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 Air Force denies link to old bomb found in Cambodia
Today, July 31, the Royal Thai Air Force clarified that the MK-84 bomb, weighing 2,000 pounds, recently discovered in Cambodia, is not linked to any Thai Air Force operations targeting Cambodian military sites. The bomb, showing signs of rust and age, appears to have been unearthed from beneath a residential area and is commonly used by Western nations. Air Force…
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Thailand grounds all drones as border tensions flare
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has imposed a nationwide drone ban from July 30 (yesterday) to August 15—or until further notice—as tensions rise along the Thai–Cambodian border. The drastic move is part of heightened national security measures. The ban applies to all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Offenders risk up to one year in prison, a fine of 40,000…
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Chinese journalists arrested at Thai border released without charges
Thai police confirmed that three Chinese men arrested in the border province of Surin on Tuesday, July 29, are journalists. The trio were released without charge after being found filming in a restricted military zone. Officers from Kap Choeng Police Station arrested the Chinese men in Kap Choeng district, Surin, at around 11pm. They were reportedly apprehended near the Chong…
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Rising mental distress as 200,000 displaced by border conflict
A significant increase in psychological distress has been reported by the Ministry of Public Health among civilians affected by the border conflict. Nearly 200,000 people are currently residing in temporary shelters across seven border provinces. Trichada Srithada from the ministry highlighted that 21,430 people in the provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, Buriram, Trat, Sa Kaeo, and Chanthaburi have undergone…
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Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach gets sandy makeover to woo tourists
Thailand’s Marine Department held a high-level seminar yesterday at the Jomtien Palm Beach Hotel and Resort to push forward Phase 2 of the Jomtien Beach Sand Replenishment Project — a multimillion-baht effort to combat coastal erosion and bring back beachgoers in droves. Deputy Director-General of the Marine Department Narinsak Sattaprasit presided over the event. He was joined by Deputy Governor…
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Thai national flag and message fly high in New York Time Square
Plan B Media is the company behind the #TruthFromThailand billboard in New York City’s Times Square, which went viral on Thai social media. The company also displayed the Thai national flag across its 19,775 screens throughout Thailand to boost morale among frontline Thai soldiers in the border clashes. The X account @Gossip_Gun, yesterday, July 29, shared a video of the…
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Thailand launches digital platform for migrant work permits
The Department of Employment (DoE) has introduced an updated digital platform to streamline the processing of employment permits for migrant workers, representing a significant advancement in modernisation efforts. Director-General Somchai Morakotsriwan launched the outsourcing service project during a press conference attended by representatives from the Ministry of Labour, foreign embassies, government agencies, and the private sector. The initiative aims to…
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Massive road revamp to shake up Phuket traffic flow
The Phuket Highways Office has announced plans for a massive 420-million baht overhaul of Srisoonthorn Road, one of the island’s busiest and most vital thoroughfares. Residents, business owners, and commuters are invited to weigh in at a public meeting scheduled for today, July 31. The meeting will run from 9am to midday at the Chalermprakiat 84 Pansa Building, located at…
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Pattaya motorbike gang traps delivery driver in midnight road rage (video)
A 26 year old delivery rider was left shaken after he claimed he was surrounded, threatened, and assaulted by a group of furious motorcycle taxi drivers in the early hours of Tuesday. The drama began around 11pm on Tuesday, July 29, when Narongchay Boonsom was pulling out from a parking spot on Second Road, near the Marine Plaza Hotel in…
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Thailand opens first cancer drug manufacturing facility
The Chulabhorn Royal Academy has inaugurated Thailand’s first cancer medication manufacturing facility, certified by the internationally recognised GMDP PIC/s. Located at the Phimanmas Residence in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, the facility is a significant milestone for the country, ensuring the highest production standards. This initiative was driven by the vision of Professor Doctor Chulabhorn Walailak, a member of the…
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Former laundry owner arrested for Buriram coin machine thefts
A former owner of a coin-operated laundry business has been arrested for breaking into coin-operated washing machines. The business was initially successful but collapsed due to the impact of Covid-19, allegedly leading him to seek funds for online gambling and drug use. Police Colonel Chamrat Siriliang, along with an investigative team from Mueang Buriram Police Station, apprehended 34 year old…
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Thailand to invite foreign ambassadors to border after Cambodia tour
Following the visit of international ambassadors to Cambodia, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a plan to invite foreign ambassadors to its own border area. The aim is to show them the damage caused by recent clashes and to present Thailand’s side of the story. The Cambodian military, yesterday, July 29, led ambassadors from 13 countries, including the United States,…
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Trang police raid drug gang after murder linked to 33 year old
Trang police, alongside Region 9 officers, conducted raids at nine locations across Trang and Phatthalung provinces, targeting a drug gang linked to the murder of 33 year old Taweechai. The case involves his wife, who reportedly received significant funds in her bank account. The incident began with the discovery of Taweechai’s body, buried in a wooded area behind Hua Khao…
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Cambodia ‘catches’ Thai spy pigeon, Thais in stitches
Cambodia has become the butt of online jokes after claiming it caught a Thai “spy pigeon” fitted with GPS tracking. The bizarre claim emerged when the Facebook page Battambang Post posted a photo of the captured bird. The pigeon was found wearing ankle bands marked with the word “THAILAND”, sparking wild claims it was part of a Thai military surveillance…
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Lottery enthusiasts brave rain for lucky numbers in Ang Thong
Yesterday, July 30, lottery enthusiasts gathered behind Wat Bot Ratchasathat in Bang Rakam subdistrict, Pho Thong district, Ang Thong province, to seek lucky numbers from the revered Phaya Bung, a spider. Despite the persistent rain, they remained undeterred, performing a ritual involving incense sticks and flowers to request numbers, hoping to use them for the August 1 lottery. Participants in…
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Ratchaburi shop owner seeks lottery luck from temple spirit
A superstitious shopkeeper is betting her luck—and future fortune—on a pint-sized bronze spirit. Yesterday, July 30, a 44 year old woman visited Wat Phai Lom in Nakhon Pathom’s Mueang district, hoping for divine intervention from a revered supernatural statue known as “Kuman Sombat”. The temple was abuzz with believers, all hoping for lottery luck from the mysterious child-like figure. Devotees…
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Mysterious body found at Bang Saen Beach, police seek identity
Residents and tourists at Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri were startled by the discovery of a mysterious body, believed to have been deceased for over three days. The police are urging anyone who may recognise the person to contact them immediately. At 2.30am today, July 31, police from Saen Suk Police Station were informed about a body washed ashore…
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Thailand braces for heavy rain across 36 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for 36 provinces in Thailand to prepare for heavy rainfall, particularly in parts of the north and upper northeastern regions. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates a decrease in rain across the country, though heavy rain remains in some areas. Residents are advised to stay alert for potential…
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Pet paradise unleashed at Bangkok’s epic expo
Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre is set to transform into a wonderland of whiskers, wagging tails and wild surprises as the Pet Expo Championship 2025 kicks off with the theme The Magical Land of Friendship. Running daily starting tomorrow, July 31, from 10am to 8pm until Sunday, August 3, the event promises non-stop fun, furry festivities and some serious…
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Thai singer accuses retired police of gun threat over parking dispute
A Thai singer filed a complaint against a retired police officer in the central province of Nakhon Sawan, alleging that the former officer threatened him with a gun following a parking dispute. The male singer, identified only as Bas, reported the threat to Takhli Police Station today, July 30. He informed police that the incident occurred outside a restaurant on…
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Holy water hype: Revered Thai monk’s bowl sparks lotto frenzy (video)
Superstitious Thais are going wild again over a “miraculous” holy water bowl in the run-up to the August 1 lottery draw, convinced it’s brimming with lucky numbers. With the Government Lottery draw looming on Friday, August 1, hopeful punters across Thailand are once again placing their faith in sacred rituals, and this time, all eyes are on the holy water…
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Next US ambassador to Thailand says border clashes do nothing to strengthen alliance
Thai netizens criticised the next US ambassador to Thailand, Sean Kotaro O’Neill, after he commented on the recent clashes at the Thai-Cambodian border. O’Neill, the former US Consul General in Chiang Mai, was recently nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the next ambassador to Thailand. Following his nomination, O’Neill was asked to share his views on the ongoing…
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Paetongtarn gets final lifeline in leaked tape scandal
Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been granted a last-minute reprieve by the Constitutional Court, which voted 5–4 in favour of extending her deadline to submit a defence in the now-infamous leaked audio scandal involving Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. The decision, announced yesterday, July 29, allows Paetongtarn until August 4 to respond, a final extension under Section 31 of…
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Spiked: Russian girl jabbed by porcupinefish at Jomtien Beach
A peaceful beach day turned into a seaside scare after an 11 year old Russian girl was stung by a porcupinefish spine while playing along the shore at Jomtien Beach. The incident unfolded yesterday afternoon, July 29, when the girl suddenly cried out in pain, alarming her guardians and nearby beachgoers. According to officials from the Jomtien municipal enforcement team,…
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Armed gang brawl erupts at Phuket’s Saphan Hin fest
A fiery clash between rival youth gangs turned Phuket’s Parn Hin festival into a crime scene late last night, with weapons seized and three suspects in custody after a confrontation involving firecrackers, knives, and even a homemade gun. The incident erupted around 10.30pm yesterday, July 29, near the central stage at the Saphan Hin fairground, where witnesses reported two groups…
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Knives and walkie-talkies found in Bangkok school sweep
Bangkok police uncovered a stash of weapons hidden across two prominent educational institutions during a sweeping raid ahead of a major school celebration. Yesterday, July 29, more than 100 officers mobilised in Pathum Wan district for a coordinated crackdown targeting the Pathumwan Institute of Technology and Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok. The operation aimed to prevent clashes and violence during…
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Thai man shot while riding motorcycle on Samut Prakan road
Police are searching for a gunman who shot a Thai man while he was riding a motorcycle on Bangna-Trat Road in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok, this morning, July 30. The Facebook page Mueang Prakan V2 reported that the shooting occurred at around 7.40am on Bangna-Trat Road, opposite the Bangna Tower office building. The victim was a 25 year old…
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Bag bump at Pattaya bar sparks bloody brawl
A drunken bump turned bloody in the early hours of yesterday after a Thai woman was attacked near a South Pattaya bar in a row over a handbag. At around 3am yesterday, July 29, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre received a report of a physical altercation outside a pharmacy near a well-known restaurant on South Pattaya Road. Responders arrived to…
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Studio7 Phuket staff fired over photo privacy scandal
An Apple retailer in Phuket has landed in hot water after a shocking breach of customer privacy ended with a private photo appearing on Tinder. Studio7, an official Apple distributor in Thailand, issued a public apology and confirmed it has fired six employees and launched legal proceedings after one of them allegedly stole a customer’s intimate photo from their phone…
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9 victims killed in Suphan Buri firecracker factory explosion
An explosion at a small firecracker factory in the central province of Suphan Buri today, July 30, killed nine people. The total number of victims is still under investigation. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers are examining two houses in Ban Pho sub-district, Mueang district, Suphan Buri province, following a report of the explosion at around 11am. The two houses was…
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