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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Thailand is known for its high-quality yet affordable healthcare system, but how much does it really cost to see a doctor? As an expat, this question might be crucial for budgeting your health needs. The answer depends on whether you...
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Chinese tourist missing after being swept away in Phuket surf
A Chinese tourist went missing while swimming in rough waters at a Phuket beach, prompting a coordinated search by police, rescue teams, and local officials. The tourist was swept away by strong waves while swimming at Nai Harn Beach. The incident occurred yesterday, October 1, at around 2.48pm, prompting an urgent response from local police and rescue teams. Officers from…
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Humble garland vendor in central Thailand wins 12 million baht
A garland vendor from Prachin Buri won the top lottery prize but surprised locals by continuing her work at a roadside stall the very next day. The winner, a 55 year old woman named Kinaree, discovered she held two first-prize tickets with the winning number 876978, announced in the Government Lottery Office’s October 1 draw. The two-digit number for the…
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Pattaya patrol heroes return lost wallet to Chinese tourist
Pattaya officers returned a lost wallet to a tourist during a routine patrol, earning praise for their honesty in safeguarding visitors to the city. The incident unfolded around 8pm during a routine patrol by municipal officers from Pattaya City Administration’s Peacekeeping Division along the bustling Walking Street. Officers Natthaphum Singhseng, Nophakhun Songcharoen and Rungrueang Boonprakob were making their rounds when…
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Thailand video news Phetchabun Woman Wins 6 Million Baht in Lottery, PM Anutin Says US Shutdown Won’t Harm Thailand’s Economy
Thailand’s week brought a mix of political debate, infrastructure woes, crime busts, and human drama. A Phuket MP called for tighter visa rules to curb unruly tourists, while another Bangkok road collapse reignited concerns over aging infrastructure. PM Anutin downplayed fears of U.S. shutdown impacts on the economy, as police nabbed an Interpol fugitive in Bangkok with drugs…
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Thailand maintains Tier 2 spot in US trafficking report
Thailand has retained its Tier 2 ranking in the United States’ 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, marking the fourth year in a row the kingdom has remained in the category. The ranking reflects efforts to combat human trafficking but also highlights persistent shortcomings, according to officials. The TIP Report, released by the US Department of State on Monday, September…
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Ayutthaya worker hits jackpot with 12 million baht lottery win
A worker in Ayutthaya became an instant millionaire after winning the top prize in the national lottery, sparking celebration in their hometown community. The lucky winner held two tickets that matched the first-prize number in the October 1 draw yesterday, announced by the Government Lottery Office. The winning ticket number, 876978, was revealed alongside the two-digit prize number 77. The…
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Pattaya plunge: Man falls to death from high-rise condo
A man fell to his death from a high-rise condominium in Pattaya, shocking onlookers and prompting a police investigation into what caused the fatal plunge. The incident occurred around 12.30pm yesterday, October 1, at a prominent condominium on Second Road in North Pattaya. Police Lieutenant Colonel Suteeraphan Thapasri of Pattaya City Police received the alert and immediately notified senior officers.…
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Rayong house fire kills 7 as family trapped in blaze (video)
A deadly fire broke out in a residential area of Rayong, killing seven people and injuring three others in the early hours, prompting an urgent investigation. The blaze broke out at around 4.30am today, October 2, near the entrance to Pai 2, Soi 7, in Tha Pradu subdistrict. Emergency services rushed to the scene as flames engulfed the property. Firefighters…
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Lottery luck: Phetchabun woman scoops 6 million baht jackpot (video)
A woman from Phetchabun won the national lottery’s first prize, sparking cheers as her neighbours gathered to celebrate her 6 million baht jackpot. The winner, known as Jeab from Ban Ang Padu, became the centre of attention when the results of today’s (October 1) government lottery draw were announced. The winning number, 876978, secured her the life-changing payout, sparking cheers…
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Thai father attacks daughter with saw in Samut Prakan house
A Thai father attacked his 15 year old daughter with a saw at a house in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok today, October 1, after she refused to help him with his work. Officers from Bang Kaew Police Station rushed to a house in the Bang Pli district of Samut Prakan this afternoon following reports of child abuse. Rescuers from…
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Phuket bids warm farewell to outgoing governor Sophon
Phuket’s outgoing governor was honoured with a farewell ceremony at Provincial Hall, where officials, community leaders and residents gathered to pay tribute. At 9am yesterday, September 30, Sophon and his wife, Busadee, President of the Phuket Red Cross Society, began the day by paying homage to sacred objects enshrined at the front of the hall. The ritual, a longstanding tradition,…
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New minister reveals scam gang bribe offer in Parliament
The newly appointed Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES) from Bhumjaithai Party, Chaichanok Chidchob, claimed that call centre scam gangs offered him a monthly bribe of 40 million baht in exchange for halting crackdowns on illegal businesses. Speaking during a Parliamentary session on September 30, Chaichanok explained that this was his first appearance as a minister since being appointed to…
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Thai massage shop owner accuses police of rape and extortion
A massage shop owner in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan accused police officers of raping one of her Laotian employees and extorting money from her. The shop owner, 40 year old Aom, appeared on Channel 3’s Hone Krasae news programme on September 30, following her corruption allegations against a deputy superintendent and his subordinates. Aom explained that she…
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Pattaya teen badly hurt after firecracker explodes on beach
A 14 year old boy was seriously injured when a firecracker exploded in his hand on Pattaya Beach, shocking crowds of locals and tourists nearby. The incident unfolded at around 9.30pm yesterday, September 30, near Soi 9, where crowds of Thai residents and foreign tourists had gathered. Emergency responders from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre rushed to the scene…
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Banana tree miracle draws lottery hopefuls in Phetchabun
Villagers in Phetchabun, central Thailand, gathered at a rare banana tree that produced two large clusters, performing rituals to seek lucky numbers ahead of the lottery draw. The tree, found in Ban Bueng Najan, Sri Thep district, has sparked excitement after producing two clusters of bananas, each carrying 11 hands, totalling 22. Residents rushed to the site carrying incense, candles…
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Anutin dismisses US shutdown fears, says Thailand secure
Thailand’s prime minister has assured the public that the US government shutdown will not affect the country, stressing that trade agreements with Washington remain secure. At a press briefing today, October 1, at Government House, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul addressed the fallout from the US Senate’s rejection of a budget bill, which triggered America’s first shutdown in…
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Phuket MP blasts visa-free policy over ‘bad tourist’ surge
A Phuket MP has urged the government to review Thailand’s visa-free policy, warning it fuels unruly tourist behaviour and harms the nation’s reputation. Chalermpong Saengdee, MP for Phuket, submitted a formal request urging the government to review the policy, which currently allows travellers from several countries to enter Thailand without a visa. While the measure has boosted arrivals and revenue,…
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Bangkok traffic snarled as Charoen Krung road caves in (video)
After last week’s sinkhole outside Vajira Hospital, another road collapse hit Bangkok’s Charoen Krung area, closing lanes as officials moved to investigate and control severe traffic disruption. The incident was first reported by the Volunteer Foundation of Ruamkatanyu Facebook page linked to Bang Phong Phang Police Station, which shared a video clip showing a large section of tarmac collapsing near…
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Lost phone leads to discovery of skeleton in abandoned building
A lost phone led to the discovery of the skeleton of a Thai man inside an abandoned building in the Chaeng Wattana area of Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. A Thai man posted on Facebook, sharing photos of the skeleton taken inside the abandoned building and appealing to netizens to help him identify the location. He explained that he lost his…
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Thailand confirms 33 cases of new global Covid strain XFG
Thailand has reported 33 cases of the new Covid-19 strain XFG, most of them in Bangkok, with health officials stressing it causes only mild symptoms. The Department of Medical Sciences announced yesterday, September 30, that XFG has now become the dominant Covid-19 strain worldwide, although there is no evidence to suggest it causes more severe symptoms than previous variants. Thailand’s…
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Court grants bail to drunk BMW driver in Nonthaburi wrong-way collision
The Nonthaburi Provincial Court granted bail to a drunk BMW driver who drove against the flow of traffic on a Nonthaburi road, causing a pile-up on Monday, September 29. The driver, 37 year old Paphatsarin, travelled the wrong way for over five kilometres along Ratchaphruek Road at around 9pm on Monday. She collided with a pickup truck, leaving its driver…
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British man arrested in Bangkok hotel with 1 kilogramme of crystal meth
Police yesterday, September 30, arrested a British man at a hotel in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok after finding one kilogramme of crystal methamphetamine in his possession. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) Officers from the Metropolitan Police Division 5 and Lumpini Police Station received a tip-off about a foreign drug trafficker.…
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Pattaya motorbike crash leaves Russians and Thais badly hurt
A head-on motorbike crash in Pattaya left four people critically injured after two motorcycles collided outside a busy nightlife area in Jomtien. The crash unfolded at around 12.30am today, October 1, when two motorcycles collided on Jomtien Second Road in front of Rompho Market. Rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation and police rushed to the scene following an emergency…
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Thailand video news Bangkok scrambles to refill sinkhole ahead of reopening, Bangkok shock as man sets himself ablaze in public
Thailand’s headlines this week ranged from shocking public drama to tough crackdowns and urban challenges. A Koh Samui restaurant drew fire for allegedly refusing service to Israeli tourists, sparking debate over politics in hospitality, while Bangkok commuters were stunned as a young man set himself ablaze in public. Authorities intensified anti-corruption measures against traffic police, seized massive drug hauls from…
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Lottery fever grips villagers at shrine in Uthai Thani
Villagers in Uthai Thani gathered at a shrine to seek blessings and lucky numbers from a revered spirit ahead of the lottery draw, hoping for fortune and safety. Crowds gathered at the T-junction in front of Wat Nong Muang yesterday, September 30, paying homage to Chao Mae Somboon, a revered spirit long associated with the site. Among them was 58…
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British war veteran fights for life in Thai hospital battle
A British veteran is in intensive care in Thailand after falling critically ill, while his family urgently try to raise funds to bring him back to the UK. Seventy-three year old Alexander Parker, a former Royal Fleet Auxiliary officer who served in the Falklands, the Gulf, Bosnia and Iraq, is in intensive care in Chanthaburi with suspected lymphoma. The Scot…
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Phuket drowning: Unidentified foreigner found dead on beach
A foreign man drowned after being found unconscious on a Phuket beach, with police now working to uncover his identity and the cause of the tragedy. Phuket police are scrambling to identify a foreign man who drowned off Naiyang Beach after his body was found washed ashore without a single clue to his identity. Sakhu Police said they were alerted…
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Thai man blames alcohol after attempted rape of 84 year old neighbour
Police arrested a Thai man for attacking and attempting to rape an elderly woman at her home in Samut Prakan on the night of Sunday, September 28. The 84 year old victim, Nuan, was found outside her home in the Bang Pli district of Samut Prakan province on Monday afternoon, September 29, after seeking assistance from neighbours. She had sustained…
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Phuket splashes 48 million baht on tunnel revamp to boost safety
Phuket officials have launched a multimillion-baht project to enhance lighting in key underpasses, aiming to improve safety and reduce accident risks at night. Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat made the announcement during a provincial committee meeting held on Monday, September 29, at Provincial Hall. He confirmed that contracts for the project were signed earlier this week, and work is set to…
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Bangkok’s 20 baht train fare deal extended to end of November
Bangkok commuters can rejoice as the government has extended the flat 20 baht fare on two major train lines, aiming to ease travel costs across the capital. Following the Cabinet’s meeting yesterday, September 30, the government confirmed that the popular fare cap will remain in place until November 30, easing the financial burden on residents navigating the city. “From today,…
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