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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Rain pain: Phayao floods spark chaos as rivers overflow
Heavy overnight rain on Tuesday triggered widespread flooding across Phayao province, leaving multiple districts inundated, roads impassable, and farmlands underwater. The hardest-hit area, Chiang Kham district, has seen severe disruption, with floodwaters engulfing streets near Phayao Hospital. Emergency crews rushed to deploy sandbags and tarpaulins around hospital buildings to hold back the advancing water. Small vehicles struggled through the submerged…
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Thai hotels face crisis as Chinese tourists drop by 41.94%
The Thai hotel industry is facing its toughest period, with a significant drop in tourist numbers. Chinese tourists alone decreased by 41.94% in June. The Thai Hotels Association is urging the government to enhance the country’s image, enforce safety measures, and tackle overcharging of foreign tourists. Tianprasert Chaipattaranan, President of the Thai Hotels Association, yesterday, July 23, expressed concern over…
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Cambodian army shells Thai border, kills 12 in brutal assault
Cambodian forces opened fire on Thai territory, killing up to 12 civilians and wounding over a dozen in a brazen attack condemned by the Royal Thai Army (RTA). The violent clash began early this morning, July 24, near the ancient Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple in Surin province, where Cambodian troops reportedly shelled a Thai military base. But the violence…
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Tweet deal: Thailand considers delisting bulbul bird to boost green gains
The government has highlighted the perceived advantages of removing the red-whiskered bulbul, or nok krong hua juk, from the list of protected wildlife species to bolster both conservation efforts and economic growth, according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on. A working group established by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is tasked with examining…
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Bangkok police raid warehouse seizing 7,000 illegal e-cigarettes
Police in Bangkok raided a warehouse storing illegal e-cigarettes allegedly intended for sale to minors. The operation resulted in the seizure of 7,000 units valued at over 3 million baht, with the arrest of 29 year old Chayut. Police yesterday, July 23, received intelligence that the rented property, located in the Nong Bon subdistrict of Prawet district, was being used to…
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King Power closes outlets amid cost-cutting drive
Thailand’s duty-free giant King Power is closing three of its downtown branches in a sweeping cost-cutting move that includes a voluntary redundancy programme for staff across the company. The Srivaree, Pattaya, and Mahanakhon locations—once magnets for big-spending tour groups—will cease operations in September. The closures come as the retailer overhauls its business model amid sluggish post-pandemic sales and shifting consumer…
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Thai national caught smuggling 3 tonnes of clams from Myanmar
Thai military forces apprehended a Thai national for allegedly smuggling 3 tonnes of clams from Myanmar into Thailand via the Kra Buri River, causing significant tax losses for the country. The arrest occurred during a border patrol operation in Ranong province. Colonel Apichai Rueangrit, commanding officer of Task Force Infantry Regiment 25, confirmed receiving intelligence from the 2521st Infantry Company,…
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Thailand blasts Cambodia for deadly border shelling
Thailand issued a scathing rebuke of Cambodia, calling on the international community to condemn what it describes as a “war-thirsty” and “inhumane” act of aggression following a series of deadly artillery strikes near the Thai-Cambodian border. At a press conference held at Government House at 12.30pm today, July 24, Government Spokesperson Jirayu Huangsap confirmed that Cambodia had fired first, using…
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Pattaya expats rattled by driving licence clampdown
A new rule quietly rolled out by Land Transportation offices in Bang Lamung (Pattaya) and Rayong has triggered widespread confusion and anxiety among the foreign community. As of July 17, foreigners holding visas valid for less than one year will only be granted two-year driving licences—whether applying for the first time or renewing. The rule, which is not yet a…
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Up in smoke: Vape vendor’s online hustle snuffed out in Thailand
Police arrested an online seller of e-cigarettes and vape liquids at her residence, seizing over 1,000 items. The suspect admitted today, July 24, to selling products to up to 10 customers daily, earning around 4,000 baht per day. She was taken to Din Daeng Police Station for formal charges. Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau,…
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Agriculture minister visits flood-hit Nan and Sukhothai provinces
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Atthakorn Sirilattayakorn will visit Nan and Sukhothai provinces tomorrow and Saturday to assess the flood situation following the impact of Tropical Storm Wipha. The minister emphasised the importance of supporting affected farmers and ensuring they are not left to face the disaster alone. Today, July 24, Atthakorn stated that Tropical Storm Wipha had caused heavy rainfall,…
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Caught red-handed: Copper crook’s Phuket crime spree ends
A 25 year old man has been apprehended in connection with a series of copper wire thefts that have disrupted Phuket Town over the past two months. The repeated incidents have caused significant inconvenience and frustration among the public. Officers from the Phuket City Police apprehended Pipatson “Nok” Thongwicha at a rental room on Surin Road in Phuket Town around 4pm…
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Thai mother rejects suicide ruling in son’s mysterious death
A Thai mother is calling for a deeper investigation into the mysterious death of her son, whose body was discovered by the roadside forest in the eastern province of Rayong on July 19. A local motorist came across an abandoned motorcycle with a storage compartment and numerous parcels along Pluak Daeng–Nong Yai Road in Pluak Daeng district, Rayong. The tyres…
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Ratchaburi shooting: 73 year old man found dead at home
In Ratchaburi, a 73 year old man named Prasan Numthuek was found dead in his home, with gunshot wounds suggestive of a close-range attack. Police investigations are focusing on personal and familial conflicts, with efforts underway to locate the assailant. Today, July 24, Police Major Surachai Boonin of Baan Pong Police Station in Ratchaburi province was notified of a fatal…
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Thailand to sell water monitor lizards for breeding at 500 baht each
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) in Thailand plans to sell water monitor lizards as breeding stock, highlighting their attractive skin patterns. Business interest has surged, particularly from international markets, positioning these creatures as a new economic asset for locals to breed and sell. During a meeting on July 2, the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Committee…
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Mayor tackles illegal waste dumping by Chinese firm in Chon Buri
In Chon Buri, the mayor of the Nong Chak subdistrict is taking firm action against a Chinese company caught illegally dumping waste in a prohibited area. The waste was returned to the factory’s entrance, and legal proceedings are underway. Today, July 24, Doctor Chawinkraiwit Singthotong, Mayor of Nong Chak subdistrict municipality, inspected a large amount of waste after reports indicated…
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Deadly clash erupts between Thailand and Cambodia (video)
A cross-border clash between Thailand and Cambodia erupted near the Phra Viharn mountain area in Kantharalak district, Sisaket province, today, July 24. The confrontation, which began at 9am, resulted in a tragic loss of two lives and several injuries as artillery fire struck a PTT petrol station. The exchange of gunfire lasted over two hours, with various weapons discharged continuously.…
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Smile high club! Thailand ranked world’s No.3 for fun and frolics
Thailand’s not just the Land of Smiles, it’s now officially one of the most fun places on the planet, with Gen Z leading the charge from temples to techno. Thailand has landed a top-three spot in the global fun league, coming in third in the US News & World Report’s 2024 rankings, and it’s not just about full moon parties…
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Paetongtarn faces sedition heat over leaked call scandal
An explosive investigation into suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been escalated to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), following allegations of sedition linked to a leaked phone conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. According to a source within the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), a team led by CIB Deputy Commissioner Police Major General Suwat Saennoom has completed its investigation…
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Thai teacher suspended for striking 8 year old boy with broomstick
A Thai teacher in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat struck an eight year old schoolboy with a broomstick after he accidentally dropped a bead on the classroom floor. The boy’s parents shared CCTV footage of the violent punishment with news agencies, claiming the school ignored the incident. They said the assault occurred on July 18, shortly before the…
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Floods in Nan force urgent patient relocation from hospital
Floodwaters have inundated the economic zone of Nan province, prompting an urgent relocation of critical patients from Nan Hospital to nearby facilities. Water levels have risen over 9 metres above the flood barrier due to prolonged heavy rains from Tropical Storm Vipa. As of July 24, the flooding crisis in Nan province has escalated after continuous heavy rainfall over 48…
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Nok Air rebounds with freebies and fresh routes
Budget airline Nok Air is soaring back into profitability and promises even bigger things on the horizon—including free flights for foreign tourists. The embattled carrier, once drowning in debt, now expects to complete its rehabilitation programme by mid-2028, with outstanding debt trimmed to under 400 million baht from a staggering 5.4 billion. The airline’s resurgence comes after two consecutive profitable…
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Thai woman and pet dog die in Bangkok house fire
A 72 year old Thai woman and her pet dog died in a fire at her Bangkok home, which is believed to have been caused by a mosquito coil. Officers from Bang Khun Non Police Station were called to investigate the fire at a house in Soi Charan Sanitwong 31, in the Bangkok Noi district, at around 6am yesterday, July 23.…
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Thailand Video News | Thailand downgrades ties with Cambodia after border landmine blast, British embassy warns Pattaya expats of rising risks
Today we’ll be talking about the British embassy warning their citizens of the risks involved traveling to China, Thailand downgrading diplomatic ties with Cambodia following a recent landmine blast at the border, and a little later two farangs caught on a robbery spree in Krabi. British Embassy Warns Pattaya Expats of Rising Risks The British Embassy has issued a strong…
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Pheu Thai power play to crown Bangkok’s first female council chief
Bangkok Metropolitan Council President Surachit Phongsinghvitaya is reportedly stepping down on July 29, paving the way for a political shake-up that could see the capital get its first-ever female council president. Insiders say Surachit’s resignation has been quietly orchestrated by senior figures within the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which is pushing to elevate Kanoknuch Klinsung, a councillor from Don Mueang…
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Buffalo bust as Yaba duo in Chon Buri caught in the act
A drug crackdown in rural Chon Buri left two suspected dealers out of luck, one of them nabbed hiding in a buffalo shed with a pocketful of Yaba. Police in Koh Chan district, Chon Buri, swooped on two alleged drug traffickers in a targeted operation yesterday, July 23, part of the Ministry of Interior’s hardline No Drugs – No Dealers…
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Thai troops defend against Cambodian gunfire near Ta Muean Thom
Cambodian soldiers initiated gunfire near the eastern side of the Thai base Moo Pa, approximately 200 metres from Ta Muean Thom Temple, prompting a defensive response from Thai troops. The clash took place today, July 24, following an order by Lieutenant General Boonsin Phadklang, commander of the Second Army Region, to close border crossings and local tourist attractions to safeguard…
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Thai community leader fatally shoots wife and 4 others after divorce dispute
A community leader in the northeastern province of Bueng Kan fatally shot his wife and four others after she sought a divorce from him. The tragic incident took place at approximately 7.22pm on Tuesday, July 22, in the Ban Tham Chan community, So Phisai district. The suspect, a 45 year old community leader named Pratuan Tonkanlaya, killed his wife, her…
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Thailand plays its cards right with poker punt
Thailand has gambled on a bold new strategy, officially recognising poker as a sport in a move that’s sent shockwaves through the international sporting and gaming communities. Furthermore, American football was also handed official sport status. The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) made a game-changing call this week, confirming that poker is now an officially recognised sport, a decision expected…
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Illegal kratom juice factory dismantled in Nakhon Ratchasima
Police in Nakhon Ratchasima province have dismantled an illegal kratom juice factory that was mixing the juice with illicit cough syrup, posing a risk of acute kidney failure. A 39 year old man, Trakarn Chuankratok, who rented the premises, admitted to hiring workers to produce the concoction for the past two weeks. Yesterday, July 23, at Chokchai Police Station, Police…
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