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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Fake doctor scams Thais with bogus UK tours and job offers
A group of people reported being scammed by a fake doctor selling fraudulent tours and collecting fees for work in the UK, with losses exceeding 40 million baht. Despite a red notice, the suspect remains at large, with a 1 million baht reward for their capture. A group of approximately 20 victims, approached the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to file…
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Raining trouble: Downpour drama traps man in Pattaya elevator
Drama struck in Nongprue yesterday when heavy rain caused a power outage, leaving a man trapped in an elevator for nearly two hours. The incident unfolded yesterday, September 8, at an apartment building on Soi Krom Thidin 4, in Pattaya creating a scene of chaos and tension. At 5.56pm, an emergency call was made to the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue…
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Motorbike mayhem: Monkey wreaks havoc on bike seat in Phuket
A large monkey at Khao Rang (also known as Monkey Hill) in Phuket Town tore apart the seat of a parked motorbike, prompting an assistant village headman to issue a warning for locals and tourists to be cautious around the monkeys. Suriyan Mai-on, the assistant village headman for Thalang district, shared a video of the incident online today, September 9,…
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Shooting for justice: Ex-Thai champion takes aim at cheating soldier husband
A former shooting champion of Thailand sought help from social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet after her cheating soldier husband faced no punishment from the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and refused to compensate her as ordered by the court. The former national athlete, 50 year old Jarinporn Daengpiam, held a press conference today, September 9, to bring the matter to…
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Scaffold sore: Storm lashes Pattaya, topples hotel project (video)
Pattaya City was battered by strong winds and heavy rain yesterday at around 5pm, leading to a major construction site calamity. Scaffolding at a seven-story hotel project on Pattaya Klang Road in Soi Arunotai came crashing down, smashing into power lines and causing high-voltage power poles to break, blocking the road. Miraculously, no injuries were reported. The collapse, a direct result…
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Frenchman arrested in Krabi for eight-year visa overstay
A Frenchman was arrested in Krabi after a visa overstay of eight years. The Frenchman, Didier, entered Thailand on February 19, 2016, with a tourist visa that expired on May 18, 2016. After the visa’s expiration, Didier continued to stay in Thailand, resulting in a total overstay of 3,032 days. Police were alerted on September 9 when Police Lieutenant General…
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Tractor tragedy: Cops plough through claims after addict’s mysterious death
The police maintained their innocence after a Thai drug addict mysteriously died following his arrest on Saturday. The incident occurred while the individual was driving a farm tractor along a road in Bangkok. Patrol officers from Pathum Wan Police Station were involved in a car chase with 45 year old Thai man Bancha Samingkaew on Phetchaburi Road in the Bangkapi…
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Noodles of growth: Mama set to stir up premium market
Thai President Foods Plc, the company behind Mama instant noodles, anticipates significant growth in the instant noodle market this year, with the premium segment potentially outperforming the overall market. Pun Paniangvait, manager of the president’s office, reported that Thailand’s instant noodle market experienced an 8% to 9% growth in the first half of this year, and the company projects a…
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Tourists rescued after ignoring red flags at Phuket beaches
Emergency services in Phuket rushed to rescue two tourists who nearly drowned after ignoring red flag warnings at Kata and Karon beaches. The tourists, from Russia and China, were successfully resuscitated with CPR before being taken to Chalong Hospital for further treatment. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sanya Suksawat of Karon Police Station received notification from the Karon Radio Centre about the…
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Bus-tling arrival: Baby born on board Khon Kaen-Phuket route
A woman travelling from Khon Kaen to Phuket on a bus unexpectedly gave birth while on board, assisted by a nurse who happened to be a fellow passenger. This marks her fourth child, and she was unaware of her pregnancy. The incident occurred today, September 9 at 8am, when Wiroj Srisang, Mayor of Simamokhon subdistrict, Klangdong, Pak Chong district, Nakhon…
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Weights and fate: Dumbbells tie man to tragic river end
A group of tourists discovered the dead body of a Thai man in the Khwae Noi River, in the central province of Kanchanaburi. The man was found tied to a backpack containing several dumbbells, weighing 12 kilogrammes. Police suspect that he may have intended to drown himself. The tourists reported their shocking discovery to the Khunnadham Kanchanaburi Foundation at about…
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Phuket noodle shop fire scrambles safety after gas blunder
A blaze erupted at the ‘Reua-bai’ noodle shop on the Chalong-to-Kata road yesterday after a Myanmar worker accidentally left the gas on while cooking an egg dish. Police were alerted around 3.30pm, yesterday, September 8, prompting a swift response from officers and firefighters from Chalong Municipality. The fire caused substantial damage to the shop’s kitchen, located next to Mini Big…
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Thailand rice is on the rise with global GI glamour
The Thailand Rice Department is on a mission to put Thai rice in the global spotlight by promoting its distinctive strains with certified Geographical Indication (GI) labels to a wider audience. Farming communities in Phatthalung and Trang in the south, along with Phayao in the north, have crafted premium rice products that command top prices. These farmers are betting on…
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Thai man wanted for fatally shooting friend in Samut Prakan condo
A Thai man escaped after fatally shooting his friend in a condo in Samut Prakan province, near Bangkok, yesterday. The motive is still under investigation. At around 6pm yesterday, September 8, officers from Samrongnuea Police Station and rescuers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation were called to the murder scene, a room on the first floor of an apartment in Soi Si…
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Fire destroys 15 shops in Bangkok, one fatality reported
A devastating fire in Bangkok engulfed 15 shops, destroying motorcycles and cars, and tragically claiming the life of a bedridden man. Witnesses recounted the harrowing moments as a husband led his wife and child to safety. At 2.45am yesterday, September 8, the Deputy Inspector of Wang Thong Lang Police Station, Pakapol Paiboonsombat, received a report about a fire in a…
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Thailand’s gold prices drop like a rock, baht’s the culprit
Gold prices in Thailand have taken a nosedive, plummeting by 2,000 baht per baht weight in just over a month. This dramatic drop is attributed to the Thai baht’s impressive 7% rise during the same period. The Gold Traders Association (GTA) warns that prices could fall further if the baht continues to strengthen. Jitti Tangsithpakdi, President of the GTA, explained…
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Burglar steals water pump from Chanthaburi governor’s home
In a gleaming example of who not to rob, a burglar broke into the home of the governor of Chanthaburi province to steal a water pump, which turned out to be an ill-fated decision. The suspect, Chonlathit Wongpramut, also known as Oat, has a criminal record that includes multiple offences. Bang Lamung Police Station received a report of a burglary…
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Tourist police arrest man for stealing iPhone on Koh Larn ferry
A man from Ayutthaya was arrested by the Pattaya Tourist Police yesterday for allegedly stealing a tourist’s iPhone on a ferry to Koh Larn. Identified as 52 year old Somchai Buengnok, the suspect has an extensive criminal record. At approximately 10.30am, yesterday, September 8, Senior Inspector of Tourist Police Division 4, Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyapong Ensan, received a report from…
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Foreign man in collision with sidecar motorcycle in Pattaya
A foreign man, who was reportedly drunk, crashed his motorcycle into a sidecar motorcycle in Pattaya yesterday, seriously injuring a Thai motorist. The Sawang Dhammastan Rescue Foundation was alerted to the accident on Soi Chaiyaphruek 1 in the Bang Lamung district of Pattaya yesterday, September 8. Upon arrival, rescuers found a severely damaged sidecar motorcycle with significant damage to its…
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Thailand backs 20-baht cap on mass transit fares
Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) backs the Transport Ministry‘s initiative to cap mass transit electric train fares at 20 baht per trip, according to Secretary-General Saree Ongsomwang, who also advocates for a fair budget allocation for public bus services across all provinces. Saree stated that the 20-baht fare cap was one of Pheu Thai’s campaign promises ahead of last year’s election.…
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Bangkok hospital’s Nazi ‘gas chambers’ plan sparks fury
The director of Mongkutwattana Hospital in Bangkok sparked a storm of controversy with a plan to punish smokers who defy his anti-smoking ban, drawing comparisons to Nazi Germany’s grim practices. Rienthong Nanna, the director of the private hospital located in the Laksi district, declared on Facebook that he would confine defiant smokers in ‘gas chambers’ made from old telephone booths…
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Missing Belgian woman found dead in waterfall spillway in Mae Hong Son
Tourist Police officers discovered the lifeless body of a missing Belgian woman buried under the sand at the bottom of the Mae Yen Waterfall spillway in Pai District, in the northern province of Mae Hong Son, after three days of searching. The 28 year old Belgian woman, Chloe Ferari, disappeared after leaving her accommodation with a bicycle in the early…
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Nationwide daily minimum wage to be raised to 400 baht tomorrow
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed plans to raise the daily minimum wage to 400 baht nationwide starting tomorrow, September 10, despite echoing concerns that the increase could negatively impact businesses. Phiphat announced that after discussions with business operators and a thorough study by a subcommittee from the Ministry of Labour, the decision to implement the minimum wage hike will proceed…
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Thailand’s economy feels the squeeze as Q3 wraps up
Thailand’s economy is under severe strain, grappling with both internal and external pressures as the end of the third quarter looms. The kingdom is fighting to stabilise its financial footing while China, a vital trading partner, wrestles with its economic troubles. The Thai baht took a hit earlier this month, mirroring the ongoing turmoil in the world’s second-largest economy. The…
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Digital TV operators sink or swim with licence deadline drama
Digital TV operators are in hot water as they face a raft of industry troubles and the looming expiry of their licences in 2029. The sector is grappling with rapidly changing viewer habits, a surge in streaming services, and nagging worries about dwindling viewership figures. Back in 2013, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) auctioned off 24 digital TV…
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Thai police crackdown on Hat Yai motorcycle racing gang
Thai police in Hat Yai conducted a late-night operation to apprehend a motorcycle racing gang, seizing 35 motorcycles and detaining 40 young individuals for profiling and training, with strict warnings against future gatherings. Hat Yai police, led by Police Colonel Phum Banthip, Deputy Police Superintendent Adinan Wongmatthong, and Police Lieutenant Colonel Thatchanon Kaewchan, executed a planned crackdown on a group…
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Father chains boy to chair on Pattaya Beach, tests positive for drugs
An 11 year old boy was discovered chained to a chair on Pattaya Beach by his father, who later tested positive for drugs. The incident occurred after the boy had previously been caught vaping on Walking Street. Yesterday, September 7, a video circulated on social media showing the boy in distress. It was later revealed that Pangpond has a history of…
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Man fatally stabs woman over property boundary dispute
A 21 year old man fatally stabbed a 64 year old woman five times in the back following a dispute over a property boundary. The incident occurred yesterday, September 7, at 5.30pm in a small alley opposite Ban Sam Kaew School, Village 2, Huai Phra subdistrict, Don Tum district. Police Lieutenant Colonel Trongsak Khakhao, an investigative officer at Don Tum…
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Man arrested for sharing explicit videos of ex-girlfriend
A man was arrested for releasing explicit videos of his ex-girlfriend online out of revenge. Despite later requesting their removal, the videos had already spread widely. Police apprehended 37 year old Keng at his residence in Tha Sala, Lopburi. The arrest followed a warrant from the Criminal Court, which charged him with defamation, coercion, and uploading obscene content to a…
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Truck crash in Chon Buri kills driver, injures four workers
A truck carrying Burmese workers tried to overtake another vehicle but collided with a six-wheeler, causing it to flip over and land upside down. The driver died at the scene, while four workers in the back narrowly escaped death. At approximately 6.30pm yesterday, September 7, police officers from the Mueang Chon Buri Police Station received a report of a pickup…
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