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 Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Here’s your health checklist before the move
Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Thailand is a popular choice for retirees because of its beautiful landscapes, warm climate, and affordable living. Cities like Chiang Mai and coastal areas offer a relaxed lifestyle with friendly communities. The country also...
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Thai passport holders visa waiver with China boosts tourism
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the imminent signing of a visa waiver agreement between Thailand and China. The deal, to be sealed on Friday during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Thailand, promises to liberate citizens from both nations to explore each other’s territories freely, igniting a tourism revolution. Addressing the crowd at the Thailand 2024 – The…
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Thai senator pushes government to solve Cambodia border dispute
Senator Khamnoon Sitthisaman has thrown a spotlight on an unresolved maritime dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, urging the government to address the issue before diving into talks on joint development of a 26,000-square-kilometre energy-rich area in the Gulf of Thailand. The senator’s call for prompt action comes as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin gears up for crucial discussions with Cambodian Prime…
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Experts warn of looming crisis for Thai economy
Dr Pipat Leungnamritchai, the chief economist at Kiatnakin Phatra Bank warned that the Thai economy is treading on thin ice, relying on unsustainable factors for growth. According to a recent exposé by Krungthep Thurakij on January 20, the nation’s financial stability is hanging by a thread. Dr Pipat highlighted the precarious reliance on low-interest rates, fiscal stimuli, and the booming tourism…
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Dispute over Thailand’s tallest Thao Wessuwan statue escalates
A contentious dispute has erupted over the world’s tallest statue of the deity Thao Wessuwan, as the landowner, who had initially agreed to a sale, has now backed out. This sudden change has caused confusion and concern among the devotees. In a press conference convened at the Sathan Saphan Bun Association in Rayong Province, 27-year-old Chakkrit, renowned for his charitable…
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Transwoman thief allegedly tricks victim into oral sex to steal assets
A Thai man caught a transwoman thief in the act of attempting to steal from a parked pickup on a road in the central province of Ayutthaya and turned her into the police. The transwoman reportedly tricked drunk victims by offering them oral sex before stealing from them. The witness, 26 year old Sittichai Watechadate, reported the attempted theft by…
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Swedish travellers grounded at Bulgaria’s Varna Airport due to aircraft wheel defect
Hundreds of Swedish travellers were grounded at Varna Airport in Bulgaria after a wheel glitch on a flight from Phuket to Stockholm. A Sunclass Airlines Airbus A330-900neo (reg. OY-VKP) suffered a wheel glitch, throwing a spanner in the works of flight DK2577 from Phuket to Stockholm Arlanda. What was supposed to be a quick refuelling pitstop was met with complications…
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Thai naval forces intercept tax-evading oil vessel near Ta Lu Island
An oil-carrying vessel, illegally modified and suspected of tax evasion, was intercepted and detained by the Royal Thai Fleet near Ta Lu Island in Rayong province, in the Gulf of Thailand on Monday, January 22. The incident took place in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri, following a tip-off that led to the naval forces taking swift action. Originally registered…
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Ex Thai politician agrees to compensation, rape charge dropped
Chon Buri police dropped a rape charge against an accused former Thai politician saying the case did not qualify as rape while the politician’s brother agreed to pay the victim female party entertainer 36,000 baht in compensation. The 35 year old Thai party entertainer, named Bee, filed a complaint against the former Thai politician, identified as Gun, on January 20,…
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Wat Choeng Khao festival merges spiritual rites with lively concerts
The annual festival at Wat Choeng Khao in Saraburi Province promises to be a vibrant blend of religious reverence and festive entertainment as it welcomes visitors to participate in various activities from February 9 to 25. Headlined by celebrated artists including Pu Pongsit and Monkan Kankoon, the event is set to deliver a full-scale concert experience, alongside the opportunity to…
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Imminent monsoon to disrupt lower southern Thailand with high waves
A severe monsoon is set to hit the lower southern provinces of Thailand between today and January 27, causing heavy rain and high waves in the Gulf of Thailand. The Meteorological Department of Thailand’s (TMD) Southern East Coast Centre, headed by Komon Promsakha Na Sakolnakorn, issued its third warning, advising against sea travel as waves are expected to reach up…
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Thai monk sent to rehab after discovery of drugs, condoms, and penis enlargement pump
The Thai authorities sent a monk for rehabilitation at a hospital in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham after the jaw-dropping discovery of drugs, condoms, and a penis enlargement pump in his accommodation. Complaints flooded the Borabue district office, in the Maha Sarakham province, by locals who were fearful of the 54 year old monk named Thawee. Frightened locals voiced…
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Pisces set for a prosperous 2024 with lucrative online opportunities
Astrological enthusiasts have been given a forecast to pay attention to a prominent astrologer Thosaporn, better known as Dr Chang, who has shared his insights for the Pisces sign for the year 2024. According to his predictions, individuals born under Pisces, which includes birthdays from March 15 to April 13, are expected to experience a stroke of good fortune, especially…
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Wealthy heiress found dead in Chanthaburi, police suspect foul play
The mysterious death of a wealthy heiress from a prominent family has shocked the community in Chanthaburi province. Today, early at 6.10am, local police led by Police Major General Phadungsak Raksasuk arrived at the residence, a house behind an old petrol station in Ma Kham district, to investigate the circumstances leading to the untimely demise of 77 year old Panithi…
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TAT holds Amazing Thailand Product event in Indonesia
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) rolled out the red carpet for the Amazing Thailand Product Update 2024 in Jakarta and Bandung. Aiming to strengthen ties between Thai and Indonesian tourism, this event was more than just a gathering; it was a powerhouse of collaboration. Drawing a crowd of approximately 100 Indonesian tourism wizards in each bustling city, the week-long…
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Man posing as undercover cop with BB gun arrested in Chon Buri, Thailand
Chaos erupted in the municipality of Ban Bueng, Chon Buri province, when a 40 year old man, under the influence of drugs, terrorised residents by brandishing a gun and claiming to be an undercover police officer. The incident occurred around 10.30pm yesterday, January 23, and ended with the man’s arrest by local authorities. The man, identified only as Sorachai to…
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Thai man dies after falling from third floor of Bangkok shopping mall
A Thai man died after falling into an artificial pond from the third floor of a shopping mall in the Bang Kae district of Bangkok yesterday. A witness said it was a suicide. An employee at the mall reported the incident to Lak Song Police Station at about 12.50pm yesterday, January 23. She said she heard the sound of something…
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Thailand probes private ownership of 153 lions after Pattaya Bentley incident (video)
Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation revealed that there are 153 lions in the possession of 24 Thai nationals, highlighting the controlled status of these wild animals and the legal requirement to declare ownership. This announcement comes amidst a high-profile investigation following the circulation of a video showing a lion being driven around Pattaya in a Bentley,…
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Israeli involved in Phuket heist apprehended
An Israeli suspect was arrested by Patong Police in connection with a currency exchange heist in Phuket. The 26 year old suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, was nabbed in a police operation orchestrated by Patong Police Chief Police Colonel Chalermchai Hernsawad. The incident unfolded on December 31 last year in the Patong area when the suspect targeted a woman at…
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Late night kitchen blaze claims three young lives in Phichit
Three young lives were tragically lost to a fierce house fire that erupted late last night in Phichit province, with two others sustaining serious injuries. The blaze, which police and emergency services responded around 1.30am today, January 24, is believed to have begun in the kitchen of the two-story dwelling, according to a 14 year old survivor who reported hearing…
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Dispute over dropped phone leads to fatal stabbing in Buriram
A dispute over a dropped phone in a rural shack escalated into a deadly confrontation when 47 year old Kittisak fatally stabbed 38 year old Atit in self-defence. The incident occurred yesterday around 3.30pm in the Nong Ki district of Buriram Province. Police Deputy Inspector Thongsuk Prongthalee was alerted to the violent altercation and the subsequent death, prompting an investigation…
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Former MFP opposition leader Pita’s fate hangs on Constitutional Court verdict
All eyes will be fixed on today’s Constitutional Court ruling, a potential game-changer in the media shareholding scandal involving Pita Limjaroenrat, the former leader of the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP). The court’s decision could determine his political destiny, with the looming threat of losing his MP status. Legal expert Komsan Phokong weighed in on the pivotal case, hinting at…
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Thailand braces for cold snap and gusty winds today
A sudden drop in temperature by up to 6 degrees Celsius and strong winds have been forecasted across multiple regions in Thailand, with Bangkok experiencing a 4 degree Celsius decrease. The harsh weather conditions are set to impact the country today, following an announcement by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). The northeastern part of Thailand is bracing for cold to…
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Local fishermen hooked over Vietnam warplane wreckage found in Mekong
Thai and Lao men discovered the wreckage of a Vietnam warplane while fishing in the Mekong River within the Isaan province of Nong Khai. In light of safety concerns, locals have been banned from accessing the site, given the potential presence of explosives within the wreckage. A 40 year old Thai man, Chonnathep Suriwong, shared his account of finding the…
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Thai government ends after-school caretaking duties for teachers
The Thai government has approved the termination of after-school caretaking duties for teachers, following a recent assault on a primary school teacher in Chiang Rai by a 38 year old man during her shift. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced yesterday, January 24, at the mobile Cabinet meeting held at the Ranong Civic Centre. The caretaking duties, which were imposed on…
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Leatherback sea turtle death sparks concern among Thai wildlife officials
The untimely demise of a leatherback sea turtle on a beach in Phang Nga this week triggered a wave of concern among wildlife officials and conservationists. The cause of death was an unfortunate entanglement in a fishing net, which was discovered when the turtle’s carcass washed ashore. Athapol Charoenshunsa, stationed at the helm of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife…
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PM Srettha promises to consider opposition’s concerns on Land Bridge megaproject
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin assured opposition groups that he would take into account their concerns regarding the Land Bridge megaproject. The discussions took place at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University’s education centre in Ranong, following a mobile Cabinet meeting. The megaproject, valued at 1 trillion baht, is designed to create a logistics network linking Ranong with Chumphon. It consists of a…
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Thai military and police ramp up counter-drone tech training
The Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) and Royal Thai Police (RTP) are set to enhance their focus on counter-drone technology training as part of their yearly exercises and drills. This decision was made public at a joint meeting of military and police commanders, steered by Chief of Defence Forces, General Songwit Noonpackdee. The session was an avenue for discussing plans…
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German president’s state visit to Thailand after 22 years sparks hope
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier embarked on a state visit to Thailand today, following an invitation extended by Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand. This marks the first visit by a German president to Thailand in 22 years, as stated by Chai Watcharonke, the Thai Government Spokesperson. The three-day visit has its highlight set for tomorrow, where a discussion on trade,…
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Infant with critical heart defect rushed to Bangkok for life-saving surgery
A seven-month-old baby with a critical heart condition was successfully transferred to Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok for emergency life-saving surgery after showing signs of severe distress and requiring a ventilator. The infant’s journey from the Nong Khai border region included bypassing the city of Udon Thani via Mittraphap Road and onward through Khon Kaen to the capital. Today, at 1.20pm, the…
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Hotel bookings skyrocket as visitors flock in
Hotel giant Minor International Plc witnessed an astonishing 20 to 30% spike in bookings for the first two months of 2024 compared to last year. Minor International Plc, dominating the hospitality scene as the nation’s largest hotel operator, is on the brink of a prosperous year. Chairman Bill Heinecke unveils the exciting news, projecting a tourism spending spree in Thailand…
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