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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Thailand’s prime minister unfazed by triple prime minister’s scenario
Despite the growing public opinion of a potential triple prime ministers scenario, Thailand’s current Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin remains unfazed. He expressed confidence in his ability to execute his duties as the nation’s sole leader, regardless of differing perceptions. Speculation about the possible return of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to politics has been rife since his parole release two weeks…
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Pour decisions: Thailand to splash health warnings on booze bottles
The Thai government is in the process of developing a new regulation, requiring producers of alcoholic beverages to feature large, graphic health warnings on their products, much akin to those found on cigarette packaging. This move, orchestrated by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee and the Department of Disease Control, has sparked criticism from alcohol producers and the tourism industry, who…
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Thai police officer fatally stabs man outside education centre
In a tragic turn of events, police officer Chawanil Jindamanee, stationed at Cha-uat Police Station in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, committed a heinous crime using a knife to fatally wound 51 year old Wichitra, and seriously injured 69 year old Prapha. The incident took place outside of a non-formal education centre in Cha-uat district on February 24. Following the attack,…
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Elderly Swiss cyclist killed in hit-and-run in Sattahip district
A 73 year old Swiss cyclist, was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident on Sukhumvit Road, in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri, late on Sunday night. The local police received a report of the incident around 11.30pm, near the vicinity of tambon Na Jomtien. On arrival, they found the senior cyclist in an unconscious state, but attempts at resuscitation…
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Tragedy strikes over land dispute as neighbour takes own life
Shock reverberated through the community as news broke that a neighbour involved in a land dispute tragically ended their life. The sudden turn of events in this ongoing property conflict has sparked a wave of reactions, including from the renowned lawyer Decha Kittiwittayanan, who represents Sun, the nephew of the landowner known as Agu and Agu himself. Decha took to…
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Retired district chief drowns as SUV plunges into Mae Klong River
An unfortunate accident on the Thana Rach Bridge over the Mae Klong River resulted in a tragic loss of life yesterday evening at around 6.30pm. The incident involved a collision between a sports car and an SUV, which led to the latter vehicle plunging into the river, taking with it a retired district chief and his wife, both of whom…
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Family seeks refuge from loan shark at Nonthaburi bus stop
A family in Nonthaburi province found refuge at a bus stop after fleeing their home due to threats from a loan shark who demanded daily interest payments. The incident took place yesterday at 8pm, on February 25, when the family, lacking the funds to meet the exorbitant interest demands, feared for their safety. Nontranut Promjan, the chairman of the Nonthaburi…
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Cobra Gold military exercise introduces Muay Thai training
Cobra Gold, the annual joint military exercise, kicks off today, and for the first time, it will feature Muay Thai training as an essential component. The decision is an integral part of the government’s strategy to elevate the Thai martial arts as a symbol of the nation’s soft power. The Defence Ministry announced that the 43rd iteration of Cobra Gold…
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Ancient painting discovered in Nam Phong National Park
Rangers in Nam Phong National Park, Nong Ruea district, Khon Kaen stumbled upon an ancient painting whilst combating local forest fires. The discovery was made within the grounds of the Hin Chang Si Protection Unit, roughly 4 kilometres from its headquarters, according to a Facebook post by the rangers yesterday. The team, having extinguished the forest fire, took a moment…
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Buddha sculpture found in Thai-US navy salvage operation of sunken HTMS Sukhothai
The collaborative salvage operation between the Royal Thai Navy and the United States Navy unearthed a Buddha sculpture and several documents from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai on its third day. This information was relayed by Royal Admiral Veerudom Muangjin, a spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy, who shared that these items were found by a combined diving team near the…
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Bangkok breathes easier as PM2.5 levels fall but north faces rise
The upcoming week brings a breath of fresh air for Bangkok locals as levels of harmful PM2.5 pollutants, ultra-fine particulars, are expected to decrease. However, residents in the north and northeast are being warned of an imminent rise in air pollution due to prevalent wildfires in these regions. Sunday morning data from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) air quality monitoring…
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PM Srettha orders immigration control improvement at Suvarnabhumi
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered improvements to the immigration control services at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, citing concerns over long queues and excessive waiting times. PM Srettha conducted an unexpected inspection of the airport on Saturday evening, his second unannounced visit since February 5. The prime minister revealed that he had personally timed the duration of various procedures from the…
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Fatal motorcycle crash leaves one dead, another in coma
Tragedy struck as two young men’s night ride on a motorcycle ended in a fatal crash. A 22 year old lost his life when the bike skidded off a dark, curve-ridden road in Samut Songkhram province. His 27 year old friend suffered serious injuries and is now in a coma. The incident happened on the evening of February 25, when…
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Songkhla’s lottery fever spikes as March 1 draw nears
Lottery enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the upcoming government lottery draw on March 1, which will be held in Songkhla province. With the event nearing, the buzz around the so-called lucky numbers and popular digits for this draw is growing, prompting many to speculate on what might bring them a fortune. The current Governor of Songkhla, Somnuek Promkheaw, who assumed office…
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Thai citizens question Department of Corrections’ parole powers
A NIDA opinion poll reveals that a significant percentage of Thai citizens are in disagreement with the Department of Corrections’ authority to sanction reductions in prison sentences and approve parole. The survey sought public opinion on the department’s power to either reduce convicts’ imprisonment tenure or grant them parole. The responses were varied, with 40% categorically opposing it, 19.47% in…
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Abused temple dog rescued by Thai gold heir finds care
A formerly abused temple dog has found a new lease on life after being adopted by the heir to a prominent gold shop empire. The dog, once blind due to mistreatment by a temple abbot, now enjoys the comforts of a loving home, complete with personal caretakers. The dog’s plight came to light when the abbot’s actions led to its…
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Newborn rescued from bag in Nakhon Ratchasima cornfield
A solar panel installer made a startling discovery of an infant’s hand protruding from a bag, leading to the rescue of an abandoned newborn in a cornfield hut in Nakhon Ratchasima province. A 36 year old man was the first to find the baby boy and immediately reported the matter, which prompted a swift response from local authorities and healthcare…
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Tragic three-car crash in Chon Buri kills two, injures five
A catastrophic collision involving three vehicles in Chon Buri province claimed the lives of two individuals and left five seriously injured in the early hours of today, February 25. The accident, which saw vehicles mangled beyond recognition, occurred on the Don Hua Lo – Sattahip route near the Sony intersection in the Don Hua Lo sub-district. Authorities rushed to the…
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High-profile online gambling case sees 8 police officers reassigned
A high-profile online gambling case involving Suchanun Minnie Sucharitchinsri has led to the temporary reassignment of eight linked officers. National Police Chief Torsak Sukvimol sanctioned the move to prevent any potential interference with the ongoing investigation. A spokesman for the police, Siriwat Deepo revealed that the order for the transfer was signed by Torsak yesterday, February 24. The transferred officers…
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Police officer’s knife attack in South Thailand leaves one dead
A police officer went on a frenzied rampage in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, leaving an elderly woman fatally stabbed and another seriously injured. The incident occurred yesterday, February 24, when the officer, reportedly suffering a mental breakdown, charged out of a police flat, kicked over a motorcycle carrying two women, and attacked them with a knife. Eyewitnesses describe a scene…
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Freed baby elephant Tofu begins new life in sanctuary (video)
In a heart-wrenching tale of suffering and salvation, a baby elephant named Tofu, just 8 months old, has been plucked from a life of torment in Laos and given a fresh start. Chained and mistreated, his plight symbolises the ongoing battle against exploitation in the tourism industry across Asia. Planting Peace, a stalwart organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of captive…
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Krabi national park makes astonishing revenue in tourism boom
In less than four months, Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi has become a gold mine, pulling in nearly 300,000,000 baht in entry fees from over 126,000 tourists. This meteoric rise in revenue dwarfs the previous fiscal year’s earnings, ringing in at 276 million baht. National park chief Yutthaphong Damsrisuk noted that the park has witnessed…
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Indonesian Embassy’s cash reminder for entry into Thailand
The Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok issued a reminder to citizens planning a trip to Thailand to arm themselves with a substantial amount of cash to avoid the risk of being denied entry. Minister Counsellor of the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, Dewi Lestari, revealed Thailand’s stringent entry requirements in an exclusive interview with the Indonesian network RRI. Lestari clarified that regardless…
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Police Chief’s directive to protect Royal Thai Police’s reputation
National Police Chief Police General Torsak Sukvimol has issued a stern order to all police officers, commanding them to refrain from divulging any information to the press that could tarnish the image or operational integrity of the Royal Thai Police (RTP). Moreover, officers have been explicitly warned against actions that could potentially serve their personal interests, sparking a firestorm of…
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Chinese nationals caught with illegal firearms in Pattaya
Pattaya and Chon Buri police teamed up for a targeted operation on Wednesday, February 21, leading to the apprehension of two Chinese nationals for possession of illegal firearms. The duo, 28 year old Cai Qingqing and Lei Chen, also 28, were caught red-handed with a cache of weapons including a 9-milimetre semi-automatic pistol, two magazines, handcuffs, ammunition, and a mysterious…
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Drunken argument leads to violence on Pattaya Beach
A domestic argument between a couple turned violent on the Pattaya beachfront, shocking onlookers on Wednesday evening, February 21. Responding promptly to distress signals, authorities and rescue teams discovered a 53 year old Thai man, Sommai, gravely injured and bleeding profusely near a trash receptacle, the aftermath of a fiery altercation with his spouse. Concerned bystanders had congregated around him,…
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Moroccan arrested for murder of Austrian DJ on Koh Pha-ngan
A Moroccan national was arrested for the murder of an Austrian DJ on Koh Pha-ngan yesterday. The suspect, 37 year old Anas Rakib stands accused in connection with the brutal murder of Austrian DJ Max Hartl in Surat Thani province. Hartl’s lifeless body was discovered on Thursday, February 22, a grim sight beside a quiet roadside, his features marred by…
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Assistant abbot and accomplice apprehended for embezzlement
Anti-Corruption Division police swooped down on Wat Ratchapradit’s assistant abbot and his suspected accomplice in an embezzlement case. Assistant abbot, 47 year old Phrakru Sutheesutawatwiwat Puangkerd, found himself in handcuffs at Wat Duang Khae in Pathumwan district, while his alleged accomplice, 52 year old Panjit Phanphrom, faced legal consequences at Wat Tha Phra in Bangkok Yai district. According to police…
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Thai man arrested for selling drugs to teens with illegal firearms
In an undercover operation, police arrested a 55 year old Thai man on February 22 for allegedly peddling drugs to teenagers and harbouring illegal firearms in Naklua, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. The suspect, identified only as Gomol, fell into the police net following an extensive covert probe. Seizing the moment, authorities swooped in and confiscated two bags containing a staggering…
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Universal Health Coverage expands to eight more provinces
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme is set to empower members with unprecedented healthcare options across eight additional provinces. Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, heading the National Health Security Board, announced the green light for expanding the UHC digital health platform. This expansion encompasses provinces such as Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Sing Buri, Phang Nga, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Amnat Charoen,…
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