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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Pita says he is prepared to replace Srettha as PM
Former prime minister candidate Pita Limjaroenrat has stated he is ready to lead the country if the law permits and current PM Srettha Thavisin is ousted by a court verdict. Pita, a prominent figure in the Move Forward Party (MFP), expressed his readiness to take the reins amid growing political uncertainty. At the Bangkok Pride Parade held at the National…
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Elderly woman transforms village with 500-metre flower garden
A 75 year old woman has garnered widespread admiration online for her dedication to maintaining a 500-metre stretch of flowers along a roadside. Initially mistaken for a government project, the flower garden is entirely the work of the elderly woman. The online community was abuzz with appreciation after a clip posted on the page Jae Moi V+ from TikTok user…
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Srettha seeks legal counsel from Wissanu amid Pichit controversy
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has sought legal advice from his newly-appointed adviser, Wissanu Krea-ngam, to prepare his defence in court over the contentious appointment of Pichit Chuenban as a PM’s Office minister. Srettha disclosed yesterday that a defence has already been drafted but requires further refinement before its submission to the Constitutional Court by June 10. “He is one of…
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Thailand’s tech exports face threats as Vietnam takes lead
Thailand’s export sector, which contributed 54.5% of GDP last year excluding services, faces potential disruption due to rapid technological advancements. Vietnam has surpassed Thailand in exporting high-tech products, emerging as a key production base for the downstream electronics industry. The global market’s recovery, particularly in computers, semiconductors, and smartphones, has driven this demand. Thailand mainly exports intermediate electronics products like…
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Lopburi monkey mayhem: Biker crashes over stolen durian
A Lopburi monkey caused chaos by leaping onto a motorcycle and snatching a bag of durian, leading to the rider crashing and sustaining injuries. The incident, captured on video, showed the monkey seizing the bag from a man riding past Phra Prang Sam Yot, resulting in the rider being bitten and requiring hospital treatment. Doctors indicated that the wounds were…
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HR leaders urged to align vision for strategy success
Aligning every member of an organisation with a unified vision has become essential in today’s fast-changing business environment. The recent HR Talk, titled E=AMC: Unlocking the Code — How HR Can Turn Strategy into Action, delved into this theme, offering significant insights into how Human Resources teams and leaders can transform strategic visions into concrete results. Distinguished speakers at the…
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Grieving mother pleads for justice after son shot dead by gang
A bed-ridden mother mourns her son, a Grade 8 student, who was shot dead by a gang. She pleads for the police to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators, asserting her son had no conflicts with anyone. Yesterday, a tragic incident occurred in Nakhon Phanom where three individuals on a motorcycle shot 14 year old Oak in the back of the head,…
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Government to advance 47 billion baht in PPP projects this year
Government investment projects under public-private partnerships (PPP) are set to advance this year, nearing the target of 47 billion baht, as projected by the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo). Sepo’s director-general, Tibordee Wattanakul, mentioned that the PPP investments are expected to alleviate the government’s fiscal responsibilities. By February, the PPP Committee had sanctioned 18 billion baht for fiscal 2024, focusing…
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Songkhla pushes for cruise terminal to boost tourism
The Songkhla Tourism Association is calling for government intervention to boost tourism by constructing a cruise ship terminal and introducing direct flights from Chinese cities to Hat Yai. President of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association Songchai Mungprasithichai announced plans to seek government support for direct flights to Hat Yai, proposing routes such as Kunming-Hat Yai to attract more Chinese tourists…
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Six arrested for operating illegal gambling sites linked to Cambodia
Authorities have arrested six individuals in connection with two illegal gambling websites, believed to be linked to a criminal organisation in Cambodia. The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) commissioner, Police Lieutenant General Worawat Watnakhonbancha, confirmed the arrests following an investigation into the websites mm.safa555.com and safa55game.com, which were actively promoting online gambling. According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat, both websites…
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Body of foreign man found on Pattaya beach
A foreign man was discovered dead and washed ashore in Pattaya around noon yesterday, sparking a police investigation. Police arrived at the beach opposite Soi Pattaya 3 Road to find the body of a white man with distinctive tattoos: a flower on his left arm and a bird on his right arm. The man was dressed in black shoes and…
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Over 50% of Bangkok residents give Chadchart a thumbs up
Bangkok’s bustling streets are abuzz with approval for Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s performance, as a recent NIDA Poll reveals. After two years at the helm of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Chadchart has garnered widespread satisfaction among residents. In an extensive survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), 2,000 Bangkok residents aged 18 and over shared their views…
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Pattaya mayor takes action to prevent parasailing accidents
Pattaya City Mayor Poramet Ngampichet has called for urgent action following a worrying increase in accidents related to parasailing and other water activities. In a decisive meeting held on Friday, May 31, the mayor sat down with city and tourist police to discuss tightening regulations for parasailing operators. Currently, these operators offer an array of activities: from thrilling jet ski…
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Intoxicated Thai man arrested after rampage in Wichit
A Wichit man was arrested following a seven-hour siege at his father’s car shop, with police seizing a small arsenal of firearms. The standoff, which saw residents gripped in fear, finally ended peacefully as the suspect tried to make a getaway in a luxury car that wouldn’t start. The ordeal began late Friday night when a distressed woman in Phuket…
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Pattaya’s persistent peddlers: Foreign flower sellers annoy tourists
Reports have emerged once more on May 26 of a troublesome trend in Pattaya: foreigners with young children in tow, struggling to speak Thai, are pestering tourists by aggressively hawking flowers and candies. Despite polite refusals, these persistent peddlers continue to follow potential customers, even tugging at their arms, creating a significant nuisance for holidaymakers. Witnesses have also reported groups…
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Thai man falls from six-story Pattaya hotel
A tragic incident occurred yesterday morning when a 23 year old Thai man fell from a six-story hotel in Soi Pattaya 5, Banglamung, Chon Buri. The incident took place at 9.36am yesterday, prompting an immediate response from Pattaya City police and the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Foundation. Upon arrival, authorities discovered Sahatsawat’s body in the hotel parking lot, causing panic…
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Fugitive caught after 16 years, taunting police on social media
Sixteen years on the run ended abruptly for a fugitive wanted for attempted murder after he taunted police on social media. On June 1, a team led by Montri Teshkan, Police Major General, arrested 35 year old Wuttichai, also known as Kay,in Chumphon’s Lang Suan district. Authorities had been searching for Wuttichai following an incident on April 10, 2008. That…
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Loan sharks arrested for assaulting teacher in Ratchaburi
Authorities have apprehended two notorious loan sharks for assaulting and publicly humiliating an assistant teacher in Ratchaburi province. The couple filmed the assault and nearly shaved the victim’s head before their clippers malfunctioned. The incident began when a Thai woman named Fa gathered a group to attack the assistant teacher due to missed debt payments. The interest rate imposed was…
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Hot water spring found under statue at Wat Suan Kaew Uthayan
Hot water has been discovered bubbling up from beneath the base of a statue at Wat Suan Kaew Uthayan in Samut Songkhram. The statue, Tao Wessuwan, a deity figure standing 2.5 metres tall, is situated next to the temple’s main hall. Concerns initially arose that the heat might be due to an electrical short circuit. However, after digging approximately 50…
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Phuket beautician shot by van driver after DNA test dispute
A grey van driver in Phuket shot a slingshot at a beautician, causing her to bleed, due to anger over his wife refusing a DNA test for their child. Social Hunter 2022 posted an image and a warning, alerting Phuket residents about a grey van with the licence plate number 30-9306 Phuket. The van nearly collided with a motorbike, driven…
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Phuket Airport to invest 6 billion baht in new international terminal
Phuket Airport plans to invest 6 billion baht to construct a new terminal dedicated to international flights, aiming to boost its passenger handling capacity from 12.5 million annually to 18 million. The airport’s director, Monchai Tanod, highlighted the urgent need for expansion. Last month, the airport saw an influx of around 16,000 domestic passengers daily, hitting 90% of its pre-Covid-19…
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Thai film industry to exceed 3.8 billion baht at Cannes festival
The 77th Cannes Film Festival has presented significant opportunities for the Thai government, local filmmakers, and production companies to secure lucrative business deals. The festival, which ran from May 14 to 25, is expected to generate more than the 3.8 billion baht grossed from last year’s event. Companies participating in the Thai booth, which showcased local films and promoted tourism,…
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Thailand’s Pride Month to attract 860,000 visitors
The Thai government is preparing to champion gender equality, anticipating that Pride Month activities will provide a significant economic boost. Deputy government spokeswoman Kenika Ounjit highlighted that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration had announced this initiative as he assumed office. “The government aims to foster a society that embraces diversity and equality across age, gender, religion, and social status, positioning…
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Thai CBD market faces 10bn Baht losses
The Hemp and Cannabis Industry Association in Thailand has sounded alarm bells over the possible relisting of cannabis and hemp as narcotic plants. The controversial decision by the government could lead to industry operators incurring losses upwards of 10 billion baht in combined investments. CBD, or cannabidiol, a medically beneficial compound found in both cannabis and hemp, has skyrocketed in…
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Stepfather arrested after six years of child abuse in Bangkok
A twelve-year-old girl‘s brave revelation led to the arrest of her stepfather, Amnuay Dongtan, 60, accused of sexually abusing her for six years. Despite the girl’s pleas, her biological mother chose not to believe her and even tried to derail the police investigation. This underage victim suffered continuous abuse, which began when she was only six years old. This true…
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Chadchart signs MOU on renewable energy projects in Bangkok
Bangkok has taken a significant step towards becoming a smart city, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt and Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) Governor Wilas Chaloeysat. The agreement, formalised yesterday, aims to advance smart city development and renewable energy projects in Thailand’s bustling capital. Chadchart stressed the importance of sustainable energy and efficiency,…
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Confusion at BKK Airport Immigration: Travelers got 30 days entry instead of 60 days
The recent announcement of a 60 days visa exempt at arrival in Thailand has apparently not yet been enforced at Suvarnabhumi Airport and land borders. Confused travellers arriving this morning at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) received 30 day entry stamps only, not 60 days as they had expected. The announcement from different Thai Government entities had announced 60 days stamps for…
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Car bursts into flames in Ratchaburi, no injuries reported
A woman driving to her mother’s home in Ratchaburi parked her car by the roadside, only to see it engulfed in flames moments later. Witnesses described seeing smoke before the fire erupted, leading to a dramatic scene that required emergency intervention. Authorities received a report at around 6.30pm yesterday of a car fire just past the entrance of Wat Chok,…
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Lottery fever: Chai Nat buzzes with potential winning numbers
Today’s lottery draw is generating significant buzz in Chai Nat Province, with enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the next round of potential winning numbers. The Government Lottery Office (GLO) will conduct the draw at the Learning and Tourism Development Centre at Chao Phraya Dam in Sapphaya District, heightening the anticipation among lottery hopefuls. The excitement surrounding the lottery is palpable, with various…
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Thai eCommerce rivalry set to surge
Thailand has recently plunged into the eCommerce market, spurring job creation and economic fortification. The country has a predicted eCommerce growth rate of between 5 and 7% between 2025 and 2027. What does the Thai eCommerce surge mean for US businesses? The eCommerce world is changing, and US businesses must adopt the latest tools and technologies to stay ahead of…
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