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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Thailand and Laos to launch Bangkok-Vientiane railway this month
Thailand and Laos are poised to inaugurate a new railway network connecting Bangkok and Vientiane, with a trial run scheduled for later this month, as announced by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). The initiative is set to improve connectivity for travellers and facilitate the movement of goods between the two nations, positioning Thailand as a key logistics hub in…
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Burmese student sets condo room ablaze in Lat Phrao, panic ensues
A Burmese student, in a fit of rage, set his room on fire at a condo in the Lat Phrao area causing panic among the residents. The incident took place around 3pm yesterday, and police quickly responded to control the situation. Police Lieutenant Colonel Thewin Sripua, Deputy Inspector at Lat Phrao Police Station, received a report of a man causing…
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Police raid unlicensed Rangsit nightclub, find 65 underage patrons
Police raided an unlicensed nightclub popular among Rangsit’s youth, discovering 65 underage patrons. The venue had never applied for a permit and was known for admitting minors and serving them alcohol. Police blocked all exits to prevent escape. Yesterday, June 8, officers led by Saruti Kwangsopa, commander of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division, executed a raid on a nightclub in Lak…
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Monk dies in Nonthaburi after mobile roof frame collapses
A tragic incident occurred yesterday at a temple in Nonthaburi’s Sai Noi district, where a monk was fatally injured by a collapsing mobile roof frame. The accident happened around 6.30pm when three monks were moving the large structure. Police Lieutenant Rung Liemkhoksoong, who responded to the scene, confirmed the details of the incident. A mobile roof frame with wheels, measuring…
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Father’s heartbreak as son drowns at dangerous overflow dam
A father is devastated after learning that his 15 year old son drowned at an overflow dam, despite having warned him in the morning not to go out and play. Friends recounted the tragic moment, noting that the boy, who was not a strong swimmer, slipped on algae-covered concrete near the bank. At 5.30pm yesterday, Kasem Senaprakon, an officer from…
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Mixed-breed dog attack leaves five year old girl with severe injuries
A mixed-breed dog, the offspring of a Pit Bull bitch and a local Thai dog, attacked a five year old girl, leaving her with severe head injuries. The incident occurred outside a residence in Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province, late yesterday afternoon. The girl is currently under close medical supervision at Ban Phue Hospital due to the deep wounds…
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Chiang Mai to become digital startup hub with new visa scheme
Chiang Mai is poised to become a digital startup hub in Southeast Asia, with the government pledging support to achieve this goal, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced during a visit to the northern province yesterday. PM Srettha highlighted Chiang Mai City as an established haven for digital nomads and one of the world’s leading creative cities. “Late last year, Tim…
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APEC tourism summit: Thailand to revamp Asia-Pacific tourism
Thailand has unveiled its ambitious plans for the 12th Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM12) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, set to take place in the Republic of Peru from June 5 to 9. Deputy Government Spokesperson Radklao Inthawong Suwankiri announced that this crucial summit will focus on acknowledging and endorsing the progress made under the APEC Tourism Working Group…
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Fisherman electrocuted while repairing boat near Chanthaburi pier
A fisherman died after being electrocuted while attempting to repair his leaking boat. The incident took place yesterday near an old pier under the Somdet Phra Taksin Bridge in Laem Sing, Chanthaburi. Police Lieutenant Colonel Surapong Prongngam from Laem Sing Police Station received a report from the Sawang Katanyu Dharma Association’s rescue centre about the fatal accident. Upon arrival at…
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New automatic passport control tested at Suvarnabhumi Airport
The new Automatic Channel for passport control at Suvarnabhumi Airport was personally tested by Wisanu Prasarttong-Osoth, chairman of Airports of Thailand (AOT), before its official launch yesterday. This system aims to ease congestion at immigration checkpoints. Wisanu participated in a real-world test of the new automatic passport control system before heading to Malaysia on flight TG415. The new system is…
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Thailand investigates boat crash injuring four Chinese tourists
A probe has been ordered by Thailand’s Transport Ministry into a boat crash that injured four Chinese tourists near Tha Tien pier yesterday afternoon. The incident occurred around 4pm on the Chao Phraya River in Phra Nakhon district when a long-tailed tour boat collided with a Royal Thai Navy (RTN) ferry. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri reported that the crash…
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Thai condo market faces turbulence with Myanmar buyers blocked
The Thai condominium market is bracing for a storm as Myanmar’s crackdown on property purchases by its citizens threatens to halt a major influx of foreign investment. According to the Thai Condominium Association, the clampdown could significantly impact condo transfers during the second and third quarters of this year. Prasert Taedullayasatit, president of the association, revealed that Thai condo units…
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Austrian Airlines to operate more flights to Bangkok
Austrian Airlines, boasting a modern fleet of Airbus A320s, Boeing 767s, and Boeing 777s, has increased its weekly flights from Vienna to Bangkok to 13 flights. Brendan Shashoua, Lufthansa Group Senior Director Sales – Southeast Asia and the Pacific made the announcement. “Since 1988, Austrian Airlines has connected Vienna with the vibrant Thai capital of Bangkok. With Thailand being a…
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Thailand goes green: Major push for sustainable tourism unveiled
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched an ambitious plan to boost sustainable tourism, revealed at the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2024, held from June 5 to 7 in Phang Nga. A key highlight of these plans is hosting Asia’s second Tourism Cares summit in 2025. Partnering with the US-based NGO, this summit will focus on promoting regenerative…
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Thailand eyes MICE supremacy in Southeast Asia
Thailand is pulling out all the stops to become the epicentre of MICE tourism in Southeast Asia, with Vietnam emerging as a potential powerhouse partner. This ambitious vision, spearheaded by Puripan Bunnag, Senior Vice President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), aims to harness the post-pandemic resurgence in the MICE sector to bolster Thailand’s economy. “The MICE segment…
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Pheu Thai rethinks lese majeste inclusion in amnesty bill
Pheu Thai Party has reconsidered its earlier statement regarding the inclusion of Section 112, or the lese majeste law, in the amnesty bill. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated that the matter is complex and requires public consensus to prevent future disorder. Phumtham, the deputy leader of Pheu Thai, mentioned that the party has not reached a…
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Thai car sales plunge; luxury market hit amid economic woes
Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) reports a significant decrease in domestic car sales, affecting even the typically robust premium car sector. The struggling Thai economy and banks’ stricter auto lending policies due to high household debt, are impacting car manufacturers across all sectors. This includes the luxury market, which generally leverages higher purchasing power. “The automotive industry has been hard hit by this…
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Chinese tourist missing in Thailand, 25 million baht ransom
A Chinese tourist has gone missing while holidaying in Thailand, with her father receiving a ransom demand of 25 million baht for her release. Police at Phra Khanong Police Station were alerted by a Thai-Chinese interpreter named Moo, who works with the national cycling team coach, about the missing Chinese woman, 27 year old Xinlei Lu. Lu, who arrived in…
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3,900 Thai community radio stations to cease under new digital scheme
Approximately 3,900 community radio stations will be forced to cease broadcasting after this year due to the transition from analogue to a licensing regime and a digital audio broadcasting (DAB) scheme. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has been working on the digital radio regulatory framework, aiming to implement it by September. This significant change is set to happen…
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Six arrested for stealing electrical wires in Samut Prakan
A group of six individuals involved in cutting and stealing electrical wires in front of a police flat in Samut Prakan has been apprehended. This incident caused power outages and affected the residents. Police managed to track down and arrest the suspects after multiple thefts. At the Bang Phli Police Station in Samut Prakan yesterday, Police Colonel Pairoj Phetploy, along…
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Foreigners can now own land in Thailand: Land Dept
Thailand updates criteria for foreign land ownership: heirs can inherit land, investors need 40 million baht, writes The Nation. Foreign land ownership in Thailand is a complex issue, primarily dictated by the Land Code Act of 1954, which generally prohibits foreigners from owning land outright. This law is designed to maintain national control over Thailand’s valuable natural resources. There are,…
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Decline in family income threatens Thai children’s education
The average monthly income of Thailand’s very poor families has plummeted, placing children’s education in jeopardy. According to the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), these families’ earnings dropped to a mere 1,039 baht per month in 2023, down from 1,077 baht in 2020. This translates to a daily income of just 34 baht—far below the World Bank’s poverty line of 80…
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70% of Thais support methamphetamine threshold for legal action
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry revealed that 70% of Thai citizens agree with the regulation of having a minimum threshold of one methamphetamine pill for legal proceedings, while 30% prefer zero tolerance. The Ministry insists the threshold is necessary for effective law enforcement. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin chaired the opening ceremony of the new Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Centre…
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Sugar substitute Xylitol linked to increased heart attack and stroke risk
A new study by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic has revealed a significant association between the widely-used sugar substitute xylitol and an increased risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. This surprising finding, detailed in the European Heart Journal, raises important questions about the safety of sugar alcohols commonly found in a variety of chewing gums, food and…
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Vietnamese fugitive drug kingpin nabbed in Bangkok
One of Vietnam’s most wanted drug suspects has been captured in Bangkok after a year on the run. Vietnamese fugitive Nguyen Tuan Thanh was arrested at a luxurious condominium in Bangkok’s Watthana district, Police Lieutenant General Panurat Lakboon, Secretary-General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), announced today. The capture was orchestrated following a tip-off from Vietnam’s Counter-Narcotics…
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Silent but deadly: Thai woman nabbed for using mute couriers in drug ring
Police arrested a Thai woman with impaired hearing in Bangkok for using mute people as drug couriers, believing they would be unable to identify her or other dealers if caught. Officers from the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Bureau (IDMB) and Makkasan Police Station arrested the 53 year old woman, Prayoon, with impaired hearing, for drug trafficking conspiracy at her…
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Cyber police nab key administrator of major gambling site in Thailand
Cyber police apprehended the key administrator of a major gambling site, slotking77, which had a financial turnover exceeding 180 million baht. The arrest occurred after the individual absconded following a bail release at the prosecutor level today. Phumipat Phattharasriwongchai, Commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau 5, along with Ukrit Srinitivorawong, Chief of News Analysis and Special Tools Division, led…
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Search continues for missing Thai man at Srinakarin Dam
The search for a 41 year old Thai man continues 20 days after he went missing during a trip to the Srinakarin Dam. The former university lecturer was last seen on May 19 during a gathering with 30 friends. Despite extensive efforts from authorities and local villagers, there has been no sign of him. At 1.30pm today, Jaturapuch aka Toey’s…
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Thailand intensifies bird flu and anthrax monitoring
The Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and the Department of Livestock Development are gearing up to tackle potential outbreaks of bird flu and anthrax following reports of cases abroad. Four measures have been implemented to monitor these diseases in humans. Thongchai Keeratihatthayakorn, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control under MOPH, stated that there have been three cases of…
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Election bombshell: Call for senator vote delay amid legal storm
Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn urged the Election Commission (EC) to halt the district-level selection of senators slated for this Sunday. Somchai insists it’s “better to be late than to rush ahead” before the Constitutional Court’s impending ruling. The Constitutional Court has accepted two petitions challenging the constitutionality of three provisions in the election law, and a decision date has…
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