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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Thai man’s high-speed driving ends with minor injuries (video)
A 21 year old Thai man yesterday thanked his lucky stars after only sustaining minor injuries when driving his car at a high speed, crashing into two vehicles in front of him, before falling off a bridge onto Rama V Intersection in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The accident occurred on the bridge over Nakhon-in Road and Rama V Intersection at around…
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Finance Ministry to reassess stock holdings worth 1.19 trillion baht
The Finance Ministry plans to reassess its shareholdings in various stocks to optimise its asset portfolio and generate additional revenue for the state. Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul instructed the State Enterprise Policy Office to evaluate the ministry’s stock holdings. According to sources, this review aims to identify which assets the government should retain and which could be sold. A…
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Monitor lizard sparks electricity office chaos in Thailand
A large monitor lizard caused quite a stir when it wandered into the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) office in Sara Buri, Thailand. The unexpected visitor prompted a call for assistance from rescue volunteers to safely capture and relocate the creature. This morning, security officers at the PEA office in Sara Buri’s Pak Phriao sub-district reported spotting the sizeable reptile, weighing…
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Finance minister orchestrates with BoT for fiscal symphony
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira is adopting a more cooperative stance towards the Bank of Thailand (BoT) compared to the Thai prime minister, aiming to align fiscal and monetary policies more effectively. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been advocating for interest rate cuts to stimulate the economy. Pichai, however, has shifted the focus towards enhancing public access to finance, expressing his concerns…
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Thai mobile banking sim names & accounts must match or else
Starting tomorrow, individuals using mobile banking in Thailand must ensure that the name registered on their mobile SIM card matches the name on their bank account. Failure to comply will result in the suspension of their mobile banking services. Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society announced a new measure aimed at curbing fraudulent bank accounts and SIM cards, commonly…
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Bus accident tragically kills elderly man on Chaeng Watthana Road
A tragic bus accident occurred yesterday when a 72 year old man lost his life after slipping and being run over by a bus at a bus stop near Chaeng Watthana Road, Pak Kret, Nontha Buri. The elderly man, who had been a familiar figure in the area for over a decade, was known for begging to support his family.…
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Brands accused of rainbow washing during Pride Month
Throughout June, rainbow flags adorn many city streets globally in celebration of Pride Month, symbolising the ongoing struggle for civil rights and the pursuit of equality for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Brands and companies often show their support by incorporating rainbows into their logos or changing their profile pictures to feature rainbow graphics during this time. However, when June ends, these displays…
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Russian man critical after assault at Chon Buri pool villa party
A 36 year old Russian man is in critical condition after being assaulted at a pool villa party in Chon Buri yesterday. The incident occurred early at a villa in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung. The suspect fled amid the chaos following the attack. Deputy Inspector at Pattaya City Police Station, Pansan Krongsith led the team to the scene after responding…
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Belgian man arrested for murder of fellow countryman in Isaan
Police in the Isaan province of Nakhon Panom arrested a Belgian man for the murder of a fellow countryman on Saturday, May 25, as the murderer was destroying evidence of the crime. Officers from the Investigation Division Provincial Police Region 4 were on duty at a checkpoint on No. 212 Road in the Ban Paeng district of Nakhon Panom and noticed the…
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Police probe suspected arson in warehouse chemical fires
A police panel has been established to investigate possible arson in the fires at chemical warehouses in Rayong and Ayutthaya earlier this year. Police Lieutenant General Archayon Kraithong, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police (RTP), announced yesterday, May 26, that he had convened with police investigators from local stations, the Industrial Works Department, the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression…
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Pattaya’s Nong Nooch Garden trumpets arrival of elephant calf
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya recently celebrated the arrival of a new elephant calf to its sanctuary. On Saturday, the garden’s president, Kampol Tansajja, and his team invited Phra Khru Kasem Kittisophon, Abbot of Wat Samakkhibanpot, to lead a welcoming ceremony for the newborn. The calf, named Pang Sapparot which translates to pineapples in English, was born to the…
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Thailand PM calls urgent meeting with economy ministers
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin called for an urgent meeting with economy ministers to discuss short-term economic stimulus measures to address Thailand’s sluggish economic performance in the first quarter of 2024. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reported that Thailand’s economy grew by only 1.5% year-on-year for the first three months of 2024. This lacklustre growth has prompted…
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PM tunes up tourism: Bangkok’s Song Wat set to hit high notes
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to enhance the promotion of Song Wat, one of Bangkok’s most historic trading areas, as a prime tourism destination. Following a walk along Song Wat Road and discussions with young entrepreneurs yesterday, the Thai premier expressed on his X account, formerly Twitter, that…
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Foreign nationals arrested after bike rampage on Koh Samui (video)
Chaos erupted on the usually serene holiday island of Koh Samui when two foreign nationals turned the tranquil road leading to Choengmon Beach into their personal racetrack. Equipped with roaring big bikes and an audacious attitude, their disruptive antics soon drew the ire of locals. Residents, living in the northeast corner of the island, initially made a complaint to the…
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Phuket: Belgian expat’s secret stash of illegal pawn busted
Phuket unveiled a clandestine operation hidden within the opulent residence of a Belgian national. Motorcycles, an array of national IDs, and a single mobile phone were found in the expat’s possession. Police Lieutenant Colonel Thepnom Suwannarat, Superintendent of Investigation Division 3, Provincial Police Region 8, bore fruit as he apprehended a 63 year old Belgian, known only as Philippe. His…
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Sri Racha residents in uproar as drainage construction poses risk
Residents and business owners lining Sukhumvit Road in Bang Phra Subdistrict of Sri Racha are in uproar, demanding immediate action to resolve a debacle at the Bang Phra-Klong Sukreeb junction. The construction of a drainage system on Highway No. 3 has hit a standstill, plunging the area into chaos and risking the safety of locals, especially schoolchildren. For nearly a…
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Phuket’s tourism boom: Is the island ready for the rush?
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is confident that tourism revenue in Phuket this year will skyrocket to a staggering 400 billion baht. In a surprising revelation, the provincial TAT office reported that more than 3.6 million tourists graced the resort island in the first quarter alone. Lerdchai Wangtrakoondee, director of the provincial TAT office, announced yesterday that tourist numbers…
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Bangkok braces for Srettha’s inspection blitz
In a highly anticipated tour, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin inspected two pivotal development projects in Bangkok yesterday, May 25. The premier’s whirlwind visit kicked off at 2pm at the PTT Park construction site in the Lak Si district. He scrutinised the Kamphaeng Phet 6 Land Development Project, received a comprehensive briefing and conducted a meticulous on-site examination. The focus was…
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Experts’ warning: Miraculous healers or devious scammers?
Buddhist leaders, scholars, and mental health experts warn against the increase in religious scams where fraudsters claim they have spiritual powers, heal illnesses, and deceive unsuspecting followers. The man and woman duo from Udon Thani claim they can cure illnesses using a celestial frequency, their throats producing a rhonchi-like sound as a signal from five Lord Buddhas. In Surat Thani,…
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John Wick’s Thai adventure: Doppelgänger goes viral (video)
A man who bears an uncanny resemblance to Keanu Reeves’ John Wick has become a sensation among Thai social media users, thanks to a series of viral TikTok videos that show him engaging in everyday activities, far removed from his Hollywood hitman persona. Overnight, mainstream and online Thai media buzzed with reports of the mysterious lookalike, captured in videos posted…
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Vice mayor gunned down in ambush on Pattani highway
In a brazen attack on the Phet Kasem Road, the vice mayor of a Tambon Administrative Organisation (TAO) in Khok Pho district, Pattani province, was brutally murdered by suspected insurgents on Friday evening. Witnesses reported that 57 year old Nan Kongsomboon was ambushed by two men on a motorcycle as he was returning home after tending to his cattle. The…
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Over 200 busted in drug-fuelled Pattaya pub
Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaised spearheaded a surprise raid on an illicit pub in Pattaya, exposing a drug scandal. The clandestine operation targeted a notorious establishment in Soi Kor Pai Pattaya, Banglamung district, following a barrage of complaints from neighbours about deafening noise, all-night parties, and rampant drug use among its youthful patrons. Upon the officials’ arrival, the scene inside…
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Thaksin voices support for Srettha amid court case
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra voiced his unwavering support for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin amidst a Constitutional Court case that threatens to unseat him. “I want the prime minister to stay in office as long as possible.” Thaksin praised the Bangkok-born Srettha’s performance since taking office last August. In a rare interview with Thai media, the ex-PM dismissed concerns that…
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Thailand to launch cyber-command unit for digital defence
Thailand is poised to bolster its cyber warfare capabilities with the establishment of a dedicated cyber-command unit by October. This initiative, revealed by Jirayu Huangsap, spokesman for Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang, aims to strengthen the country’s defence against emerging digital threats. General Songwit Noonphakdi, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF), has been tasked with creating the unit following…
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North Thailand: Man pleads with estranged wife who left with monk
A Uthai Thani man is pleading for his estranged wife to return after she allegedly left with a monk. The Thai man, 61 year old Sanan, made a tearful appeal through the media, urging his 53 year old wife, Nanthawan to come back to their home in Nong Chang district. Sanan expressed his willingness to forgive her relationship with the…
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High-speed rail link between three airports to start this year
The high-speed rail project connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports is set to kick off later this year following a revised agreement between the state and project developers. Anan Phonimdang, Deputy Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), confirmed that the SRT’s board has acknowledged the agreement. The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee and the Cabinet will…
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Urgent reforms needed to tackle Thailand’s education inequality
Urgent action is needed to tackle education inequality and restore hope among Thailand’s younger generation, according to former prime minister Anand Panyarachun. Speaking at The Scenario of Thai Society Future seminar, organised by the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Anand addressed the pressing need for reforms. The seminar marked the 50th anniversary…
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Staycation and Sleep Tourism: The new travel trend
Two new tourism trends, staycation and Sleep Tourism, are taking the travel world by storm, according to an online travel platform. Staycation involves short trips to nearby provinces, with an emphasis on enjoying the hotel’s amenities like swimming pools, cycling, and spa treatments. Sleep Tourism, on the other hand, is all about travelling to unwind and recharge, prioritising sleep and…
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Thousands rally to greet Thaksin in Korat homecoming
The red shirts are rolling out the red carpet for Thaksin Shinawatra, as the paroled former prime minister prepares for his first visit to the northeastern province in almost two decades today. Kowit Khorhenklang, a fervent supporter of Thaksin, anticipates a crowd of 3,000 to join him at Wat Sangkha Chinaram in Sida district this afternoon. Thaksin will attend the…
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Chinese fugitive running luxury scams in Thailand arrested
Thai immigration authorities nabbed a Chinese fugitive running an illicit tour operation in Bangkok. Following a tip-off about an Asian man suspected of working and residing illegally in Thailand, officers launched an in-depth investigation. Duan, a 42 year old Chinese fugitive residing in a posh condominium in the Ramkhamhaeng district was apprehended. Duan was already on the radar in China…
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