News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Surat Thani marks king’s birthday with beach, underwater clean-up
Government officials in Surat Thani, in collaboration with the Koh Tao Subdistrict Municipality, organised a beach and underwater clean-up event to honour the birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua on July 28. Yesterday, July 18, at the Chulalongkorn Stone Court in Koh Tao, Pha Ngan district, Surat Thani province, several officials and local leaders, including the Deputy Director of the…
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Drunk Thai man stabs taxi rider with scissors to avoid paying fare
A drunk Thai man stabbed a motorcycle taxi rider in the neck with a pair of scissors outside a village in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok on July 17 because he could not pay the fare after spending all his money on booze. Bang Bua Thong Police Station officers were alerted to the stabbing and rushed to the scene with Poh…
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TikTok account theft: Popular Pattaya pancake vendor seeks justice
A popular crispy Tokyo-style pancake vendor in Ko Khram near Pattaya is in distress after discovering that someone close to her has stolen significant amounts of money and her branded handbags. Additionally, her TikTok account, boasting 2.5 million followers, has been sold without her consent. Oranya Aphaiso, known as Olive, reported the incident to the Ko Khram Police Station and…
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Debate ignites over van-car collision in Patong Hill, Phuket (video)
A collision between a van and a car at the intersection of a hotel driveway in Patong Hill, Phuket, sparked a heated debate over road rules and responsibilities. Video footage of the incident, shared by the NewshawkPhuket Facebook page, shows a white car exiting a hotel on Phra Baramee Road in Kathu district and being hit by an oncoming van.…
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Slapstick meth dealer flees from police, runs into wall, gets caught
A slapstick meth dealer in Nakhon Ratchasima was apprehended in a drug raid on his residence, where he attempted to flee, but ran into a wall in his drug-fuelled haste. He was promptly caught by the police, who discovered his hidden stash of methamphetamine. Police from the Khon Buri Police Station, led by Deputy Superintendent Decho Phengleng, and Investigation Inspector…
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Business ties: Thailand extends visa-free stay for Hongkongers
Thailand’s extension of visa-free visits for Hong Kong residents is expected to bolster business relations and entice more visitors from the financial hub, despite a recent murder-suicide incident in Bangkok, according to industry leaders. The tragic event, involving six people, has not deterred travel plans, they emphasised. Anthony Lam Sai-ho, Executive Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, praised…
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Phuket enforces 48-hour alcohol ban for Buddhist holidays
Patong police announced a 48-hour ban on alcohol sales in bars and restaurants as Thailand observes the Buddhist holidays Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa this weekend. Violating the alcohol sales ban could result in up to six months in jail or a fine of up to 10,000 baht, according to the notice issued by Patong Police. Officers informed bar…
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Global cyber outage grounds flights and halts news broadcasts
CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity giant serving a number of global industries, suffered a significant outage this morning, causing disruptions across the globe. This unforeseen technical glitch halted news broadcasts and grounded flights, creating chaos for travellers and media outlets alike. There were no reports of any Thai airports affected. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States reported that three…
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Chulabhorn Hospital offers free Hepatitis screenings
Chulabhorn Hospital invites the public to participate in a free Hepatitis B and C screening programme in honour of the king on July 25 and July 26. The initiative celebrates the His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday on July 28. Chulabhorn Hospital, under the Chulabhorn Royal Academy, announced the event today, encouraging citizens to join the screening programme. The screenings…
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Wichit conducts major tsunami evacuation drill in Phuket
Phuket’s Wichit Municipality conducted a comprehensive tsunami evacuation drill and rescue exercise yesterday, July 18, aimed at bolstering disaster preparedness in Phuket. Wichit Mayor Kreetha Chotiwichpipat and Mueang Phuket District Chief Worasit Putjeeb led the drill, which involved multiple agencies in a Table Top Exercise (TTX). The simulation was designed to test the municipality’s ability to respond to a tsunami…
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Thailand rubber farmers oppose fund use for fish purchase
Rubber farmers in Prachuap Khiri Khan raised concerns over the Ministry of Agriculture’s decision to use funds from the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) to buy black-banded trevally fish at 15 baht per kilogramme. The farmers question the fairness and appropriateness of this policy. Rungroj Ratanakaw, a resident of Thong Mongkol subdistrict in Bang Saphan district, voiced his disagreement with…
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South Korean man faces jail for hiding illegal Thai worker’s body
A South Korean court sentenced a pig farm owner to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, for concealing the body of a Thai worker who had been working illegally at the farm for 10 years and died last year. The body of 67 year old Boonchu was discovered on a mountain in Pocheon City, Gyeonggi province, South Korea,…
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Crispy pork surprise leaves Bangkok diner shell-shocked
A shocking discovery of a metal fragment in crispy pork left a woman stunned at a local restaurant in Bangkok. Despite her calmness in approaching the vendor to inform them of the discovery, she was met with indifference and received no apology. A woman posted in the พวกเราคือผู้บริโภค (We Are Consumers) Facebook group about her experience at a food stall…
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Virgin Active celebrates 10 years of operation in Thailand
Virgin Active Thailand is celebrating 10 years of operations and is looking to continue boosting the health and wellness of the country. Part of the Virgin Group global portfolio, Virgin Active currently has 8 clubs in Thailand, which deliver nearly 60,000 exercise classes yearly. Country Director for Virgin Active in Southeast Asia, Julien Bera, sees the 10th anniversary as a…
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Pattaya’s art explosion: Colourful contest unveils future stars
Recognising the vital role of promoting cultural growth and conservation, the Pattaya City Cultural Council recently launched the highly anticipated Pattaya City Visual Arts Contest 2024. With the vibrant theme, Pattaya: A Way of Colours, this contest is designed to ignite the creative passions of young and emerging artists from all walks of life. Pattaya City Council President Banlue Kullavanijaya,…
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Phuket launches road safety campaign to curb tourist accidents
Phuket provincial police have initiated a new road safety campaign targeting the root causes of traffic accidents involving tourists. This effort, in collaboration with local partners, aims to reduce the high number of road incidents in the area. The campaign was officially launched yesterday, July 18, at the Phuket Merlin Hotel by Region 8 Police Police Lieutenant General Suraphong Thanomchit…
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Thai man on the run after stealing 10 million baht from employer
A Thai woman is demanding Pathum Wan Police Station officers speed up their investigation after her employee stole 10 million baht in cash from her on July 5. The thief remains at large. The victim, 68 year old Pimduen Siyaphak, urged Channel 7 and other news agencies to publicise the image of the alleged thief, 60 year old Preeda, to…
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House approves 122 billion baht digital wallet scheme budget
The House of Representatives approved a supplementary bill to increase the budget for the current fiscal year by 122 billion baht, in a vote held late yesterday. This additional funding aims to partially finance the government’s digital wallet handout scheme. A total of 297 MPs voted in favour of the bill, while 164 opposed it, with no abstentions recorded. Among…
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Shocking incident: Electrician severely electrocuted in Buriram
An electrician was severely injured after being electrocuted while connecting power lines on a high-voltage pole in Buriram. Rescue efforts were delayed by 30 minutes due to the late arrival of a separate bucket truck. At 10am today, July 19, emergency responders from Buriram Hospital received a report of a person being electrocuted on a high-voltage electricity pole in front…
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Bangchak cuts high-premium fuel prices by 5 baht per litre
Bangchak Corporation announced a significant price reduction on its high-premium fuel types, offering a discount of 5 baht per litre nationwide from today to tomorrow, July 20. This promotion includes both Bangchak Hi Premium 97 and Bangchak Hi Premium Diesel S, with no minimum purchase required. Bangchak Corporation, a leading company in the fuel industry, is running its major annual…
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Thai AirAsia X suspends Sydney-Bangkok route
Thai AirAsia X announced the suspension of its sole Australian route between Sydney and Bangkok, effective August 1. Despite the temporary halt, the airline assures it remains committed to the Australian market and plans a grand return in December with increased flights and enhanced connectivity. The decision to suspend services was driven by fleet management and operation hub movement. As…
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Injured Thai man warns motorists after staged accident, extortion
A Thai man is warning fellow motorists in the Isaan province of Udon Thani after two suspects staged an accident in an attempt to extort 30,000 baht from him. The thugs then beat him up when he refused to pay. The 44 year old victim, Sarn, told Channel 3 that the incident occurred on the Don Kloy-Dongyang-Phibunrak Road in Udon…
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Surge in rabies cases among livestock including cows in Northeast Thailand raises alarms
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) has issued an urgent warning to the public regarding a rise in rabies cases, particularly among cattle in the Northeast region. Health authorities are emphasising the critical need for vigilance and precautionary measures as they monitor the situation closely. Health authorities have also issued strict warnings that locals should not butcher and consume the…
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Persistent Chiang Mai gang arrested for bird food scam on tourists
Police have detained members of a scammer gang at Tha Phae Gate, Chiang Mai, who were scamming tourists by selling bird food and charging them for photos, deemed to be damaging the area’s reputation as a tourist destination. Today, July 19, officers from the Tourist Police Division 2, led by Makara Srisakulpisut and Nithipat Bunmak, conducted a thorough inspection of…
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Ex-official kills sub-district head in a Phitsanulok murder-suicide
A tragic incident unfolded during a local celebration as an ex-assistant village headman fatally shot a female sub-district head before taking his own life at a fruit market in Phitsanulok province. Police officer Surin Takrudphet reported that around 9.57pm yesterday, July 18, a distress call was received about a shooting at a fruit market centre in Wang Thong district, where…
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Wat Arun holds merit-making ceremony to honour king’s birthday
Wat Arun, one of Thailand’s most revered temples, will host a merit-making ceremony on August 15 to honour His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday. The temple invites Buddhists to participate in paving stone roads and washing the iconic Phra Prang tower. Phra Phrom Vajramethee, a prominent member of the Supreme Sangha Council and the Abbot of Wat Arun Ratchawararam, announced…
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Butterbear to boost Thai tourism, targets 10% of Chinese fans
Butterbear, a beloved mascot in Thailand, will soon serve as a new presenter for Thai tourism, targeting to attract at least 10% of its one million Chinese fans to engage in tourism activities within the country. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to draw eight million arrivals from the Chinese outbound market, which is estimated to reach 130 million…
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Knife-wielding man shot dead after attacking police in Chiang Rai
A man wielding a knife caused chaos in Santat village, Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai province, injuring a police officer before being fatally shot. A subsequent search of his home revealed drug paraphernalia. Local police received a report at 9.30pm yesterday that a man was wreaking havoc in the village. Upon arrival, the officers found 28 year old Toon walking…
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Srettha urges AMLO to focus on large-scale drug syndicates
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to prioritise seizing the assets of significant drug networks to cripple the narcotics trade. During an AMLO meeting yesterday, July 18, the Bangkok-born PM was briefed on the agency’s progress in implementing its policies and operations. The AMLO Secretary-General, Thepsu Bawornchotdara, reported that the agency had seized at least 523…
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Newborn’s body found in Bangkok rubbish bin sparks urgent probe
A tragic discovery of a newborn baby girl’s body, wrapped in a towel and concealed in a black bag inside a blue rubbish bin, was made yesterday by a waste collector in Bangkok. Police are now urgently investigating the case. Pitak Kaewkamhan, an inspector from Sutthisan Police Station, received a report at around 8pm yesterday about the incident in Soi…
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