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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National Park predator arrested for attempted rape of Lithuanian tourist
Police arrested an Erawan National Park employee in the central province of Kanchanaburi after he attacked a Lithuanian tourist and attempted to rape her on Wednesday, May 31. The Lithuanian victim, 27 year old Evilija Grabauskaitem, filed a complaint at Si Sawat Police Station at 4.40pm after the Thai man attacked and tried to sexually assault her near a garbage…
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Pitfall pursuit: Officer narrowly escapes injury while chasing wire thief in Pattaya
An officer from Pattaya City’s municipality experienced a close call while attempting to apprehend a wire thief in the early hours of the morning. The officer, Wittaya Sodavichit, fell into a five-meter-deep pit concealed by tall grass during the pursuit but fortunately did not sustain any injuries. The incident occurred at the Chaiyapruek Sports Stadium, where Wittaya was providing help…
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Body found in Thai canal with slashed throat: Locals report suspicious vehicles
A man’s body found in a canal with a slashed throat and bound legs has shocked locals in Thailand’s central Samut Sakhon province. The police are investigating the crime scene and suspect the involvement of three to four pickup trucks, which were detected speeding away from the area earlier that day. Authorities believe the victim was not from the area…
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Shock and pasture: Lightning claims eight cows, local Thais fear supernatural shockwave
A lightning strike in Kalasin province killed eight cows sparking concerns among local villagers that it may have been caused by supernatural forces. In response, District Chief Aekarat Misa warned of the dangers of lightning and shared information on safety measures during a recent meeting. Following the incident on Monday, May 29, residents speculated on the cause, saying that, apart from…
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Alzheimer’s-stricken driver saved by police, son hits brakes on car ownership (video)
Police rescued a 73 year old Thai man suffering from Alzheimer‘s disease after he drove his sedan for over 100 kilometres and got lost. His son now plans to sell the car to prevent his father from danger. Nithinan Sornsawat took to social media to search for his missing 73 year old father, Jong Sornsawat. The 43 year old explained…
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Fatal disregard: Kazakhstani tourist ignores red flag warnings, drowns at Phuket’s Kata Beach
A Kazakhstani tourist reportedly ignored red flags warning against swimming and as a consequence tragically drowned at Kata Beach in Phuket. Karon Police were alerted by a lifeguard at Kata Beach yesterday afternoon and discovered the body of the tourist, identified as 24 year old Artur Iskakov from Kazakhstan. Lifeguards informed the police that they had been notified of the…
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97 year old Thai grandmother abandoned on road by daughter, found soaking in rain
A 97 year old grandmother was abandoned in the middle of a road in the rain by her own daughter in Thailand‘s southern Ranong province. The elderly woman managed to crawl into the grassy area beside the road, where she was eventually found today by her distressed grandchildren. The road was in the middle of a residential area. Security camera…
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Taste the sequel: Sea Bear Episode Two Food Festival takes Pattaya by storm
The highly anticipated Sea Bear Episode Two Food Festival yesterday officially kicked off at Central Mall on Pattaya Beach, offering a delicious seven-day culinary experience for food lovers. Running every day until June 7, the event takes place from 4pm to 10pm and boasts over 100 food vendors, celebrity chefs, and social media influencers. Sea Bear, the festival’s namesake, is…
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Thai couple caught defrauding customers in online durian sale scam
Cyber police in Thailand have arrested a married couple for fraudulently selling durian, a famous fruit in the country, online. The couple, 36 year old Mr. Anon Maneephan and 23 year old Ms. Chiraphat Chaleowai, allegedly advertised durian for sale on social media, which many customers purchased by transferring funds for a deposit. However, they never received the fruits they…
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Phuket declared Thailand’s first rabies-free province by DDC
Phuket has been declared the first rabies-free province in Thailand by the Department of Disease Control (DDC). The announcement was made by Phuket Vice Governor Danai Sunantharod, who revealed that DDC Director General Tanet Kratsanaitawiwong praised the province’s successful efforts in preventing and controlling rabies in both animals and humans. This achievement comes after a steady decline in rabies-related deaths…
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Thai Man drowns in canal after getting entangled in fishing net
A tragic incident occurred when a 48 year old Thai man named Wichai drowned in a canal after getting entangled in a fishing net while collecting clams. The man suffered from poor health and typically would not undertake such tasks himself, but he had accepted a 200 baht order for clams. His lifeless body was spotted by a friend in…
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Driver survives 2-day lorry plunge ordeal by eating cabbage, rescued by cattle herder
A lorry transporting Chinese cabbages plunged 80 metres into a ravine in Chiang Mai, leaving the driver trapped for two days and two nights. Miraculously, he survived by eating the cabbages before a cattle herder found him yesterday. In a dramatic rescue operation, emergency responders arrived on the scene at Huay Phak Kut curve in Mae Suek sub-district of Chiang…
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Abused Thai elephant in Sri Lanka set to be rescued
The Department of National Parks of Thailand is preparing to bring home an elephant named Plai Sak Surin, one of the three Thai elephants living in Sri Lanka, using an Ilyushin IL-76 cargo plane, in early July. Thailand gave Plai Sak Surin, also known as Muthu Raja in Sri Lanka, to the Sri Lankan government also known as Muthu Raja…
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Chinese groom’s dowry delivery goes viral, armouring his love with 48 million baht
A Chinese groom caused a stir on social media after using an armoured pickup truck and a team of bodyguards to transport a dowry worth more than 48 million baht (US$1.4 million) to his bride’s family. The Chinese dowry included cash, gold, luxury watches, diamonds, and jewellery. The elaborate dowry presentation took place on Tuesday, May 30, in Taizhou, Zhejiang…
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Heartbreaking plea: Thai couple seeks urgent aid to save daughter from China nightmare
A distressed Thai couple residing in the Isaan province of Udon Thani made an urgent appeal to the Thai authorities, pleading for financial aid of 100,000 baht to rescue their daughter from a personal nightmare in China. The couple, identified as 52 year-old Man Duangnate and 55 year old Manee Duangnate, shared their heart-wrenching story with ThaiRath, unveiling the nightmarish…
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MFP aims to break Thailand’s alcohol monopoly
Hopes are high among small breweries and local distilleries in Thailand as the Move Forward Party (MFP) seeks to liberalise the alcohol industry. The current heavily monopolised industry has made it challenging for small businesses to thrive due to strict laws and regulations controlling production and retailing. Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, the MFP MP in Bangkok’s Constituency 22 and a leading liquor…
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Mysterious death: Thai man found lifeless in auctioned building triggers Rayong investigation
Rayong police have launched an investigation into the mysterious death of an unemployed Thai man, whose lifeless body was discovered yesterday in an auctioned commercial building. Authorities are exploring various potential causes of death, including pre-existing health conditions or the possibility of intentional suicide. Police became aware that the new owner of the building had repeatedly requested the 52 year…
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Thai fisherman slips into river: Rescuers face 4-hour search in strong currents
A 27 year old Myanmar fisherman tragically drowned in the Mae Klong River after he slipped while walking on a wet dock in Thailand’s central Samut Songkhram province. Despite challenging conditions, rescue teams found the body after an extensive four-hour search. Yesterday at 3pm, friends of the lost fisherman conducted a floating pillow ceremony, a ceremony that locals believed would…
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Bangkok considers Japanese central kitchen system for school lunches
Is there a solution to improve the quality of Thai schools’ cafeteria food? The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is exploring the possibility of implementing a central kitchen system, similar to the one used in Japan, to enhance the quality of school lunches in Thailand. The central kitchen concept was introduced by Nobuko Tanaka, a former Japanese school lunch specialist, during…
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Royal streak: Thai man arrested for naked motorcycle ride and nude hotel stroll
Police arrested a Thai man after he rode his motorcycle naked and strolled majestically around a hotel in the buff in Chacheongsao province near Bangkok. Prompted by a notification, officers from Bang Pakong Police Station swiftly responded to the Blue Diamond Hotel in the Bang Pakong district of Chachoengsao province at 8am yesterday. The report indicated that a 31 year…
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Rooting for innovation: Thai researchers unveil PRK, the tooth-ally awesome breakthrough
In a significant advancement for dental healthcare in Thailand, local researchers successfully developed an artificial tooth root named PRK, which stands for Phraramkao in Thai or Rama IX in English. This innovation is expected to make dental implant services more accessible to the public by reducing the cost of implants by a factor of ten compared to similar quality imported…
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Heavy rainfall warning: 33 provinces hit, 70% of South Thailand to be impacted
Heavy rainfall is expected in 33 provinces across Thailand, with the southern region facing a high risk of flash floods and landslides. The Thai Meteorological Department urges citizens to remain vigilant to sudden flooding from June 2 as 70% of the area is expected to experience torrential downpours. The department has issued a 24-hour weather forecast warning of thunderstorms and…
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Chinatown crackdown: 48 partying Chinese nabbed in Bangkok massage parlour drug bust
Forty-eight Chinese nationals were arrested by Children and Women Protection Sub-Division and Narcotics Control Board officers during a drug-fuelled party at a massage parlour on New Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok early this morning. The Superintendent of the Children and Women Protection Sub-Division, Theerasak Chantarapipat, shared the arrest details with ThaiRath. Theerasak disclosed that a tip-off had been received by the…
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Airport Rail Link suffers 70 million baht monthly loss amid 25% commuter drop
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) reports that the Airport Rail Link (ARL) service has been losing 70 million baht per month, as it continues to carry fewer passengers than before the pandemic in 2019. To address long-standing operational issues, the SRT chose to involve a private company, Asia Era One, in managing rail operations during the pandemic. An agreement…
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Grab taxi driver threatens to harm former Thai singer
A former Thai singer took to social media to reveal that a Grab taxi driver, claiming to be a soldier, threatened to physically harm her. The singer, Jamila “Mila’ Panpinij, demanded that Grab takes responsibility for the incident and pay for treatment costs associated with her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which was triggered by the incident. On Wednesday, May 31,…
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Elderly woman killed during robbery, daughter with disability witnesses horror
An elderly woman was murdered during a robbery at her grocery store in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. The 74 year old victim was strangled by the intruders using her own clothing in front of her 43 year-old disabled daughter. The suspects fled, taking two mobile phones with them. In a shocking incident on June 1, the woman was brutally murdered…
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Illegal truck bribe stickers prompt Thai police chief to launch investigation
The existence of covert stickers indicating that trucks operating illegally on Thailand’s roads have paid bribes to police and other officials to avoid arrest has been confirmed by national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas. This revelation comes after the issue was raised by Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a Move Forward Party list MP-elect. As a result, Pol Maj Gen Ekkaraj Limsangkat,…
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Roadblock frustration: Chiang Mai woman’s year-long struggle to register and insure EV
A Chiang Mai woman revealed her distress after buying an electric vehicle (EV) only to find herself unable to register it with the transport authorities and get insurance for over a year. The woman claims that numerous others face the same issue. A Facebook user named “Sipim Manassawat,” a young woman living in Chiang Mai province shared her harrowing experience…
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School defends haircuts policy after social media uproar in Thailand (video)
A Thai school has explained a controversial video showing teachers giving male students haircuts during a boy scout uniform inspection. The school in the northern Phayao province detailed the measures taken and defended the hair-cutting policy following fierce online criticism. The video clip from a school in Phayao stirred up controversy on social media as it portrayed teachers cutting male…
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Scam alert: Thai men charged for deceiving foreigners with false promises to resolve criminal charges
Police charged two Thai men for allegedly deceiving foreigners in Thailand by promising to resolve their criminal charges in exchange for cash. The suspects denied the accusations, arguing that they intended to assist the foreigners. The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Torsak Sukvimol, received a tip off that two Thai men claimed to have connections with him…
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