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 Why long-term expats in Thailand say insurance is worth every baht
Thailand’s warm weather, low cost of living, and good healthcare attract many long-term expats, including retirees and remote workers. Life here feels easy and affordable, but medical costs can be high if something goes wrong. Private hospitals are popular because...
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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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Udon Thani motorist fined for repainting no-parking kerb
A well-intentioned motorist’s attempt to boost business at a local food stall backfired spectacularly after he was caught painting over a red-and-white no-parking kerb in Udon Thani. The 45 year old auto mechanic, who is not connected to the eatery, took matters into his own hands on Saturday, May 24. Spotting an empty stretch outside the food outlet, he decided…
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Phetchabun homeowner bets on car number after snake omen
A recent event has captured the attention of locals in Phetchabun who believe in lucky numbers. A homeowner, whose house number 309 won in the last lottery draw, is now betting on their car’s registration number for the upcoming draw. A video was posted on Facebook showing a long green snake attempting to swallow a sparrow on the carport roof,…
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Major power outage hits Cherng Talay in Phuket May 29
Residents and businesses in Cherng Talay are bracing for a major power outage this Thursday, May 29, as the Provincial Electricity Authority’s Thalang branch (PEA Thalang) undertakes essential upgrades to the high-voltage distribution system. The electricity cut will last from 9am to 4.30pm, affecting a wide area stretching from Blue Tree Water Park to the entrance of Wat Thepwanaram. This…
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Bangkok taxi crackdown nets 76 drivers for cheating and refusals
Bangkok’s tourist police are cracking down hard on taxi drivers who cheat tourists by refusing rides, avoiding meters, or blocking traffic. In a major enforcement sweep, 76 drivers were arrested for violating the law in the city’s busy tourist areas. Today, May 27, Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak-am, Commander-in-Chief of the Tourist Police Bureau, ordered strict action to ensure taxi…
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Female university students fall victim to secret sexually harassing chat group
Students at Thammasat University are calling for action to be taken against an instructor, male students, and alumni involved in a secret group chat used to share images of female students accompanied by sexually harassing comments. Rumours circulated within an online community of Thammasat students and alumni about the existence of a private chat group where male members allegedly exchanged…
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Police officer dismissed over 7,000 baht extortion in Chiang Mai
A police officer has been dismissed after allegedly extorting 7,000 baht from a 21 year old man who was urinating by the roadside, claiming it was a fee to clear a drunk driving charge. The incident took place on the Hod-Doi Tao Road in Chiang Mai province. The accused, posing as a police officer, reportedly intimidated the victim with a…
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27 animals seized, 2 arrested in Bangkok airport wildlife sting
Thai police dealt a major blow to wildlife traffickers after intercepting 27 exotic animals hidden in luggage on two separate flights at Suvarnabhumi International Airport yesterday. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt. The first haul included 20 blue iguanas and two sulcata tortoises found in the luggage of an Indian passenger preparing to board flight TG325…
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3 dead, dog electrocuted in storm-hit garage in Ayutthaya
In Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, three people and a dog were found dead, believed to have been electrocuted during a storm this morning. The victims were discovered in a garage of a home in Samphao Lom district around 6.30am. Police Captain Samart Raksasak, a sub-inspector, revealed that the bodies were found lying near two parked cars inside a metal-framed lean-to…
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Pedestrian killed in Pathum Thani accident due to poor lighting
A 25 year old man driving a car in Pathum Thani, Thailand, struck and killed a 41 year old pedestrian due to inadequate street lighting. The accident occurred on Chiang Rak-Bang Khan Road near a dormitory in Khlong Luang district. Police Lieutenant Thanapuvapass Si Suai from Khlong Luang Police Station was informed of the fatal accident. Emergency services, including traffic…
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Thai billionaire passes empire torch to next generation
Thailand’s second-richest man, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, is handing over the reins of his sprawling business empire to his five children as he steps back from day-to-day management. The 81 year old billionaire has transferred ownership of two major listed companies to his offspring, signalling a major shift in the country’s corporate landscape. According to filings made late yesterday, May 26, by…
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Search for couple missing in Bang Pakong River after bridge fall
Police in Chachoengsao are searching for a man and a woman who disappeared after falling from a bridge into the Bang Pakong River. The incident took place at 8.32pm yesterday, May 26, with restaurant patrons by the river witnessing the pair holding hands before their fall. Upon receiving reports from locals, officers from the Mueang Chachoengsao Provincial Police Station and…
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Thailand’s helmet crackdown kicks off June 1 with hefty fines
Thailand’s police are ramping up efforts to curb traffic accidents with a nationwide Road Safety Project launching on this Sunday, June 1, targeting drivers and passengers who refuse to wear helmets. The crackdown comes with hefty penalties: fines of up to 2,000 baht, doubled if a motorcyclist’s passenger isn’t helmeted. Today, May 27, Police Lieutenant General Nitithorn Jintakanon, Commander of…
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Tragic electrocution kills two in Nakhon Nayok tractor accident
A tragic incident unfolded in Nakhon Nayok’s Pak Phli district, where a 32 year old fishpond owner, Porntep, and his 34 year old relative, Nitiphon, died due to electrocution following a tractor accident. The accident occurred yesterday, May 26, at 6.30pm near a fishpond in Mueang subdistrict, Pak Phli district, Nakhon Nayok province. Officers from the Pak Phli Police Station and…
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Pattaya’s new glow keeps tourists coming despite low season
Pattaya is proving that even the so-called low season cannot dim its vibrant appeal. With fresh urban upgrades and the ever-popular nearby island of Koh Larn continuing to attract visitors, this bustling city remains a favourite destination for both Thai and international travellers year-round. On Sunday, May 25, reporters visited Khao Phra Tamnak, also known as Naval Radio Station Hill,…
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Foreign woman arrested for failing to pay bill at Phuket bar
Police arrested a foreign woman at the weekend after she failed to pay a bill at a bar in Phuket and allegedly insulted Thai people. A Thai TikTok user, @tunroychannel, shared a video of the incident on on Sunday, May 25, with a caption that read, “Free visa tourist insults Thai people. She came to travel but did not have…
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BLACKPINK is back: Bangkok gears up for epic ‘deadline’ tour stop
BLINKs, it’s happening! K-pop royalty BLACKPINK is officially reuniting for a brand-new world tour—and yes, Bangkok is on the map. After making waves worldwide with solo projects and smashing records with their last tour, Born Pink, the chart-topping girl group is turning up the heat once again with the BLACKPINK WORLD TOUR <DEADLINE>. The electrifying new tour kicks off in Seoul on…
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Shop owner in Khlong Luang arrested for selling e-cigarettes to students
Officials in Khlong Luang apprehended a shop owner who was allegedly using her grocery store as a front to sell e-cigarettes to students. The arrest followed complaints from parents yesterday, May 26. Apisara Kesinth, the district chief of Khlong Luang, directed Amornritthiphon Kheawrungruphet, the district security officer, along with volunteers from the Territorial Defence Volunteers, to investigate the allegations after…
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Thai woman jumps from second floor after brutal boyfriend abuse
A Thai woman jumped from the second floor of an apartment in the Isaan province of Udon Thani to seek help after enduring brutal abuse at the hands of her boyfriend on Saturday, May 24. The victim’s mother, 47 year old Supinya Aukkadee, shared details of the assault with several news agencies to draw attention to the case and secure…
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Brace yourself: Fake dentist nabbed in Saraburi smile sting
Police in Saraburi province raided an illegal dental and fashion braces operation yesterday, uncovering unsanitary conditions. Police discovered a package sorting worker moonlighting as a fashion braces technician to earn extra income. Police Colonel Suriya Sudkankawan, the superintendent of Mueang Saraburi Police Station, directed Deputy Superintendent Police Lieutenant Colonel Sethhanan Sethapakorn, along with an investigative police team and Saraburi public…
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Thai man caught smuggling 18 million baht cash from Myanmar
A Thai man has been apprehended for smuggling 18 million baht in cash from Myanmar into Thailand via the Sangkhlaburi border. He claimed the money was intended for bank deposit to settle outstanding payments for his company. Yesterday, May 26, police at the Namgek checkpoint, in collaboration with Border Patrol Police Company 134 and local administrative officials in Sangkhlaburi district,…
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SSO approves 900 baht refund for flood-hit Thai provinces
The Royal Gazette has announced new regulations from the Social Security Office (SSO) regarding a 900 baht refund for those insured in 55 affected provinces. This measure, effective today, May 27, aims to alleviate impacts from storms and floods between October 2024 and March 2025. The Ministry of Labour and the SSO have implemented measures to support businesses and insured…
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Chiang Rai drug bust uncovers 500,000 methamphetamine pills
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) in Din Daeng announced the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of 500,000 methamphetamine pills in Chiang Rai province. The suspects are linked to a drug trafficking network led by a former convict who had previously served 17 years in prison. Police Lieutenant General Phanurat Lakboon, ONCB Secretary-General, yesterday, May 26,…
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Thailand eyes 100,000-tonne rice boom at global convention
Thailand is actively promoting its unique and high-quality rice varieties, with expectations that the Thailand Rice Convention will result in orders for 100,000 tonnes and generate revenue exceeding 2 billion baht. During the 10th Thailand Rice Convention 2025 held in Bangkok yesterday, May 26, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan emphasised the government’s dedication to advancing Thailand’s rice sector. The Ministry of…
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Former dancer speaks out on brutal abuse by boyfriend
A 26 year old former dancer reported to media in Udon Thani that she had been violently abused by her boyfriend, with whom she had been in a relationship for just two months. The abuse included severe beatings, stabbings, and burning with a lighter, causing the victim, known as Aomsin, to jump from a second-floor building in an attempted escape,…
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Pakistan’s top envoy brings friendship mission to Phuket
In a warm show of diplomacy and island hospitality, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Thailand Rukhsana Afzal paid a high-profile visit to Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat yesterday, reaffirming her country’s commitment to deepening ties with the popular tourist province. The meeting, held at Phuket Provincial Hall, was more than just a polite exchange of pleasantries. According to an official report, it marked a…
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Thailand video news | British tourists targeted in Thai drug mule scam, Cambodia delays opening of Techo International Airport
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay deliver top stories from Thailand and across Southeast Asia. British tourists fall victim to drug mule scams, a fake mini-marathon in Bangkok leaves runners stranded, and coyote dancers in Samut Prakan face theft charges. Meanwhile, Pattaya sees two bizarre incidents involving a trans woman gang and a faked robbery. Koh Samui struggles…
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Deadly flu surge sparks star-backed vaccine push in Pattaya
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya has launched a high-profile vaccine campaign to combat influenza following Thailand’s deadly flu outbreak earlier this year. Held in the lobby of Building E, the BDMS Preventive Vaccine event drew attention not only for its critical public health message, but also for its star power. Thai actor Art Phasut Banyam and his mother took centre stage to…
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LPG truck overturns, causes gas leak in Prachuap Khiri Khan
A truck transporting LPG overturned on Phetkasem Road heading south at kilometre marker 320 in Mueang district, Prachuap Khiri Khan. The incident, yesterday, May 26, occurring near Baan Suan Khwan in Khlong Wan subdistrict, led to gas leakage. Emergency services quickly responded by closing the road to manage the situation safely. By 1pm, the truck had been righted, but gas…
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Thailand seeks ASEAN Heritage status for Doi Inthanon park
Efforts are underway by the government to have Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai recognised as an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP), according to Attapol Charoenshunsa, the chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The announcement followed the 12th ASEAN Heritage Park Committee Meeting (AHPCM) in Bangkok, chaired by Attapol. The meeting included over 100…
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