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 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...
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Trunk trouble: Wild elephant herd creates chaos in Prachin Buri farmlands
In the heart of Prachin Buri, Khao Mai Kaew subdistrict located in the Kabin Buri district, a herd of over 100 wild elephants emerged from the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, wreaking havoc on local farming land. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MONRE) swiftly took action, initiating an operation to usher the elephants back into their natural…
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Thailand seeks visa exemptions for its tourists travelling to China
Thailand’s government is seeking visa exemptions for Thai tourists travelling to China, with an official delegation planned to negotiate the details by the end of this month. Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara revealed this yesterday, December 7, following a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The discussion took place on the fringes of the 8th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’…
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Thai man dies on police station waiting room sofa in Bangkok
A Thai man tragically died on a Bang Khen Police Station sofa in Bangkok yesterday, December 7, while waiting to report a physical assault by his employer’s son. Police officer Somporn Sata approached the 45 year old victim, a Thai man named Tui, to inform him that it was his turn to file a complaint. However, upon reaching Tui, Somporn…
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Democrat party power struggle emerges ahead of leadership election
A power struggle has emerged within the Democrat Party as a group of Members of Parliament (MPs), headed by Dech-it Khaothong, the Democrat MP for Songkhla, made moves to oppose the leadership bid of acting Deputy Leader Narapat Kaewthong. This event, which unfolded on Wednesday, saw a significant number of MPs express their reluctance to endorse Kaewthong. The faction is…
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Escalating monkey population in Phetchaburi prompts collaborative resolution
The escalating monkey population in Phetchaburi has led to a collaboration between the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) and residents to address the issue. Edwin Week, secretary of the Wildlife Friends Foundation, Suraphon Nakhon Nakhon, President of Phetchaburi Future Organization, and a veterinarian from the DNP, along with monks and locals affected by the problem, gathered for…
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Bankrupt millionaire seeks opportunities and jobs after life as thief
A victim urged the Thai police to arrest a former millionaire in Chon Buri who, facing bankruptcy, resorted to becoming a thief. The man evaded several arrests by claiming he was mentally ill, evoking sympathy from some, who wished he could rebuild his life. One Facebook user, Aroon Kab, shared security camera footage of a man stealing three aluminium step…
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Ex-protest leader Chinnawat gets suspended sentence for royal defamation
Chinnawat Chankrachang, better known as Bright, a former co-leader of pro-democracy demonstrations who later supported the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) linked with ex-Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, has been given a suspended sentence for royal defamation. This conviction is related to a rally held in February 2002. The details were revealed on Chinnawat’s Facebook page, where he shared that the…
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Bangkok’s Pink Line monorail to open on December 18: Free rides until January 2
Passengers can now embark on a thrilling ride through Bangkok‘s Pink Line monorail, soaring 34.5 kilometres from northwest to northeast. Offering an early holiday treat, the city is generously providing free rides until January 2, creating a buzz of excitement among locals and tourists alike. Mark your calendars for the grand opening on Monday, December 18. The Pink Line, an…
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Chiang Mai teacher dismissed over student lunch programme mismanagement
Chaiyot Suktor, a senior professional level teacher (K3) at Yangpao School in Omkoi, Chiang Mai, has been dismissed from the civil service following allegations of corruption by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Chaiyot, identified as the fourth accused, is allegedly guilty of criminal misconduct as an official, accused of performing or neglecting duties without authority. The case centres around Chaiyot,…
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Thai King and Queen gear up for 35th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta
The Thai King and Queen participated in today’s international sailing competition training in Phuket, joining the THA72 team in the IRC Zero category. The event took place today, December 7, at 7.42am at Kata Beach. His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and his wife Queen Suthida were preparing for the 35th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, a prestigious international…
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Pattaya punch-up: Ex-US soldier seeks answers as Thai man delivers unexpected blow
A former US soldier sought help from locals in Pattaya after a Thai man punched him in the face. The victim was unaware of the motive for the attack. Mueang Pattaya Police Station officers and rescue team rushed to the Pattaya Sai Song Road near Soi Pattaya 13 after a Thai woman, 44 year old Nattanan, notified them about the…
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Infant boy found abandoned in community rubbish bin in Nakhon Ratchasima
An infant boy was discovered abandoned in a community rubbish bin, rescued by locals who heard his cries. Previously, a deceased infant was found discarded in the same area. Today, Police Lieutenant Colonel Saichon Sawangpop, Deputy Chief of Crime Prevention at the Mueang District Police Station in Nakhon Ratchasima, received a report from a good Samaritan about the abandoned infant…
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Thai rice absence from World’s Best Rice 2023 comp sparks debate
The online community is embroiled in a heated debate following the omission of Thai rice from the top three spots in the World’s Best Rice 2023 competition. This has sparked questions about the quality of Thai rice, a key export and a source of national pride. However, it has been revealed that Thailand did not participate in this year’s competition…
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Thai officials nabbed for 8 million baht procurement scam
Thai anti-corruption forces today led by Police Major General Prasong Chalermphan along with other officials, raided and arrested a mother and her daughter, both officials of the Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, for allegedly forging procurement documents resulting in losses exceeding 8 million baht. The main target was a building within the Department of Medical Sciences in…
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Heartless teenage thief leaves double amputee legless in Phatthalung
In Phatthalung province, a 63 year old double amputee who is a resident of the village of Talenoi in Khuan Khanun district had her money stolen, which was meant for her prosthetic legs appointment on December 26. Nuuray, known as Aunt Pong, underwent double leg amputation due to diabetes, first in 2021 and then in 2023. When her wounds healed,…
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Frozen seafood smokescreen exposed: Shocking meat swap scandal unveiled in cargo containers
In a startling revelation at Thailand‘s Laem Chabang deep-sea port, two unremarkable cargo containers have remained unclaimed since 2021. Contrary to their declared contents of frozen seafood, an intricate inspection unveiled a deceptive hoard of frozen pork and beef. Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao, leading a special unit on the hunt for illegal pork imports, cracked open the lid on one…
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Perverted abbot accused of sexually assaulting novices and teenage boys in Chiang Mai
Mae Wang Police Station officers forced a perverted Thai abbot to leave his monkhood as they cranked up an investigation after novices and teenage boys accused him of sexually assaulting them. The alleged sexual assaults took place at a well-known temple, which was not named in the report, in the northern province of Chiang Mai. In the past, the 41 year…
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Thai farmer turns backyard into mussel farm, earning 400 baht daily
A farmer in Nakhon Ratchasima has turned a hollow behind his house into a lucrative freshwater mussel farm. The mussels, which are large, fresh, and clean, have found a ready market, with customers even purchasing directly from the mussel farm. With an average daily income of 400 baht, the farmer is gearing up to expand his mussel farming operations. A…
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Shark tale: Thai PM warns loan sharks not to test government waters as they target debt-relief participant
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, warned loan sharks not to challenge government power after two loan sharks threatened a debtor who participated in a government debt relief programme. A Thai woman named Som sought protection from the police and the government after the loan sharks came to her restaurant in the Sankaburi district in the central province of…
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Thailand’s tourism tango: TAT’s mixed bag predicts foreign tourist influx but warns of a 400 billion baht revenue remix
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) released a mixed bag of updates, hinting at a potential foreign tourist surge but cautioning about a colossal revenue shortfall of 400 billion baht. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool revealed that Thailand hosted 25.8 million foreign tourists from January to November this year, inching close to the 27 million target. However, with the high season…
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Country singer Bew Kalayanee’s brother found dead in Tapee River
The lifeless body of Chitkorn Jiamsakul, a 45 year old car driver and elder brother to the renowned country singer Kalayanee Jiamsakul, known as Bew Kalayanee, was found near a dock. The discovery took place about 2 kilometres from the initial incident site where Chitkorn was last observed jumping from Sri Surat Bridge and vanishing into the Tapee River on…
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Pattaya police under fire for letting foreign sex offenders flee Thailand
Three police officers are now in hot water for their alleged involvement in the escape of two foreign suspects accused of engaging in illicit activities with underage girls in Pattaya. The escapade involves a German and an American who, after arrests, managed to slip away under questionable circumstances. The controversy traces back to a case in September last year when a…
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Rising waves and heavy rain batter Thailand’s south east coast
Torrential rains have battered the southern eastern coast of Thailand, particularly in the Pattani Narathiwat region. The inclement weather has resulted in high waves in the Gulf of Thailand, rising to 3 metres. Fishermen have been warned to exercise extreme caution. Reporters from Songkhla province noted that the sky has been heavily overcast with sporadic thunderstorms. Heavy rain persisted throughout…
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Drug addicted Thai woman beats mother to death with broom
A drug addicted Thai woman beat her mother to death with a broom in their home in the central province of Ang Thong. On December 6, Kanita Thongdee, a 49 year old woman, made a distressing discovery when she observed that her 72 year old mother, Pinthong Thongdee, had not completed her usual daily chores. Concerned, Kanita went to check…
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Chai Nat: Thai police chief orders arrest of loan shark at somtum restaurant
The National Police Chief ordered the arrest of two people linked to a debt collection gang, who vandalised a somtum restaurant in Chai Nat province. The owner of the establishment had registered to resolve her informal debts, leading to repercussions from the loan sharks. This event has led to wider investigations targeting loan sharks and other offenders involved in informal…
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Las Vegas: Horrific campus carnage strikes University of Nevada, leaving 3 dead
At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, US, three lives were taken and another was left fighting for survival in a campus shooting. The assailant is also confirmed dead, adding another grim chapter to America’s struggle with gun violence. Yesterday, December 6, gunshots were heard through the campus of the University of Nevada. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department gave…
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Swiss man accidentally falls from 3rd floor of Pattaya condo while smoking
A Swiss man suffered head and leg injuries after he accidentally fell from the third floor of a condominium in Pattaya while smoking at 5am today. The accident was reported to the Sawang Borriboon Dhammasatan Rescue Team at 5am today, December 7, where rescuers rushed to the scene in the Jomtien neighbourhood of Pattaya. At the scene, the rescuers found…
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Fuel shortage causes chaos in Yangon: Is Myanmar’s economy running on empty?
As Myanmar‘s metropolis Yangon grapples with a fuel shortage, the city saw chaos with motorists queuing at dawn, hoping to secure petrol. The fuel crisis has been exacerbated by economic turmoil and geopolitical tensions. Yangon’s fuel shortage, as reported by the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, kicked off on Tuesday. The cryptic explanation attributed the crisis to delays in…
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Survivor of fatal bus accident recounts harrowing experience
Mattikan, a recent graduate also known as King, narrowly escaped a fatal bus accident that claimed 14 lives in Huay Yang, Thap Sakae, Prachuap Khiri Khan. She was travelling home from Bangkok to Thung Song, Nakhon Si Thammarat, intending to give her graduation gown to her father as a National Father’s Day gift. At the time of the accident, she…
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Surge in gold prices today as announced by Gold Traders Association
The Gold Traders Association (GTA) announced a surge in gold prices today, after a significant drop. As of today, December 7, the gold bullion was sold for 34,300 baht per baht, showing a 100 baht increase compared to the closing price yesterday. According to the GTA’s website, as of 9.04am local time, the selling rate for 96.5% gold bar was…
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