambodian border dispute intensifies
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are reaching new heights, with the border dispute now a hot topic among the top military brass. Military leaders, including General Songwit Noonpakdee (Chief of Defence Forces) and General Phana Klaewplodthuk (Army Chief), remain on high alert despite believing the conflict is driven by motives other than actual combat. Both countries have deployed fully armed…
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Thai man found dead in hammock after suspected accidental strangulation
A Thai man tragically lost his life while sleeping on a hammock outside his relative’s home in the northeastern province of Si Saket. A 64 year old Thai woman, Wilai Sribunruang, reported the death of her 42 year old relative, Phantawut “Keng” Pongsatja, to officers at Uthumphon Phisai Police Station at approximately 5am on Wednesday, June 5. His body was discovered…
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Phuket tackles plastic pollution for World Environment Day
Over 350 participants gathered at Dragon Square in Phuket Town yesterday as the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) launched its World Environment Day campaign. The event, held at Queen Sirikit Park, focused on the urgent need to eliminate single-use plastics, aligning with the United Nations’ 2025 global theme, Beat Plastic Pollution. The event, presided over by PPAO President Rewat Areerob,…
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Thailand video news | Thailand’s motorcycle death crisis prompts urgent helmet campaign, abandoned Thai boy given new home after teacher’s viral plea
Today we’ll be talking about Thailand’s motorcycle death crisis, fueling the latest round of helmet enforcement, a US tourist defacing a Chiang Mai temple wall, and a little later, the latest updates on evacuations and military mobilizations on the Thai-Cambodian border. Thailand’s Motorcycle Death Crisis Prompts Urgent Helmet Campaign Thailand’s Department of Disease Control is urging all motorcyclists to wear…
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Thai schoolboy uses AI to create nude images of female classmates
A Thai schoolboy in the central province of Pathum Thani allegedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to create nude images of his female classmates and shared them online. Yesterday, June 5, 20 schoolgirls and their parents visited the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau to file a complaint against their classmate after discovering their explicit pictures on social media. The young victims had…
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Taiwanese trio busted at Thai airport for smuggling scam phones
Three Taiwanese men were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport after Thai customs officials discovered mobile phones in their luggage linked to scam cases across the country. The suspects were detained on arrival after officers found bank account data tied to fraudulent activities in Thailand. The men, whose identities have not been revealed, were taken into custody on Tuesday, June 3, when…
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Fraudster mobbed in Pattaya after attempting iPhone scam
A man was caught in the act and mobbed by angry residents in Pattaya after attempting to scam a mobile phone shop with a fake bank transfer slip. The incident unfolded at 3.30am yesterday, June 5, in Soi Rungland Village, South Pattaya, when the suspect was detained by locals after trying to flee with two high-end iPhones. The suspect, identified…
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British man flees after crashing sedan into house in Udon Thani
A British man crashed his saloon car into a local house in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, narrowly missing a young Thai girl, before fleeing the scene. The homeowner, 52 year old Prayoon Saenwian, filed a complaint with officers at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station at around 4pm on Wednesday following the incident. He also submitted CCTV footage from…
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Former lecturer found dead in Bangkok temple suicide
An 85 year old former lecturer from Kasetsart University was found dead in a suspected suicide at Wat Phra Si Mahathat, located in the Bang Khen district of Bangkok. The elderly man reportedly ended his life due to ongoing health problems and personal distress. Police arrived at the temple on Phahon Yothin Road in Anusawari subdistrict at 12.30pm on Tuesday,…
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Thailand urged to cut interest rates amid economic challenges
Thailand needs to adopt a more assertive approach in reducing interest rates due to its challenging growth outlook and low inflation, according to Somprawin Manprasert, a candidate for the position of Bank of Thailand (BoT)’s new governor. The benchmark interest rate, currently set at 1.75%, could be reduced by 75 to 100 basis points, Somprawin stated during an interview in Bangkok.…
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