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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Thai military foils drug smuggling, seizes 6 million meth pills
Thai military forces from the Task Force Chao Taksin, under the Pha Muang Force, engaged in a shootout with a drug trafficking group attempting to smuggle 32 backpacks into Thailand. The confrontation resulted in the death of two people. Yesterday, July 2, Colonel Anuwat Panyanan, commander of the Task Force Chao Taksin of the Pha Mueang Force, led an investigation…
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Bhumjaithai considers no-confidence debate amid PM suspension
The Bhumjaithai Party stated that the no-confidence debate motion against the government remains under consideration following the suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Ubon Ratchathani MP and party spokesperson Nan Boonthida Somchai reported on the party’s participation in the opposition whips meeting yesterday, July 2, after Bhumjaithai recently left the ruling coalition. Nan explained that six Bhumjaithai MPs attended the…
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Thai doctor issues warning after man injects sperm to treat back pain
A Thai doctor issued a warning after a patient injected sperm into his body in an attempt to treat back pain, leading to the discovery of multiple strains of bacteria in his system. The doctor, Werasak Charaschaidri, shared the story on his Facebook account yesterday, July 2. He did not disclose the nationality of the patient. Werasak began the account by…
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Google accused of ‘fake maps’ in Thailand-Cambodia temple spat
A fresh row has erupted over ancient ruins straddling the Thai-Cambodian border, after the Royal Thai Army (RTA) slammed Google Maps for allegedly “misleading the world” about the true ownership of the historic Ta Muen Thom temple. The RTA insists the ancient site in Surin province belongs to Thailand and blasted the popular mapping service for showing it as Cambodian territory.…
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Truck collision in Chachoengsao claims life, injures another
A collision between two trucks resulted in one fatality and one severe injury, believed to be caused by driver fatigue, at 4.40pm yesterday, July 2. The crash occurred at the entrance to Bang Sai Temple, on Chachoengsao-Bang Nam Priao Road in Phong Akat subdistrict, Bang Nam Priao district, Chachoengsao province. Police Lieutenant Charoon Chomchuen of Bang Nam Priao Police Station…
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Thailand beach break ends in blistering agony for British teenager
A British teenager has told how her dream trip to Thailand turned into a painful nightmare after she was left “traumatised” by severe sunburn on her very first day, leaving her with blisters, facial swelling and in need of hospital treatment. Emilia Azarova had flown to the popular island of Koh Samui on June 13 for a Muay Thai fighting…
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People’s Party backs new interim PM without joining coalition
The People’s Party (PP) expressed its willingness to support the election of a new prime minister without joining the governing coalition, provided that the succeeding administration serves solely as a temporary government. This interim government would be tasked with organising a General Election and conducting a public referendum to establish a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) for rewriting the charter. The…
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Thailand braces for heavy rain across 49 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for today, July 3, forecasting heavy rain across 49 provinces in Thailand, including Bangkok, where 70% of the area is expected to experience significant rainfall. Residents are advised to be cautious of potential dangers such as flash floods and mudslides, particularly in northern, northeastern, and eastern regions. This weather pattern results…
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Nonthaburi monk rescued after wheelchair falls into canal
A heroic rescue took place in Nonthaburi province after a one-legged monk was left stranded in a roadside canal when his electric wheelchair tipped over during his morning alms round. The incident, which occurred near Wat Masong school in Thaweewattana subdistrict, sparked widespread sympathy after it was revealed that the 57 year old, Phra Vichai Saetang, has been a dedicated…
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British mother warns of deadly scrub typhus after Thailand trip
A British mother from North Yorkshire, England, issued a stark warning about the risk and dangers of catching a bacterial infection after her teenage daughter fell ill with alarming symptoms following a trip to Thailand. The infection, known as scrub typhus, is often overlooked by travellers but can be life-threatening if not treated in time. Earlier this year, the family…
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Chiang Mai locals fear scam as love scandal posters pop up across province
A travel agency in the northern province of Chiang Mai caused panic in the local community with a bizarre advertising tactic: posters featuring the love scandal of James and Olivia along with a QR code. A Thai man, Wirawat Buranarom, spotted several paper posters with QR codes attached to streetlights and electricity poles in central Chiang Mai. Concerned by the…
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Thailand faces student enrolment drop, small schools struggle
The Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) is expressing concern over a decline in student enrolment across Thailand, which may exacerbate the challenges faced by small schools under the current per-head funding system. Efforts are also underway to tackle the long-standing problem of excessive teacher workloads. A strategic proposal aimed at alleviating these burdens is to be presented to…
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Attack on Mae Tuen wildlife sanctuary sparks urgent police hunt
An attack occurred when armed assailants opened fire on the Pha Lado Forest Protection Unit office in Mae Tuen Wildlife Sanctuary, Tak province. The natural resources and environment minister, Chalermchai Sri-on, has instructed police to apprehend the suspects, believed to be illegal loggers of rosewood. This incident is seen as a direct challenge to law enforcement and a threat to…
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Austrian tourist dies after falling down stairs in Koh Samui hotel
A tragic incident unfolded in Koh Samui early this morning, leaving a 45 year old Austrian tourist dead after falling down stairs in a hotel. The fatal accident occurred today, July 2, when Bo Phut Police Station, Surat Thani province, received an urgent report from the 191 centre at around 5am. The foreigner was found lifeless at the scene of…
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Cambodia halts oil imports, Thai firms unfazed
Cambodia’s decision to halt refined oil imports from Thailand is unlikely to significantly affect Thai oil companies, as they have the flexibility to redirect their sales to other Asian countries, according to the Department of Energy Business (DOEB). Thai oil exporters currently send nearly 6 million litres of oil daily to Cambodia, which could instead be redirected to markets like…
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Thai woman allegedly engages in romantic relationships with 3 senior monks
A Thai woman, who reportedly caused a respected abbot to leave the monkhood, allegedly had romantic relationships with three other senior monks. Officers from the Anti-Corruption Division of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) confirmed that the sudden departure of Arch, the abbot of Bangkok’s Tri Thotsathep Temple, was linked to a love scandal involving a Thai woman identified only as…
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Cannabis cargo: British teen’s ‘snake-like’ scar tale in Georgia
A British teenager accused of smuggling a £250,000 (11.2 million baht) haul of cannabis into Georgia broke down in tears in court, and showed a snake-like scar she says proves she was tortured and forced into the crime. Bella Culley, from Billingham, County Durham, in the North-East of England, could face life behind bars if found guilty of trafficking nearly…
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Pattaya’s tourist shift: Indian influx sparks debate on future
As July rolls in, Pattaya’s tourism officials are pinning their hopes on the co-payment programme, also known as the Half-Half travel scheme, focusing on the domestic market as international travel slows during the low season. With fewer long-haul visitors expected, Thai families on school break, along with an increasing influx of regional travellers, particularly from the Indian subcontinent, are being…
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Hill myna dispute leads to fatal shooting in Krabi
A dispute over a hill myna bird led to a violent incident in Koh Lanta, Krabi province. A man fatally shot his neighbour and the neighbour’s young daughter while injuring the man’s wife. Police are actively pursuing the suspect. Yesterday, July 1, at 11.30am, Police Lieutenant Pimon Phromcharoen from Koh Lanta Police Station received a report of a shooting at…
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Durian variety draws Malaysia, Singapore tourists to Yala’s Betong
The Musang King durian, renowned for its rich, creamy texture and distinctive flavour, has begun to bear fruit in Betong, Yala, attracting hordes of Malaysian and Singaporean tourists eager to indulge in this prized variety. The durian season is in full swing, with many visitors organising tours to the plantations in Ban Bon Nam Ron, Tanae Marae subdistrict, Betong district,…
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Thai workers arrested for risky border escape after Cambodia job scam
Ten Thai construction workers were arrested near the Thai-Cambodian border while attempting to return home after being deceived by employers in Cambodia. The incident occurred today, July 2, near the permanent checkpoint at Ban Khlong Luek in Sa Kaeo province. The Burapha Task Force, along with the Aranyaprathet Special Task Force, apprehended the group as they climbed the roof of…
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Spanish family rescued after boat capsizes off Koh Samui
A terrifying incident unfolded off the coast of Koh Samui as a tourist boat carrying a Spanish family of four capsized and sank in the middle of the sea. Fortunately, quick-thinking rescuers saved the family after they were left floating helplessly in the water. The incident occurred yesterday, July 1 at around 11.30am, as a long-tailed boat carrying a group…
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Shocking victory: Russian fighter’s electrifying celebration (video)
A Russian MMA fighter got more than just a buzz from the crowd after winning a bizarre cannabis-fuelled fight in Thailand, he got electrocuted while celebrating. Ivan Parshikov, a former ONE Lumpinee contender, had just won his bout at the controversial Weed Boxing Championship, where fighters are allowed to blaze up before stepping into the ring. But as Parshikov clambered…
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Thai police seize 10.6 million meth pills in major drug bust
Police in the far north of Thailand conducted two significant drug seizures, uncovering a total of 10 million methamphetamine pills hidden in a shipment of speaker boxes and an additional 600,000 pills in parcels at an express delivery service. The incidents occurred in Phrae and Chiang Rai provinces, as revealed by Police Region 5 yesterday, July 1. In Phrae, officers…
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Police bust Chinese call centre scam in Chiang Mai luxury home
In Chiang Mai’s Hang Dong district, police apprehended 15 Chinese nationals implicated in a call centre scam. The operation took place in a luxury house in tambon Ban Waen, where Provincial Region 5 police searched yesterday, July 1. Following a tip-off, police discovered that the property was purchased by Chinese people through Thai nominees and was being used as a…
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Temple raid: Monks busted for meth use in central Thailand
Two young monks in Phetchaburi province have been arrested for consuming methamphetamine inside a temple’s monk quarters. The incident, which has left the local community stunned, occurred yesterday, July 1, when police in Khao Yoi district, in collaboration with local officials, raided the temple after receiving intelligence reports about the monks’ involvement in drug use. The operation was led by Police…
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Police officer dies in SUV crash in Ubon Ratchathani
A tragic accident occurred involving a police lieutenant colonel who lost his life after his SUV crashed into a power pole. The incident took place yesterday, July 1, in Warin Chamrap district, Ubon Ratchathani province. Rescue operations took over 20 minutes to extract the officer’s body. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jeerarot Akkaraphachuensakul, deputy superintendent of Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station, was…
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Chiang Mai woman hits 60 million baht lottery jackpot
A woman from the Tai Yai community in Chiang Mai has become an instant millionaire, winning a staggering 60 million baht after securing 10 first-prize lottery tickets with the number 949246. The life-changing win came during the lottery draw yesterday, July 1, and the lucky winner celebrated her newfound wealth with friends in the Wiang Haeng district. The lucky woman,…
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Thalang thief caught red-handed with stolen bike hidden in room
A man has been arrested in Thalang after being caught hiding a stolen motorbike inside his room just hours after it was reported missing. The theft unfolded yesterday, July 1, when police swooped in on 38 year old Supachai Kaewplod at his residence in the Keha U-Athorn housing estate in Srisoonthorn. The arrest was led by Police Colonel Nikorn Chuthong,…
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Thai teenager arrested for blackmailing girlfriend with explicit clips
The Thai Internet Crimes Against Children (TICAC) Task Force arrested a 17 year old man for blackmailing his 13 year old girlfriend by posting explicit clips on social media following a quarrel. The arrest took place at 7.30am yesterday, July 1, in the Bangkok Noi district. The Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children-TICAC Task Force coordinated with law enforcement to apprehend…
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