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 See the best of Northern Thailand this winter on a budget
The Thaiger key takeaways Peak season brings higher prices, but smart planning and local know-how can help you experience Northern Thailand affordably. Chiang Mai, Pai, and Chiang Rai offer plenty of free or low-cost attractions, from temples and canyons to...
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Thai ex-cop Santhana granted bail in 2021 Taiwanese kidnap case
A former police officer was granted bail after being arrested in Bangkok for allegedly abducting a foreign businessman as part of a wider criminal case. Santhana Prayoonrat, a 66 year old former senior police officer with a controversial past, was granted bail yesterday, November 14, following his arrest in connection with the 2021 abduction of a Taiwanese businessman in Bangkok.…
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Royal order visits Phuket to back aid for the underprivileged
An international chivalric order met with Phuket officials to discuss new partnerships aimed at supporting social development and local communities. A delegation from the Order of Saint Stanislas, an international NGO with roots in European chivalric tradition, visited Phuket on Thursday, November 13, to explore community development partnerships and expand support for disadvantaged residents. The high-profile visit took place at…
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Toxic gas leak kills 2 workers in Krabi pit accident
Three workers were exposed to toxic gas while cleaning a chemical pit at a company in Krabi, leaving two dead and one hospitalised, according to police. Two Myanmar workers died and a third was rescued after inhaling deadly gas while cleaning a chemical pit at an industrial site in Krabi’s Plai Phraya district yesterday, November 14. The incident took place…
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Thai shops caught hiking prices under co-pay scheme
The Thai government is cracking down on shops accused of raising prices and violating rules after joining a nationwide co-payment scheme to aid consumers. Santi Piyatat, a minister from the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed that the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) received 66 complaints between October 29 and November 11, flagging widespread misuse. Among them, 29 involved shops…
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Laotian man arrested after knife-point gold snatch in Bangkok
A Laotian man was arrested in Bangkok after allegedly robbing a woman at knife-point while she was shopping at a busy market, according to local police. The 33 year old Laotian man, identified as Tabun, has been arrested for allegedly snatching a gold necklace from a Myanmar woman at knife-point in a busy Bangkok market. The incident unfolded on November…
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Street food feud turns violent in Jomtien Beach brawl (video)
A beachside brawl broke out in Pattaya when a group led by a street vendor confronted several men, reigniting an old dispute caught on video. A simmering street food feud exploded into violence yesterday morning, November 14, when a female vendor allegedly led a group of nearly 10 people in an assault on a group of men relaxing on Jomtien…
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Thailand hit by chilly mornings and stormy seas this weekend
Thailand braces for cooler mornings and rough seas as a weather system sweeps the country, bringing strong winds and thundershowers across several regions. A moderate high-pressure system sweeping down from China continues to influence Thailand’s upper regions and the South China Sea. This system is delivering cool morning temperatures and strong winds, particularly across northeastern Thailand. Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon…
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Drunk driver arrested after gun scare outside Patong Hospital
A man was arrested in Patong after allegedly using a blank gun to threaten two people while driving under the influence near a busy intersection. The incident unfolded near the Nam Sia Intersection on Phra Metta Road, when Patong Police were alerted around 10pm yesterday, November 13, to a suspicious pickup truck with obscured number plates threatening passers-by with what…
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Bangkok climbs ‘World’s Best Cities’ list, eyes top 20
A new global report has ranked Bangkok among the world’s top cities, highlighting its growing appeal for tourism, investment, and long-term urban potential. Bangkok is stepping further into the global spotlight after being ranked 22nd in the World’s Best Cities for 2026 report, a notable jump from 32nd place last year. The prestigious index, released by Resonance Consultancy during the…
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Thai student left homeless after bank account used as mule by classmate
A Thai university student is seeking help after his Vietnamese friend tricked him into sharing his bank account number and used it as a mule account, leading to the account being frozen. He was unable to pay his dormitory rent and has been sleeping in a common area at the university. The third-year student in Udon Thani, 22 year old…
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Phuket police hunt motorbike taxi driver for robbing Kazakh tourist
An 18 year old Kazakh tourist was allegedly robbed by a motorcycle taxi driver outside a hotel in Kathu, prompting a police investigation. Kathu Police are searching for a motorcycle rider who allegedly robbed Kazakh national Sofiya Paskul outside a hotel near the Andamanda Phuket waterpark in the early hours of today. The incident occurred at 3.54am, today, November 14,…
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Pattaya powers up for tourist surge with smart city centre
Pattaya has launched a new city control centre and hotline to boost safety and digital services as it prepares for a surge in tourists and major year-end events. A high-tech City Command and Response (CCR) centre and dedicated hotline have been launched to manage the expected influx of tourists and athletes for Pattaya’s busy year-end events. Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet…
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Lottery fever: Chiang Mai punters scramble for lucky numbers
As the government lottery draw nears, Chiang Mai locals are rushing to buy lucky numbers from vendors, hoping to cash in on signs and superstitions. Excitement is building in Chiang Mai ahead of the November 16 lottery draw, as eager buyers flood stalls across the province in search of lucky numbers, pushing prices and demand to new highs. By 8.30am…
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Cambodia denies fake claims of Thai flight suspension
Cambodia’s civil aviation authority has denied social media rumours that Thailand will suspend flights, confirming no official notice has been received. Cambodian officials said there is no truth to viral claims that flights between Thailand and Cambodia will be suspended later this month. Sin ChanSerey Vutha, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for Cambodia’s Civil Aviation, issued a firm denial after…
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2 fake doctors arrested after runing illegal clinics in Bangkok for over 10 years
Police yesterday, November 13, arrested two fake doctors at an illegal clinic in the Min Buri district of Bangkok after it had been operating unlawfully for more than ten years. Over 6,000 patient records were found. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Division 3 arrested 50 year old Boonwiwat Boonrueanglue and 30 year old Nattawut Boonrueanglue at Keharam Clinic, also known…
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Police find lion-dancing kids sleeping in Udon Thani temple
Three young boys were found sleeping at a temple in Udon Thani province, Northeast Thailand, after leaving home to practise lion dancing, prompting police to urge better child supervision. Yesterday, November 13, a temple officer at Wat Photiwararam alerted the police after discovering the children, aged 10 to 12, sleeping in the crematorium area. Police Lieutenant Pongpol Phiwphong from Udon…
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Chinese man arrested for 250 million baht fraud after 7 years on the run
Police arrested a Chinese man with a Vanuatu passport at a luxury accommodation in Bangkok for 250 million baht embezzlement in his home country after he had been on the run for seven years. The arrest of the foreign suspect followed a tip-off from a resident shared with the Immigration Bureau in October. The resident reported that the foreign man,…
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Thai woman dies in Cambodian scam hub, cremation halted
A Thai woman who died after being forced to work in a scam operation in Cambodia was found just in time before her body was cremated at a Phnom Penh temple. Progress has been made in the case of Suda, a 26 year old Thai woman who died in Poipet, Cambodia, after being forced to work for an online scam…
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Malaysian outlet corrects Thai-Cambodian border landmine blunder
Malaysian news agency Bernama has issued an urgent correction to its initial report about the landmine dispute on the Thai-Cambodian border, following a translation error that significantly altered the Foreign Minister’s original remarks. The original article, published yesterday, November 13, quoted Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan as saying ASEAN observers had reported there were not new landmines at…
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American mother reunites with missing daughter after viral Bangkok road incident
An American woman reunited with her family after she stood in the middle of Asok-Din Daeng Road in Bangkok and blocked traffic on Wednesday, November 12. A video of the woman went viral on Thai social media yesterday, November 13. In the footage, the foreign woman, wearing a black mini dress and no shoes, was seen standing in front of…
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Thailand video news | Thailand tightens visa rules to curb abuse by repeat visitors, German tourist loses 140,000 baht in ‘Miracle Oil’ scam
In today’s Thailand video news, Jay brings you the latest stories from across the country and the region — from tighter visa rules targeting repeat foreign entrants, to a late-night earthquake that rattled Koh Samui. We also look at a lightning strike that shook a Chon Buri restaurant, a viral clinic dispute involving a customer who refused to pay, and…
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Footballers arrested in Northeast Thailand for online lottery scam
Four amateur footballers were arrested in Maha Sarakham province, Northeast Thailand, for running an illegal online lottery operation, following a police raid on their rented house. The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), under the direction of Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembut, carried out a raid on a rented house in Tha Khon Yang subdistrict, Kantharawichai district, yesterday, November 13. The…
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Foreign man spits on couple in Phuket restaurant without provocation
A Phuket restaurant owner condemned a foreign man after he spat on another foreign couple who were dining at his establishment, without any provocation or prior conflict. The restaurant owner shared CCTV footage of the incident with the Phuket Times Facebook page, where it was made public today, November 14. The owner did not reveal to the media the exact…
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Thai king and queen make China visit to mark 50-year ties
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida arrived in Beijing for an official state visit, marking a historic moment in diplomatic ties between Thailand and China. Their Majesties arrived in the Chinese capital yesterday afternoon, November 13, for an official state visit, strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations on the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. The royal couple landed…
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Thai woman arrested on 150,000-baht theft at Pattaya noodle shop
Police yesterday, November 13, arrested a Thai woman for stealing valuables worth 150,000 baht from the owner of a noodle shop in Pattaya. The shop owner, 40 year old Anchana Rattanapisankun, filed a complaint at Bang Lamung Police Station on Tuesday, November 12, after belongings worth over 150,000 baht disappeared from her bedroom on the second floor above her restaurant.…
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Northern Thailand Naga sighting sparks lottery frenzy
A strange Naga-shaped growth spotted on a sacred Bodhi tree in northern Thailand has drawn crowds of locals seeking luck ahead of the upcoming lottery draw. An unusual object resembling the head of a Naga has appeared on the trunk of an ancient Bodhi tree at Sri Khom Kham Temple in Phayao province, drawing curious crowds and believers hopeful for…
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Thailand urged to act as domestic violence cases surge
Health officials in Thailand are calling for urgent political action after thousands of domestic violence cases were reported across the country this year. The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) has warned about the country’s growing domestic violence problem, urging political leaders to adopt stronger, unified policies after shocking new figures emerged. Speaking at a seminar yesterday, November 13, titled Local…
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Thailand extends drinking hours, trials end of afternoon alcohol sales ban
The Ministry of Public Health extended permitted drinking hours from midnight to 1am and launched a six-month pilot programme to lift the afternoon alcohol sales ban between 2pm and 5pm. Yesterday, November 13, the National Alcohol Policy Committee met to discuss the controversial drinking-hours regulations and the proposed cancellation of the afternoon sales ban. The meeting was attended by representatives…
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Former police arrested over 2021 Taiwanese kidnap and extortion case
A former Thai police officer accused government officials and the Royal Thai Police (RTP) of betraying him after he was arrested today, November 13, over the alleged kidnapping and extortion of a Taiwanese businessman in 2021. Officers from Thong Lo Police Station arrested the former Special Branch Bureau officer, Santhana Prayoonrat, at his accommodation in Bangkok this afternoon. The arrest…
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Central Thailand vendor offers red drinks after lottery windfall
A local vendor in central Thailand fulfilled a vow at a famed temple after winning the lottery’s second prize, offering red drinks and seeking fresh fortune. Somkid, a 55 year old merchant from Uthai Thani, visited Wat Sawang Arom in Nakhon Chai Si district, Nakhon Pathom province, to make an offering of 100 red drinks to Kumarn Chuk Dam, a…
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