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 retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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Bank of Thailand tackles mule account freeze impact
The Bank of Thailand has acknowledged that the suspension of mule accounts could impact a significant number of people. Discussions with the Technology Crime Suppression Center and commercial banks are underway to devise a way to unlock legitimate accounts not linked to mule activities on today, September 14. Yesterday, on September 13, Daranee Saeju, assistant governor of the Bank of…
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Nonthaburi upskirt suspect dies after dangerous mall plunge
The young man who leapt from a Nonthaburi shopping mall after being caught filming under a woman’s skirt has died from his injuries, police confirmed. Police in Nonthaburi have confirmed that the 21 year old university student who jumped from the fourth floor of Central Westgate mall has died, following a desperate attempt to evade arrest yesterday evening, September 12.…
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Bangkok teen fighting for life after violent gang shootout
A teenage boy was critically injured in Bangkok after being shot during a street chase involving armed youths, prompting a police investigation. A violent gang chase in Bangkok early today, September 13, ended in tragedy when a 15 year old boy was shot and left severely injured. The incident, which took place near Indy Market, Dao Khanong, was captured on…
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SCB cuts branches and staff as AI reshapes Thai banking
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is restructuring its retail operations in response to rising household debt and the growing dominance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial sector. Since May, SCB has reorganised its retail segment into a new consumer banking division, covering branches, retail services, and employees. Chief Executive Kris Chantanotoke said the shift reflects customer preferences and the steady…
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Pattaya officials warn after elephant seen strolling outside mall
An elephant was spotted outside a Pattaya shopping mall with its mahout, drawing crowds and prompting city officials to step in over safety concerns. Shoppers at Terminal 21 Pattaya witnessed a highly unusual scene this week when an elephant, guided by its mahout, was seen wandering near the mall selling sugarcane to tourists. The sight drew crowds of curious onlookers…
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Thai-China rail delays pile up as minister faces tough test
Thailand’s high-speed rail project is facing fresh delays as the new transport minister takes charge of stalled contracts and unresolved heritage concerns. Thailand’s long-awaited China-backed high-speed rail project is once again facing delays, forcing the new Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn to step in as pressure mounts to push the scheme forward. The project, first launched with a groundbreaking ceremony at…
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Phuket officials clash over Bang Tao building permit dispute
A legal battle has erupted in Phuket as two local administrations clash over who holds the authority to issue building permits in the Bang Tao area. A jurisdictional dispute between two local administrations in Phuket has reached the Administrative Court, as Cherng Talay Municipality and Cherng Talay Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) battle over authority in Bang Tao. The legal case,…
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Housing row settled after Nong Prue home cleared as legal
Officials in Nong Prue inspected a housing project after residents complained a property may have breached building laws, confirming it complied with regulations. At around 2pm yesterday, September 12, deputy mayor Wanchai Saenngam led a team of municipal engineering officers to inspect a property in the Rattanakorn 15 project following anonymous reports that a house was being built taller than…
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Quake jolts Sumatra as tremors reach into northern Thailand
Thailand’s Earthquake Observation Division reported a 3.6-magnitude earthquake in northern Sumatra this morning, with light tremors also detected in parts of northern Thailand. Fortunately, no damage or injuries have been reported. The quake struck at 4.27am local time today, September 13, centred in Indonesia’s northern Sumatra region at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located about 367 kilometres…
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Man caught filming up skirt plunges from Nonthaburi mall
A man was seriously injured after jumping from a mall’s fourth floor in Nonthaburi while trying to escape security who caught him filming under a woman’s skirt. Chaos erupted at Central Westgate mall in Bang Yai district, Nonthaburi, yesterday evening, September 12, after a man accused of secretly filming under a woman’s skirt leapt from the fourth floor to escape…
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Bangkok bomb scare defused after vest turns out to be weights
A man wearing a suspicious vest sparked a bomb scare in a Bangkok district, prompting a police response before it was revealed to be workout gear. The incident unfolded yesterday morning, September 12, after a concerned citizen reported a man wearing a tactical-looking vest filled with items that resembled explosives. The tip-off prompted a swift response from the Bang Bon…
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Thai Democrat Party leader quits over health and party loyalty row
Democrat Party leader Chalermchai Sri-on has stepped down from his position, citing health concerns that he says have affected his ability to lead effectively. In an official letter submitted to the Election Commission (EC)’s political party registrar yesterday, September 12, the 60 year old politician stated that he could no longer carry out his duties at full capacity and feared…
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Phuket’s long-awaited boat taxi project finally sets sail
Phuket is moving ahead with plans for a boat taxi service along its west coast, as key officials signed an agreement to improve coastal transport options. Phuket is one step closer to launching its long-discussed boat taxi service along the island’s popular west coast, as key officials gathered to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday, September 12. Atthaphon Charoenchansa,…
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Heavy downpours batter 35 Thai provinces, Bangkok on alert
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, forecasting thunderstorms and heavy rain across 35 provinces, including Bangkok and its surrounding areas. Residents are advised to be cautious due to the risk of heavy and accumulated rainfall. The current weather conditions are influenced by a monsoon trough passing over the lower northern, central, eastern, and northeastern…
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Thai pilots take flight over foreign hires on local routes
Thailand’s Administrative Court is reviewing a legal bid by a pilots’ group to block a government move allowing foreign pilots on domestic flight routes. The Thai Administrative Court is reviewing a request from the Thai Pilots Association to block the Ministry of Labour from allowing foreign pilots to operate domestic flights, according to the Bangkok Post. The petition seeks a…
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Thai motorcyclist dies after dodging sudden lane change by another rider
A Thai woman died in a motorcycle crash in Nonthaburi province yesterday, September 11, after swerving to avoid a sudden lane change by another rider. Officers from Bang Srimueang Police Station were alerted to the accident at around 7.30am outside a petrol station on Ratchaphruek–Nonthaburi Road. At the scene, police and rescue workers found a 20 year old woman, later…
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5-million-baht fireworks boost to supercharge Pattaya festival
Chon Buri officials approved extra funding to support a major fireworks festival in Pattaya, aiming to boost tourism and attract international visitors. The Pattaya International Fireworks Festival 2025 will dazzle visitors with its most spectacular show yet, thanks to a 5 million baht boost from the Chon Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO). Scheduled for November 28 to 29 along Pattaya…
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Thai man steals gold ring hoping for prison life over freedom
A Thai man confessed that he stole a gold ring in Udon Thani province yesterday, September 11, because he wanted to escape his troubled life and return to prison, where he said life felt easier. Meuang Udon Thani Police Station officers received a report about the theft at a gold shop on the third floor of a shopping mall in…
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British expat reveals retirement costs in Thailand, sparking relocation dreams
A British expat broke down the cost of living for his retirement in Thailand on TikTok, prompting many of his followers to consider relocating to the country. The man, Simon Thatcher, shared the video on his account, @skyhighthaisi, detailing his monthly expenses to show whether living in Thailand is still affordable in 2025. Thatcher explained that he lives under a…
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Man found dead in Phuket dorm after family argument
A man was found dead in a Phuket dormitory bathroom after a family dispute, prompting police and medical teams to investigate the cause of death. Police in Kathu, Phuket, were alerted to the incident at 8.40am yesterday, September 11. Officers from Kathu Police Station, accompanied by a forensic doctor from Vachira Phuket Hospital and Phuket Kusontham Foundation responders, arrived promptly…
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Court demands 3 referendums for new Thai Constitution
Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ruled that any move to draft a new constitution must involve three referendums and cannot include elected charter drafters. The Constitutional Court delivered the ruling following a petition filed by Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, who requested legal clarification on Parliament’s authority to initiate a new constitution and the necessary procedures. The case stems from…
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Thalang cracks down on illegal claw machines in malls
Dozens of claw machines have been shut down across Phuket’s Thalang district in a major crackdown on unlicensed gambling-style games at public venues. Officials from the Thalang District Office inspected shopping malls, convenience stores, and other locations between September 6 and 9. Around 50 unlicensed machines were found and immediately deactivated, including several at the popular Robinson Lifestyle Thalang mall.…
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Hero shopper takes down thief at Bangkok Big C (video)
A quick-thinking Bangkok man has become a local hero after using martial arts to tackle a suspected thief who tried to snatch shopping baskets from two tourists. The incident unfolded on the night of September 1 at a Big C supermarket in Bangkok. As two Chinese women were shopping, a man reportedly grabbed their basket, containing handbags and valuables, and…
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British YouTuber and netizens blast BBC’s Thailand dark side documentary
A British YouTuber and netizens criticised the BBC documentary Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise for allegedly distorting facts and presenting misleading information to viewers. Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise was first aired on BBC iPlayer on September 8. The series aimed to expose the darker aspects of several tourist destinations in Thailand, focusing particularly on Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya.…
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Wild animal zone shut down after fatal lion attack at zoo
National park officials have ordered the closure of a wildlife park’s wild animal zone following a fatal incident involving lions, triggering a full safety and welfare review. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has ordered the immediate suspension of operations in Safari World’s Safari Park area, following a deadly lion attack and a subsequent inspection that…
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Thai businesswoman swindled out of 159 million baht in stock trading scam
A Thai businesswoman lost 159 million baht in an investment scam. She admitted that greed and a desire for higher profits led her to transfer the sum to a scam gang within just three weeks. The victim, identified only as A, urged the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive to follow up on her case after she lodged a complaint with the…
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British man slashed in Pattaya condo by trans escort gang
A British man was injured after being attacked in his Pattaya condo by a group of transgender persons following a dispute over payment for services. Police in Pattaya are on the hunt for a gang of four transgender women accused of slashing a 65 year old British man in his South Pattaya apartment after a dispute over money turned violent.…
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Thailand video news Inside Klong Prem: What Awaits Thaksin Behind Bars, Karon Beach Lifeguards Save Tourist Who Ignored Red Flags
Thailand saw a turbulent week spanning politics, public safety, and lifestyle changes — from Thaksin Shinawatra’s stark new reality inside Klong Prem Prison and Paetongtarn’s push to steady Pheu Thai, to a citywide rabies alert in Bangkok, high-profile tourist incidents in Phuket, and even viral mishaps like a “green curry smoothie.” Meanwhile, Nepal unrest halted a British vlogger’s epic…
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Thaksin starts prison life with Covid quarantine and calm
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has begun serving a prison sentence under Covid quarantine, as officials assess his condition and consider future duties in detention. Now serving a one-year sentence at Klongprem Central Prison following a Supreme Court ruling, the 76 year old veteran politician is being held in a separate ward with other elderly inmates while officials determine his placement.…
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Thai Lion Air eyes new routes despite tourism slowdown
Thai Lion Air is expanding its fleet and launching new routes as it targets high-demand destinations, despite a drop in international tourist arrivals. The budget carrier plans to add at least two Boeing 737 jets to its fleet this year, focusing on high-demand routes such as China and Japan, despite revising its earlier goal of operating 40 aircraft. The adjustment…
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