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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Surin ex-headman’s incense ritual unveils lucky lottery numbers
A revered former village headman ignited incense sticks that revealed auspicious numbers in Surin province yesterday, continuing a streak of providing winning lottery numbers over several draws. The ex-village headman, 61 year old Bai Kannula, led relatives and his family in a ritual to honor the household spirits at his residence, No. 52 in Ban Ka, Nong Khawaw sub-district, Sikhoraphum district,…
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Thai economy struggles post-election, foreign investment declines
Thailand’s economy continues to struggle despite the first General Election since 2019, which was anticipated to stimulate growth and attract foreign investors. Instead, the nation has seen its benchmark stock index decline for the fifth quarter consecutively, foreign investment is waning, and the baht is showing the second-worst performance amongst Asian currencies. According to Narongsak Plodmechai, CEO of SCB Asset…
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Ptyas found on deity’s palanquin sparks Thai lottery frenzy
An unexpected visitor, a nearly 2-metre-long Ptyas snake, was discovered lounging atop a palanquin meant for the revered Mother Goddess at the Thapthim shrine in Chai Nat, central Thailand, spurring a wave of lottery number seekers at the site. The incident occurred on March 23, when firefighters from the Chai Nat Municipality were called to the shrine situated behind the…
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BAAC to back 50,000 tech-savvy farmers with 55 billion baht
The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), a state-owned entity, outlined an ambitious plan to foster a new breed of technologically adept farmers. The bank intends to support 50,000 young, smart farmers over the next five years, offering low-interest loans that total 55 billion baht (US$1.5 billion). BAAC president, Chatchai Sirilai, announced the project’s key objective following a memorandum…
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Thai millionaire loses over 63 million baht to romance scammers
Police arrested two women and three Thai men for orchestrating a romance scam spanning six years, during which they swindled a millionaire out of more than 63 million baht. The Thai millionaire realised he was being scammed after nearly going bankrupt. He revealed the whole story to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) leading to the arrest of the main romance…
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Thai police uncover British man’s decomposing body in Pattaya
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) on Monday discovered the deeply disturbing sight of a British man’s decomposing body inside a Pattaya condominium. Pattaya Police Station received notification of the body, prompting a swift response from officers and Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan rescue workers. Upon arrival, Pattaya police officers found the dead man, identified as Harold Jhon Milligan, a 63 year old…
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Thai government splurges 2.95 billion on free school lunches
The Cabinet has given the nod to a 2.95 billion baht free school lunch programme for nearly half a million students nationwide for the upcoming 2025 academic year. Karom Pholpornklang, the deputy government spokesperson, revealed the comprehensive scope of the initiative, stating that it will extend its benevolent reach across 7,344 schools throughout the country. This plan encompasses 6,855 schools…
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Price surge in off-season rice boosts Thai farming
The president of Ban Mai Khao Farmers Group commended the recent increase in the price of fresh off-season rice, which has hit 10,000 baht (US$280) per tonne. This price surge not only encourages the traditional practice of rice cultivation among Thai farmers but also ensures a steady income for them. Suphan Phathom’s area of oversight includes the last remaining rice…
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Saraburi: 36 gamblers caught red-handed in midnight raid
Acting on reports of clandestine gambling, officers from the Thai Crime Suppression Division surrounded a nondescript house, launching a blitz operation in Nong Don, Saraburi on Monday, March 25. Inside the unassuming residence, dozens of gamblers huddled around tables, engrossed in their illicit card games. In a matter of moments, 36 individuals found themselves in handcuffs. As the interrogation commenced,…
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Quick action: Bangkok police recover 70,000 baht for Chinese man
Bangkok police officers demonstrated integrity by successfully recovering 70,000 baht in cash for a Chinese man who had lost his wallet on March 25, highlighting that not all Thai cops are corrupt. The Chinese man, Zhang Wei, rushed to Huay Kwang Police Station after finding himself without a wallet at midnight on March 25. Zhang believed he might have left…
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Growth in Thai exports expected in Q1 due to stable freight costs
Thailand is set to experience a 1 to 2% growth in export value during the initial quarter of the year, fuelled by stable freight costs and rising shipments of key commodities such as rubber, rice, pet food, electronics, and automobiles. This positive forecast is shared by Keerati Rushchano, the permanent secretary of commerce, who anticipates a steady growth trajectory as…
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University student found dead in Nan River, Phitsanulok
A 23 year old university student who had been missing for two days was found dead in the Nan River in Phitsanulok, northern Thailand. The fourth-year student from a well-known university, identified only as Teeraporn (surname withheld) was found without any apparent injuries, suggesting a grim conclusion to her life. The initial report came yesterday when local authorities were alerted…
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Pickpockets theft of Norweigian-Thai couple was karma, say cops
A Thai police officer dismissed a complaint from a Norwegian man and his Thai girlfriend who lost 30,000 baht in cash and a mobile phone to four pickpockets outside a shopping mall in Bangkok. The Thai cop allegedly told the foreigner it was his fault, a result of bad karma in their past lives. The Thai woman and her Norwegian…
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Thai lawyer uncovers police-linked bribery network
A recent revelation has shaken the Thai law enforcement scene as a lawyer uncovered a gang, allegedly linked to the police, involved in an extensive bribery racket. The racket reportedly amasses over 100 million baht each month through illicit kickbacks. Sittra Biabungkerd, serving as secretary to the People’s Lawyers Foundation, brought this issue to light in a press conference held…
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Former prosecutor files lawsuit in Red Bull hit-and-run case
A former senior prosecutor from the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) filed a lawsuit against Police Colonel Thanasit Taengchan, a former forensic officer for the infamous 2012 hit-and-run incident involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya, also known as Boss. Chainarong, accompanied by his lawyer Paisan Chuarphon, lodged the lawsuit at Bangkok South Criminal Court yesterday. The case accuses Pol. Col.…
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Pork-smuggling mafia’s son arrested at Don Mueang Airport
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) at Don Mueang International Airport yesterday apprehended Karin Piyapornpaiboon, the adopted son of a notorious Chinese pork-smuggling mafia figure, Li Sheng Jiao, known as Hia Kao (Brother Kao). The arrest took place at 7.40am as Karin’s plane from China touched down, with him being transported to the DSI headquarters by 9am, as disclosed by…
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Thailand forecasts 558 billion baht foreign investment in key sectors
Following a series of global roadshows led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, the Board of Investment (BoI) anticipates a surge of at least 558 billion baht (US$15 billion) in foreign investment inflows into Thailand. The funds are expected to be channelled primarily into four critical sectors – digital, electric vehicles (EVs) and components, electronics and semiconductors, and logistics. BoI’s Secretary-General,…
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Saab swoops to supply Gripen jets to RTAF in 19-billion-baht deal
Saab AB, the Swedish aerospace company, yesterday announced its intention to supply Gripen fighter jets to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). The company’s proposal aligns with the Thai government’s offset policy and other requirements for national capability development set by the RTAF. The offset policy mandates that suppliers of new military equipment to Thailand provide equal economic evaluations in…
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Thai govt assures no loss of Koh Kood sovereignty in future talks
A reassurance has been issued by the Thai government, stating that the country will not surrender sovereignty over Koh Kood, located in Trat province, to Cambodia during future negotiations concerning the partitioning of marine resources in their shared Overlapping Claims Area (OCA). In a statement during the Senate’s general debate on Monday night, Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara referred to…
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Friend of Thai comedian suspected of stealing from shoe collection
A close acquaintance of renowned Thai comedian Jazz Chuanchuen has been issued with an arrest warrant for making off with several items from Jazz’s extensive shoe collection, worth over 300,000 baht. Min Buri Police Station Chief, Police Colonel Kris Komnoi, stated that investigators had gathered evidence, particularly from a social media livestream by the individual claiming responsibility for the break-in and…
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Hong Kong’s national security law: Foreign corporations
Corporate lawyers and consultants have revealed that foreign corporations operating in Hong Kong have been revisiting their strategies since the previous year in anticipation of the recently passed domestic national security law. Despite assurances from the city and central authorities that the legislation, dictated by Article 23 of the Basic Law, would neither disrupt operations nor negatively impact the city’s…
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Thai Lion Air & Krabi Airport has worst WiFi in the world
Thai Lion Air and Krabi International Airport in southern Thailand have garnered notoriety as some of the worst WiFi service providers, according to reviews from travellers on Airline Quality (also known as Skytrax). EletronicsHub, an online tech gadget review and information platform, conducted an analysis of WiFi connectivity based on reviews of airports and airlines worldwide on the Airline Quality…
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TikTok user draws from Chinese calendar for April lottery
Lottery buffs remain undeterred in their search for lucky numbers, with the Thai government lottery draw scheduled for April 1, drawing considerable attention. As always, the quest for the winning digits is on, with participants scouring various sources for their preferred numbers. These sources range from celebrities’ suggestions to social media buzz, as well as tried-and-true methods like the Chinese…
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Shooting and Molotov cocktails attack rocks Phuket Town
Phuket City police are currently investigating a violent incident on the outskirts of Phuket Town which resulted in a young man being shot in the foot, with accompanying reports of Molotov cocktails being hurled. The authorities were alerted to the event by the staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital, who reported a patient admitted with a bullet wound in his left…
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Can Thailand achieve high-income status by 2037? (video)
As Thailand steers towards high-income status by 2037, a formidable obstacle looms large: rampant flooding wreaking havoc on its economy. In an exclusive interview with Thai PBS World, the World Bank unveils a groundbreaking strategy to expedite flood management, potentially transforming Thailand’s economic landscape. Read on to discover the game-changing insights and bold plans set to redefine Thailand’s future. Amid…
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Thaksin Shinawatra’s secretive meet-up sparks political uproar
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s sudden appearance at the Pheu Thai Party’s headquarters has sparked intense speculation about his true intentions. To dispel mounting rumours, Phumtham Wechayachai, former Pheu Thai Secretary-General, clarified that Thaksin’s scheduled rendezvous on Tuesday was merely a gesture of convenience. “It’s not about control. It’s about respect.” Phumtham asserted that the visit was solely to facilitate…
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Russian graffiti vandals busted in Patong
The two Russian men on a graffiti rampage after a booze-fuelled escapade in Patong, Phuket, have been arrested. Police Major General Saranyu Chamnarnrat, Deputy Chief of the Provincial Police Region 8, revealed the arrest of the Russian vandals today. Identified as 23 year old Evgenii Egorov and 22 year old Oleg Shirshov, the spray-painting mischievous pair were nabbed from a dormitory…
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Beachside business caught red-handed with Pattaya city floats
Pattaya officials swooped in on a beachside entrepreneur’s operation, seizing floats that were allegedly repurposed from government property for commercial gain. Residents raised eyebrows at the brazen use of what appeared to be city-owned pontoons for private enterprise on Krating Lai Beach in north Pattaya. The Deputy Mayor of Pattaya City, Manot Nongyai, spearheaded a team of city officials yesterday…
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Thailand’s car industry hits the brakes: Production plunges 20%
With a significant decrease in production, Thailand’s car output experienced a 19.28% year-on-year slump in February, with the total units produced amounting to only 133,690, as reported by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The numbers, attributed predominantly to the reduced production of pickup trucks and increased imports of electric vehicles (EVs), starkly contrast the 12.46% dip recorded in January.…
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Visa-free travel sparks surge in Thai-Chinese tourism expectations
A recent measure granting visa-free travel between Thailand and China has sparked a surge in tourism expectations. As per the reports collected by five Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) overseas offices located in Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Chengdu, and Guangzhou, it’s predicted that tourism between the two nations could dramatically rise by the end of 2024. The visa-exemption agreement, which has…
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