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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School van crash in South Thailand injures 20
A catastrophic multi-vehicle collision involving a school transport van, a pickup truck, and a motorcycle in Nakhon Si Thammarat province resulted in nearly 20 injuries and severe vehicle damage. The crash occurred on the morning of today, February 28, at approximately 7.30am on the Nakhon-Thung Song Road, leading authorities to initiate a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.…
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Thailand and Cambodia in talks over disputed Gulf area
Negotiations are underway between Thailand and Cambodia concerning overlapping border regions in the Gulf of Thailand, according to Sutin Klungsang, Thailand’s Defence Minister. He addressed public concerns and queries from the press about the possible implications of a meeting held in Bangkok on February 21 between Hun Sen, former Prime Minister of Cambodia, and Thaksin Shinawatra, ex-Thai Prime Minister. Sutin…
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PM Srettha urges action to ease traffic delays on Rama II highway
In response to mounting social media uproar over the Rama II highway’s perpetual construction nightmares, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin issued a directive to the Transport Ministry to solve traffic congestion before the impending Songkran holiday frenzy. Connecting nearby Hua Hin to the capital, the route is essential for those planning to travel to the seaside resort from Bangkok. The 62…
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Portuguese man-o-war prompts swim warning in Songkhla
Dangerous Portuguese man-of-war sightings have led the authorities to caution tourists against swimming at Songkhla’s Chala That Beach. These jellyfish-like creatures, known as one of the world’s deadliest marine species, have been spotted along the shoreline stretching from Singha Nakhon district to Mueang district. The ocean-dwelling creature is known to have caused harm to several tourists who encountered them. Songkhla…
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Uthenthawai alumni march to oppose campus relocation
Over 1,500 alumni and current students of Uthenthawai School, along with their supporters, parents and teachers, gathered for a protest march against the proposed relocation of the historical school’s campus. The march began at the front of the Uthenthawai campus and proceeded to the Chulalongkorn University Property Management Office. The protestors aimed to submit a letter to the Property Management…
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South Pattaya canal plagued by environmental catastrophe
In a recent session of the Pattaya City Council, member Metakrit Sunthornrot ignited concern over the persistent challenges besieging the South Pattaya Canal. Despite assurances of advancement, the situation continues to spiral, prompting intensified calls for immediate intervention. Metakrit underscored the city’s dedication to tackling environmental adversities, particularly in the crucial management of the South Pattaya Canal. Plans were detailed…
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Karma: Thai man killed by Buddha statue during temple rampage
A Thai man, who attacked a monk at a temple in Chon Buri province, later died after the sharp head of a Buddha statue pierced his chest during a rampage in the temple’s main hall. Locals suggested that his death appeared to be the swift result of karma. Residents in the Banbung district of Chon Buri province sought assistance from…
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Seafood surprise: Storm tosses diner 3 metres from Loei restaurant
A violent storm recently wreaked havoc in the province of Loei, with fierce winds throwing a person more than 3 metres away from a seafood restaurant owned by Kalayanee Chapitu. The intense weather event occurred yesterday, February 27, causing extensive damage to multiple areas in the Phu Ruea district. Security camera footage captured the moment the restaurant’s steel doors buckled…
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German tourist sexually assaulted on Phuket motorcycle taxi ride
A 37 year old female German tourist was sexually assaulted while riding a motorcycle taxi in Phuket in the early hours of yesterday. The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, reported the incident to authorities at Patong Police Station around 4.26am. Following a night of exploring Phuket City’s Old Town, she sought a ride back to her hotel at approximately 12.45am.…
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Chinese man arrested at Bangkok airport with 3,000 grammes of heroin
Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) officers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok arrested a Chinese man who attempted to smuggle 3,000 grammes of heroin into Australia. The drugs were concealed in books and powder bottles. The Thai Narcotics Control Board Office (ONCB), stationed in China, reported the drug trafficking plan involving a suspicious Chinese man to the AITF. Further investigation…
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Pickup truck rampage leaves three injured and spills hot oil
A pickup truck, a motorcycle, and a sidecar motorbike were involved in a collision on Pattaya-Na Kluea Road, Chon Buri in the early hours of yesterday. Rescue workers rushed to the scene just past midnight on February 27, following reports of a chaotic traffic incident at Soi Naklua 14. Upon arrival, emergency responders were met with a tangled mess of…
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Tenant finds unexplained stains in condo sparking online debate in Thailand
A recent social media post spurred widespread online discussion after a condo resident in Thailand shared images of mysterious stains found while cleaning a sofa. The post, uploaded by a popular Facebook page known for sharing curious and intriguing stories, depicted large blotches resembling bloodstains, prompting the tenant to question the origin of the marks and express concern over the…
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Thai woman arrested in Cambodia for murder of Taiwanese man
Thai police coordinated with the Cambodian authorities to arrest a Thai woman at a casino in Poipet City yesterday, for her involvement in the murder of a Taiwanese man. It is reported that three Taiwanese suspects are currently evading capture in Cambodia, while another has returned to Taiwan. An employee at Suvarnabhumi International Airport discovered the dead body of the…
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Young couple dies in Chon Buri motorcycle crash after eerie omen
A tragic motorcycle accident claimed the lives of a young man and woman in Chon Buri province today at 5am. A couple encountered a grim omen in the form of a barn owl feasting on a dead dog by the roadside shortly before crashing into a garbage truck and succumbing to their injuries at the scene. Police Deputy Inspector Jaruek…
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Over 147,000 sign up for debt relief programme worth billions
Some 147,714 individuals have registered for the Interior Ministry’s debt relief programme within the past three months, an initiative aimed at combating a staggering debt value of 10.74 billion baht, confirmed Permanent Secretary Suttipong Juljarern on Monday. With the registration window, which started on December 1, set to close tomorrow, Suttipong urged those grappling with debt woes to expedite their…
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South Korean YouTuber sparks tuk tuk fare controversy in Thailand
South Korean rapper and YouTuber, Il Hong Min, commonly known as Phi Hong, recently aired his dissatisfaction with a tuk tuk service encountered during his visit to Ayutthaya, Thailand. In a video shared on his Oppa Hong channel, he revealed that he was charged 1,200 baht for a four-hour tour, a service he claimed was forcefully sold to him and…
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Thailand’s ex-police chief indicted for aiding Red Bull heir evade justice
The ex-National Police Chief of Thailand, Somyot Poompanmoung, alongside seven other individuals, has been indicted by the Attorney General for alleged involvement in aiding Vorayuth “Boss”‘ Yoovidhya dodge prosecution regarding a 2012 hit-and-run case. Vorayuth is a member of the family that owns the Red Bull empire. Prayut Phetcharakhun, the spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), reported yesterday…
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Black panther spotted in Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park
A black panther sighting near Phanoen Thung in Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park has been reported by the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The department disseminated photographs of the elusive animal on its Facebook page, sparking interest among wildlife enthusiasts. The images, captured by a tourist named Sith Naowanirut on February 25, were confirmed by park…
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Chiang Mai tops world’s most polluted cities
Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand has been blanketed by worsening haze, catapulting it to the top of the list of the world’s ten most polluted cities. The thick smog is a direct consequence of forest fires that have been burning unabated for approximately two weeks. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) detected 1,420 hotspots on Monday alone.…
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Bangkok’s eastern and central bus terminals set for relocation
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced plans yesterday to move the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) and the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) to the Krung Thep Abhiwat Central Terminal. The intention behind the move is to offer more convenience to travellers as the Central Terminal can be easily reached using the MRT electronic rail system. In the proposed new location,…
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New Zealand Embassy introduces increased visa fees for Thailand
The Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington announced an increase in visa fees for individuals from New Zealand intending to visit Thailand. The new fees will be effective from March 19 onwards. The announcement has caused concern among netizens on social media that there could be a possible visa fee increase for other nationalities. The embassy announced on its official website…
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Thai comedian’s lottery predictions stir excitement
The entertainment scene in Thailand is buzzing with excitement as a well-known comedian, Ball, recently struck a chord with the public by claiming a series of successful lottery predictions, earning him the title of a lottery master. His colleague, Ped, is also riding high on a wave of similar acclaim. This has all unfolded in the lead-up to a grand…
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Steamy side of Internet in Thailand: Adult sites climb charts
The latest report from We Are Social reveals the top 20 most-visited websites by Thais, showing a notable presence of adult content sites in the rankings. Despite the wide range of content available online, it appears that websites with adult material continue to garner significant traffic in Thailand. The recent findings by We Are Social, covering the period from December…
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Chiang Mai charm reigns: Panida crowned Miss Thailand 2024
The latest holder of the illustrious Miss Thailand title is Panida Khueanjinda, a proud native of Chiang Mai. She outshone 34 other participants in the contest that took place at The Mall Ngamwongwan’s MCC Hall. Panida is not a stranger to such accolades, having previously won the Miss Grand Nakhon Phanom 2022 title. A graduate of the Faculty of Fine…
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Thai man arrested for cross-border sperm cell smuggling
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested a Thai man at his home in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok for illegally smuggling sperm cells across the border into Laos and Cambodia for surrogacy. CIB police arrested the suspect, 33 year old Teerapong at his home in Nonthaburi province on February 24. Teerapong was found smuggling to Thailand’s neighbouring countries. Teerapon faced…
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Extended homage hours for Buddha relics in Bangkok
Thailand’s Ministry of Culture extended visiting hours for the public to pay homage to sacred Buddha relics, Phra Borom Saririkatat and the Phra Arahanthata, at a ceremonial ground at Sanam Luang. The relics, temporarily brought from India, can now be venerated from 8am to 9pm daily, until March 3, as part of the grand celebration in honour of His Majesty…
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Finnish national found self-harming in Pattaya, Thailand
A disturbing incident unfolded in the early hours of this morning in Pattaya, when a Finnish national was discovered in a state of severe agitation, inflicting knife wounds on himself. The man, identified as Eeuoskari Kontiainen, from Finland, was eventually subdued and rushed to the hospital. The event took place in an apartment building located in Soi Bua Khao, within…
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Family rep collects remains of woman in Bangkok property feud
A family dispatched representatives to retrieve the body of a young woman entangled in a heated property dispute concerning a residence in Agu, a Bangkok home contested by multiple parties. Today, at 12.55pm, at the Forensic Medicine Institute of the Police General Hospital, Panumas’s family, one of five individuals sued over the intrusion into the Agu house, authorised a non-family…
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8 million meth pills seized in Chiang Mai drug courier arrest
A 24 year old drug courier named Jiraphat, hailing from the Phrao district of Chiang Mai, was apprehended by drug suppression police. The arrest took place at an intersection in Chiang Dao district. Approximately 8 million methamphetamine pills were confiscated from the pickup truck driven by Jiraphat. The seizure was made on Monday, with the methamphetamine pills found stashed in…
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Family land dispute ends in uncle’s tragic death
A tragic family dispute over a 10-acre land inheritance turned deadly when a 19 year old man shot and killed his 57 year old uncle at their home yesterday evening. The conflict, simmering for six years and previously brought before the courts, culminated in a fatal confrontation prompted by a parking issue. Yesterday, at approximately 11.30pm, police and rescue services…
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