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 New in July: Save 10% for life on family health plans in Thailand
Cigna has a special offer this July for families in Thailand. When you sign up three or more people on a family health plan, you will save 10% on your premiums for life. This deal helps you get affordable, high-quality...
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Phuket bomb scare sparks mosque security clampdown
A disturbing wave of bomb scares has rattled Phuket, triggering a security crackdown at mosques as leaders vow to defend the island’s reputation as a top travel destination. Komol Damluk, President of the Phuket Islamic Council, called for unwavering vigilance and full cooperation with police after a string of coordinated bomb threats shook the province last week. Speaking to The Phuket…
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Illegal gold miners jailed and fined 500,000 baht each
Thong Pha Phum Provincial Court has sentenced two people to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 baht each under sections 90 and 78 of the Criminal Code. The charges stemmed from illegal gold mining activities within a national park and a protected forest area. The defendants, Achong and Anusorn, were charged by the Thong Pha Phum Provincial…
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Paetongtarn on pause: PM suspended amid leaked audio storm
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been temporarily suspended from office after the Constitutional Court voted 7 to 2 in favour of an investigation into a leaked audio clip that has rocked the nation’s political landscape. At 9.30am, today, July 1, a panel of judges met to deliberate on the petition submitted by Senate President Mongkol Surasak, which was backed…
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India’s growth to boost Southeast Asia’s aviation market
India’s significant economic expansion is anticipated to bolster Southeast Asia’s aviation market, including Thailand’s aviation sector, as noted by the Indian airline IndiGo, which intends to introduce its new business class seating to Bangkok and Phuket. IndiGo Chief Executive Pieter Elbers highlighted that whenever new Southeast Asian destinations are launched or route capacities increased, there is a notable surge in…
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China’s durian craze drives Thailand’s tech farming boom
Most people either adore it or gag at the smell, but durian — the spiky “king of fruits” that “tastes like heaven and smells like hell” — is winning over Chinese consumers in record numbers. Thailand, the world’s top durian exporter, is racing to modernise production as demand from China soars. Chinese agricultural experts are now working alongside Thai farmers…
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Two teens arrested for murder in Trang forest
Two 17 year old boys have been apprehended by police for allegedly shooting a 33 year old man in the head, burying his body in a forest, and attempting to conceal the crime. The body was discovered when locals noticed a tattooed left arm protruding from the ground. The incident occurred in a palm plantation forest in Mueang district, Trang province,…
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PM Paetongtarn takes culture role as Cabinet reshuffle stirs intrigue
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has officially welcomed her expanded role as Minister of Culture following a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle confirmed in the Royal Gazette today. Speaking after the Royal Command announcing her new Cabinet appointments, PM Paetongtarn described the moment as a profound honour. “It is a great royal benevolence to have received the royal command for the new Cabinet…
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Thailand Video News | Ho Chi Minh City to relocate 15,000 canal-side families in urban upgrade, Bangkok motorcyclist crashes after allegedly falling asleep on Expressway
In Bangkok, a motorcyclist’s dangerous crash, a rally sparking coup concerns, and street violence in Pattaya raise alarms over public safety. Meanwhile, Thailand’s evolving legal landscape covers drug enforcement, migrant rights, and community-police relations. Internationally, we cover a subway arson attack in Seoul, Indonesia’s call for justice over a migrant worker’s death in South Korea, and Czech intelligence’s exposure of…
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Two suspects arrested in 3.4 million baht robbery at Bangkok mall
Three victims, 35 year old Piyalab, 20 year old Rattaphum, and 29 year old Satjapoj, contacted officers from Phahonyothin Police Station after being robbed on the first floor of the shopping mall’s parking building yesterday, June 30. All three victims were reportedly in shock. Satjapoj recounted the incident to police, stating that the group arranged to exchange 3.4 million baht…
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Bangkok Mini Cooper driver flees motorcycle hit-and-run, 1 dead (video)
A shocking hit-and-run in Bangkok’s Phasi Charoen district has left one person dead and another critically injured after a red Mini Cooper ploughed into a motorcycle and sped away. The incident occurred around 6am on Sunday, June 29, near the entrance of Soi Phetkasem 19. The Mini Cooper was reportedly descending a bridge when it struck the motorcycle carrying 27…
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Police boat capsizes in Loei River chase, officer missing
Police yesterday were in pursuit of a suspect involved in a serious crime in Loei province. During the chase, a police boat capsized in the strong currents of the Loei River, leading to the disappearance of Police Lieutenant Roengsak Khokkhiew, who remains unaccounted for. Police investigators were examining a burglary incident, yesterday, June 30 at 3pm, at a scrap shop…
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Thai tax scam gang busted for billion-baht VAT fraud racket
The Revenue Department and the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) have dismantled a sprawling value-added tax (VAT) fraud network, allegedly responsible for over 1 billion baht in state losses. On June 26, coordinated raids were carried out across 14 locations in Tak, Chiang Mai and Bangkok. The operation led to the arrest of 63 year old Samran Naowarat and nine associates…
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Ordination ceremony in Suphan Buri draws lottery interest
At Wat Nong Wal Priang in Song Phi Nong district, Suphan Buri province, a significant ordination ceremony took place on June 29. The event, led by Phra Kru Baidika Suraphon Mahapanyo, was designed to perpetuate Buddhist teachings and provide a communal opportunity for 17 novice monks. The annual group ordination ceremony, was intended to continue the legacy of royal merit-making…
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2 e-cigarette vendors surrender after shooting 2 police in Pathum Thani
Two e-cigarette vendors surrendered to police at Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station in the central province of Pathum Thani after shooting two police officers during a sting operation on Sunday, June 29. The 28 year old Police Sergeant Autsanai Rueangsai posed as a parcel delivery rider to buy an e-cigarette from the primary suspect, 35 year old Naphontorn “Toon” Fakfueangboon.…
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Motorcyclist dies after crash on Pattaya-Bangkok motorway
A tragic incident occurred when a motorcyclist veered off the road, crashing into a Pattaya-Bangkok motorway bridge railing, resulting in the rider’s fatal fall from a height of 5 metres. Rescue efforts were in vain as the injuries proved too severe. At 3.06am today, July 1, the Sawan Boriboon Pattaya Rescue Centre received reports of a motorcycle accident on the motorway…
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Storming the banks: Tree tops ATMs in Bangkok showdown
A powerful storm barrelled through Bangkok at the weekend, toppling a massive banyan tree that smashed into a row of bank ATMs in front of the Din Daeng 2 Housing Authority office. Despite the chaos, an unflappable woman calmly continued her cash withdrawal in one of the dangerously tilted booths. A photo of her undeterred focus amid the wreckage on…
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Thailand rolls out cannabis prescription form for 15 conditions
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) issued an official prescription form for medical cannabis. The move yesterday, June 30, follows the Ministry of Public Health’s announcement on controlled herbs, which sets out strict regulations for cannabis use. The form, known as P.T.33, allows authorised practitioners across seven professions — including doctors, dentists, pharmacists and traditional healers —…
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Slithery surprise: Indian caught smuggling live snakes into Mumbai
An Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok was arrested at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on June 27 after customs officers uncovered a shocking stash of 16 live snakes concealed in his luggage. Yes, you read that right—live snakes! It’s a case that’s leaving everyone wondering: what exactly was he trying to scale his way through? The incident unfolded when…
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Thai-phoon forecast: TMD warns of heavy rain across the nation
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for severe weather across Thailand, predicting heavy rain, particularly in the south with a 40% chance, and in the north, northeast, central, and eastern regions, including Bangkok, with a chance of 60 to 70%. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates heavy rainfall in several provinces due to the moderate…
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Weed out competition: Thailand’s cannabis shops face crackdown
Thailand’s once-thriving cannabis industry is about to face its biggest shake-up yet, with new regulations that could see up to 12,000 cannabis flower shops shut down by the end of the year. The country’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) revealed a wave of stringent rules that could spell the end for many who have jumped on the…
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Thai man brags about income then flees bills at 2 Pattaya restaurants
Police released a Thai man who claimed to be wealthy but fled without paying bills totalling over 23,000 baht at two restaurants in Pattaya. A restaurant owner filed a dine-and-dash complaint at Mueang Pattaya Police Station on June 22. However, he had to turn to Channel 7 because police released the suspect free, even after he had confessed to the…
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PM confirms flawed construction behind state office collapse
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed today, June 30, that flawed design and construction methods were to blame for the collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok. After reviewing the final investigation report, Paetongtarn said the inquiry involved cooperation from the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University and King Mongkut’s Institute of…
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Royal Irrigation Department mobilises for nationwide flash flood threat
Flood preparations are underway across Thailand as meteorologists forecast several days of intense rainfall from July 1 to 5. The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) confirmed it is mobilising personnel, machinery, and equipment to high-risk areas following an alert from the National Water Resources Office (NWRO). The NWRO has warned of flash floods, stagnant water, and potential mudslides in several provinces…
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Fire at Saraburi paper factory claims 6 lives and leaves over 10 missing
A fire at a paper factory in the central province of Saraburi reportedly claimed six lives, with at least 13 people reported missing at the time of reporting. The Facebook page Fire & Rescue Thailand reported at 1.20pm today, June 30, that the blaze broke out at a paper factory in the WHA Industrial Estate, also known as Hemaraj Land…
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District official arrested for extorting migrant work permit fees in Chiang Mai
A senior district official in Chiang Mai was arrested for allegedly extorting millions of baht from brokers handling migrant worker registrations. Officials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), and police units apprehended a man named Boonyarit, who is the chief registrar of the Region 5 Registration Centre and district chief of San Sai, at…
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Karen refugee suspected in brutal murder of Thai employer
A Karen refugee from Myanmar was suspected of the murder of his Thai employer in Chiang Mai’s Mae Chaem district before fleeing to a refugee centre in Mae Hong Son province. The incident took place on June 27 when police were alerted to a murder in a mountain orchard in Ban Mae Satop Tai, Mae Suek subdistrict. Officers from Mae…
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Desperate Thai mother pleads for son’s arrest after he trades durians for Yaba
A Thai mother expressed her desperation on social media and called for police intervention after her drug-addicted son traded durians she had bought for him for Yaba, also known as methamphetamine. The mother in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo took to her Facebook account on June 17 to vent her fears and frustration. She posted a photo of two…
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Japanese BBQ restaurant fire damages Chachoengsao mall
A fire erupted at a shopping mall in Chachoengsao, prompting an evacuation of employees and visitors as fire and smoke quickly spread throughout the mall. Firefighters reportedly battled the blaze for over two hours before bringing the situation under control. At 8.30pm yesterday, June 29, Deputy Inspector Chalermpol Satharam from Mueang Chachoengsao Police Station received a report of a fire…
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Pheu Thai delays casino bill debate for further review
The Pheu Thai Party has announced a delay in the debate over the proposed casino-entertainment complex bill, initially scheduled for July 3. The postponement, which extends the timeline by about a month, is attributed to the need for further review rather than political discord. Danuporn Punnakanta, a Pheu Thai Party MP and spokesperson, confirmed the delay and emphasised that the…
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Thailand eases citizenship rules for children of long-term migrants
Thailand’s Ministry of Interior has announced new citizenship regulations aimed at resolving decades-long issues of statelessness among children born to long-term migrants. The order, signed by Deputy Interior Minister Teerarat Samretwanich, was published in the Royal Gazette today, June 30. will take effect immediately and will remain valid for one year, unless extended by the Cabinet. Under the new criteria,…
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