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 Why 8 Atelier Residence is poised for growth: Phuket’s investment hotspot in the making
Phuket’s residential real estate market is no longer defined only by beachfront villas and short-stay resort condominiums. The island is now seeing sustained interest from international investors targeting long-term yields, capital stability, and access to full-scale lifestyle infrastructure. Looking at...
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Summer solstice brings longest day and shortest night tomorrow
The summer solstice tomorrow will mark the longest daylight period of the year and the shortest night. The sun is expected to rise at around 5.51am, remaining visible for approximately 12 hours and 56 minutes. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, reported that the summer solstice marks the…
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Stormy forecast: Extreme rain and thunderstorms in 42 provinces
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued another severe weather warning for 42 provinces nationwide, forecasting heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Bangkok is expected to experience significant rain coverage at 70%, with authorities urging caution for flash floods and forest runoff. The TMD released a 24-hour weather forecast today, highlighting the strengthening southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the…
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Japanese tourist exposes corrupt Thai traffic officer in viral video
A Japanese tourist exposed a corrupt Thai traffic police officer by sharing a video of the officer in Bangkok asking him to secretly pay 500 baht to avoid a charge for driving without an international driving licence. The Japanese YouTuber shared a video with the caption, “How to deal with corrupt Thai police when you get arrested.” In the video,…
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Monk gone rogue: Novice vanishes from temple, reappears briefly
A 16 year old novice monk who went missing from a temple in Kanchanaburi, was found in Nonthaburi but has since disappeared again, leaving only his sash and a note behind. Yesterday, June 20, at Bang Bua Thong Police Station in Nonthaburi, Somchit, the abbot of Wiakakee Temple in Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi, and Wichai Saisangsin, the village headman, travelled from…
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PM Srettha in talks with BoT chief over handout scheme
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has yet to address Bank of Thailand (BoT) Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput’s staunch opposition to the government’s colossal 500-billion-baht handout scheme. Acknowledging the brewing conflict, PM Srettha admitted he and the central bank governor held divergent views, necessitating urgent discussions. Governor Sethaput, in a candid Bloomberg interview, criticised the sweeping economic stimulus, suggesting it was excessive…
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Purrfect: Stray cats seek forever homes at Bangkok Expo 2024
Bangkok’s Benjakitti Park is buzzing with excitement as the BKK Expo 2024 rolls into town, inviting animal lovers to consider adopting stray cats and transforming lives one purr at a time. Deputy Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Governor Tavida Kamolvej announced today, June 20, that a variety of stray cats, now vaccinated and sterilised, are being showcased at the Sua Pa…
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Defence ministry clarifies salary guidelines
To quell public outrage, the Defence Ministry unveiled comprehensive guidelines detailing what can and cannot be deducted from conscripts’ salaries. The move follows a recent scandal involving dubious salary deductions by the 22nd Logistics and Supports Battalion. The guidelines, released on the ministry’s website today, clarify the permissible deductions from the 11,000 baht monthly salary of conscripts. This announcement comes…
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Limited-edition banknotes issued to celebrate king’s birthday
The Bank of Thailand has released a stunning series of commemorative banknotes, igniting a frenzy among collectors and royal enthusiasts. These special 100-baht notes are designed to honour His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday, marking his 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary on July 28. Available from July 23, these exclusive notes are already creating waves. Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput…
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South Korean tourist plummets from 27th floor in Chon Buri
A 54 year old South Korean tourist was found dead after leaping from the 27th floor of a luxury condominium in Sri Racha, Chon Buri. Police were alerted to the scene at an undisclosed condominium in Sri Racha. Upon arrival, police and rescue workers found the lifeless body of Min Chucha, a South Korean tourist, lying motionless on the ground.…
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Exploitative Chinese tour operations targeted by Tourism Ministry
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports pledged decisive action against Chinese zero-sum tour operations exploiting Thai nominees to dominate the influx of Chinese tourists by offering significant price cuts, posing a severe threat to local Thai tour operators. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) raised the alarm earlier this week, noting a surge in Chinese tour groups reminiscent of…
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Temple tragedy: Friends turn foes in bizarre brawl
A brawl left two friends critically injured in a surreal spectacle opposite the serene Huai Yai Temple in East Pattaya. Two friends turned their playful banter into a shocking duel on Tuesday, June 18. One of the men, 36 year old Weerayut Chomthalak was found at the scene with a severe head injury, bleeding profusely and possibly under the influence.…
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Phuket crowned Thailand’s tech haven
Phuket has been declared Thailand’s most technologically advanced province among 23 smart provinces, while Wangchan Valley in Rayong clinched the top spot in the city category, according to a report by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA). The rankings, unveiled by DEPA’s Smart Cities Office in the Thailand Smart City Competitiveness Index (TSCCI) 2023 report, evaluated 30 smart cities across…
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Cops hunt Khon Kaen w*nker: Serial flasher exposed on video
Police are searching for a Thai pervert for repeatedly masturbating in public in front of a group of women in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The man was arrested for theft just a few weeks before the debauched incidents. The depraved suspect, identified only as 32 year old Billy, is wanted by officers at Thapra Police Station in Khon Kaen…
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81% of hazardous cadmium waste returned to Tak province
Nearly 81% of mishandled hazardous cadmium waste, totalling approximately 13,000 tonnes, has been returned to its source in Tak province, with the remaining waste in Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri provinces awaiting transport. The Ministry of Industry reported today that 10,507 tonnes of tailings had been delivered to Bound and Beyond Plc in Tak, accounting for 81% of the 12,948…
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Online shoppers in Thailand warned about second-hand scams
Online shopping for second-hand goods offers convenience and variety at the click of a button but it also comes with risks. Anti-Fake News Centre Thailand recently warned the public to be vigilant when purchasing second-hand items online to avoid falling victim to scams and inadvertently buying stolen goods. The rise in popularity of online shopping has attracted not only genuine…
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Vape escape: Cyber police seize e-cigarettes worth 17 million baht
Cyber police raided two key locations, dismantling a major e-cigarette network and seizing over 80,000 items worth more than 17 million baht. Two suspects were apprehended, claiming they were merely caretakers. Earlier today at the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) headquarters in Mueang Thong Thani, TCSD Commissioner, Navin Sengsomwong, alongside relevant police authorities and representatives from the National Tobacco Products…
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Torsak Sukvimol reinstated as National Police Chief
Police General Torsak Sukvimol has resumed his role as National Police Chief following an investigation into a prominent internal conflict, as announced by Wissanu Krea-ngam, an advisor to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Wissanu disclosed the results of the investigation, which was initiated by the prime minister through a fact-finding committee led by Chatchai Promlert. The inquiry scrutinised the discord between…
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Forest fires cut Thailand tourism revenue by 400 million baht
Forest fires in Thailand have severely impacted the economy, with annual tourism revenue dropping from 2 billion baht to 1.6 billion baht. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is urgently implementing prevention plans to address these issues. Director of the National Park Office at the DNP, Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn revealed that most forest fires are human-induced, resulting…
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Thailand sobers up: Slams brakes on extended alcohol sales hours
The Government of Thailand dashed hopes of extended alcohol sales hours, citing alarming statistics on road casualties and accidents. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced the decision following a tense panel meeting at the ministry on Tuesday, asserting that public safety must take precedence. “The ministry’s alcoholic beverage control committee reviewed road accident statistics and related legal implications, recognising the…
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Brief encounter: Cobra sneaks into man’s boxers in Rayong (video)
Snake Rescue Rayong officials safely removed a cobra that slithered into the boxer shorts of a Thai man while he slept. A rescuer and an exotic pet lover shared a video and some words of the rescue operation on his Facebook account, Ner KhwaiTai, on June 8. “A little cobra with big venom. It seeks warmth in human’s boxer shorts.…
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Malaysia and China join forces on billion-dollar rail project
China’s plans to extend the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) into Thailand are set to transform Southeast Asian trade. Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced the initiative during his visit to Malaysia yesterday. The US$10 billion (approximately 366 billion baht) ECRL, a key project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aims to connect Malaysia’s east and west coasts by 2026. Initially…
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Police bust cross-border vehicle theft gang in Ubon Ratchathani
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers, along with Ubon Ratchathani Highway Police, apprehended a gang involved in stealing and selling vehicles across borders. The suspects admitted to stealing three motorcycles in a single day, earning 14,000 baht for their efforts. Today, June 20, Kirati Hoemsrichat, Police Lieutenant Colonel of Highway Police Division 4, led the operation with the CIB. The officers…
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Don Mueang tollway tolls to rise by up to 10 baht
Don Mueang Tollway, the operator of the elevated Uttraphimuk Tollway, announced a toll increase of 5 to 10 baht, bringing the maximum toll fee to 170 baht, effective December 22. The announcement was made today by Don Mueang Tollway Public Company Limited, informing users about the upcoming change in toll rates based on the concession contract amendment agreement 3/2550 dated…
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Phuket lifeguards raise red flags as surf conditions turn deadly
Lifeguards today have raised red no swimming flags along Patong Beach, urging all residents and tourists to avoid entering the water. This follows a notice issued yesterday by Phuket Vice Governor Sattha Thongkham, acting on behalf of the governor of Phuket. The red flags indicate areas deemed too dangerous for swimming due to heavy surf conditions. Despite these warnings, some…
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Thai man demands bank accountability after 100k ATM malfunction
A Thai man demanded that a bank take action and responsibility after he lost 100,000 baht in cash due to a malfunction at an automated teller machine (ATM) in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The victim, 29 year old Dunlathorn, filed a complaint with Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station regarding the loss. He explained that as a lottery seller, he had deposited…
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American tourist and Thai girlfriend drown in Phuket
An American tourist and his Thai girlfriend drowned after allegedly ignoring a red flag weather warning at Mai Khao Beach in Phuket. The bodies of 45 year old James Edmond Newman from New York, and 48 year old Waranya Chanphai from Surin province, were discovered on Monday morning, June 17. Police Major Ronnapoom Permpoon of the Thachatchai Police Station stated…
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Phuket police seize drugs and pen gun in major Chalong bust
Phuket Provincial Police arrested a 28 year old man in Chalong for possession of over 4,800 methamphetamine pills, also known as Yaba, more than 22 grammes of crystal meth and a homemade pen gun. Led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phichit Thongto, Chief of the Crime Suppression Division at Phuket Provincial Police, officers apprehended Surawut Ratanaliam at a rented room off…
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Isaan hospital probe urged after alleged misdiagnoses lead to deaths
Non-profit organisation Be One is demanding an investigation into Phra Thong Kham Hospital in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima following reports of more than 10 patient deaths due to alleged misdiagnoses. The issue came to light after the death of 15 year old Natdanai, who sustained serious head injuries in a motorcycle accident and was admitted to Phra Thong…
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Cutting-edge ambulance delivered to Chalong Hospital, Phuket
In a collaborative effort to enhance emergency responses in southern Phuket, Rawai Municipality, the Rotary Club of Andaman, and the Phuket Chamber of Commerce have come together to donate a cutting-edge emergency ambulance to Chalong Hospital. The donation ceremony was spearheaded by Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos, alongside the former President of the Rotary Club of Andaman, and the club’s current…
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Sky-high opportunities: Vietjet Thailand holds recruitment event
Vietjet Thailand took off with its largest recruitment event in six years on June 15, transforming the Paragon Cineplex in Siam Paragon into a bustling hub of aviation career opportunities. This year’s Sky Career Festival, an annual extravaganza since 2018, saw the launch of Vietjet Thailand’s groundbreaking Major Cadet Pilot Training Programme. Over 10,000 eager attendees flocked to explore diverse…
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