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 Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you
Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...
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Plastic waste import banned in Thailand in fight against pollution
Thailand has officially banned the import of plastic waste as of January 1, marking a major step in its fight against toxic pollution. The decision positions Thailand alongside other Southeast Asian nations like Malaysia and Vietnam, which have already closed their borders to foreign plastic waste following China’s groundbreaking 2018 National Sword initiative. This regulation, issued by the Department of…
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Miss Universe’s world up in flames as home burns in Los Angeles
Heartbreak has struck former Miss Universe Porntip Nakhirunkanok as her cherished Malibu home, where she raised her family, was completely destroyed in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. For more than 25 years, this house was more than just bricks and mortar, it was a treasure trove of memories. In a poignant Instagram post under her handle @bui.simon, the 56 year…
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Gang of terror: Teen brutally beaten in Pattaya attack
A chilling video of a teenager being savagely beaten by a gang in Pattaya has surfaced, prompting outrage and calls for justice. The victim’s family is seeking public help to identify the assailants, who are allegedly connected to local police. A 27 year old woman, Aris Sousa and her 17 year old nephew, Chitsanuphong, presented the harrowing footage to reporters…
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Narcotics suspect arrested at Thai-Lao border after fleeing
A suspect involved in a narcotics gang was apprehended after fleeing to a neighbouring country. The 35 year old was arrested following a warrant issued by the Min Buri Criminal Court on December 16 last year. He faces charges related to possession with intent to distribute a class 1 narcotic, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, attempted murder of an…
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Call centre scammer poses as police to defraud Nonthaburi family
A family in Nonthaburi province has fallen victim to a call centre scam, losing over 300,000 baht. On January 10, a 21 year old woman and her parents reported the incident to the police at Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station. The daughter had been coerced by scammers posing as police and Anti-Money Laundering Organisation (AMLO) officers, who claimed she was involved…
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Miracle man helps veteran charcoal burner cheat fiery death
An 86 year old charcoal burner in Buriram province narrowly escaped a fiery fate, thanks to an unlikely hero, a courageous mentally ill man whose timely intervention made all the difference. The dramatic sequence that unfolded today, January 10, has left the village of Ban Nong Bua Thai buzzing. Suk, a stalwart in the charcoal trade with over 60 years…
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Thai man arrested for hammer attack in Pathum Thani temple
A 41 year old man has been arrested by investigative police from the Thanyaburi district in Pathum Thani province for attacking a woman with a hammer at a temple. Anusorn, a resident of Loei province, was apprehended following an incident where he allegedly attacked a Burmese woman with a hammer in a temple bathroom. The assailant reportedly tied her hands…
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Copper thieves takes power supply from Buriram residents
Residents of Baan Jok Tia in Buriram province were left puzzled when a series of power outages occurred, suspecting the electricity authority had removed their meters due to unpaid bills. However, it was discovered that someone had cut the main power lines to homes and a local temple, possibly to sell the copper wiring. Residents from Baan Jok Tia, Mueang…
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Young man found dead in Patong home in suspected suicide
Patong police are investigating the death of a 29 year old man found unresponsive in his home on Pisit Gorani Road early this morning. The grim discovery was made by the victim’s mother, leaving a community in shock. Officers arrived at the scene around 7.30am, today, January 10, to find the man, identified as Ritthakiat Petchploy, lying shirtless on his…
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Moo Deng turns 6 months, sparks ID card and auction frenzy
Thailand’s favourite pygmy hippo, Moo Deng, just turned six months old, and she’s stealing the spotlight with her very own ID card. The bouncing bundle of joy from Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri has captured hearts worldwide, but it’s her latest milestone that’s sending netizens into a frenzy. The zoo’s playful superstar celebrated her half-year birthday in style…
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Central Pattana’s 500 million baht Chinese New Year splash
Central Pattana Plc (CPN) isn’t playing small this Chinese New Year as they, together with Central Department Store Co Ltd (CDS), unleash a mega 500-million-baht spending spree on their dazzling The Great Chinese New Year bash. Running from now until February 6, this vibrant celebration is expected to dazzle at Central malls nationwide, including the ever-busy Esplanade Ratchada. Leading the…
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Thai woman defends drunk foreign boyfriend in Pattaya crash
A drunk foreign man crashed his sedan into a som tam vendor in Pattaya in the early hours of today. However, the foreigner’s Thai girlfriend refused to accept the blame, accusing the victim of faking his injuries, and having connections with a top police chief. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Foundation was alerted to the incident, which occurred at the entrance of…
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Vapes on a plane: Tourists nabbed for vape on Nok Air flight (video)
Three unruly tourists caused quite a stir aboard a Nok Air flight when they audaciously started vaping mid-flight, leaving fellow passengers astounded. The high-altitude hijinks happened on Sunday, January 5 on flight DD-532, winging its way from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport to Phuket. One passenger’s quick-thinking video capture shows the offbeat antics, with one man brazenly puffing away and…
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Gang leader nabbed in mother-daughter ATM robbery in Bangkok
Police in Bangkok apprehended a 41 year old man suspected of leading a gang involved in the abduction and robbery of a mother and her daughter. The gang leader allegedly forced the victims to withdraw cash from an ATM before releasing them under the Bhumibol Bridge. The arrest took place yesterday, January 9, near a medical clinic in Khlong Toei,…
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Fuel for thought: Thailand sees shift in consumer petrol gears
Thailand’s engines are revving as fuel consumption takes a notable 2% leap, in line with the country’s economic growth, which is pegged at a healthy 2.6% to 2.7% for 2024. The Department of Energy Business reveals that from January to November, Thais guzzled an average of 155 million litres of fuel daily. Turning heads in the petrol station queue is…
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Thai father brutally assaulted over 10,000 baht debt of son’s girlfriend
A Thai man suffered injuries from a brutal assault by a group of men outside his home in the Si Racha district of Chon Buri province. Among the man’s attackers was the father-in-law of his son’s wife, who reportedly owed 10,000 baht to her ex-husband. The Thai couple, Aujcharee and Decha, sought help from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after…
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Pattaya: Swiss dad collapses on the way to pick up his son
A 57 year old Swiss man died after collapsing while riding his motorcycle to pick up his young son from school in South Pattaya on Monday. The heartbreaking incident unfolded Monday afternoon, January 6, in Soi Bua Khao as the Swiss father was en route to Wat Chai Mongkol Kindergarten. Eyewitnesses reported the man suddenly losing consciousness, causing his motorcycle…
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Casino kingpins eye Thailand: Melco’s big gamble on Bangkok
Macau gambling giant Melco Resorts & Entertainment is rolling the dice on Thailand, as they devise plans to dive headfirst into the country’s booming tourism scene and cultural tapestry. With whispers of legalised gambling on the horizon, this move could be a jackpot for the casino giants. At the helm, Lawrence Ho, Melco Chairman and CEO, is singing the praises…
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Nong Khai man walks 500km barefoot after family dispute
A 62 year old man was reportedly forced out of his Nong Khai home by his wife and stepson, prompting him to walk barefoot over 500 kilometres to return to his hometown. A passerby found him and provided a lift, eventually taking him to a hospital. Police Colonel Ratapolchai Pensongkram from Chaiwan district, Udon Thani province, received a call from…
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Thai driver cites health issue after killing 6 year old boy in Bangkok
A Thai man blamed a health issue after crashing his SUV into a motorcycle carrying a man and his six year old son, resulting in the boy’s death yesterday, January 9, on a road in the Saimai area of Bangkok. A motorcyclist riding behind the black Mitsubishi Pajero SUV managed to capture the fatal accident on a livestream video. The…
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Myanmar mystery: Two Chinese nationals vanish near Thai border
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) have launched a high-stakes investigation following the baffling disappearance of two more Chinese nationals near the infamous Thai-Myanmar border. The missing duo includes a male model and a young woman, their vanishing acts echoing a recent case involving a Chinese actor snared by traffickers. Inspector-General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot of the RTP is leading the probe, sparked…
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Khon Kaen couple arrested for 1 million baht amulet theft
Police in Khon Kaen arrested a 45 year old man and his 48 year old wife on charges of theft and possession of stolen property. The couple is accused of stealing valuable amulets from a residence, which the woman had nabbed while working as a housekeeper. The stolen items, including several amulets such as the Phra Phuttha Chinnaraj Indochina and…
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Phuket Airport tourist cries fowl over 3,000 baht Subway sarnies
A foreign woman took to TikTok to accuse a Subway store at Phuket International Airport of overcharging her after she bought three sandwiches for 3,000 baht. (£72). The TikTok user, @naynaysully, posted a video on Wednesday, January 8, while standing in front of the Subway store at the airport. In the video, two security guards can be seen intervening, while…
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Icy blast from China set to leave Thailand shivering
Thailand is set to shiver as a fresh surge of cold air sweeps down from China, bringing a biting chill and blustery winds across the nation. The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) sounded the alarm for plummeting temperatures with strong gusts and heavy rain expected to drench six provinces in the south. Brace yourselves, the north and northeast are in…
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Chinese nationals lose 13 million baht in Bangkok crypto scam
Three Chinese nationals found themselves swindled out of a staggering 13 million baht in a brazen Bangkok cash-for-crypto sting. The drama kicked off on yesterday afternoon, January 9, in the city’s bustling Huai Khwang district. At 3.30pm, the scene was set at a house on Pracharat Bampen 12 Road, where Huang Guang, an unsuspecting Chinese visitor, claims he was robbed.…
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Elderly woman injured in Nonthaburi hit-and-run, taxi flees (video)
A 71 year old woman was struck by a taxi while crossing a pedestrian crossing near the Tam Laek restaurant, opposite the clock tower at Tha Nam Non in Nonthaburi province, before the cab fled the scene. The woman’s family has called on witnesses in the area during the incident to come forward. The incident was captured in a 31-second…
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Fake cop arrested at Bangkok bus terminal after swindling 400,000 baht
Police arrested a fake policewoman at Mor Chit Bus Terminal 2 in Bangkok yesterday, January 9, after she swindled 400,000 baht from a Thai man and fled arrest to marry a soldier. The victim reported the romance scam to the police, explaining that he had met the scammer, 21 year old Fatina Nanta-ariyakun, on a dating application at the end…
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PM pledges to polish Phuket into a top-tier tourist hotspot
Phuket is turning up the glamour stakes as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra unveils ambitious plans to transform the island into a premier tourist magnet. On her whirlwind visit to the sun-drenched southern province, the Thai premier set out a bold vision to tackle key issues facing the beloved getaway, from sorting out traffic snarls to bolstering its allure as a…
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Bitcoin hits the beach: Thailand’s sizzling crypto coup in Phuket
Phuket is set to become a crypto paradise as Thailand trials a new payment system using cryptocurrencies, all in a bid to make it easier than ever for tourists to splash their cash. The architect behind this brainwave reckon it’ll not only put a smile on the face of tech-savvy travellers but will also give the nation’s tourism sector a…
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From heiress to hero: Thai FA Madam Pang’s journey
Madam Pang, a fifth-generation heiress from Thailand’s billionaire Lamsam family, has transformed Thai football with her passion, leadership, and jaw-dropping generosity. Born Nualphan Lamsam, the 58 year old business mogul comes from one of Thailand’s wealthiest families, with an estimated net worth of US$890 million (approximately 30.82 billion baht). As CEO of Mueang Thai Insurance and a pioneer in introducing…
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