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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    5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)

    Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...

  • How to detect call centre scams with two simple steps

    How to detect call centre scams with two simple steps

    A simple trick reveals how to check if a strange number calling you is from a call centre scam. Just follow two easy steps to know immediately if it’s a scammer. Call centre scams have become a widespread issue in Thailand, affecting people of all ages, professions, and backgrounds. Many individuals have become wary and have started avoiding answering calls…

  • Heavy rain, flash flood warnings in northern Thailand

    Heavy rain, flash flood warnings in northern Thailand

    Heavy rain is expected in 53 provinces across northern and northeastern Thailand, with the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) warning of potential flash floods and forest runoffs, particularly in mountainous regions and low-lying areas. In Bangkok, the rain is forecasted to hit from afternoon to evening. The TMD’s 24-hour weather forecast indicates increased rainfall across Thailand, particularly heavy to very…

  • British tourists breathe easy: Bangkok slips off the scam radar

    British tourists breathe easy: Bangkok slips off the scam radar

    Good news for British tourists heading to Bangkok for a holiday: the Big Mango has dropped five places from No.1 to No.6 as the globe’s most likely destinations to get scammed or robbed. Antivirus company McAfee compiled a new list highlighting cities where tourists are often robbed of their hard-earned cash, with a popular Spanish resort now claiming the top…

  • Jasmine flower shortage raises prices for Mother’s Day

    Jasmine flower shortage raises prices for Mother’s Day

    Skyrocketing prices and a shortage of local jasmine flowers marked this Mother’s Day, driven by fluctuating weather conditions. In Khon Kaen, many florists at the Thetsabarn 1 Fresh Market have turned to imports from Indonesia due to more affordable prices. A 65 year old florist, Noorian, noted that continuous rain has hindered the blooming of local jasmine flowers this year.…

  • OIC plans committee to oversee actuaries’ licences in Thailand

    OIC plans committee to oversee actuaries’ licences in Thailand

    The Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) is contemplating the establishment of a screening committee empowered to suspend or revoke the licences of actuarial mathematicians in a bid to mitigate risks to insurance firms and policyholders. Assistant Secretary-General of the OIC, Ayusri Kambamlue, stated that the office aims to enhance the protection of insured individuals’ benefits and elevate actuarial standards.…

  • Thai banks brace for rising credit risk amid global uncertainties

    Thai banks brace for rising credit risk amid global uncertainties

    Large local banks foresee their corporate clients grappling with significant challenges in the second half of the year due to global uncertainties and concerns over a potential US recession. Banks aim to manage asset quality to mitigate rising credit risk among certain customer segments. The Chief Executive of Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), Kris Chantanotoke, highlighted that some corporate customers will…

  • Thailand targets 1 trillion baht milestone for crop revenue

    Thailand targets 1 trillion baht milestone for crop revenue

    The Commerce Ministry has urged Thai conglomerates and government bodies to collaborate on purchasing economic and secondary crops, targeting a revenue milestone of 1 trillion baht this year. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai highlighted that the agriculture sector supports approximately 27 million people, accounting for around 40% of the labour force. This includes 7.4 million households and encompasses key economic crops…

  • Thailand lawyers to sue over invasive blackchin tilapia damage

    Thailand lawyers to sue over invasive blackchin tilapia damage

    The Lawyers Council of Thailand is gearing up to file a lawsuit against private companies and state agencies responsible for the proliferation of blackchin tilapia, an invasive fish species from West Africa that is rapidly overtaking the country’s waterways. A council team yesterday, August 10, established a booth at Wat Khao Yi San in Samut Songkhram’s Amphawa district. This initiative…

  • High stakes in Thailand: Rolling the dice on casino legalisation

    High stakes in Thailand: Rolling the dice on casino legalisation

    Thailand is moving forward with plans to legalise casinos within entertainment complexes. The Finance Ministry has completed a draft of the Entertainment Complex Act, which will soon be subjected to a public hearing in accordance with Section 77 of the constitution. This hearing aims to incorporate public feedback before the bill is presented to the Cabinet for further consideration. Deputy…

  • Thailand on alert as WHO considers mpox emergency declaration

    Thailand on alert as WHO considers mpox emergency declaration

    Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is on high alert as the World Health Organisation (WHO) considers declaring a monkeypox (mpox) outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Permanent Secretary Dr Opas Karnkawinpong of the Ministry of Public Health revealed that the WHO’s recent report highlighted an increase in mpox cases in Africa. This year, 15 countries have reported…

  • Bangkok residents urge SRT to allocate Makkasan land for housing

    Bangkok residents urge SRT to allocate Makkasan land for housing

    Residents near the railway in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district are calling on the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to allocate 10% of its 500-rai Makkasan land to them before commencing a high-speed rail project connecting three airports. The high-speed rail will link Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan, and U-Tapao Airport in Rayong. Last March, the…

  • Thailand’s cross-border trade hits 912 billion baht, up 3.6%

    Thailand’s cross-border trade hits 912 billion baht, up 3.6%

    Thailand’s cross-border and transit trade reached a significant milestone, totalling over 912 billion baht in the first half of the year, marking a 3.6% increase compared to the same period last year. The government attributed this growth to enhanced promotion of cross-border trade in recent months. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke referencing data from the Department of Foreign Trade, noted that…

  • Motorcyclist dies after collision with pickup truck in Pattaya

    Motorcyclist dies after collision with pickup truck in Pattaya

    A tragic accident occurred when a woman riding a motorcycle in the wrong direction was struck by a pickup truck, leading to her death. The incident was reported to the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit in Pattaya at 5am today, August 11. The rescue unit, along with medical personnel from Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital, arrived at the scene on Sukhumvit Road, near…

  • Woman arrested for tricking man into marriage, stealing 5 million baht

    Woman arrested for tricking man into marriage, stealing 5 million baht

    A woman has been arrested for defrauding a man into marriage and leaving him penniless. Despite previous imprisonment, she continued her deceitful acts, claiming to be related to a prison warden and swindling victims of 5 million baht. Police in Udon Thani announced the arrest of 30 year old Sunisa Thinthan under a warrant issued by the Udon Thani Provincial…

  • Man assaults hairdresser and trashes salon over haircut (video)

    Man assaults hairdresser and trashes salon over haircut (video)

    A young man dissatisfied with the hairstyle his mother chose assaulted a female hairdresser and trashed the salon, causing damage worth 10,000 baht. The police seek information to help identify the perpetrator. Yesterday, August 10, a Facebook user shared CCTV footage from the salon ตามโหงวเฮ้ง อาจารย์ช้าง showing a male customer attacking a hairdresser and vandalising the premises. The video captured…

  • Elderly man found dead after losing savings to call centre scam

    Elderly man found dead after losing savings to call centre scam

    A former state enterprise employee was found dead in his home after being deceived by a call centre gang into investing in a clothing business, causing him to lose his last savings. A four-page handwritten letter was also discovered. Police in Chanthaburi reported that around 9pm yesterday, August 10, they received a call about a deceased person in a house in…

  • Man killed by motorbike on Hathairat Road in Pathum Thani

    Man killed by motorbike on Hathairat Road in Pathum Thani

    A man crossing the street after leaving a restaurant was tragically struck and killed by a motorbike, leaving two others injured. The shocking incident occurred yesterday on Hathairat Road in front of a petrol station in Pathum Thani. Police Officer Chatchawan Prakobkit received the report and rushed to the scene with volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation. Upon arrival, they found…

  • Russian tourist’s tragic fall from Phuket condo under investigation

    Russian tourist’s tragic fall from Phuket condo under investigation

    A 20 year old Russian tourist tragically fell to his death from a seventh-floor condominium in Phuket. Police are investigating the incident and have contacted the Russian embassy to inform the family and repatriate the body for religious rites. Officers from Chalong Police Station in Phuket received a report about a male tourist who had fallen from a height. The incident…

  • Yakuza members arrested in Nong Khai for brutal murder over debt

    Yakuza members arrested in Nong Khai for brutal murder over debt

    Two members of a Yakuza gang were arrested and conducted a crime scene reenactment after being apprehended in Nong Khai for the gruesome murder and dismemberment of a Japanese national over an unpaid debt of 8 million baht. Police discovered the dismembered body of 47 year old Japanese national Kaba Shima Ryosuke in Soi Jadsan Swing 2, Ban Kluay-Sai Noi…

  • Fatal shipyard explosion in Ayutthaya confirmed free of chemical hazards

    Fatal shipyard explosion in Ayutthaya confirmed free of chemical hazards

    A fatal explosion at a shipyard in Ayutthaya‘s Bang Sai district has revealed no chemical contamination in the surrounding area, officials confirmed today. Public health officials surveyed the site, located next to the Chao Phraya River, and determined that no dangerous chemical residues were present that could pose a health risk to locals. Natnicha Buranasiri, from the Secretariat Office of…

  • Thai police seize 10 million meth pills in Loei province

    Thai police seize 10 million meth pills in Loei province

    Thai Defence Minister Sutin Klangsang announced the seizure of 10 million methamphetamine pills, ordering stringent border measures and public cooperation to curb drug trafficking. The operation took place in Loei Province, involving various military and local police. Yesterday, at the 21st Ranger Unit, Sutin Klangsang held a press conference regarding the significant drug bust in Loei Province. The operation, conducted…

  • Woman found dead in car after loan shark debt dispute

    Woman found dead in car after loan shark debt dispute

    A man was found grieving over his wife’s body after a heated argument earlier in the day, following her secret borrowing of money from loan sharks. The incident led to a tragic end when she was found dead inside her car. Police received a report at 5pm yesterday, August 10, about a woman’s body discovered in a car parked near…

  • Heavy rain and thunderstorms to hit 32 Thai provinces today

    Heavy rain and thunderstorms to hit 32 Thai provinces today

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued another weather warning for today, predicting heavy rain in 32 provinces, with 60% of Bangkok expected to experience thunderstorms from afternoon to evening. Flash floods and forest runoff are potential risks. The TMD forecasts increased rainfall across Thailand over the next 24 hours, particularly in the upper northeastern and lower southern regions. Despite the…

  • Postal worker killed in machete attack at chumphon post office

    Postal worker killed in machete attack at chumphon post office

    An ex-postal worker attacked his former manager with a machete, leading to a struggle where the attacker was fatally injured. The incident, which occurred inside a post office in Pathio District, Chumphon Province, left many questions unanswered. The tragic event took place on the afternoon of August 8. The former employee, who had been dismissed from his job, entered the…

  • Bang Lamung launches volunteer network to tackle waste crisis

    Bang Lamung launches volunteer network to tackle waste crisis

    Bang Lamung Municipality launched the Local Volunteer Network (LVN) for the Environment (LVN) project for 2024. The inauguration event took place at the Wisutthachar Dome and was led by Lieutenant Colonel Jarawat Chinnawat, Mayor of Banglamung Municipality, alongside other municipal officials. The project attracted enthusiastic participation from housewives, the elderly, community members, and various local clubs. The LVN project addresses…

  • Mother demands justice after daughter’s death in police custody

    Mother demands justice after daughter’s death in police custody

    A mother has called for justice after her daughter died in police custody on suspicion of drug offences, presenting evidence of suspicious circumstances and missing belongings. The mother, 56 year old Supaporn Kanjana from Buriram province, brought photos and death certification documents to Patarapong Suphakson, a prominent lawyer, seeking help following the death of her daughter, 30 year old Suphansa…

  • Drug addict opens fire at neighbour’s house in Samut Prakan

    Drug addict opens fire at neighbour’s house in Samut Prakan

    A young drug addict believed his neighbours were out to harm him and opened fire on their home in a Samut Prakan village. Fortunately, police apprehended him before any severe damage occurred. Ban Khlong Suan Police Station yesterday, August 9, received a report of a man frantically shooting at his neighbour’s house, causing significant damage. The incident took place in…

  • Bang Lamung chief cracks down on gambling and drugs in Pattaya

    Bang Lamung chief cracks down on gambling and drugs in Pattaya

    Bang Lamung District Chief Wikit Manarojkij recently led a monthly meeting with village headmen and local leaders at the district office, the primary agenda focused on the stringent enforcement of policies against gambling and drug-related activities. Wikit underscored two crucial policies that require strict adherence: the ban on gambling and the crackdown on drug offences. He voiced concerns about unreported…

  • Jealous husband kills wife and himself in ‘cursed’ house

    Jealous husband kills wife and himself in ‘cursed’ house

    A tragic incident occurred involving a jealous husband who allegedly murdered his wife, a postpartum massage therapist, before subsequently taking his own life. Neighbours believe the house, which has seen nine deaths in a decade, is cursed. At 12.30pm yesterday, August 9, the Deputy Inspector of Khan Na Yao Police Station, Teerapong Chuayprasom, received a murder report at a house in…

  • Brolly time: Thailand braces for heavy rain and flash floods

    Brolly time: Thailand braces for heavy rain and flash floods

    Thailand is set to experience heavy rainfall despite hot daytime temperatures, with 33 provinces expected to face severe weather conditions, including heavy rain. The Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts increased rain from today, August 10 to 12, especially in four regions. The TMD issued a 24-hour weather forecast for today, indicating that Thailand’s upper and lower parts will have less rain…