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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Teen fatally shot by grandfather after constant disruptive gatherings
A tragic incident unfolded yesterday in Nong Bua Lamphu, where an argument over noise and disruptive behaviour ended in the fatal shooting of a teenager. The incident occurred at a small house in Hua Na District, where a man fired bullets into a room after repeated disturbances from his grandson and friends. Police received the call at around 9pm, where…
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Police officer confesses to fatally shooting Burmese man in hospital
A police sergeant confessed to fatally shooting a Burmese man at Khon Kaen Hospital in Isaan on June 6. He accused the deceased of bothering his father, who was a patient in the bed next to the victim. The deceased, 29 year old Kyaw Swar Aong, was shot dead in his hospital bed at around 11pm on June 6. His…
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Two fishermen rescued after boat capsizes off Jomtien Beach
Two fishermen were rescued after their small fishing boat capsized off Jomtien Beach amid strong waves and winds. One of the fishermen was seriously injured. The incident occurred around 7.06am today. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Foundation received a call about a boat capsizing and two people falling into the water and sustaining injuries. Upon arriving at the scene, rescue…
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Deaf shoeshiner in Pattaya inspires with dedication and skill
A deaf shoeshiner in Pattaya has captured the admiration of netizens for his perseverance and dedication. Known as Kai, his story surfaced online after a local journalist saw him cleaning a tourist’s shoes on Pattaya Beach. Kai earns his living by offering shoe cleaning services to tourists. Despite being deaf and mute, he communicates with customers using a sign that…
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Man arrested for online BB gun scam in Thailand
Police apprehended a man for selling BB guns online, deceiving customers into transferring money, and then blocking them on Facebook to avoid contact. The arrested individual claimed to only take orders, not handle deliveries. Today, June 9, Police Lieutenant General Thiti Saengsawang, along with a team including Police Major General Nopasilp Poolsawat and Police Major General Teeradej Thammasuthee, arrested 53…
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Two bikers killed in tragic Phetchaburi accident
A tragic accident involving a group of big bike riders on a trip to Phetchaburi resulted in the deaths of two people. The incident occurred when a young woman, riding a pillion, fell off the motorcycle, and a subsequent attempt to avoid her by another bike led to a fatal collision with a truck. The accident took place at 8.10am…
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Buriram girl suffers repeated rape, family demands justice
An 11 year old girl was allegedly raped twice by a 52 year old neighbour in Buriram, leading to severe distress for her and her family. Despite reporting the incident to the police, the case has seen little progress, causing frustration and fear for the young victim. Nui, the 47 year old mother, reported that on March 12, her daughter…
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Severe monsoon warning issued for 40 Thai provinces including Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning about severe monsoon conditions affecting 40 provinces across Thailand, including Bangkok. Heavy rainfall is expected in 60% of the areas, with potential flash floods and sudden water surges. The TMD today forecasts that a monsoon trough will traverse Thailand’s upper northern and upper northeastern regions. Additionally, the southwest monsoon covering the upper…
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Thaksin Shinawatra to face monarchy insult charges in Thailand
Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, announced his readiness to confront charges of insulting the monarchy. The announcement came yesterday, with Thaksin expressing confidence about facing the allegations head-on. The former Thai PM confirmed his intention to meet with prosecutors tomorrow and stated to reporters that he was prepared to fight the case. “It’s nothing. The case is…
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Thailand and Laos to launch Bangkok-Vientiane railway this month
Thailand and Laos are poised to inaugurate a new railway network connecting Bangkok and Vientiane, with a trial run scheduled for later this month, as announced by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). The initiative is set to improve connectivity for travellers and facilitate the movement of goods between the two nations, positioning Thailand as a key logistics hub in…
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Burmese student sets condo room ablaze in Lat Phrao, panic ensues
A Burmese student, in a fit of rage, set his room on fire at a condo in the Lat Phrao area causing panic among the residents. The incident took place around 3pm yesterday, and police quickly responded to control the situation. Police Lieutenant Colonel Thewin Sripua, Deputy Inspector at Lat Phrao Police Station, received a report of a man causing…
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Police raid unlicensed Rangsit nightclub, find 65 underage patrons
Police raided an unlicensed nightclub popular among Rangsit’s youth, discovering 65 underage patrons. The venue had never applied for a permit and was known for admitting minors and serving them alcohol. Police blocked all exits to prevent escape. Yesterday, June 8, officers led by Saruti Kwangsopa, commander of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division, executed a raid on a nightclub in Lak…
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Factory shuttle bus tyre explosion injures 16 near Ayutthaya
A factory shuttle bus suffered a left front tyre explosion, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and injure 16 people. The incident occurred at 6.30pm yesterday near the Ayutthaya Interchange. The accident was reported to the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Police Station by Deputy Inspector Wutthiphat Chuaykhit. Authorities, including officers from the Phutthaisawan Foundation and Ruamkatanyu Foundation, promptly…
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Father’s heartbreak as son drowns at dangerous overflow dam
A father is devastated after learning that his 15 year old son drowned at an overflow dam, despite having warned him in the morning not to go out and play. Friends recounted the tragic moment, noting that the boy, who was not a strong swimmer, slipped on algae-covered concrete near the bank. At 5.30pm yesterday, Kasem Senaprakon, an officer from…
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Mixed-breed dog attack leaves five year old girl with severe injuries
A mixed-breed dog, the offspring of a Pit Bull bitch and a local Thai dog, attacked a five year old girl, leaving her with severe head injuries. The incident occurred outside a residence in Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province, late yesterday afternoon. The girl is currently under close medical supervision at Ban Phue Hospital due to the deep wounds…
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Chiang Mai to become digital startup hub with new visa scheme
Chiang Mai is poised to become a digital startup hub in Southeast Asia, with the government pledging support to achieve this goal, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced during a visit to the northern province yesterday. PM Srettha highlighted Chiang Mai City as an established haven for digital nomads and one of the world’s leading creative cities. “Late last year, Tim…
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Motorcyclist dies after falling from Bangkok overpass
A motorcyclist tragically lost his life after losing control and falling from an overpass onto a road near Phran Nok-Phutthamonthon Sai 2 Park. The incident occurred around 6pm yesterday. Despite extensive CPR efforts by rescue personnel, the man could not be revived. Police Lieutenant Detchawat Sadinchan, Deputy Inspector at Sala Daeng Police Station, received a report of the accident and…
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Fisherman electrocuted while repairing boat near Chanthaburi pier
A fisherman died after being electrocuted while attempting to repair his leaking boat. The incident took place yesterday near an old pier under the Somdet Phra Taksin Bridge in Laem Sing, Chanthaburi. Police Lieutenant Colonel Surapong Prongngam from Laem Sing Police Station received a report from the Sawang Katanyu Dharma Association’s rescue centre about the fatal accident. Upon arrival at…
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New automatic passport control tested at Suvarnabhumi Airport
The new Automatic Channel for passport control at Suvarnabhumi Airport was personally tested by Wisanu Prasarttong-Osoth, chairman of Airports of Thailand (AOT), before its official launch yesterday. This system aims to ease congestion at immigration checkpoints. Wisanu participated in a real-world test of the new automatic passport control system before heading to Malaysia on flight TG415. The new system is…
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Thailand investigates boat crash injuring four Chinese tourists
A probe has been ordered by Thailand’s Transport Ministry into a boat crash that injured four Chinese tourists near Tha Tien pier yesterday afternoon. The incident occurred around 4pm on the Chao Phraya River in Phra Nakhon district when a long-tailed tour boat collided with a Royal Thai Navy (RTN) ferry. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri reported that the crash…
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Thailand’s Pacific-to-Indian Ocean Land Bridge project
Thailand’s anticipated land bridge project, aiming to connect the Pacific and Indian Oceans, is set to become reality, with bidding anticipated by late next year, the Transport Ministry confirmed. The colossal 1-trillion-baht project will construct deep-sea ports in Chumphon on the Gulf of Thailand and Ranong on the Andaman coast, linked by a state-of-the-art transport route. This ambitious infrastructure aims…
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Austrian Airlines to operate more flights to Bangkok
Austrian Airlines, boasting a modern fleet of Airbus A320s, Boeing 767s, and Boeing 777s, has increased its weekly flights from Vienna to Bangkok to 13 flights. Brendan Shashoua, Lufthansa Group Senior Director Sales – Southeast Asia and the Pacific made the announcement. “Since 1988, Austrian Airlines has connected Vienna with the vibrant Thai capital of Bangkok. With Thailand being a…
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Thailand goes green: Major push for sustainable tourism unveiled
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched an ambitious plan to boost sustainable tourism, revealed at the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2024, held from June 5 to 7 in Phang Nga. A key highlight of these plans is hosting Asia’s second Tourism Cares summit in 2025. Partnering with the US-based NGO, this summit will focus on promoting regenerative…
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Thailand eyes MICE supremacy in Southeast Asia
Thailand is pulling out all the stops to become the epicentre of MICE tourism in Southeast Asia, with Vietnam emerging as a potential powerhouse partner. This ambitious vision, spearheaded by Puripan Bunnag, Senior Vice President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), aims to harness the post-pandemic resurgence in the MICE sector to bolster Thailand’s economy. “The MICE segment…
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Vocational school students clash in Chachoengsao
Two vocational school groups in Chachoengsao engaged in a violent altercation involving gunfire and thrown objects, causing panic among locals at a health park. Witnesses, including shopkeepers, are calling for increased police patrols to prevent such incidents. A frightening scene unfolded as two groups of vocational students from Chachoengsao clashed in a health park, hurling energy drink bottles and firing…
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Thai car sales plunge; luxury market hit amid economic woes
Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) reports a significant decrease in domestic car sales, affecting even the typically robust premium car sector. The struggling Thai economy and banks’ stricter auto lending policies due to high household debt, are impacting car manufacturers across all sectors. This includes the luxury market, which generally leverages higher purchasing power. “The automotive industry has been hard hit by this…
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Chinese tourist missing in Thailand, 25 million baht ransom
A Chinese tourist has gone missing while holidaying in Thailand, with her father receiving a ransom demand of 25 million baht for her release. Police at Phra Khanong Police Station were alerted by a Thai-Chinese interpreter named Moo, who works with the national cycling team coach, about the missing Chinese woman, 27 year old Xinlei Lu. Lu, who arrived in…
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3,900 Thai community radio stations to cease under new digital scheme
Approximately 3,900 community radio stations will be forced to cease broadcasting after this year due to the transition from analogue to a licensing regime and a digital audio broadcasting (DAB) scheme. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has been working on the digital radio regulatory framework, aiming to implement it by September. This significant change is set to happen…
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Election Commission unanimously agrees on senator selection
All seven election commissioners have unanimously agreed to proceed with the district-level selection of senators tomorrow, despite looming legal uncertainties. Election Commission (EC) Secretary General Sawaeng Boonmee announced yesterday afternoon that the commissioners have collectively decided against postponing the selection, which had been suggested by the EC Office. “There is no reason to delay.” The proposed delay was rooted in…
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Foreigners can now own land in Thailand: Land Dept
Thailand updates criteria for foreign land ownership: heirs can inherit land, investors need 40 million baht, writes The Nation. Foreign land ownership in Thailand is a complex issue, primarily dictated by the Land Code Act of 1954, which generally prohibits foreigners from owning land outright. This law is designed to maintain national control over Thailand’s valuable natural resources. There are,…
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