News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Sponsored 10 biggest challenges retirees face in Thailand (and how to overcome them)
Retiring in Thailand comes with many benefits, like warm weather, affordable living, and a rich culture. However, it also brings challenges. Retirees must deal with visa rules, healthcare costs, language barriers, and cultural differences. Rising medical expenses, required insurance, and...
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Alleged drug dealer busted in Chon Buri, police seize drugs and gun
An alleged drug dealer has been arrested in Chon Buri, a province to the south of Bangkok, with 780,000 methamphetamine pills, a kilogram of crystal methamphetamine, 6 kilograms of ecstasy, and a gun, yesterday. The police did not release the name of the alleged drug dealer as they say they don’t want to compromise their investigation into the suspect’s contacts.…
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Nearly 200 police have been found guilty of misconduct this year
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is demanding immediate and severe action be taken against police officers who are found guilty of misconduct. Since January, 176 Royal Thai Police officers have been found guilty of misconduct. The prime minister met with the Royal Thai Police Bureau yesterday to discuss the most recent cases of police misconduct. The Royal Thai Police says that since…
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Army ranger suspected of killing his wife and mother-in-law surrenders to authorities in Songkhla
An army ranger carrying a military-grade firearm allegedly shot and killed his wife and mother-in-law last Thursday. The ranger turned himself in to authorities in the Southern province Songkhla yesterday and is now facing charges for premeditated murder. 37 year old Sgt Maj Pheeraphat Onchart surrendered to his commander at the 47th Ranger Regiment, yesterday. Pheeraphat was then brought to…
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6 dead and 30 provinces affected by tropical storm ‘Dianmu’
The tropical storm Dianmu, which passed through northern Thaiand last week, has resulted in flooding across 30 provinces and has claimed 6 lives since September 23. The report says Dianmu has resulted in reported flooding in Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Tak, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Loei, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Yasothon, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket,…
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Kanchanaburi experiences earthquake so minor hardly anyone notices it
A minor earthquake of magnitude 3.2 was recorded by seismologists in western Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province early this morning. No damage or injuries were recorded and the Bangkok Post says no one even felt the temblor. The Meteorological Department says the temblor happened just before 5am and was centred 6 kilometres underground, somewhere under the Sri Sawat district, and 50 kilometres…
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Thailand’s reopening divided into 4 phases
Thailand is looking toward the future as the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration announced yesterday its plan to gradually reopen the country. The CCSA’s plan consists of 4 phases that take into consideration tourism revenue, geography, and Covid preventive measures. Pilot phase: October 1 to October 31. Phuket, Surat Thani, including Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao islands. Phang…
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Pattaya mayor confirms Pattaya reopening postponed to November
The Mayor of Pattaya City has officially confirmed the city’s reopening to vaccinated foreign tourists has been delayed to November. The announcement follows a similar one made by the centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, yesterday. The Pattaya City Mayor Sontaya Khunplomek says many provinces have delayed their reopening from October to November, including Chon Buri, the province Pattaya is situated…
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Thai PM hit with 50-million-baht lawsuit from angry restaurant operators
The Thai PM is being sued for 50 million baht by a restaurant group which is also representing 39 other restaurant operators. The Bangkok Post reports that the Never Ending Summer Co has filed a class-action suit against Prayut Chan-o-cha, seeking compensation for financial losses endured as a result of the government’s alleged mismanagement of Covid-19. The Civil Court issued…
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Central Thailand told to prepare for possible flooding
Officials from Bangkok and the nearby provinces of Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani are being told to prepare for possible flooding, following the Royal Irrigation Department’s decision to accelerate the discharge rate of water from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat in expectation of more rain. Thanakorn Tantikul, director of the Ayutthaya irrigation projects says the move was made to…
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Government urged to clarify tourism marketing plan ahead of high season
Following the government’s decision to re-open a further 10 provinces to international visitors from November, tourism operators are calling for a clear plan ahead of high season. Yesterday, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration agreed a number of measures, including reducing curfew hours in the dark red provinces, allowing a number of businesses to re-open, and extending the emergency decree…
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Police say new approach is needed to fight crime using a combination of technology and community participation
15 police stations across the country are participating in an innovative project that joins technology with an interpersonal approach to tackle crime. National police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk says police must reevaluate how they fight crime. He insists police must be knowledgeable and study modern policing. Suwat says educated police work more efficiently in what can be a fluid social environment.…
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Phuket governor petitions Bangkok to end restaurant alcohol ban, bar closure order
The governor of Phuket has lodged a formal appeal for restaurants on the southern island to be allowed to sell alcohol and for nightlife to be re-opened. The Phuket News reports that Narong Woonciew submitted the request to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration yesterday, citing the unprecedented financial struggles faced by locals as a result of the restrictions. The…
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Maria Kolesnikova: A heart for Belarus
The sentencing was a rare opportunity for the public to see Maria Kolesnikova, who had spent nearly a year in pretrial detention. On September 6, a court in Minsk sentenced the opposition politician to 11 years in a penal colony on charges including “extremism.” Her colleague, Maksim Znak, got one year less. The pair, who challenged Belarus’ disputed presidential election,…
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Will China’s move against coal power improve its image in EU?
The Chinese government made the surprise announcement last week that it will stop building coal-fired power stations abroad, a decision that could put it in the good books of the increasingly eco-conscious European Union. The pledge was made by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a pre-recorded address to the UN General Assembly, although he gave few details and questions remain…
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Monday Covid Update: 10,288 new cases; provincial totals
101 new coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 16,369. The country’s latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1, has accounted for 16,275 of those fatalities. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 10,288 new Covid-19 cases and 12,494 recoveries. Thailand…
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Thailand reduces quarantine to 7 days for fully vaccinated arrivals from October
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has approved a reduction in mandatory quarantine for vaccinated arrivals from Friday. Fully vaccinated travellers will now face quarantine of 7 days instead of 14. Unvaccinated arrivals, or those who cannot prove their vaccination status, will still be subject to a longer quarantine period of between 10 and 14 days. The CCSA also agreed…
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Phuket Car rental business says gang rented cars and then sold them off
The owners of a car rental business in Phuket are out 10 cars and vans after a gang said they wanted to rent the vehicles for business, including work with a large cannabis operation, but failed to return the vehicles. The owners say they are worried the vehicles have already been sold off in other provinces. One of the rental…
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Curfew shortened, Bangkok spas, gyms, cinemas can re-open from October
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has approved the re-opening of 10 business types in Bangkok and other dark red provinces. According to a Coconuts report, from Friday, spas, cinemas, and indoor gyms can re-open, along with pre-schools, museums, and tattoo parlours. The news is not so good for the owners of bars and clubs, which must still remain closed…
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TAT pushes for Indonesia, Malaysia to be added to approved list for Phuket sandbox
The Tourism Authority of Thailand says there is demand in the Malaysian and Indonesian markets, but both countries are currently off the approved list for the Phuket sandbox. The Bangkok Post reports that Sophon Tantayotai from the TAT’s Jakarta office says Indonesians are allowed to travel abroad but cannot avail of the Phuket sandbox, instead having to quarantine for 14…
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Powerful earthquake strikes near the Phillippines main island
A powerful earthquake struck just off the Philippines’ main island of Luzon, today. There was no reported damage or injuries, says the US Geological Survey and officials. The earthquake registered at a deep, 5.7 magnitude and hit near the Batangas province around midnight, Thailand time. Locals in Manila say there were woken up when their houses started shaking. The USGS…
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DSI says land documents were illegally issued for the Phuket “Sri Panwa” resort
The luxury resort in Phuket accused of land encroachment will now be investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Department of Land, and the Anti-Money Laundering Office. Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations looked into the “Sri Panwa” project in Phuket and said that the resort illegally acquired land rights documents. According to Nation Thailand, the DSI found that Sri Panwa…
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More than 3,000 houses affected by severe flooding in Chaiyaphum
Over 3,000 houses across 23 villages in the northeastern Thai province of Chaiyaphum have been affected by what is considered the most severe flooding in a century. Kittipong Thamsoparat, the Tambon Ban Phet Municipality mayor, says a massive volume of water has surged into the Bamnet Narong district by way of the nearby Thep Sathit district in Chaiyaphum, as well…
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12 Burmese migrant workers arrested in Kanchanaburi
12 Burmese migrant workers have been arrested near a border village in the Muang district in western Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province. Police say the group was arrested yesterday for illegal entry. The group of 5 men and 7 women were arrested by an army patrol from the Lat Ya Task Force around 4pm. The Bangkok Post says the group was hiding…
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Australian PM unsure about appearing at UN climate summit
The Australian PM, Scott Morrison, who is facing pressure to adopt a 2050 net-zero carbon emissions goal said today that he may not go to this year’s UN climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland due partially to his extensive travels this year. Australia is noted for being the world’s largest coal exporter by value as well as still being dependent on…
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Study says Covid has reduced life expectancy the most since WWII
The Covid pandemic has slashed life expectancy in 2020 by the greatest amount since WWII, says a study published today by Oxford University. The report says the life expectancy of American men has been reduced by over 2 years. The report goes on to say that life expectancy dropped by over 6 months juxtaposed with 2019 in 22 of the…
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Monday Covid Update: 10,288 new cases and 101 deaths
Today, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported 10,288 new covid-19 cases and 101 coronavirus-related deaths. Since April 1, in Thailand’s latest wave of the virus, 1,543,063 confirmed Covid-19 cases have been reported. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 12,494 recoveries. There are now 120,156 people in Thailand currently receiving medical treatment for Covid-19.…
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PM surveys damage from floods, says government needs better plan to handle floods in the future
In light of recent heavy flooding that has swamped Thailand, including in Chaiyaphum where a hospital was forced to evacuate 40 patients, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has conceded that the government is at a loss on how to solve the country’s annual flood problems. The PM did say compensation for flood victims will be on the way shortly. Prayut’s comments come…
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Czech Republic: Historic military bunkers go on sale
In the late 1930s, what was then Czechoslovakia built an extensive network of fortifications along the border with what was then the German Reich. Prague feared that the Germans would launch a surprise assault and overrun the country’s defenses before there was time to mobilize the army and reserves. Although the fortifications were not fully completed by September 1938, together…
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300,000 more AstraZeneca vaccines donated from Japan arrived
In a well-timed shipment, 300,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Bangkok today, a donation from Japan. Today is the anniversary of a milestone for Thailand and Japan, as September 26 is the anniversary of the original establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Today marks the 134th anniversary of the relationship between Japan and Thailand, a perfect…
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Extremely rare earthstar mushrooms found in Phetchabun
In Phetchabun, a local villager was clearing a forest area when he discovered what is believed to be earthstar mushrooms, one of the rarest species of fungi in the world. The extremely scarce mushroom is rumoured to cause a sensation of intoxication similar to being drunk if someone were to consume it despite technically being classified as inedible. The mushrooms,…
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