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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Tourism safety concerns: Thai Government urged to reassure China
The Thai administration is being prodded to collaborate with Beijing before implementing a visa-exemption scheme for Chinese tourists, as the country’s image suffers due to its portrayal as a transit hub for fraudulent activities in recent Chinese media, hindering tourism safety. A Chinese film titled No More Bets, which revolves around scammer networks in Southeast Asia, grossed a whopping US$505…
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Chinese ambassador backs visa perks to boost tourism
Han Zhiqiang, the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, expressed support for the impending visa privileges aimed towards Chinese tourists. These measures are being considered by both governments, to bolster Chinese tourism and investment in their respective countries ahead of the approaching peak season. Han voiced his endorsement during an orientation for the 18th Mandarin for Government Officers Workshop. This event was…
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Phuket water management: ONWR takes action on shortages, flooding, and wastewater
Phuket’s enduring issues of water shortages, flooding and inadequate wastewater management are set to be addressed by the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR). Surasri Kidtimonton, the secretary-general of ONWR, recently visited the province to track the progress of the water management plan and forest preservation initiatives around Kathu district’s natural water resources. Although Phuket stands as a crucial…
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Thai Police bust call centre gang linked to triple-murder case
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) yesterday made significant progress in cracking down on an infamous call centre gang, implicated in a shocking triple-murder case that sent shockwaves through the community of Pak Nam. The call centre gang is accused of defrauding a Thai man, leading him to murder his family and himself. Twenty-two warrants have been issued, with ten arrests…
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Thai thief’s pale for love: Beauty heist and boozy escapade
Police arrested a Thai man who stole 120 packs of skin-whitening products from a 7-Eleven convenience store in the Isaan province of Surin so his girlfriend would have radiant beauty like a superstar. He also stole vodka from a Lotus’s supermarket to throw parties with friends. The saga began when an eagle-eyed staff member at Lotus’s store caught the 38…
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Cyanide murder mastermind loses defamation case
The Criminal Court has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Sararat Rangsivuthaphan, known as Am, the alleged mastermind behind several murder cases involving cyanide, against Rapee Chumnanruen, who coordinated on behalf of the victims. The court’s decision came after evidence was presented proving Rapee’s statements made during a television interview about Am’s deception of authorities were true. Am’s lawyer, Thanicha…
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Hammer confusion: Mechanics flee customer brandishing hammer
A middle-aged customer strode into a mechanic garage and was stunned as everyone around him panicked and fled. Was it something he said? Did he inadvertently offend someone? Or perhaps it was the large hammer he was wielding as he entered the shop. The man was captured on video entering the workshop with a large hammer in hand, causing two…
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Jealous wife takes knife in the back for unfaithful husband in karaoke bar brawl
A jealous wife tried to drag her husband from a local karaoke bar in the northern province of Chaing Mai but ended up being stabbed in the back as a brawl broke out in the establishment. The woman’s 30 year old husband, Jakkrit, told Channel 7 that the stabbing incident occurred at about 1.40am in front of a karaoke bar…
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Thai taxi talk tiff: Dialect debate drives social media stir
The Thai Taxi Association ignited a heated debate on the nation’s social media platforms after they advised the capital’s taxi drivers to avoid talking to passengers in the Isaan dialect in order to level up the service standard of Thai taxis. Bangkok is considered to have the most taxis in Thailand due to the bustling demand for their services making…
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ThaiBMA warns investors about corporate bonds as firms struggle amidst pandemic
The Thai Bond Market Association (ThaiBMA) is urging caution among investors considering corporate bonds due to ongoing challenges faced by several companies in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ariya Tiranaprakit, ThaiBMA’s executive vice president, highlighted that three companies failed to meet debenture payments totalling 12.1 billion baht this year. Additionally, some firms struggled to adhere to corporate bond payment…
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Blue Strike 2023 Thai-Chinese naval exercise underway, navy commits to sunken ship recovery
In the Gulf of Thailand, off the coast of Chon Buri in the Sattahip district, a naval training exercise named Blue Strike 2023 is in full swing. This bilateral exercise between the naval forces of Thailand and China is a seven-day event, which started on Sunday, September 3 and is scheduled to wrap up on Sunday, September 10. This exercise…
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Thai man arrested for production of pornography livestream on Chinese app
Police swooped to arrest a Thai interpreter working on a porn set in Thailand that was livestreamed via a Chinese application. The police received a tip-off that a Chinese woman had turned Bangkok condominium into a porn set for her production team. The team produced explicit pornographic content and livestreamed it through an application. Viewers had to purchase a membership…
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Climate change hits Thai economy, calls for smart agriculture surge
The economy has been negatively impacted due to the challenges presented by climate change, leading to a decrease in farmers’ income because of reduced production, and affecting foreign investment. This has subsequently resulted in higher inflation and cost of living and impacted the export of agricultural products and food. This insight is according to a recent study conducted by the…
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Turkish investment scammer arrested for deceiving Thai woman
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested a Turkish man for operating an investment scam in Thailand after being tipped off by a Thai woman victim. Police discovered the foreigner has been operating the scam in Thailand for more than 10 years. A Thai woman yesterday filed a complaint against the Turkish man, 43 year old Onur Gungor, also known as…
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Thai hotel industry fears revenue and tax loss over reclassifying small properties
The Thai Hotels Association (THA) voiced concerns over recent ministerial regulations that exclude accommodations with fewer than eight rooms and 30 guests from being classified as hotels. The THA predicts this new rule will result in a 15-20% decrease in hotel tourism revenue, heightened safety risks, and loss of tax revenue. This regulation, announced in the Royal Gazette, has been…
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Heroic Thai husband’s defence of pregnant wife ends in fatal stabbing
A Thai man defending his pregnant wife from an attack from a man with mental health issues wielding a knife was fatally stabbed in the chest. Bang Sao Thong Police Station officers were called to the stabbing scene in the Keha Muaeng Mai Bang Phi Village in the Bang Sao Thong district of Samut Prakarn at 12.30am today. On arrival,…
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Thai police score big: Massive drug bust nets millions in meth and firepower
Thai police seized a staggering haul of illegal narcotics, in a drug bust, including three million methamphetamine pills, 11 kilogrammes of crystal meth, 7 kilogrammes of heroin, and a slew of military-grade weapons. The drug bust occurred in the Thanyaburi district of Pathum Thani province, following an eight-day stakeout operation. Despite the suspect evading capture, the operation has dealt a…
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Foot Locker kicks off its Thai journey, stepping into youth-driven sneaker scene
Foot Locker, the renowned speciality athletic retailer based in New York, launched its first store in Thailand, targeting the youth demographic and aiming to invigorate the sports shoe/sneaker market. The announcement came from Deepak Tomar, country general manager and director of MAP Active Adiperkasa, the official licensee for Foot Locker in Thailand, who revealed the store’s opening in the Siam…
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Buzz around relic-embedded Buddha statue in Ban Khai District
A renowned temple in the Ban Khai District of Rayong recently created a buzz with the construction of a colourful rendition of the Buddha statue, featuring vibrant green, yellow, and red hues. This edition, known as the Wat Taek version of the Buddha, also comprises relics of famous eastern monks, making it a hot topic among Buddhist statue enthusiasts. The construction…
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Russian man arrested for money laundering linked to scam call centre
Police arrested a Russian man for his involvement in a money laundering scheme for a scam call centre gang at a hotel on Koh Samui island in the southern province of Surat Thani. The arrest, on Sunday, September 3, followed the death of three people at a house in the central province of Samut Prakarn which was reported on August…
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Stormy surprise: Thailand tempest turns 54 provinces soggy
A powerful storm system is wreaking havoc across 54 provinces in Thailand, with the Thai Meteorological Department issuing a warning today. The southern region is experiencing the most rainfall, covering 80% of the area. Bangkok is also affected, with the residents urged to be vigilant for sudden flooding and forest runoff. The storm system is moving across the northern and…
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Thailand’s first expressway tunnel proposed through 36 billion baht investment
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) has put forth a proposal for an underground expressway, aiming to replace a contentious section of the N1 Expressway development. The proposal came after an extensive 17-month initial feasibility study. EXAT Governor Surachet Laophulsuk revealed this plan during the project’s second hearing, stating that multiple factors such as engineering, investment costs, and environmental impact,…
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Illegal Thai resort dismantled for violating National Forest Act
Phetchabun witnessed a significant operation yesterday as over a hundred officials systematically dismantled parts of a resort found to be unlawfully constructed on national forest grounds within the Khao Kho district. The collaborative force, comprising soldiers, local administrative officials, and police officers, effectively removed five bungalows that formed part of the Khaokho Freeday resort. The decision to dismantle came following…
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Drug suspect’s escape attempt causes crash, leaving five injured in Chon Buri
A drug suspect fleeing from police caused a traffic accident that resulted in five injuries, including two police officers and a resident. Found in possession of 100 methamphetamine pills and two bags of crystal meth, the suspect was eventually apprehended. The incident occurred yesterday on the Chon Buri-Ban Bueng road. At 9.30pm, the Chon Buri City Police received a report…
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Free visa for Chinese tourists stirs Thai transnational crime fears
The newly proposed travel policy by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, which includes free visa privileges for Chinese tourists, could potentially escalate transnational crime rates, as per the Immigration Bureau (IB) of Thailand. The program, which is set to kick off on October 1, is designed to stimulate the influx of Chinese tourists, who once dominated the tourist arrivals. However, despite…
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Neighbourly nightmare: Squatter sparks property feud with no end in sight
A couple in need of police and media intervention recently found themselves embroiled in a property dispute when a neighbour decided to squat in their long-abandoned house. The neighbour initiated extensive renovations and showed no willingness to return the property to its rightful owners. Sun, a 27 year old man, unveiled his plans to marry his girlfriend, Eye, by the…
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Bangkok’s multinational ambitions drive forward: BMA seeks government support
The drive to establish Bangkok as a multinational hub has gained momentum, with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) expressing intent to garner government backing for the initiative. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, yesterday, announced the intent to align the BMA’s policy with that of the government to stimulate the city’s economy and job creation. In a press briefing, Chadchart illustrated the…
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Catch me if you can: Rapist arrested after challenging police to apprehend him (video)
Police arrested a rapist yesterday who physically and sexually assaulted a 17 year old girl in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok. The sex offender also taunted the police prior to the arrest, saying, “You will never catch me.” The family of the victim filed a complaint against the alleged rapist, 29 year old Suppakarn “Ohm” Khansantier, after the teenage victim…
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New Thai Cabinet prioritises economic recovery, property and tourism sectors
The newly confirmed Cabinet, featuring many Pheu Thai Party members, is focusing on economic recovery matters and pledged to reduce energy costs to ease financial burdens. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin engaged with various business sectors but concerns about potential bias make it unlikely that the property sector will receive preferential treatment. Tritecha Tangmatitham, MD of SET-listed developer Supalai, believes the…
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Dancing duo wanted: Police on the hunt for kratom tea temptresses
Police are hunting for two women who danced provocatively and served free kratom tea at a public rest area on a motorway in the central province of Phetchabun. The Thai man who allegedly hired the two dancers shared a video showcasing their sexy dance performance at an empty parking area. The caption on the video read… “Kratom tea for free!”…
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