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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Thai engineer loses over 8 million baht to call centre scam
A Thai engineer lost more than 8 million baht to call centre scammers after being deceived into speaking with them on the phone for seven consecutive days. The 32 year old victim, Siwat, sought help from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive yesterday, May 1, after going bankrupt and being forced to close his restaurant in the Khlong Sam neighbourhood of…
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Thailand mulls motorcycle cut amid China slowdown, US tariff fears
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is contemplating a reduction in Thailand’s motorcycle manufacturing target, despite an increase in production in the first quarter of this year. The decision arises from a sluggish domestic economy, decreased foreign tourist arrivals, especially from China, and uncertainties linked to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Surapong Paisitpatanapong, vice-chairman of the FTI and spokesperson for…
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Trat Discovery campaign offers island perks and free flight prizes
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in partnership with Bangkok Airways and local tourism operators, has kicked off the Trat Discovery: Island and Beyond campaign – a bold push to supercharge tourism in Thailand’s eastern region with discounts, rewards, and premium travel experiences. Running from May 1 (yesterday) to August 20, the campaign offers exclusive perks for Bangkok Airways passengers…
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Thailand ranked 7th happiest country in the world
The Thai government is inviting the public to celebrate after Thailand was ranked the seventh happiest country in the world, according to global market research and public opinion specialist Ipsos. The Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Anukool Pruksanusak, shared the good news during a press conference yesterday, May 1. Anukool stated that Thailand placed seventh in the 2025 Global…
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Phuket scammer busted after conning restaurants for drug cash
A 29 year old con artist in Phuket who posed as a food delivery customer to trick restaurant owners out of their cash has been arrested after weeks on the run. The man, known only by his nickname “Knot,” rode around Phuket on a black M-Slash motorcycle, preying on small eateries with a scam that left at least 10 victims…
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Pattaya wrong-way driver damages car, claims police ties
A Thai man took to social media to seek justice after police failed to arrest a suspect who damaged his car because he did not let him drive against the traffic flow on a Pattaya road. The victim, Nawakorn Thongpha, shared a video of the incident on his Facebook account on April 30, along with a description of the events. The…
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Giant monitor lizard statue draws crowds to Bangkok park
It slinks, it swims, and now it poses — Bangkok’s iconic monitor lizard just got a supersized tribute in the city’s most famous park. Tourists and locals heading to Lumphini Park can now snap selfies with a massive foam monitor lizard statue — a new temporary installation celebrating one of Bangkok’s most misunderstood but iconic residents. Sanon Wangsangboon, Deputy Governor…
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US tariffs force Thailand to cut growth forecast to 2.1%
The Ministry of Finance has revised its forecast for Thailand’s economic growth this year to 2.1%, down from the previous 3%, citing the impact of US tariffs and a global economic slowdown on Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. Pornchai Thiraveja, director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office, indicated that if the US imposes a 10% tariff on Thai imports instead of the…
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Thai police detain Chinese nationals over 2 billion baht land deal
Thai police have detained a group led by Chinese nationals suspected of acquiring land valued at 2 billion baht for a luxury condominium project in Rayong province. The group secured 72 rai of land for a project intended to be managed entirely by Chinese foreigners, from management to construction, as stated by Police Major General Thatphum Jaruprat, chief of the…
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Pattaya’s long-delayed stadium finally back on track
Once dubbed a never-ending construction nightmare, Pattaya’s 20,000-seat stadium is finally rising — and could open early. After years of delays, controversies, and abandoned construction, Pattaya’s Eastern Sports Stadium is finally back in the spotlight — for the right reasons. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet has revealed that the long-stalled project is now around 53% complete and 51 days ahead of schedule.…
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Bangkok overhaul plan could hand governor more power
Should Bangkok be run more like a country than a city? Politicians think so — and big changes could be coming. Yesterday, May 1, at Bangkok City Hall’s Nopparat Room near the Giant Swing, Governor Chadchart Sittipunt welcomed Members of Parliament to discuss sweeping proposals to overhaul the city’s outdated administration system. The meeting brought together top Bangkok executives and…
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Thailand video news | Polish couple fined for public nudity on Koh Phangan, Drunk Thai hospital director injures TV crew in car crash
From shocking tourist behaviour to growing political tensions, today’s regional news captures a complex mix of public disorder, diplomatic shifts, and national milestones. In Thailand, controversial incidents involving foreigners—from nudity and drunken antics to visa fraud—spark concern over cultural respect and tourism policy. Meanwhile, stories from Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, and Indonesia spotlight national pride, political transitions, and press freedom…
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Israeli man nabbed for Phuket motorcycle theft after week-long hunt
An Israeli man was finally apprehended on April 30 after stealing a motorcycle from the car park of a hospital in Phuket on April 21 and evading arrest for over a week. The Thai victim, whose identity was not disclosed, filed a complaint at Wichit Police Station on April 24, reporting that his white Honda Click motorcycle was stolen from…
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450kg of crystal meth seized in northeast Thailand chase
A high-speed police chase in Thailand’s northeast ended with a massive drug haul and three traffickers in cuffs. Police in Nong Khai province have arrested three men and seized a staggering 450 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, known as “Ice”, following a dramatic pursuit through Tha Bo district. The suspects, 23 year old Prasobsuk, 28 year old Thongthawat, and 20 year…
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Phuket honours real-life heroes for lifesaving acts
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat has honoured eight everyday heroes with certificates of recognition for their bravery, kindness and unwavering service to others throughout 2024. The awards were presented during a ceremony held at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday, April 28, alongside the 4th meeting of the Phuket Provincial Committee and Department Heads for 2025. Governor Sophon, who presided over the…
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Filipino man stays at Bangkok hotels and vanishes without paying
Police arrested a Filipino university student for staying at several five-star hotels in Bangkok without paying, causing losses of several hundred thousand baht. Officers from Immigration Division 1 received multiple complaints from hotel staff in Bangkok regarding fraudulent activities involving a Filipino national. The man reportedly deceived hotel employees to obtain free stays and meals at luxury hotels across the…
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Pattaya rolls out posh loos to keep tourists cool and comfortable
Pattaya City is taking public convenience to the next level with the launch of high-end mobile toilets equipped with air conditioning, designed to serve residents and tourists, and it’s free of charge. The first of these deluxe loo units is now stationed outside Walking Street, near the South Pattaya Pumping Station. The air-conditioned facility, which caters to both men and…
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Phuket Red Cross pleads for rare blood as tourist demand surges
The Phuket Red Cross (PRBC) and the Blood Bank at Vachira Phuket Hospital are calling on locals to roll up their sleeves this May and donate blood—particularly the rare Rh-negative type. With tourism booming again across Phuket and the surrounding regions, accidents and emergency hospital visits are on the rise—especially among foreign visitors. And that means a higher demand for…
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Australian man dies after falling from staircase at Phuket hotel
An Australian man fell to his death from a staircase at a hotel in Phuket on May 1, allegedly due to intoxication, in full view of his wife. Officers from Patong Police Station and rescuers from the Kusontham Foundation rushed to a hotel on Rat Uthit 200 Years Road in the Kathu district of Phuket after being alerted to an…
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Family demands answers after Rama II concrete block tragedy
The family of a 46 year old man who died after a concrete block fell on his vehicle on Rama II Road is seeking answers about his death. The incident, which resulted in Amnat’s passing at the hospital, left the family questioning whether a blood transfusion error contributed to his low blood pressure and subsequent death. On Tuesday, April 29,…
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Thailand’s ONCB busts major Thai-Malaysian drug network
Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has successfully dismantled a transnational drug trafficking operation involving Thai and Malaysian nationals. The operation, carried out in Songkhla, a southern province, led to the arrest of two Thai suspects and the seizure of 261 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (ice). Prin Mekanandha, the ONCB’s Director of Narcotics Law Enforcement, confirmed the operation…
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Thai labour groups demand risk fund and overtime pay reform
Labour organisations in Thailand have presented nine demands on Labour Day, highlighting the necessity for increased overtime pay and the establishment of a risk insurance fund for workers. Panus Thailuan, President of the National Congress of Thai Labour, identified the creation of a risk insurance fund as the most critical demand. This fund aims to protect workers from unfair dismissals…
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Tragic house fire claims homeowner’s life in Chon Buri
A house fire broke out in Chon Buri earlier today, May 1, at 4am, completely torching a two-storey wooden house and resulting in the death of the homeowner, whose charred body was found on the upper floor. The cause of the fire remains unknown, pending further investigations. Police Lieutenant Prasert Kulbutdee, an investigator with the Phan Thong Police Station, along…
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US lecturer wins appeal to remove EM bracelet
Yesterday, April 30, the Court of Appeal Region 6 granted permission for Doctor Paul Chambers to remove his electronic monitoring (EM) bracelet. This decision follows his appeal against a previous court order, though he must adhere to other bail conditions. Yesterday, the Human Rights Lawyers Centre announced on their social media page that Chambers is now allowed to remove his…
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Drunk hospital director crashes into photographers in Chaiyaphum
Last night, April 30, at 10.16pm, a drunk driving hospital director crashed into two television photographers in Chaiyaphum province, resulting in severe injuries. The incident occurred as the pair were out for a late-night meal. Police Lieutenant Kanti Piansoongnern, Deputy Inspector at Mueang Chaiyaphum Police Station, received a report about a car crash at a restaurant in Nai Mueang subdistrict.…
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Residents seek lucky incense numbers at Phetchabun ceremony
Residents gathered to observe auspicious incense numbers during a significant religious ceremony at Wat Rat Pradit Wararam in Phetchabun province, where a Buddha statue named Luang Pho Prasop Chok was being cast. During the offering rituals, dark clouds ominously formed but eventually drifted to a nearby subdistrict yesterday, April 30. The ceremony, held at Wat Rat Pradit Wararam in Ban…
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People’s Party demands probe into student visa misuse by Chinese nationals
The People’s Party has urged the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation to investigate international study programmes allegedly used by Chinese nationals to obtain student visas for illegal work in Thailand. Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, the party’s deputy leader, referenced the March 28 collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building as evidence of the detrimental impact of the zero-dollar…
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Mother and son killed in Chon Buri truck collision
A tragic accident on the 344 road in Chon Buri’s Nong Yai district resulted in the deaths of a 27 year old mother, Ploywarin Noenklang, and her six year old son, Thanawat Saothong. CCTV footage captured the moment when a six-wheeled truck lost control and crashed into a parked trailer truck at 4am today, May 1. Police from Nong Yai…
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Drug raid in Phuket worker camps leads to three arrests
Raids at two worker camps in central Phuket led to the arrest of two Myanmar nationals and one Thai national after methamphetamine use was detected among six Myanmar workers. The operation took place in Srisoonthorn on April 29, as reported by the Thalang District Office. The coordinated effort aimed at combating drug-related activities involved approximately 150 workers and was carried…
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Ninja thief arrested in Pathum Thani after fraud spree
Yesterday, April 30, police apprehended 32 year old Koraphak or Oak, known as the ninja thief, in Pathum Thani province. He was wanted under a warrant issued by the Taling Chan Criminal Court on April 29 for fraud. The suspect admitted to committing thefts to support his online gambling habit and buy food for his cats. According to Police Colonel…
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