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.
-
Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
-
Julian Assange plea deal leaks path to freedom
Julian Assange yesterday agreed to plead guilty to an espionage charge in a move aimed at securing his release. The founder of WikiLeaks is currently en route to Australia, having been freed from prison in the United Kingdom after consenting to admit to breaching United States espionage laws. The 52 year old editor, publisher, and activist will admit to conspiring…
-
Actress Ning Panita sued for 1 million baht in defamation case
Zan Wisaphat and her lawyer filed a defamation lawsuit against actress Ning Panita at the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court after police investigations stalled. Zan Wisaphat Manomaiyarat and her lawyer, Pornsak Vipasa-apanon, arrived at the court to file the case, claiming Ning Panita had made false accusations against her. Previously, the public prosecutor had decided not to press charges, prompting Zan…
-
Motorcyclist killed in Nonthaburi accident with six-wheeled truck
A man tragically lost his life in Nonthaburi after being struck by a six-wheeled truck while riding his motorcycle on Rattanathibet Road yesterday. His skull was crushed following a failed overtaking attempt. Officers from Bang Sri Mueang Police Station in Nonthaburi received a report about the fatal accident on the inbound parallel lane heading towards Phra Nang Klao Bridge in…
-
Army clarifies conscripts’ commemorative item rumours
The Fourth Army Region clarified the recent rumours regarding deductions from conscripts’ salaries for commemorative shirts and rings, stating that such items are optional and not enforced. The military training units have no policy mandating these purchases. The official Facebook page of the Fourth Army Region issued a statement addressing the claims that conscripts in Thailand’s southern border provinces were…
-
Phatthalung police officer suspended for 30,000 baht extortion
A senior police officer in Phatthalung has been suspended following allegations of extorting money from a 38 year old mother, whose 16 year old son was charged with attempted murder. The officer has been ordered to take leave until the investigation is complete. The incident began when the mother filed a complaint after her son, along with others, was arrested…
-
Older diesel cars said to face stricter inspections to curb pollution
The Pollution Control Department is set to introduce new regulations requiring diesel vehicles over 20 years old to undergo bi-annual inspections to tackle PM2.5 pollution. Pollution Control Department Director-General, Preeyaporn Suwannakes revealed that PM2.5 particulate matter arises from various sources and differs depending on activities in each area. Bangkok and its surrounding metropolitan area, plagued by heavy traffic congestion, are…
-
Student electrocuted by water cooler at Trang school event
A tragic incident occurred at a school in Trang Province, where a 14 year old male student was electrocuted by a water cooler while the school was hosting a sports event. This incident took place last Friday. Over 300 students returned to the school yesterday, dressed in white and black clothing, to mourn the loss of the deceased student. The…
-
Man’s desperate plea for debt repayment of nearly 1 million baht
At the Mahachakrapad intersection in Chachoengsao yesterday, a man driven by desperation stood on a bridge with a sign pleading for the repayment of nearly one million baht, borrowed by a friend. This friend not only refuses to repay the debt but has also threatened legal action against him. The man displayed two handwritten signs addressed to the woman. “Dear…
-
Thai handicrafts to drive economic growth, says Deputy PM
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce has tasked the Institute for the Promotion of Thai Arts and Crafts (SACIT) with enhancing Thai handicrafts to boost the economy. This initiative aims to honour the legacy of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother. Deputy PM Phumtham announced policies to advance the SACIT at Bang Sai, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.…
-
Brothers arrested for Facebook scam soliciting hospital donations
Police arrested two brothers for a Facebook scam operation, with fake profiles of local celebrities to fraudulently solicit donations, claiming that an 8,999 baht donation was essential for the purchase of hospital equipment. At a press conference held yesterday at the Provincial Police Region Office in Udon Thani, Senior Police Officer Chakat Tiamwong, alongside other high-ranking officers, announced the arrest…
-
L’Oréal commits to 100% recycled packaging by 2025
L’Oréal Group, with its vision L’Oréal for the future, has committed to sustainable business practices aiming for significant positive impacts on society and the environment by 2030. L’Oréal’s ongoing strategies include using recycled plastic packaging, renewable energy systems, and water conservation efforts. Additionally, the company has not tested products on animals since 1989, pioneering alternative testing methods to truly create…
-
Thailand to impose VAT on all imported goods from July onwards
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance announced the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods, which aims to address disparities between foreign and domestic sellers in terms of tax obligations, effective from July 5 to December 31, 2024. The Royal Thai Government Gazette published the Ministry of Finance’s declaration today, June 24. The declaration focuses on customs duty exemptions for items…
-
Mobile tower battery gang charged with theft
The Thai police dismantled a gang stealing backup batteries from mobile phone signal towers, resulting in over 10 million baht in damages from over 100 batteries stolen. The Police Region 2 Commissioner Songprasong Yentoem, along with Investigation Commander Teerachai Chamnanmor, and Somchai Nakrat from Advanced Info Service (AIS), yesterday, June 23, held a press conference to announce the capture of…
-
Fatal collision on Rama 2 Road claims life of delivery rider
A tragic accident involving a pickup truck and a motorbike resulted in the death of a 50 year old female rider. The driver claimed he did not see the motorbike, while several illegal migrant workers fled the scene but were later apprehended. At 6.30pm yesterday, June 23, Police Lieutenant Pitiphan Wongaree received a report of a fatal collision between a…
-
Cat-astrophe at cat cafe: Woman claws for 25,000 baht after bite
A female customer is suing a Japanese cat cafe for 25,000 baht after being bitten by a cat, claiming negligence from the establishment despite the immediate care provided by staff. The cafe has since provided a detailed timeline and response to the incident, which has sparked widespread debate on social media. The incident occurred on February 11, when the customer…
-
3 Thai cops face 30 days jail for drinking on duty, abandoning posts
Three policemen at Mueang Kalasin Police Station in Isaan face 30 days in jail after one of them allegedly got drunk on duty while the two others went home to take a nap during working hours. A Thai man took to TikTok to share a video of himself engaging in a conversation with a drunk police officer at Mueang Kalasin…
-
Oink oink: Man offers 99 pig heads to fulfil vow at Nakhon Pathom temple
A young employee visited a renowned temple in Nakhon Pathom with his wife and child to fulfil a vow made to a revered Buddhist statue, bringing offerings of 99 pig heads, 100 boiled eggs, and nine types of fruits. At 9am yesterday at Klang Bang Phra temple in Nakhon Pathom, worshippers gathered to pay respects to the revered Luang Por…
-
Russian man arrested in Phuket for teaching riding illegally
Phuket Tourist Police detained a Russian man for illegally working as a motorbike driving instructor in Kathu. Following a tip-off, officers initiated an investigation into motorbike-riding lessons advertised on Instagram. Their inquiries led them to the now-defunct floating market’s parking lot in Kathu, where they apprehended 29 year old Roman Lazarev around 2.30pm yesterday. Upon arrival, officers found Lazarev in…
-
Female dugong found dead from illegal fishing nets in Krabi
In a tragic event marking the fourth dugong death caused by fishing equipment this year, a female dugong was discovered dead this morning, entangled in a crab fishing net off Ao Nang Beach, in Krabi Province. The incident was reported by a local tour boat operator who spotted the floating carcass approximately 600 metres from the shore. Staff from the…
-
Thai man consumes whale puke to treat gout and nourish his skin
A 54 year old Thai man in the southern province of Satun ate whale puke in the belief that it could cure gout, nourish his skin, and improve his health. During an interview with Channel 3, the Thai man Sinong displayed 3 kilogrammes of whale puke. He explained that he had found the substance near Koh Daeng, an island in…
-
Heartbreak leads to drink driving arrest of former Buriram monk
Police charged a former Thai monk with drink driving after he was found sleeping with four cases of beer in a sedan car at Pa Kluay Intersection in the Isaan province of Buriram. The suspect claimed he drank hard because a woman tricked him into leaving his monastery before breaking his heart. A local who stumbled upon the former monk,…
-
Thai police squash pumpkin smuggling ring from Laos to Mukdahan
The Thai police and related services intercepted an illegal shipment of 1,170 kilogrammes of pumpkins being smuggled from Laos into Mukdahan, Thailand. The suspects fled upon seeing officials, leaving behind the contraband valued at 35,000 baht. A coordinated operation involving the Surasak Montri Army, Phayanakrit Special Task Force, Mukdahan Plant Quarantine Station, Mukdahan Animal Quarantine Station, and Wan Yai Police…
-
Civil group to submit climate bill targeting 2035 carbon neutrality
A civil society group is preparing to present a bill to Parliament, aiming to accelerate climate goals while safeguarding local communities’ rights to their natural resources. Coordinator of Thai Climate Justice for All, Kritsada Boonchai, announced that the draft law, the group’s first, intends to support the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “Currently, tackling climate change is a…
-
Harman hits the gas with Thailand factory for electronic auto boost
Harman, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics based in the United States, has announced the establishment of its first factory in Southeast Asia, selecting Thailand as the location for its production hub aimed at exporting electronic automotive products. Harman’s head of operations, Sami Krimi, stated his excitement at the project. “Thailand’s extensive experience in the automotive and related industries has encouraged…
-
Commerce Ministry monitors 18 categories as transport costs surge
The Commerce Ministry launched a comprehensive monitoring initiative for prices across 18 categories as transport costs for the logistics sector surged by up to 9%. The Director-General of the Internal Trade Department, Wattanasak Sur-Liam, stated that the categories under scrutiny include instant noodles, fresh food, canned food, bagged rice, seasoning sauce, vegetable oil, carbonated drinks, milk and dairy products, electrical…
-
Impending impacts of upcoming court rulings on Srettha and MFP
Thailand’s political landscape is set for a significant shift as the upcoming Constitutional Court ruling on the cases of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) leader next month. The outcomes, scheduled for July 3 for the MFP and July 10 for PM Srettha, have the business community on edge, worried about potential disruptions to the…
-
PDMO issues 20 billion baht in ESG bonds
The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) is set to issue 20 billion baht in sustainable bonds to institutional investors this year. The public debt advisor for PDMO, Jindarat Viriyataveekul, stated that these bonds are designed for businesses adhering to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Sustainable bonds are a subset of ESG bonds, and PDMO currently has 467 billion baht…
-
US equity funds attract record inflows amid Thai market decline
US equity funds have seen the largest inflows this year, spurred by the US economic recovery and expectations of interest rate cuts, while mutual fund investments in Thai stocks have dropped by nearly 10 billion baht, according to Morningstar Research (Thailand). Nearly 7.8 billion baht has been invested in US equity funds this year, marking a 5.04% increase from 2023,…
-
Astrology predicts fortune and challenges for all zodiac signs
The astrological forecast reveals significant fortune for 12 zodiac signs, highlighting newfound luck and unexpected opportunities. Following a period of challenges, some signs will see resolutions and improvements, while others need to be cautious of potential betrayals by associates. Topping the list of zodiac signs experiencing immense fortune are Libra and Leo. Despite facing obstacles previously, individuals under these signs…
-
Foreigner criticised for hammock stunt on Bangkok billboard (video)
A foreign man is facing backlash after he created a video of himself lying in a hammock hung from a large advertisement billboard near Asoke Intersection in Bangkok. Thai social media account Red Skull shared a video of the foreign man yesterday, June 23, with a caption that read, “Is this the same foreigner from the previous viral video, where he…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.