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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Expats: New Thai visas make elite status obsolete
Longstay expats are in uproar as Thailand’s new visa policies render their costly long-term options nearly worthless. The introduction of a 60-day visa-exempt policy and the 180-day Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) has left many feeling shortchanged. Geoffrey Fisher, a Brit who recently forked out 900,000 baht (approximately £20,000) for a five-year Elite visa, lamented, “I’ve wasted my money as more…
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Stolen luxury cars returned to Thailand’s British Embassy
Thai police handed over 30 of 35 stolen luxury cars to the British Embassy, marking a significant breakthrough in a convoluted case that dates back to 2016. These high-end vehicles, valued at millions, are set to be returned to their rightful owners in the UK. The return was officially announced yesterday, July 19 during a joint press conference featuring Minister…
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Thai senior police officer disguised as monk arrested in scam probe
Thai police apprehended a senior police officer, allegedly involved in a call centre scam, who had fled to become a monk in Lampang. The officer denied being the ringleader, claiming he was merely an accomplice. An investigation into a call centre scam led police to a residence in Pa Tan, Mueang district, Chiang Mai, and another apartment within the Baan…
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Police seize 6 million methamphetamine pills in North Thailand
Police in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand seized 6 million methamphetamine pills (meth) and 21 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) that had been abandoned in the area. However, the individuals responsible for transporting the drugs escaped arrest. Chucheep Pongchai, Governor of Mae Hong Son, instructed Anek Pantayom, the District Chief of Pai, to address the drug…
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Police arrest man terrorising Don Mueang community
Police apprehended a Thai man for causing disturbances in Don Mueang. Residents complained about his disruptive behaviour, including blocking roads and live-streaming. Police searched his home, discovering weapons and taking him into custody. The Thai man, 42 year old Ekaluk, also known as Ek Saiteo, has been a notorious figure in his neighbourhood for some time. Residents finally reached their…
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Pickup causes severe multi-vehicle crash in Chachoengsao
A high-speed attempt to overtake ended in a severe accident involving a pickup truck, a Toyota Fortuner, and an 18-wheeler truck last night, July 19, on the Chachoengsao-Phan Thong Road. The collision left multiple vehicles damaged and individuals injured, with rescue operations underway. Police officer Teep Mailuekdee from Ban Pho Police Station in Chachoengsao province received a report of a…
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Police seize vaping products worth 5 million baht in Lat Krabang
Police raided a large warehouse in Lat Krabang yesterday, July 19, discovering over 60,000 pieces of illegal vaping products worth 5 million baht. Two suspects were arrested, and the warehouse was disguised as a grocery store. Police Colonel Korrawis Thongsriwanich, head of Division 1 of the Tourist Police Bureau, led the operation. His team collaborated with Police Colonel Somkid Pracheunsuk,…
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Thai tenant shocks owner by bringing 29 cats for one night (video)
A tenant staying at a daily rental room shocked the owner by bringing 29 cats along for just one night. Initially, the situation seemed amicable, but it ended poorly. TikTok user @brand2lor, who owns daily and monthly rental rooms, posted a clip showing the aftermath of a guest who rented a room for a single night and brought along 29…
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Sattahip officials detain mentally ill man after resident complaints
Sattahip District officials, responding to residents’ complaints, apprehended a mentally ill man who had been causing disturbances and damaging property. Sattahip District Chief Phakhawat Khanthahiran tasked his deputy and a team of officials, along with Sattahip Police, to address the situation yesterday. Upon arriving at the scene, the team worked together to restrain the unidentified homeless man. He was then…
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Truck driver in Bangkok collision found with drugs
A massive collision involving 29 vehicles in the Rama 2 area of Bangkok on Wednesday, July 17 has led to significant developments. Tha Kham police provided updates on the involvement of a four-wheel truck driver who is receiving treatment at PMG Hospital under police guard. Blood tests conducted on the truck driver, Kiatchai, revealed the presence of amphetamine in his…
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Four Colombian men arrested for Bangkok area home burglaries
Four Colombian men have been apprehended in Nonthaburi and Chon Buri for a series of home burglaries targeting housing estates in Bangkok and nearby provinces. Immigration officers and police arrested three suspects at a condominium in Mueang district, Nonthaburi, and the fourth at a hotel in South Pattaya, Chon Buri, according to Police Major General Panthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of…
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Bangkok urged to create app for safer, fair motorcycle taxi fares
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has been urged by a city council member to develop a new application for motorcycle taxis to ensure passenger safety and fair pricing. Viput Srivaurai, representing Bang Rak district, advocated for leveraging technology and innovation to enhance motorcycle taxi services. Viput emphasised that the BMA should implement a data management system to organise services and…
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Over 2 million unregistered Thai mobile numbers suspended
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended the services of over 2 million mobile phone numbers after their owners missed the identity registration deadline yesterday. This move aims to enhance security and reduce fraud related to unregistered mobile numbers. The affected numbers are primarily linked to individuals possessing between six and 100 unregistered SIM cards. The suspension affects their…
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Surat Thani marks king’s birthday with beach, underwater clean-up
Government officials in Surat Thani, in collaboration with the Koh Tao Subdistrict Municipality, organised a beach and underwater clean-up event to honour the birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua on July 28. Yesterday, July 18, at the Chulalongkorn Stone Court in Koh Tao, Pha Ngan district, Surat Thani province, several officials and local leaders, including the Deputy Director of the…
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Drunk Thai man stabs taxi rider with scissors to avoid paying fare
A drunk Thai man stabbed a motorcycle taxi rider in the neck with a pair of scissors outside a village in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok on July 17 because he could not pay the fare after spending all his money on booze. Bang Bua Thong Police Station officers were alerted to the stabbing and rushed to the scene with Poh…
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TikTok account theft: Popular Pattaya pancake vendor seeks justice
A popular crispy Tokyo-style pancake vendor in Ko Khram near Pattaya is in distress after discovering that someone close to her has stolen significant amounts of money and her branded handbags. Additionally, her TikTok account, boasting 2.5 million followers, has been sold without her consent. Oranya Aphaiso, known as Olive, reported the incident to the Ko Khram Police Station and…
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Thailand tops South Korea’s drug seizure list
Thailand continues to dominate in the seizure of illicit drugs by South Korean police this year, accounting for a significant portion of the narcotics confiscated at the country’s entry points. Thailand was responsible for 25% of the 298 kilogrammes of drugs seized in South Korea during the first half of 2024, according to data from the Korea Customs Service (KCS)…
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Slapstick meth dealer flees from police, runs into wall, gets caught
A slapstick meth dealer in Nakhon Ratchasima was apprehended in a drug raid on his residence, where he attempted to flee, but ran into a wall in his drug-fuelled haste. He was promptly caught by the police, who discovered his hidden stash of methamphetamine. Police from the Khon Buri Police Station, led by Deputy Superintendent Decho Phengleng, and Investigation Inspector…
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Business ties: Thailand extends visa-free stay for Hongkongers
Thailand’s extension of visa-free visits for Hong Kong residents is expected to bolster business relations and entice more visitors from the financial hub, despite a recent murder-suicide incident in Bangkok, according to industry leaders. The tragic event, involving six people, has not deterred travel plans, they emphasised. Anthony Lam Sai-ho, Executive Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, praised…
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Phuket enforces 48-hour alcohol ban for Buddhist holidays
Patong police announced a 48-hour ban on alcohol sales in bars and restaurants as Thailand observes the Buddhist holidays Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa this weekend. Violating the alcohol sales ban could result in up to six months in jail or a fine of up to 10,000 baht, according to the notice issued by Patong Police. Officers informed bar…
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Thai man with epilepsy crashes and kills student on Bangkok road
A Thai man with epilepsy yesterday crashed his pickup into a sedan car and two motorcycles on Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok, injuring three motorists and killing a university student. Officers from Phahonyothin Police Station and rescuers from the Portektung Rescue Foundation rushed to the accident scene on Ratchadapisek Road in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok yesterday afternoon, July 18. Officers…
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Chulabhorn Hospital offers free Hepatitis screenings
Chulabhorn Hospital invites the public to participate in a free Hepatitis B and C screening programme in honour of the king on July 25 and July 26. The initiative celebrates the His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday on July 28. Chulabhorn Hospital, under the Chulabhorn Royal Academy, announced the event today, encouraging citizens to join the screening programme. The screenings…
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Wichit conducts major tsunami evacuation drill in Phuket
Phuket’s Wichit Municipality conducted a comprehensive tsunami evacuation drill and rescue exercise yesterday, July 18, aimed at bolstering disaster preparedness in Phuket. Wichit Mayor Kreetha Chotiwichpipat and Mueang Phuket District Chief Worasit Putjeeb led the drill, which involved multiple agencies in a Table Top Exercise (TTX). The simulation was designed to test the municipality’s ability to respond to a tsunami…
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Thailand rubber farmers oppose fund use for fish purchase
Rubber farmers in Prachuap Khiri Khan raised concerns over the Ministry of Agriculture’s decision to use funds from the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) to buy black-banded trevally fish at 15 baht per kilogramme. The farmers question the fairness and appropriateness of this policy. Rungroj Ratanakaw, a resident of Thong Mongkol subdistrict in Bang Saphan district, voiced his disagreement with…
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Tenzing Pacific Services predicts market’s ‘positive momentum’ to continue
Tenzing Pacific Services is anticipating positive stock market momentum to carry through to the end of 2024 despite volatility and share performance dispersion. Tenzing Pacific Services, a health, life, and business insurance and investment company, saw June as a mixed bag when it came to growth. This is in large part due to the market’s performance not necessarily correlating with…
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Crispy pork surprise leaves Bangkok diner shell-shocked
A shocking discovery of a metal fragment in crispy pork left a woman stunned at a local restaurant in Bangkok. Despite her calmness in approaching the vendor to inform them of the discovery, she was met with indifference and received no apology. A woman posted in the พวกเราคือผู้บริโภค (We Are Consumers) Facebook group about her experience at a food stall…
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Virgin Active celebrates 10 years of operation in Thailand
Virgin Active Thailand is celebrating 10 years of operations and is looking to continue boosting the health and wellness of the country. Part of the Virgin Group global portfolio, Virgin Active currently has 8 clubs in Thailand, which deliver nearly 60,000 exercise classes yearly. Country Director for Virgin Active in Southeast Asia, Julien Bera, sees the 10th anniversary as a…
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Pattaya’s art explosion: Colourful contest unveils future stars
Recognising the vital role of promoting cultural growth and conservation, the Pattaya City Cultural Council recently launched the highly anticipated Pattaya City Visual Arts Contest 2024. With the vibrant theme, Pattaya: A Way of Colours, this contest is designed to ignite the creative passions of young and emerging artists from all walks of life. Pattaya City Council President Banlue Kullavanijaya,…
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Boy sleeping in Chiang Mai laundrette sparks action (video)
A young boy has drawn widespread attention after sleeping alone in a laundromat in the Chiang Mai province late at night. Concerned netizens expressed their desire to help the child, sparking a conversation about his welfare. Footage shared by TikTok user @suwatchareek captured the boy entering the laundromat around 3am and staying until 5am. “A little boy came to sleep…
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Thai man on the run after stealing 10 million baht from employer
A Thai woman is demanding Pathum Wan Police Station officers speed up their investigation after her employee stole 10 million baht in cash from her on July 5. The thief remains at large. The victim, 68 year old Pimduen Siyaphak, urged Channel 7 and other news agencies to publicise the image of the alleged thief, 60 year old Preeda, to…
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