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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Sattahip officials detain mentally ill man after resident complaints
Sattahip District officials, responding to residents’ complaints, apprehended a mentally ill man who had been causing disturbances and damaging property. Sattahip District Chief Phakhawat Khanthahiran tasked his deputy and a team of officials, along with Sattahip Police, to address the situation yesterday. Upon arriving at the scene, the team worked together to restrain the unidentified homeless man. He was then…
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Truck driver in Bangkok collision found with drugs
A massive collision involving 29 vehicles in the Rama 2 area of Bangkok on Wednesday, July 17 has led to significant developments. Tha Kham police provided updates on the involvement of a four-wheel truck driver who is receiving treatment at PMG Hospital under police guard. Blood tests conducted on the truck driver, Kiatchai, revealed the presence of amphetamine in his…
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Four Colombian men arrested for Bangkok area home burglaries
Four Colombian men have been apprehended in Nonthaburi and Chon Buri for a series of home burglaries targeting housing estates in Bangkok and nearby provinces. Immigration officers and police arrested three suspects at a condominium in Mueang district, Nonthaburi, and the fourth at a hotel in South Pattaya, Chon Buri, according to Police Major General Panthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of…
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Bangkok urged to create app for safer, fair motorcycle taxi fares
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has been urged by a city council member to develop a new application for motorcycle taxis to ensure passenger safety and fair pricing. Viput Srivaurai, representing Bang Rak district, advocated for leveraging technology and innovation to enhance motorcycle taxi services. Viput emphasised that the BMA should implement a data management system to organise services and…
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Over 2 million unregistered Thai mobile numbers suspended
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended the services of over 2 million mobile phone numbers after their owners missed the identity registration deadline yesterday. This move aims to enhance security and reduce fraud related to unregistered mobile numbers. The affected numbers are primarily linked to individuals possessing between six and 100 unregistered SIM cards. The suspension affects their…
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Surat Thani marks king’s birthday with beach, underwater clean-up
Government officials in Surat Thani, in collaboration with the Koh Tao Subdistrict Municipality, organised a beach and underwater clean-up event to honour the birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua on July 28. Yesterday, July 18, at the Chulalongkorn Stone Court in Koh Tao, Pha Ngan district, Surat Thani province, several officials and local leaders, including the Deputy Director of the…
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Drunk Thai man stabs taxi rider with scissors to avoid paying fare
A drunk Thai man stabbed a motorcycle taxi rider in the neck with a pair of scissors outside a village in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok on July 17 because he could not pay the fare after spending all his money on booze. Bang Bua Thong Police Station officers were alerted to the stabbing and rushed to the scene with Poh…
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TikTok account theft: Popular Pattaya pancake vendor seeks justice
A popular crispy Tokyo-style pancake vendor in Ko Khram near Pattaya is in distress after discovering that someone close to her has stolen significant amounts of money and her branded handbags. Additionally, her TikTok account, boasting 2.5 million followers, has been sold without her consent. Oranya Aphaiso, known as Olive, reported the incident to the Ko Khram Police Station and…
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Thailand tops South Korea’s drug seizure list
Thailand continues to dominate in the seizure of illicit drugs by South Korean police this year, accounting for a significant portion of the narcotics confiscated at the country’s entry points. Thailand was responsible for 25% of the 298 kilogrammes of drugs seized in South Korea during the first half of 2024, according to data from the Korea Customs Service (KCS)…
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Slapstick meth dealer flees from police, runs into wall, gets caught
A slapstick meth dealer in Nakhon Ratchasima was apprehended in a drug raid on his residence, where he attempted to flee, but ran into a wall in his drug-fuelled haste. He was promptly caught by the police, who discovered his hidden stash of methamphetamine. Police from the Khon Buri Police Station, led by Deputy Superintendent Decho Phengleng, and Investigation Inspector…
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Business ties: Thailand extends visa-free stay for Hongkongers
Thailand’s extension of visa-free visits for Hong Kong residents is expected to bolster business relations and entice more visitors from the financial hub, despite a recent murder-suicide incident in Bangkok, according to industry leaders. The tragic event, involving six people, has not deterred travel plans, they emphasised. Anthony Lam Sai-ho, Executive Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, praised…
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Phuket enforces 48-hour alcohol ban for Buddhist holidays
Patong police announced a 48-hour ban on alcohol sales in bars and restaurants as Thailand observes the Buddhist holidays Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa this weekend. Violating the alcohol sales ban could result in up to six months in jail or a fine of up to 10,000 baht, according to the notice issued by Patong Police. Officers informed bar…
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Thai man with epilepsy crashes and kills student on Bangkok road
A Thai man with epilepsy yesterday crashed his pickup into a sedan car and two motorcycles on Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok, injuring three motorists and killing a university student. Officers from Phahonyothin Police Station and rescuers from the Portektung Rescue Foundation rushed to the accident scene on Ratchadapisek Road in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok yesterday afternoon, July 18. Officers…
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Chulabhorn Hospital offers free Hepatitis screenings
Chulabhorn Hospital invites the public to participate in a free Hepatitis B and C screening programme in honour of the king on July 25 and July 26. The initiative celebrates the His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday on July 28. Chulabhorn Hospital, under the Chulabhorn Royal Academy, announced the event today, encouraging citizens to join the screening programme. The screenings…
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Wichit conducts major tsunami evacuation drill in Phuket
Phuket’s Wichit Municipality conducted a comprehensive tsunami evacuation drill and rescue exercise yesterday, July 18, aimed at bolstering disaster preparedness in Phuket. Wichit Mayor Kreetha Chotiwichpipat and Mueang Phuket District Chief Worasit Putjeeb led the drill, which involved multiple agencies in a Table Top Exercise (TTX). The simulation was designed to test the municipality’s ability to respond to a tsunami…
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Thailand rubber farmers oppose fund use for fish purchase
Rubber farmers in Prachuap Khiri Khan raised concerns over the Ministry of Agriculture’s decision to use funds from the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) to buy black-banded trevally fish at 15 baht per kilogramme. The farmers question the fairness and appropriateness of this policy. Rungroj Ratanakaw, a resident of Thong Mongkol subdistrict in Bang Saphan district, voiced his disagreement with…
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Crispy pork surprise leaves Bangkok diner shell-shocked
A shocking discovery of a metal fragment in crispy pork left a woman stunned at a local restaurant in Bangkok. Despite her calmness in approaching the vendor to inform them of the discovery, she was met with indifference and received no apology. A woman posted in the พวกเราคือผู้บริโภค (We Are Consumers) Facebook group about her experience at a food stall…
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Pattaya’s art explosion: Colourful contest unveils future stars
Recognising the vital role of promoting cultural growth and conservation, the Pattaya City Cultural Council recently launched the highly anticipated Pattaya City Visual Arts Contest 2024. With the vibrant theme, Pattaya: A Way of Colours, this contest is designed to ignite the creative passions of young and emerging artists from all walks of life. Pattaya City Council President Banlue Kullavanijaya,…
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Phuket launches road safety campaign to curb tourist accidents
Phuket provincial police have initiated a new road safety campaign targeting the root causes of traffic accidents involving tourists. This effort, in collaboration with local partners, aims to reduce the high number of road incidents in the area. The campaign was officially launched yesterday, July 18, at the Phuket Merlin Hotel by Region 8 Police Police Lieutenant General Suraphong Thanomchit…
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Boy sleeping in Chiang Mai laundrette sparks action (video)
A young boy has drawn widespread attention after sleeping alone in a laundromat in the Chiang Mai province late at night. Concerned netizens expressed their desire to help the child, sparking a conversation about his welfare. Footage shared by TikTok user @suwatchareek captured the boy entering the laundromat around 3am and staying until 5am. “A little boy came to sleep…
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House approves 122 billion baht digital wallet scheme budget
The House of Representatives approved a supplementary bill to increase the budget for the current fiscal year by 122 billion baht, in a vote held late yesterday. This additional funding aims to partially finance the government’s digital wallet handout scheme. A total of 297 MPs voted in favour of the bill, while 164 opposed it, with no abstentions recorded. Among…
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Shocking incident: Electrician severely electrocuted in Buriram
An electrician was severely injured after being electrocuted while connecting power lines on a high-voltage pole in Buriram. Rescue efforts were delayed by 30 minutes due to the late arrival of a separate bucket truck. At 10am today, July 19, emergency responders from Buriram Hospital received a report of a person being electrocuted on a high-voltage electricity pole in front…
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Bangchak cuts high-premium fuel prices by 5 baht per litre
Bangchak Corporation announced a significant price reduction on its high-premium fuel types, offering a discount of 5 baht per litre nationwide from today to tomorrow, July 20. This promotion includes both Bangchak Hi Premium 97 and Bangchak Hi Premium Diesel S, with no minimum purchase required. Bangchak Corporation, a leading company in the fuel industry, is running its major annual…
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Ice truck overturns, traffic frozen after near miss in Phatthalung
A six-wheel truck transporting ice overturned and blocked a road in Phatthalung, causing significant traffic disruption this morning after avoiding a collision with a car that fled the scene. The incident resulted in minor injuries to the truck’s occupants and a traffic jam stretching several kilometres. At 7.30am, today, July 19, officers from Srinakarin Police Station received reports of a…
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Injured Thai man warns motorists after staged accident, extortion
A Thai man is warning fellow motorists in the Isaan province of Udon Thani after two suspects staged an accident in an attempt to extort 30,000 baht from him. The thugs then beat him up when he refused to pay. The 44 year old victim, Sarn, told Channel 3 that the incident occurred on the Don Kloy-Dongyang-Phibunrak Road in Udon…
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Surge in rabies cases among livestock including cows in Northeast Thailand raises alarms
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) has issued an urgent warning to the public regarding a rise in rabies cases, particularly among cattle in the Northeast region. Health authorities are emphasising the critical need for vigilance and precautionary measures as they monitor the situation closely. Health authorities have also issued strict warnings that locals should not butcher and consume the…
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Persistent Chiang Mai gang arrested for bird food scam on tourists
Police have detained members of a scammer gang at Tha Phae Gate, Chiang Mai, who were scamming tourists by selling bird food and charging them for photos, deemed to be damaging the area’s reputation as a tourist destination. Today, July 19, officers from the Tourist Police Division 2, led by Makara Srisakulpisut and Nithipat Bunmak, conducted a thorough inspection of…
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4th female Supreme Court president in Thai history to be appointed
Chanakarn Theeravechpolkul is set to become the 4th female president of Thailand’s Supreme Court on October 1. This historic appointment marks a dramatic reversal in the traditionally male-dominated judiciary. On July 8, the Judicial Commission unanimously voted to appoint Chanakarn as the 50th chief of the country’s top court. She will succeed Anocha Chevitsophon, the third woman to hold the…
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Wat Arun holds merit-making ceremony to honour king’s birthday
Wat Arun, one of Thailand’s most revered temples, will host a merit-making ceremony on August 15 to honour His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday. The temple invites Buddhists to participate in paving stone roads and washing the iconic Phra Prang tower. Phra Phrom Vajramethee, a prominent member of the Supreme Sangha Council and the Abbot of Wat Arun Ratchawararam, announced…
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Butterbear to boost Thai tourism, targets 10% of Chinese fans
Butterbear, a beloved mascot in Thailand, will soon serve as a new presenter for Thai tourism, targeting to attract at least 10% of its one million Chinese fans to engage in tourism activities within the country. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to draw eight million arrivals from the Chinese outbound market, which is estimated to reach 130 million…
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