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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Many expats feel worried that their pre-existing health problems will stop them from getting insurance in a new country. This fear is common, especially when medical care can be expensive. But the good news is, some insurance, like the plans...
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Thai cops probe groping incident by foreign men in Bangkok
Thai police are investigating two foreign men who allegedly sexually assaulted some Thai women by groping their bottoms while the women were working on Khao San Road in Bangkok on Monday. A Thai woman shared pictures and videos of the two foreign men on her Twitter account on Monday, March 11 after the assaults. She urged netizens to help her…
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Italian-Thai development grapples with liquidity crisis amid scandals
Thailand’s leading construction firm, Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), is grappling with a liquidity crisis that has alarmed investors, regulators, and rating agencies. This scenario follows a series of local corporate scandals and debt defaults that have already unnerved the market. ITD confirmed yesterday, March 13, that it is seeking new loans from banks to alleviate the current cash crunch that…
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Beach umbrella operator sparks outrage on Jomtien Beach
Residents and tourists on Jomtien Beach were left fuming after a beach umbrella operator was accused of monopolising parking access to their designated area, despite being a public space. The conduct of the operator sparked concerns among the beachgoers, prompting Deputy Mayor Wuthisak Rermkijakarn to take swift action. Expressing dismay at the reported behaviour, Deputy Mayor Wuthisak personally visited the…
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Thai envoy unveils plan for Taiwanese investment boom
In an exclusive interview with CNA on Tuesday, the executive director of the Thailand Trade and Economic Office (TTEO), declared the nation’s readiness for an influx of Taiwanese investment, particularly in electronic manufacturing and construction projects. Narong Boonsatheanwong highlighted Thailand’s emergence as a Southeast Asian electronics manufacturing powerhouse, with a burgeoning global reputation for printed circuit board (PCB) production. Drawing…
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Thai school exam paper sparks debate on academic freedom
A seemingly routine social science exam paper ignited a firestorm of controversy across Thailand, leaving citizens and educators alike questioning the boundaries of academic freedom. The exam, which tasks students with discussing contentious issues ranging from Thai society and the monarchy to the commercialisation of Buddhism, thrust Wat That Thong High School into the spotlight. But it’s not just the…
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Notorious Bangkok fugitive Tum Pakdaeng nabbed in Rayong raid
An elusive drug dealer, who has a history of incarceration and expertise in evading capture, was arrested in the early hours of today, March 14, after a tip-off from an associate led police to his hideout. The arrest of Tum Pakdaeng was the culmination of an intensive investigation led by Police Colonel Monchai Arunsongsaengdee, the Chief of Taling Chan Police…
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Foreign couple caught having sex near mall entrance in Pattaya
Locals in Pattaya urged police to investigate a viral video showing a foreign couple having sex in public near the entrance of the Terminal 21 shopping mall. A Facebook user, Denis Krungtep, shared the video on his account yesterday, March 13, with a caption that read, “Pattaya again?” The 25-second-long video was recorded from the opposite side of the shopping…
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Thailand’s industrial ethanol: A game-changer in green economy?
Thailand is on the cusp of an industrial transformation as experts push for a major shift in ethanol production. Isares Rattanadilok na Phuket, Vice President of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) called to liberate the country’s ethanol potential, aiming to slash reliance on imports and catapult Thailand into a green economic powerhouse. The FTI has unearthed Thailand’s abundant capacity…
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Cash cow: Albino buffalo sells for record 18 million baht
A rare albino buffalo from Phetchaburi has charged into the record books, fetching a staggering 18 million baht, marking it the most expensive buffalo deal in Thai history, proving that this buffalo truly stands out from the herd when it comes to valuable livestock. Renowned for its breathtaking beauty and colossal stature, Ko Muang Phet isn’t just another farm animal,…
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Mother seeks justice for son’s death in hit-and-run in West Thailand
In an appeal for accountability, a 42 year old mother from Ban Krut in Prachuap Khiri Khan sparked an outcry over the death of her 25 year old son in a hit-and-run incident on March 8. Aomruthai Krajanswang, gripped by grief, seeks justice against the alleged perpetrator, believed to be a German national, who allegedly has shown no signs of…
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Singaporean motorist lashes out at Thai police officer over fine
A Singaporean man attacked a Thai police officer after he was fined for riding a motorcycle without a license and a helmet in Phuket. The incident occurred when traffic officers from the Cherng Talay Police Station stopped the Singaporean man, 37 year old Lim Jia Jie, at the Cherng Talay Intersection checkpoint on March 13. Lim was riding a motorcycle…
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Bangkok considers law to pave way for fair land compensation
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is exploring the possibility of implementing a city planning law that provides compensation to landowners whose properties are required for public infrastructure improvements. Bangkok Deputy Governor Wissanu Sapsompol announced yesterday, March 13, that the BMA has requested several property owners to allow a portion of their lands to be utilised for the expansion of neighbouring…
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Wheel deal: Wheelchair activist challenges airline’s boarding ban
A complaint has been lodged against an airline by an activist bound by a wheelchair, after the airline prohibited him from boarding, arguing that he did not have an escort. Kritsana Lalai, representing the Network for Transport Mobility for All, presented his complaint to Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister for Social Development and Human Security. Reacting to the situation, the minister…
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Update: Thaksin sets off for Chiang Mai with Paetongtarn
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra emerged from Chan Song La residence, alongside his youngest daughter and Pheu Thai party leader, Paetongtarn Shinawatra ready to take off for his hometown, Chiang Mai. At the crack of dawn, precisely at 5.19am, the duo paid their respects at the revered Bangkok City Pillar shrine, before departing on a jet plane bound for Chiang…
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Update: Sa Kaeo teen murderers’ parents fined for deadly deed
In a landmark ruling, the parents of five teenagers responsible for the death of a 47 year old woman in Sa Kaeo province have been fined 10,000 baht each by the provincial juvenile and family court. The lifeless body of Buaphan Pansu was discovered on January 12 in a pond near a school in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, bearing…
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Thai police hunt Tajik suspect in Russian man’s murder in Phuket
Thai police identified a Tajik man as a suspect in the murder of a Russian man at a cannabis farm in Phuket. The accused foreigner already left Thailand on March 12. A 34 year old Thai man, Burin, filed a report on the missing Russian man, 42 year old Artur Mkhitarian, at Chalong Police Station yesterday, March 13. Burin explained…
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Thailand health minister announces booze measures for Songkran
Thai Minister of Public Health Cholnan Srikaew recently addressed the public following a meeting with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee. The meeting centred around the development of guidelines for alcohol control during the World Songkran Festival, with a key focus on preventing road accidents related to drunk driving. The Department of Disease Control and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Network in…
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Flame game foiled: Chiang Mai crackdown scorches forest arsonist
Chiang Mai authorities have taken swift action against forest arson, resulting in the arrest and fining of a perpetrator following a tip-off from a vigilant citizen. Yesterday, March 13, a man was spotted igniting a fire within the protected forest area of Ban Pang Keut, Mae Taeng district in Chiang Mai. The deputy governor personally delivered a cash reward to…
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Missing Thai woman reportedly arrested in Malaysia
A Thai restaurant owner in Malaysia revealed that a Thai woman, who disappeared on March 8, has been arrested by Malaysian police. She is reportedly safe but will be unable to contact her family until her interrogation is complete. The missing Thai woman, 26 year old Chutimon “Care” Jantawisai, travelled from her home province, Loei, in Isaan to work at…
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Teenager high on marijuana causes motorbike crash in Nan
In the municipality of Nan, a collision between two motorbikes yesterday resulted in a chaotic scene involving a teenager high on marijuana. An intoxicated 17 year old male, under the influence of marijuana, crashed into a 15 year old girl at the Fa Mai intersection in Mueang Nan, Nan Province. Upon receiving the distress call, emergency services from Nan promptly…
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Family feud over 700 baht allowance leads to shooting in Pattalung
A family dispute over a modest elderly allowance of 700 baht escalated to a violent episode in Pattalung, with a 42 year old man, Tanadol, shooting his 39 year old brother-in-law, Phanasut, twice. Following the incident, Tanadol fled the scene but later surrendered to the police, confessing that the shooting was prompted by a fit of rage caused by the…
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Wage increase: EconThai’s projections for minimum daily wage
An anticipated meeting of the tripartite wage committee later this month is expected to sanction a second increase in the minimum daily wage for this year. However, the Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai) suggests the approved hike is unlikely to take the wage to the 400 baht mark. According to Thanit Sorat, the vice-chair of EconThai, the…
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Cloudy with a chance of cuffs: Teen nabbed for smuggling e-cigarettes
Police in Nong Khai arrested an 18 year old for illegally selling imported e-cigarettes, seizing 30 boxes hidden in a shoulder bag, ready for distribution. In a significant crackdown on the illegal e-cigarette trade, police in Nong Khai detained a young individual for operating an illicit business out of a local resort room. The arrest took place yesterday when the…
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Motorcycle crash in Chon Buri claims life, leaves mother in despair
A heart-wrenching scene unfolded on a road in Chon Buri province when a 29 year old man’s motorcycle collided with a parked truck, leading to his instant death. The subsequent arrival of his mother, who was overcome with grief, added a tragic dimension to the already grim traffic accident. In the early hours, local police and rescue teams were called…
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Bus and truck collision injures 30 on Chon Buri expressway
A collision involving a bus and a truck on the Burapha Withi Expressway near Bang Pakong, Chon Buri resulted in severe damage and multiple injuries yesterday. The incident, which took place between kilometres 45 and 46, left several passengers trapped and injured. Emergency services rushed to the scene of a major traffic accident on the expressway leading to Chon Buri.…
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Thailand eyes visa-free agreement with EU countries
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently announced the country’s ambitions to boost its tourism industry and international relationships, following a promising discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron. Held at the prestigious Élysée Palace in Paris, the meeting centred around a visa-free agreement with Schengen area countries, a strategic move that France has expressed support for. The Thai prime minister’s announcement…
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Gas explosion in China destroys restaurant, leaves one dead (video)
A suspected gas leak wreaked havoc at a restaurant in Hebei, northern China, causing a devastating blast that tore through buildings, wrecked cars and left one dead and 22 injured, as reported by state media and authorities today. According to CCTV News, the injured victims were swiftly transported to hospital following the explosion, which occurred around 8am in Sanhe County,…
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Thailand adds 38 flights to soar past Songkran price surge
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Office (CAAT) has decided to add 38 new flights to its schedule, in an attempt to combat inflated airfare prices during the Songkran festival and improve the overall travel experience for holidaymakers. Deputy Director of the CAAT, Sarun Benjanirat, brought this development to light as a direct response to the call from Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit for…
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Taxi turmoil: Motorbike mayhem as riders brawl with cabbie in Pattaya
A violent clash between motorbike taxi riders and a taxi driver near North Pattaya’s bus station was caught on camera last Sunday, March 10. In a dramatic video obtained by reporters yesterday, the chaos unfolds as motorbike taxi riders, donning their signature orange vests, unleash a barrage of blows on the hapless taxi driver, with his terrified passengers looking on.…
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Frenchman’s trial unveils multi-million euro Rolex replica ring
A Frenchman dubbed “the prince of fake” stands accused of orchestrating a sprawling network that flooded France with counterfeit watches. Admitting to masterminding the operation from Thailand, Julien V confessed to overseeing the production of up to 10 counterfeit watches daily, predominantly knock-offs of the prestigious Swiss brand Rolex, culminating in a staggering turnover of 3 million euros (117 million…
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