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 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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Raid & seek: Bangkok cops bust contraband in Chinese minimarts
Police in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district recently conducted a significant raid on 10 Chinese-owned minimarts, following complaints from local businesses about the influx of contraband foreign goods. Health and anti-money laundering officials, along with local police, spearheaded the operation. The Network for Thai Entrepreneur Protection had earlier lodged a complaint asserting that these convenience stores were selling smuggled consumer goods.…
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Thailand to withdraw military from southern provinces by 2027
Thailand plans to withdraw military forces from the nation’s southernmost provinces by 2027, with a focus on bolstering volunteer forces in the region. The Ministry of Interior and the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly train these volunteer forces. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Army Commander Charoenchai Hintao were present at the ceremony.…
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Highway police seize 13 million meth pills in Prachuap Khiri Khan
Highway police confiscated over 13 million methamphetamine (meth) pills and apprehended two couriers in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan on Monday, September 30. Officers intercepted a 22-wheel trailer truck with a Songkhla licence plate at a checkpoint located at kilometre marker 378 on Phetkasem Road. During a search, they discovered meth pills concealed in numerous plastic baskets, covered…
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Ayutthaya school cancels field trip after bus blaze tragedy kills 23
Following the bus blaze tragedy that claimed the lives of 23 students and teachers, St. Anthony Bang Pa-in School in the central province of Ayutthaya cancelled its upcoming field trip on October 9 as a safety precaution. The fire yesterday, October 1, broke out on a coach bus carrying 44 students and teachers from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School during a…
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Missing Thai woman found dead off Phuket’s coast
A Thai woman reported missing from Sai Kaew Beach on Phuket’s northwestern coast was found dead in the water at Tha Chatchai late yesterday afternoon. Jiraporn Onkhajorn raised the alarm to Tha Chatchai Police about her sister-in-law, Jiraporn Sararat, who had gone missing earlier in the day. Jiraporn discovered her sister-in-law’s blue Honda Scoopy motorbike, along with a pair of…
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Residents rejoice at Chon Buri temple after lottery win
Residents celebrated their luck at Wat Huai Sup, Chon Buri province, after winning the lottery with over 100 tickets, thanks to the blessings of Luang Pho Yai. They lit 10,000 firecrackers in gratitude and plan to use the new numbers from the firecrackers for the next draw. Over 20 villagers gathered at Wat Huai Sup in Namatoom subdistrict, Phanat Nikhom…
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Thai Cabinet levels flood compensation at 9,000 baht
The Thai Cabinet has revised flood victim compensation to a uniform rate of 9,000 baht per household, replacing the previous variable range of 5,000 to 9,000 baht. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced the decision following a Cabinet meeting, citing the severity of the flood situation as the reason for the new compensation structure. “The government decided that all affected households…
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Pattaya drunken brawl: Construction worker dies, Brit arrested
Thai police have provided an update on a drunken fight in Pattaya that left a Western Australian man dead and a British tourist under arrest. The tragic brawl, which occurred outside the Walk In Mansion Hotel in Pattaya, saw the Aussie construction worker lose his life after an altercation with a 29 year old British man. The construction worker, 58…
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Paetongtarn’s anti-graft lawsuit over 30% stake rocks government
In a fresh scandal targeting Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, political firebrand Ruangkrai Leekitwattana has filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC), accusing her of violating anti-graft laws by holding a significant company stake post-election. Ruangkrai claimed that Paetongtarn retained a 30% stake in Alpine Golf and Sports Club after being appointed PM in August. According to Ruangkrai, the…
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Thailand to increase minimum wage to 400 baht by year-end
Thailand’s Labour Ministry has assured the public that a minimum wage increase to 400 baht will be implemented nationwide by the end of the year, as stated by Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the Labour Minister. The tripartite wage committee is currently awaiting the official appointment of two new members: the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and the Director-General of the…
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Mysterious figure seen tossing objects from Pattaya building
A mysterious figure was seen throwing objects from an abandoned building at Waterfront, Bali Hai Pier, Pattaya. A Facebook user posted a video clip in the Pattaya Facebook group on Monday, September 30. In the clip, an unknown figure is seen throwing objects that looked like long white sticks, measuring more than 3 metres long, off the balcony of an…
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Coffin up kindness: Wat Naprao’s ceremony breathes life into community compassion
The annual coffin donation ceremony at Wat Naprao, Si Racha, on September 29 brought heart and humanity to the forefront, offering a lifeline to those who can’t afford funeral services. This touching event, deeply rooted in compassion, unites the community in a mission to provide dignified send-offs for the less fortunate. Led by Sittichai Samrit, president of the Naprao community,…
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Thailand’s life-saving Pink ID Card for Myanmar migrants
Thailand is set to transform the lives of thousands of undocumented migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. As of September 24, the Thai government confirmed plans to issue official Pink Cards —identification cards typically reserved for legal workers—to those who entered the country illegally, according to sources supporting Myanmar migrant workers. U Moe Kyaw, spokesperson for the Yaung…
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Thai AirAsia X switches all flights to Don Mueang Airport
Thai AirAsia X has switched all its international flights back to Don Mueang Airport, effective yesterday, October 1. If you’re jetting off to Japan, South Korea, China, or Australia, you’d better double-check your flight details—or risk turning up at the wrong airport. All flights under Thai AirAsia X (code XJ) to popular destinations like Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Nagoya, Seoul, Shanghai,…
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Raining on Bangkok’s parade: An 80% chance of downpour
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning for severe weather across Thailand, predicting heavy rains in 80% of Bangkok and surrounding areas, with a high risk of flash floods and landslides. The TMD forecasts that the upper regions of Thailand will experience unstable weather conditions over the next 24 hours. Thunderstorms, strong winds, and heavy rain are expected…
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Thai woman injured after protecting daughter from mistress’ abuse
A Thai mother in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok is seeking justice after her son-in-law physically assaulted her when she tried to protect her daughter from abuse by his mistress. The daughter did not support her injured mother. The 43 year old victim, Aoonruen Tochomboon, shared her distressing story with the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive on September 30. She said that…
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Thai students brutally abused by soldiers in behaviour modification camp
Parents and guardians of students in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok are seeking justice after soldiers brutally abused students during a behaviour modification camp on military premises in Chon Buri province. Bangpleeratbamrung School in Samut Prakan sent 130 students to the behaviour modification camp after they violated school rules by smoking, fighting, engaging in altercations over romantic matters, arriving late…
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Phimai police boost bank security for 10,000 baht withdrawals
Police in Nakhon Ratchasima have increased security measures at local banks, fearing that loan sharks might target citizens withdrawing their 10,000 baht digital money. Officers from Phimai Police Station’s crime prevention unit were deployed to the Phimai branch of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) on September 30, to safeguard the public waiting to withdraw funds from the…
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Activist faces extradition to Vietnam: Thai court
A Thai court sparked international outrage by ordering the extradition of a Vietnamese activist, despite fears he could face grave danger if returned to his home country. The Bangkok Criminal Court granted Vietnam’s request to extradite 32 year old Y Quynh Bdap, a co-founder of the Montagnards Stand for Justice group on September 30. Bdap was detained in Bangkok in June…
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Pattaya’s wastewater treatment project delayed again
Pattaya City Hospital is asking for a major budget extension to tackle its long-delayed wastewater treatment project. The hospital, under the Health and Environment Bureau, has requested an additional period for the disbursement of 23.8 million baht—part of a total 25.3 million baht budget—to continue its vital environmental initiative. Deputy Mayor Wuthisak Rermkijakarn presented the proposal at a Pattaya City…
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RTN sails into controversy over student mistreatment claims
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) responded to allegations that students were excessively mistreated at a military training camp. Students, aged between 13 and 15, reportedly returned from the camp with injuries, prompting an urgent investigation. Rear Admiral Weerudom Muangjeen, spokesperson for the RTN, addressed the situation, which surfaced through a Facebook post by a user named Nui Icezy Jirapa. The…
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Electric scooter inferno: Sattahip park blaze leaves metal carnage
A peaceful evening at Nong Takian Park in Sattahip turned into a fiery spectacle when an electric scooter exploded into flames on Sunday, September 29, leaving behind nothing but a pile of scorched metal. Firefighters swooped in to save the day, dousing the blaze before it could engulf the surrounding area. The scooter’s owner, who had just returned from a…
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Hippo hullabaloo: TSPCA roars back at PETA over moo deng controversy
The Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA) hit back at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), accusing them of using outdated and inaccurate information in their boycott campaign to save wildlife. The controversy centres around the world-famous pygmy hippo, Moo Deng. Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon…
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Slithering surprise: Python pops into Pattaya mall, sparking chaos
A bustling Pattaya City mall turned into a scene of chaos when a nearly 3-metre long python made an unexpected appearance. The incident, which occurred yesterday, September 30, at 4pm, saw the Pattaya Land Disaster Prevention Radio Centre receiving a report of a large snake spotted under a car in the mall’s parking lot on Pattaya Klang Road. Upon arrival,…
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Disabled man in Udon Thani loses 10,000 baht to suspected scam
A disabled man from Udon Thani was reportedly scammed out of 10,000 baht from his account, leaving only 5 baht. Allegations suggest a local woman might have withdrawn the money under false pretences. Somdee Plangsi, a 63 year old resident of Ban Na Mueang Thai in Na Som, Udon Thani, along with his family members, complained to Peerayut Utchin, Deputy…
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Malaysian couple vanishes after Bangkok layover
A young couple from Penang, Malaysia, has mysteriously disappeared, leaving their families in turmoil after a layover in Bangkok more than three weeks ago. The missing pair, 21 year old Wu Mingson and his 23 year old girlfriend Wu Yingying, have not been heard from since early September. The chilling details have been shared by Mingson’s cousin, Shii Yiing Tan,…
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Death toll in bus blaze tragedy rises to 25, 22 students, 3 teachers
The death toll from a devastating bus blaze tragedy today on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok has soared to 25. Among the victims were 22 young students and three teachers. According to a grim update by KhaoSod, the ill-fated coach was packed with 44 students, aged between three and nine, along with their devoted teachers from…
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Uttaradit locals seek lottery luck at towering temple statue
Residents of the upper northern province of Uttaradit flocked to Wat Khlong Kaphuea to seek blessings from the towering statue of Thao Wessuwan, hoping for good fortune for today’s lottery draw, October 1. The locals engage in rituals, trying their luck with a three-digit number drawn from a jar. Wat Khlong Kaphuea in Ban Khon, Phichai district, Uttaradit province, became…
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Thailand bad weather: Chinese tourist influx expected to fall short
The anticipated influx of Chinese tourists to Thailand during the Chinese National Day holiday is expected to fall short due to adverse weather conditions and evolving travel behaviours, as shared by Sanphet Supabornsatien, an advisor to the Eastern Thai Hotels Association (THA). Thai hotel operators had been hopeful for a significant number of Chinese visitors from October 1 to 7.…
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Thailand’s household debt dips to 89.6% of GDP in Q2
Thailand’s household debt saw a slight decline in the second quarter as banks tightened lending practices to mitigate bad loans, and borrowers hastened debt repayments amidst the highest interest rates in a decade. Data released by the Bank of Thailand (BoT) yesterday, September 30, revealed that nationwide household debt, as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), stood at 89.6%…
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