News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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Sponsored See the best of Northern Thailand this winter on a budget
The Thaiger key takeaways Peak season brings higher prices, but smart planning and local know-how can help you experience Northern Thailand affordably. Chiang Mai, Pai, and Chiang Rai offer plenty of free or low-cost attractions, from temples and canyons to...
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2,810 MP candidates line up for March 24 election
107 candidates, for positions as Members of Parliament, and two prime ministerial candidates have been disqualified from running in the March Thai general election. Of the 2,917 party-list registered candidates, from 77 political parties, 2,810 candidates and 68 prime ministerial candidates from 44 parties have qualified after being checked by the Election Commission. While the EC didn’t disclose the names…
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Police to target motorbike rental shops when renters are unlicensed
Police are targeting the rental operators of motorbikes when unlicensed foreigners have motorbike accidents. Police today say they are questioning the renters of the bike involved in Sunday night’s crash on Patong Hill between a pickup truck driven by 47 year old Thavorn Glasueak and a motorbike carrying two Russians, a 29 and 31 year old. This incident happened at the…
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Voters like Prayut as PM but prefer Pheu Thai as the party they will vote for
With the election campaign now digging into its first week on the hustings, the polls are starting to indicate where the early poll sentiments are leaning. Thai PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is the favourite for the prime minster’s position following the election, but Pheu Thai is the party people want to see lead the formation of the new government, according…
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Another 522 law breaking foreigners rounded up in crackdown
Round ’em up. Ship ’em out. The “X-Ray Outlaw Foreigners” crackdown to rid Thailand of over-stayers and illegal workers continues with more than 500 arrested in the past week. The Immigration Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj-General Itthipol Itthisarnronnachai announced yesterday that a total of 522 people had been arrested at 220 different locations. Of these, 287 were charged with having…
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Airbus signals end to A380 production, end of an era
Emirates Airlines says it’s reducing its Airbus A380 orders from 162 to 123 aircraft. They say this follows a review of its operations and developments in aircraft and engine technologies. The A380 is the double-decker mega aircraft that was developed as a new-age rival to the successful Boeing 747 ‘Jumbo’ jet. Whilst popular for passengers with its spacious size and…
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19 injured after bus crashes into Sa Kaeo property
PHOTOS: สวยพันธุ์ไม้ ท้ายบ้าน / อาสาสมัครมูลนิธิร่วมกตัญญูจังหวัดสระแก้ว จุดวัฒนานคร 19 people have been injured after a bus plunged into a local house today. FM 91 BKK reports that the accident happened at 8.10am this morning near Wattana Nakhon District Office in Sa Kaeo, on the Cambodian border, east of Bangkok. At the scene police found 19 people injured as a result of the…
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UPDATE: Kalasin shooting. Husband dies after shooting.
A Kalasin private school executive, shot in the head after a Valentine’s Day fight with his wife, has died in hospital as a result of his injuries. The death of 45 year old Ratthasart Panichpongsapak has prompted police to file a murder charge against the man’s 44 year old wife Mayura Panichpongsapak. Mayura was initially charged with attempted murder and…
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Husband shot after wife questions “mystery” phone call
A man in Kalasin was seriously wounded with a gunshot to the head early this morning. Kalisan is in the north-east of Thailand. Daily News reports that the man’s wife says she was ‘furious’ after her husband refused to explain a mystery phone call during a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. Somdej police arrived at the two storey house after the local Asoke…
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Missing Chiang Rai mother found safe in Kunming after 8 months
A missing 59 year old Thai woman, reportedly suffering from Alzheimers, has been found in Kunming, China’s Yunnan province, about 700 kilometres from her home in Thailand. She was reported missing from the northern province of Chiang Rai eight months ago. Kunming police found the woman, Kaewmanee Arjor, walking alone on a highway and alerted Thai officials in the Chinese…
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Motorbike driver dies after his head crushed in Udon Thani, truck driver flees
A motorbike driver has died after his head was crushed by a truck and trailer yesterday. The trailer diver fled the scene in Udon Thani. The accident occurred in Kudjab Road in Mueang Udon Thani, North East of Thailand. Police and emergency responders arrived to find the body of Thai man, later identified as 39 years old Sutin Ngonchalee. Nearby…
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Thai-Indian Funfair in Bangkok tomorrow
The fifth Thai-Indian Funfair returns to Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok tomorrow (Saturday) to strengthen cultural relations between both countries. The fair arrives at a time when Indian tourist arrivals are on an upswing with new direct flights into Bangkok and Phuket providing new routes and cheaper fares. This annual popular event, held from 3pm to 9pm, is jointly organised by…
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Cobra Gold troops drink blood from decapitated cobras in annual jungle ceremony
Thailand and US military forces have joined in the opening ceremony for the annual Cobra Gold military exercise. Cobra Gold is the largest biggest military exercise of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region with 29 nations taking part as participants or observers. The military activities will run until February 22, including disaster relief training, military field training and humanitarian assistance…
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Man injured, chicken dead after explosion of oil tank in Krabi
A man has been injured at an exhausted pipes shop in the main town of Krabi. Police and rescue workers arrived to find an incinerated 200 litre gasoline tank in front of the shop. Nearby they found a dead chicken and 42 year old Chockchai Theptawee who had sustained injuries including burns on his legs and face. He was taken…
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Weather for February 15
Bangkok Partly cloudy. High 32ºC. Winds S at 15 to 25 km/h. Phuket Generally clear. High 32ºC. Winds ESE at 15 to 30 km/h. Chiang Mai Partly cloudy. High 35ºC. Winds SSE and variable . Pattaya Partly cloudy. High 31ºC. Winds S at 15 to 25 km/h. Hua Hin Generally clear. High 31ºC. Winds SSE at 15 to 30 km/h.…
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Bangkok bust seizes 180,000 fake cosmetics products
by Supachai Phetchthewee Police say they seized 180,000 fake cosmetic products with a street value approx. 300 million baht last night from five locations in Bangkok. They’ve also arrested two suspects for trying to sell the goods. Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn, along with secretary general of the Food and Drug Administration Dr Thares Krassanai-Rawiwong, conducted a search…
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Leaked document shows the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry planned to delay pesticide ban
The Hazardous Substance Committee may fail to reach a decision on whether to ban paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos, said Apichin Jotikashira, Industry Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary. Apichin, who is a committee member, told environmental activists and those who claim they have been affected by agrochemicals today, that if new information about the impact of banning the herbicides and pesticides was…
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Up up and away – getting married aloft in Chiang Rai
PHOTOS: The Nation Twenty couples, Thais and foreign, have taken their vows and married aloft hot-air balloons over Chiang Rai today. Among the lovebirds were actor Danai Jarujinda and his fiance Phraewwanich Kijthawornsawat, who decided to tie the knot after 11 years together. “Balloon Love” is held at Singha Park Chiang Rai Balloon Fiesta, which runs from February 13-17. The…
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Couples get hitched in Phuket on Valentines Day
Many Thai and foreign couples have registered marriage certificates today, Valentines Day, at the Phuket District Office. The Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung has present at the office where about 35 couples registered for marriage certificates when the doors opened at 10am. A Thai couple was first, followed by a foreign couple. But the Office predicts there will be at…
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Officials make arrests at three Pattaya hotels operating without licences
PHOTOS: Sophon Cable TV Bang Lamung officials, along with protection services and the Pattaya tourist police, have raided four hotels in the Pattaya area. Sophon Cable TV reports that three establishments were found to be offering daily rental without licences. Officials say they want to be able to check guests and the possibility that illegal migrants or foreign criminals were…
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Four rangers escape unharmed after insurgents’ attack in Narathiwat
MAP: Narathiwat’s Ra Ngae district Four rangers have escaped unhurt after southern insurgents detonated a roadside bomb in an attack in Narathiwat’s Ra Ngae district this morning. Police say the attack happened at 8.10am on a main road in Ban Pa Phai village in Tambon Tanyong. The bomb damaged a makeshift shelter for vendors to buy rubber latex from local…
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Chinese tourist rescued after a diving incident at Koh Racha
PHOTOS: Go-Eco Phuket A male Chinese tourist is currently in a satisfactory condition in hospital after a diving accident off Koh Racha Yai, south west of Phuket, yesterday. Go-Eco Phuket, a local conversational group, reported that they were notified of the incident at about noon. “The male Chinese tourist bought a diving course from a diving operator on the island.…
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Kamala’s Twinpalms Montazure poised to welcome guests in July
Set on the golden sands of Kamala Beach, Twinpalms MontAzure will welcome its first guests in July this year. Already a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the boutique beach hotel offers beautifully appointed Suites, Penthouses and Private Pool Suites. Suites range in size from 70m2 to Penthouses with private pools and sea views boasting large living spaces…
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One Malaysian dead and another injured after big-bike crash in Suphan Buri
A 50 year old Malaysian female tourist has died, and her friend injured, after their high-performance BMW motorcycle crashed in Suphan Buri’s Muang district yesterday afternoon. The two were part of a 20 motorbike convoy, riding from Malaysia with the goal of reaching Tak province in Thailand’s north-west. The fatal crash took place at 1.30pm on Malaiman Road in Tambon…
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Constitutional Court meets today to rule on future of Thai Raksa Chart
PHOTO: Thai Raksa Chart party leader Preechaphol Pongpanit awaits the decision of the Constitutional Court today whether to proceed with the case to disband the party The Constitutional Court is meeting today to decide whether or not to consider the request of the Election Commission to have the Thai Raksa Chart Party dissolved for breaching the political parties act. The…
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Romance scammers now face extended jail time – Surachate
Commenting on the recent case of a ‘romance scam’ gang of Nigerians and Thais operating out of Malaysia, Immigration Chief Surachate Hakparn says those responsible would be charged with fraud committed against the Thai public, a charge that cannot be withdrawn by the payment of money. Read the story of their arrest HERE. Surachate told Thai media yesterday how a…
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Valentine’s roses leap in price this year
Roses are red Violets are blue A red rose used to cost 15 baht Now it’s 52! The price of roses has spiked to almost double from that of the past two years. The popular Valentine’s gift was retailing for up to 70 baht each, a substantial increase from last year’s 50 baht average around Bangkok. In Bangkok, flower vendors…
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Weather for February 14
Bangkok Generally clear. High 33ºC. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket Generally clear. High 32ºC. Winds E at 15 to 30 km/h. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 36ºC. Winds SE and variable. Pattaya Generally clear. High 31ºC. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 km/h. Hua Hin Generally clear. High 32ºC. Winds SSE at 15 to 30 km/h.…
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Krabi Tourist Police warn of shoplifting gangs in Ao Nang
The Krabi Tourist Police are warning of ‘tourist shoplifting gangs’ after they have received reports that several tourists and shops had items stolen around Ao Nang. Video clips of tourists stealing a bikini at a shop in Ao Nang went viral in social media this week. 34 year old Netdao Wiwatrassamee, who posted the video clip, says, “I have already…
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Co-working space – not just for start-ups
PHOTO: HUBBA-TO co-working space in Bangkok by Thanchanok Phobut | Senior Coordinator, CBRE Thailand CBRE, an international property consultancy company, reveals that co-working space seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue these days. There was a time when no-one knew what the term “serviced office” meant or why someone would want such an option. But today, you can’t…
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One dead, one injured in Narathiwat garage shooting
A gunman has opened fire at a Malaysian garage owner in Narathiwat’s Sungai Golok district last night, killing him and severely injuring a Malaysian employee. 54 year old Sulaimi bin Mat Ali died at the Sungai Golok Hospital after the 8:30pm shooting at his car workshop on Soi Pracha Ruamjai off Pracha Uthit 2 Road in Ban Sarayor village in…
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