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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Thai woman narrowly escapes injury as demolition goes wrong
A near-miss incident involving a building demolition and a woman in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand, took centre stage yesterday afternoon. The woman, employed at an eatery, narrowly escaped injury when a building under demolition collapsed unexpectedly, part of it crashing into the eatery. The incident occurred around 2pm, yesterday, March 31, on Charoen Mueang Road in the Mueang district of the…
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Italian national arrested for drunk driving in Phuket, Thailand
A drink driving incident yesterday led to the arrest of an Italian national in Phuket, Thailand. The man’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was found to be 95mg/dL, which is significantly above the legal limit. This 50 year old Italian man was apprehended by Patong Police around 4am in the vicinity of Loma Circle at the northern end of Patong Beach.…
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Pattaya heroics: Thai man saves drowning Aussie
A Thai man performed heroics to save an Australian man from drowning in the Pattaya sea but, in the aftermath, the foreigner remains in a critical condition. Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rescuers were notified about the drowning incident near Soi Jomtien 11 in Pattaya at about 3.15am today, April 1. Upon arrival, rescuers found a group of Thais and foreigners…
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Taking off: Passenger charges soar at six major Thai airports
Passenger service charges (PSC) at six major Thai airports have seen an increase, as announced by the Airports of Thailand Plc. The charges, applicable on both domestic and international departing flights, have been raised at Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Don Mueang, Hat Yai, Phuket and Suvarnabhumi airports. For international flights, the fees have been increased from 700 to 730 baht,…
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Lorry smuggling Myanmar migrants crashes in Thailand, 14 hurt
Fourteen people were injured when a lorry, smuggling Myanmar migrants illegally into Thailand, lost control and tipped over in the western province of Kanchanaburi. The incident, which occurred on Road 323 in Sangkhla Buri district shortly after midnight, saw the vehicle’s driver lose control while speeding down a hill and veer off a curve, subsequently fleeing the scene. The lorry…
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Teen gang violence escalates into shootout in Bangkok
Violence erupted on the streets of Bangkok when two rival teen gangs clashed, resulting in a dramatic shootout and the hurling of grenades along the Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. An 18 year old man was shot five times and fled to a local police station for safety in the early hours at around 3.40am on April 1. The intense confrontation was…
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Hong Kong Airlines flight’s hiccup leads to Bangkok u-turn
A technical glitch forced a Hong Kong Airlines flight to make an abrupt return to Bangkok shortly after taking off for Hong Kong. The incident occurred yesterday, March 31, and involved flight HX780, which was ferrying over 200 passengers. Flight data indicates that the Airbus A330-300 twin-jet aircraft began to circle the airspace shortly after its 2am departure. By 2.25am,…
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German and Canadian charged for illegal kung fu course (video)
Police arrested a German and a Canadian man for illegally conducting a Shaolin kung fu training course on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Pha Ngan Tourist Police and Immigration Police arrested 37 year old German man Somphet Daoheuang and a 34 year old Canadian man Arbely Natalie Rubalcava Rojo at a yoga training…
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Thai government bets big on crackdown against online gambling
The Thai government took assertive action against online gambling websites, recognising them as significant economic crimes. Deputy Government spokesperson Kanika Aunjit announced the policy yesterday, March 31, revealing the government’s commitment to investigating, suspending, restricting, and blocking such websites nationwide. Kanika conveyed that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had a keen acknowledgement of the issues linked with online gambling. The 62…
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Russian couple’s dine and dash attempt exposed in Phuket restaurant
A shameless cheating Russian couple insisted they had settled their bill at a Phuket restaurant after being accused of attempting to dine and dash. They later falsely incriminated a Thai waitress of theft but their deception was exposed by CCTV footage, forcing them to apologise and settle the bill. The restaurant shared security footage of the incident on a Facebook…
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Industrial Commission exposes Chinese steel mill’s law violations
The Industrial Commission in Thailand has exposed law violations on the back of a Chinese steel mill crane collapsing in Rayong. This mill, as it turns out, is under Chinese ownership. The revelation led by Industrial Commission Chairman Akaradej Wongpitakroj has brought to the surface allegations of multiple Thai law violations by these Chinese investors. The commission informed the public…
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Thailand Video News | Rising risk of Dengue Fever and Influenza, PM Srettha Thaivisin believes in a more democratic Thailand
In this video, Alex and Jay unfold the latest news in Thailand. Beginning with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin champions democratic values while the Department of Disease Control (DDC) warns of heightened influenza and dengue risks amid COVID-19 worries. Recent incidents, including gas cylinder explosions and a crackdown on child exploitation, underscore the need for swift action. However, moments of heroism, like…
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3 year old Thai girl injured in Pink Line MRT liquid cement incident
A family of three narrowly avoided tragedy when liquid cement from a Pink Line MRT construction site spilt onto their sedan on Saturday. The incident damaged the car and caused injuries to a three-year-old girl. A Thai mother Saichol Charawatchala, shared the distressing account of her and her children’s experience on Facebook on Saturday, March 30. Saichol recalled that she…
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ATPD uncovers prostitution ring in Bangkok, 16 arrested
The Thai Anti Trafficking In Persons Division (ATPD) made a significant breakthrough in their mission to combat illegal activities, apprehending 15 undocumented male workers from Myanmar and a Thai massage shop owner in the bustling district of Wang Thonglang, Bangkok. This incident took place within the confines of the bustling Lat Phrao shopping complex on March 30. A tip-off from…
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Speedboat capsizes off Sri Racha coast: All passengers rescued
A speedboat, carrying ten passengers, found itself at the mercy of the vigorous waves and gusty winds off the coast of Sri Racha, in East Thailand, ultimately capsizing. Fortunately, all passengers were promptly rescued, escaping unharmed. The incident unfolded around 2pm on Thursday, March 28, within the space between the Harbour Bridge and the Silo Bridge in the Surasak area…
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Thai smog crisis prompts call for global shift to plant-based diets
Northern Thailand is grappling with a persistent smog problem, typically attributed to crop waste burning, deforestation for mushroom harvesting and vehicle emissions, prompting calls for a global shift to plant-based diets. However, an emerging consensus among scientists and environmental activists suggests a deeper, global solution is required to avert a climate disaster. The crux of the issue, they argue, lies…
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Nonthaburi police bust counterfeit shampoo ring selling for 100 baht
Police recently cracked down on a counterfeit shampoo operation in Nonthaburi, leading to the arrest of a 58 year old woman and her 30 year old nephew. Engaging in a deceptive practice, they were caught refilling used branded shampoo bottles with their concoction and passing them off as genuine products at local markets, with a startling two bottles being sold…
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Elderly Bangkok vendor robbed at knifepoint for gold and cash
A 72 year old woman was threatened and robbed at knifepoint at her street vendor stall by a male and a female assailant. The incident occurred at approximately 5.31am today in the Bang Khae district of Bangkok, leaving the septuagenarian victim, Srirat (last name withheld), without two gold necklaces weighing a combined five baht and an unspecified amount of cash.…
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Three Thai dishes rank in the world’s top ten best, says Tasteatlas
In a recent release by Tasteatlas, a renowned global food website, Thailand’s culinary prowess has been recognised once again. Three of the nation’s iconic dishes – phat kaphrao, khao soi, and phanaeng curry – have carved their place among the top 10 in the world’s one hundred best dishes list. Basking in third place on the Tasteatlas list is phat…
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Prachuap Khiri Khan prison manages Covid-19 with emergency operations centre
The Covid-19 situation at Prachuap Khiri Khan prison in Thailand is set to be managed by an imminent emergency operations centre (EOC), following the identification of infection clusters. This development comes as the public health permanent secretary, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, reported intensified surveillance in the wake of 79 confirmed Covid cases at the prison. The first infection was detected on…
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Blaze engulfs Sisaket building following gas cylinder explosions
A commercial building in Sisaket province was engulfed in flames early this morning, following two explosive sounds suspected to be from gas cylinders. The blaze rapidly spread, causing chaos as firefighting teams rushed to extinguish the fire, which started at 4.10am near Luang Sumangkalaram Temple. Police officer Weerawich Sriponduan from the Sisaket City Police Station immediately attended the scene alongside…
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Police and restaurant owner’s gun-knife duel in Udon Thani leaves both injured
A violent confrontation erupted between a police officer and a restaurant owner in Udon Thani, resulting in both men sustaining serious injuries. The incident, which involved a gun and knife duel, occurred near a convenience store in the Non Sung Subdistrict on the evening of yesterday, March 30. The dispute reportedly began when the officer parked his vehicle in front…
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Late night Prachinburi crash leaves 3 injured, prompts road safety reminder
A tragic road accident occurred late last night, leaving three individuals severely injured, one of whom suffered amputations. The incident took place at approximately 3am today in the area of Prachinburi province when a Toyota Fortuner lost control around a bend and collided with a factory employee waiting for his partner to finish work. At the entrance of a local…
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Thailand consumers council calls for investigation into yellow line malfunctions
An urgent call for an independent examination of the Yellow Line’s recent malfunctions has been made by the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC). The TCC, led by Dr Anuchar Sethasathien who presides over the transport and vehicle sub-committee, has requested that transport experts along with the Rail Transport Department and Consumer Protection Board conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents that…
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Thailand responds to surge in flesh-eating disease cases in Japan
A surge in the number of flesh-eating disease cases, officially known as necrotising fasciitis, in Japan, has prompted a response from Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC). The DDC gave reassurances yesterday that no instances of the rare but deadly bacterial infection have been reported in Thailand this year. The DDC is keeping a close eye on the developments in…
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Disappearance of two year old boy sparks search in Chiang Rai
Search intensifies for a two year old boy from the Lahu tribe, who vanished from his mountain village in Chiang Rai last Saturday. Officials from the Mirror Foundation have outlined four potential scenarios for the boy, Kriangkrai Sae Mee’s disappearance, including abduction, domestic violence, accidents, or disputes over guardianship. Mae Yao sub-district police disclosed that Kriangkrai was last spotted with…
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Phuket karaoke owner arrested for operating underage prostitution
Authorities in Phuket conducted a sting operation at a local karaoke establishment after uncovering evidence of minors being exploited for prostitution. A 13 year old was found among those being offered for sexual services. The operation, spearheaded by high-ranking police officials, led to the arrest of the 39 year old owner, who confessed to knowingly profiting from the illicit trade.…
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Workers get million-baht compensation for Rayong crane accident
Following a harrowing crane collapse tragedy in Rayong’s Pluak Daeng district where seven lives were lost, negotiations between workers and authorities have culminated in a million-baht compensation deal. The predominantly Myanmar workforce reluctantly reopened the site this morning only after the construction firm, under pressure, agreed to a compensation package amounting to 1.6 million baht for each fatality. The turmoil…
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Srettha inaugurates Thailand Tourism Festival 2024
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin inaugurated the 42nd Thailand Tourism Festival 2024 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. Joined by officials from the government and private sectors, including Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol and TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the event kicked off with grandeur. “Tourism is at the forefront of our nation’s socio-economic development. We’re leveraging our…
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Thailand and UK forge economic alliance
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston CBE, along with British Ambassador Mark Gooding, engaged in a diplomatic meeting to discuss economic collaboration between the UK and Thailand. The crux of Thursday’s discussions revolved around fortifying economic ties, amplifying trade relations, and fostering investment opportunities. This pivotal dialogue laid the groundwork for signing a Memorandum of…
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