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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Northeast Thailand: Woman fatally stabbed during Ngiew celebration in Khon Kaen
A shocking incident unfolded at a festive event in the Phon District of Khon Kaen when a woman was fatally stabbed by an unknown assailant. The incident occurred in the early hours of today, December 6, during the Ngiew celebration, a traditional festive event. The fatally stabbed woman suffered from severe injuries, succumbing to the wounds later in the hospital.…
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Thai village in chaos as wild elephant wreaks havoc
A wild elephant, known as Rod Tang, wreaked havoc in a village in Buriram province, damaging a house and sending the inhabitants into a state of fear. The incident occurred yesterday in Nong Samet village, Non Din Daeng district, resulting in significant property damage and leading to pleas for assistance from relevant authorities. The house, a single-storey concrete property numbered…
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Prime minister’s grand almsgiving spectacle in honour of late king
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and a star-studded entourage gathered for a regal religious ceremony in Bangkok. The grand affair, coinciding with National Father’s Day, paid homage to the revered late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. As dawn broke, the 61 year old Thai PM, accompanied by his wife and an illustrious assembly of Cabinet ministers, Privy Council members, and military commanders, graced Sanam…
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Golden Buddha statues draw crowds to Phayao’s Wat Phra That Chom Sin
The Wat Phra That Chom Sin in Ban Tham, Dok Khamtai district, Phayao province, now stands out with 108 golden meditating Buddha statues. These statues, each measuring 2.5 metres wide and 3.5 metres tall, are majestically arranged around the temple’s mountainous landscape, attracting a stream of tourists and worshippers. These statues, made from concrete, are a unique attraction in the…
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RTP safety play: Thai tourist police launch ‘i lert u’ app for foreign visitors
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has unveiled a new tool to ensure the safety and well-being of foreign visitors in Thailand. The Tourist Police Office has launched a new mobile application, dubbed Tourist Police i lert u. This innovation in public safety caters to tourists who find themselves in need of immediate assistance. Leveraging the power of the Global Positioning…
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High depreciation of EVs raises loan concerns says National Credit Bureau
The National Credit Bureau (NCB) raised concerns about the high depreciation rates of electric vehicles (EVs) and the associated loan risks. As the popularity of EVs, particularly Chinese brands, continues to rise, so does the volume of loans attributed to their purchase. However, EVs depreciate faster than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, which has heightened the risk for auto…
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Iranian boxer allegedly steals over 20 million baht assets from Burmese woman in Bangkok
A Burmese woman filed a complaint against an Iranian boxer accusing him of stealing more than 20 million baht from her condominium in Bangkok before fleeing Thailand. The victim’s brother accompanied his 25 year old younger sister, Nang Mwe Hlaing, to file the complaint at Phra Khanong Police Station yesterday, December 4. The brother revealed that the Iranian man, 21…
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Umphang Hospital appeals for unexpired medication donations amid supply shortage
A call for public assistance has been issued by Umphang Hospital, a state-run facility located in the border district of Tak’s northern province. As supplies dwindle, the hospital is appealing for donations of unexpired medication, previously prescribed for other illnesses. Dr Worawit Tantiwattanasap, the director of Umphang Hospital, shared the situation yesterday, December 5. According to him, the hospital is…
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Thailand’s revised GDP growth forecast met with caution due to global slowdown risks
Analysts expressed caution over the Bank of Thailand’s revised GDP growth forecast of 3.2 to 3.8% for the upcoming year, highlighting potential risks from an economic slowdown in China and the US. Doubts have also been raised about the efficacy of government stimulus to revive the economy. Nattaporn Triratanasirikul, the deputy managing director of Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research), deemed the…
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Roi Et: Pickup truck’s fatal crash was fatigue-induced
A fatal crash involving a pickup truck occurred yesterday on Route 202, in Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province, where a family was travelling back from a relative’s ordination ceremony. The 51 year old driver, Suriya, who was behind the wheel of the pickup truck, briefly fell asleep, which resulted in a fatal accident that claimed the life of his 72…
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Update: Thai woman offers free accommodation to bus crash victims
The devastating bus crash that claimed 14 lives in Thailand moved a local woman to offer free accommodation to the victims’ relatives. Thitinun Iamtua, also known as Nan, who hails from Huai Yang, was at the scene of the bus crash where she found a terrified young girl, Mali, who had been separated from her mother. Nan explained that when…
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Chaowalit Thongduang: Thailand asserts active extradition treaty with Indonesia
Thailand‘s Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) asserted yesterday, December 5, that the country has an active extradition treaty with Indonesia. This announcement arrived in light of an unverified report suggesting that notorious fugitive Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as Sia Paeng, might have escaped to the Southeast Asian country. Prayuth Phetkhun, the OAG spokesperson, clarified that the attorney-general possesses the authority…
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Cable car project causes concerns of potential overcrowding at Phu Kradueng
Concerns have been voiced by the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation over potential overcrowding at Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei, as a result of plans to revive a long-debated cable car project. The foundation, while assured that modern construction techniques can minimise environmental and wildlife disruption, is apprehensive about the park’s capacity to handle an influx of tourists. Ornyupa Sangkamarn, the…
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Fatal car accident ignites fire in Ratchaburi: Driver unidentified
A fatal incident claimed the life of a driver in Ratchaburi when his car collided with a bridge’s pier, igniting a fierce fire that could not be controlled in time. The horrifying event occurred around 2.40am today, on the Phetkasem inbound road in front of an industrial estate in Don Sai Subdistrict, Photharam District. The vehicle involved was an MG5…
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Thai prime minister: Army anti-drug efforts on Myanmar border
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed the army to intensify its efforts to curb illicit drug smuggling along the Myanmar frontier. The directive was issued yesterday, December 5, during a meeting with the army chief, General Songwit Noonpackdee. The prime minister specifically emphasised the importance of the military’s collaboration with the police in executing this task. PM Srettha also stressed the…
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Torrential rain warning issued for 29 Thai provinces: Bangkok included
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for torrential rain across 29 provinces, including Bangkok. This is due to a high-pressure system from China spreading over Thailand’s upper and northeastern regions. The southern region will bear the brunt of the storm, with a strong monsoon predicted. The officials have further revealed that temperatures in the upper regions of the…
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Rise in meningitis cases sparks health concerns in Thailand ahead of new year
Thailand has recorded nearly 100 cases of meningitis, also known as swine fever, this year, resulting in four fatalities in Nakhon Ratchasima. The disease, caused by a bacterium found in raw pork and blood, is raising concerns as festivities for the new year approaches. Dr Thaweechai Wisanuyotin, Director of the Disease Prevention and Control Office, revealed that between January 1…
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Drastic drop in Thai gold prices today following recent surge
Gold prices in Thailand have plummeted drastically today following a continuous surge, according to the Gold Traders Association. The price of gold ornaments fell by 250 baht compared to the last price yesterday, selling at 34,450 baht per baht-weight. The buying price of gold bars in the country stands at 33,850 baht per baht-weight and the selling price is 33,950…
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Young clinician’s tragic death raises questions on Thai air pollution
The problem of PM 2.5 Thai air pollution has been highlighted by the unfortunate case of 28 year old Kritthai Tansombatitkul, a clinician and statistician at the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, who passed away from late-stage lung cancer. Despite living a healthy lifestyle and not smoking, he was diagnosed with the disease at a young age, leading many…
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Certainties of life: Death, taxes, and ladyboys robbing Indian men of gold in Pattaya
There are several certainties guaranteed in life, death and taxes, US interference in other countries’ foreign policies, and ladyboys in Pattaya robbing Indian men ostentatiously flaunting their gold. In the vibrant streets of Pattaya, where the night unfolds with many unexpected tales, a recent incident involving a pickpocketing ladyboy added another chapter to ladyboys in Pattaya robbing Indian men of…
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Thai road safety groups challenge extended bar hours over drink-driving fears
Alcohol temperance and road safety groups are challenging the new government decision to allow late-night bars and clubs in major Thai cities to extend opening hours until 4am. The critics argue that the authorities failed to make necessary arrangements to avert potential alcohol-related mishaps. This protest follows an announcement made by the Interior Ministry nearly a week ago, permitting bars…
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Brave police officer thwarts attempted assault in broad daylight
A Bang Phli Noi Police Station officer, Yuttakorn Kao Kaeo, was heading to work on his motorcycle today when he spotted two teenagers signalling for help. The officer discovered a man, 38 year old Anek, attacking a 23 year old woman called A, in a nearby forest. Initially, the officer suspected a domestic dispute, but A, who was in a state…
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Easy e-receipt programme set to kick off next year in Thailand
A newly approved tax refund scheme, aimed at stimulating domestic spending and promoting the use of electronic invoices, is set to kick off early next year, the Finance Ministry confirmed on Monday. The so-called Easy E-Receipt programme allows individuals to claim a tax deduction of up to 50,000 baht on goods and services purchases from businesses backed by the e-tax…
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Kanchanaburi police hunt for murderer who taunts cops with Facebook riddle
Police in Kanchanaburi are racing against time to apprehend a brutal murderer who allegedly shot a transgender woman dead in an apparent robbery. The suspect, obviously a fan of serial killer movies, then audaciously taunted authorities and friends of the victim by using her stolen phone to post a chilling riddle on her Facebook account asking, “Do you know who…
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Major drug bust in Thailand seizes 2 tonnes of meth bound for Philippines and Australia
In a major drug bust, authorities last night apprehended 13 suspects and confiscated 2 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine from a large tugboat in Chachoengsao’s Bang Pakong district. The narcotics, believed to be headed for the Philippines and Australia, were discovered during a late-night search operation by marine and narcotics suppression police. As law enforcement officers arrived, several individuals attempted to…
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Wild elephant herd of 100 ‘tramples’ sugarcane dreams in Prachin Buri, sanctuary scrambles to restore order
Over 100 wild elephants caused chaos and distress to villagers in Khao Maikaew, Kabin Buri in Prachin Buri province after rampaging through a sugarcane plantation, forcing officials from the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary to push the elephants back. However, the limited number of staff, combined with the difficulty and danger of the task, has made the task challenging.…
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Amnesty angst: Deputy PM dishes on MFP’s controversial bill, lese majeste sparks political fireworks
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai reported that the proposed amnesty bill by the Move Forward Party (MFP), the main opposition, sparked controversy among various political parties due to its provision for lese majeste offences. Phumtham, also the Commerce Minister and a senior member of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, indicated that while many parties agree with the amnesty bill’s objectives,…
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Impending storm to hit 25 provinces in Thailand, TMD warns
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning today for heavy rainfall in 25 provinces, with a looming storm set to inundate the southern region. The sudden flash floods are expected to be followed by another cold weather spell from tomorrow, December 6 to Friday, December 8. The TMD’s 24-hour forecast indicates that a high-pressure system or cold air mass…
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Prominent Thai scientist faces backlash for threatening behaviour
A prominent figure in the world of science in Thailand came under fire for his threatening behaviour. The renowned Thai scientist Ajarn Pong Pang, however, denied any sexual misconduct, admitting to offensive language usage that caused the harm. The controversy began when a woman posted about an idol-level scientist’s threatening behaviour, both physically and mentally, affecting several individuals. Following this,…
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Thai Princess inspires naming of newly discovered trilobite species in Thailand (video)
In a groundbreaking revelation, British researchers have unearthed a captivating new species of trilobites in the coastal realms of Thailand, unravelling profound insights into Earth’s evolutionary tapestry and primordial geographic transformations. Trilobites, erstwhile denizens of the ancient seas distinguished by their distinctive half-moon-shaped craniums and the extraordinary ability to respire through their legs, walked the oceanic realms approximately 490 million…
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