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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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...
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Motorcyclist dies in Chon Buri after high-speed crash on bridge
A tragic road accident in Chon Buri claimed the life of a 40 year old man when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a bridge’s guardrail. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning as the man was returning home. In the predawn hours today, an urgent call was received by Deputy Investigator Police Lieutenant…
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Crash course calamity: Family trip takes tragic turn in Phetchaburi
A devastating road accident occurred yesterday at 1pm in Phetchaburi’s Khao Yoi district, involving a family and resulting in critical injuries to an 11 year old child. The driver, identified only as Kai, lost control of the vehicle due to drowsiness, causing the van to veer off the road and collide with a roadside steel barrier. The impact was so…
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Mysterious stone turtle discovered in Thai cassava field
A colossal stone turtle, resembling a mythical creature under a spell, has been found nestled in a cassava field in Nakhon Ratchasima, sparking curiosity and awe among local cyclists and villagers. This natural marvel, discovered today, by a cycling group exploring the Khonburi region, has become a subject of fascination and speculation, with some even drawing lottery numbers from the…
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Stormy skies ahead: TMD forecast predicts May rainy season start
Thailand’s rainy season is anticipated to start the last week of May this year, according to the latest forecast by the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD). The announcement came with a cautious note that initial rains will be scarce, improving as the season progresses into June and July. Despite the slow start, the TMD remains hopeful that the overall rainfall…
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Tourists in Chiang Rai raft scare as locals reel in king cobra
A large king cobra caused panic on a raft in Chiang Rai as visitors scrambled to safety before locals managed to capture the slithery reptile. The incident, shared on social media by a user named Phatcharaphon Prombon, became a topic of widespread commentary online. Today, April 29, the poster owner, King, revealed the details of their encounter with the large…
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Crypto market dips as investors await Federal Reserve meeting
A slump in the crypto market was witnessed today with Bitcoin and other smaller tokens such as Ether, BNB and XRP experiencing a drop in value. Speculators tread cautiously in anticipation of the Federal Reserve meeting this week, which could potentially suggest extended periods of increased interest rates. Bitcoin, the most significant digital asset, fell to its lowest value in…
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Thailand’s coral reefs face grim future due to climate change
Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a veteran marine biologist with almost four decades of experience, is deeply troubled by the disturbing changes occurring in Thailand’s coral reefs He has voiced his shock and dismay at the unusual and alarming characteristics now displayed by the reefs, describing the current conditions as the most severe he has witnessed. Thon, a professor in the Department of…
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Screen siren: Ex-adult film star ties the knot with film director
The entertainment industry buzzed with excitement as a former adult film star who has since transitioned to mainstream acting announced her surprise marriage to a film director. Miku Ikuta stands at a petite 144 centimetres with a D cup size, and first debuted in the adult video (AV) industry in 2017. The 26 year old became a significant figure over…
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Rat catchers nabbed in Khon Kaen with 300,000 speed pills
A couple of drug peddlers, masquerading as farm rat catchers, were apprehended in Khon Kaen with a cache of over 300,000 speed pills. The couple, identified as 41 year old Jinda Thaochalee and his 36 year old wife Rungthip Sakunphon, were nabbed in Ban Fang district and tried to bribe the police with 500,000 baht for their release. Local police…
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Son found dead by mother in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A mother was left utterly shocked when she found her 30 year old son dead, just hours after they had chatted late into the night. In a tragic twist of events, her son, known as Warakorn, was found lifeless in his home near a fresh market in the Tha Wang area of Nakhon Si Thammarat province yesterday morning. Warakorn was…
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Cabinet shake-up plants seeds for cannabis reform in Thailand
The Thai Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin could spark high-stakes changes to the cannabis bill after former Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin replaced Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew. Cholnan, who led the charge in the cannabis debate, faced a blaze of controversy over the plant’s legalisation in 2022 by Anutin Charnvirakul, the former Public Health Minister, now doubling as…
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Thai Airways turbulence: Passenger’s business-class fiasco
Thai Airways faced public criticism when a passenger expressed frustration on social media after experiencing subpar service on a business-class flight. Despite purchasing expensive tickets for himself and his clients to Beijing, he encountered malfunctioning seats that would neither recline nor convert into beds. The airline’s attempt to compensate with a modest sum of 5,500 baht was refused by Treerat Sirichantaropas,…
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RTN prepares for Myanmar evacuation amid conflict
In the face of escalating civil conflict in Myanmar, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has stationed four vessels in the Andaman Sea, ready to facilitate the evacuation of Thai citizens from Myanmar. The directive came from RTN Chief Admiral Adung Pan-Iam, who has instructed the Region 3 commander to prepare two frigates, HTMS Saiburi and HTMS Prachuap Khiri Khan, and…
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Residents left high and dry as water levels drop in Thai reservoir
A severe drop in water levels at the Lam Takhong Reservoir and Lam Mun River in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, is causing concern for residents. The primary water sources in the region are suffering due to drought and extreme heat, leading to fears of water shortages. Lam Takhong, one of the four main reservoirs in Nakhon Ratchasima, currently holds only 111.25…
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German tourist fined 1,000 baht for parking SUV on Phuket Beach
A German tourist found himself in hot water after his Bangkok-registered Ford Everest SUV was caught sand-handed on Ley Phang Beach, Phuket. The vehicle, owned by a man known only as Simoen, was seized by authorities following reports circulated on social media and he was fined 1,000 baht. When Cherng Talay Police arrived at the scene, they found the SUV…
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Thailand’s record-breaking electricity usage heats up weekend
A record-breaking increase in electricity usage was registered in Thailand over the weekend as the nation grappled with soaring temperatures. The Ministry of Energy confirmed late Saturday that power demand peaked at 36,356 megawatts, surpassing the previous record set on Monday, April 22. Extreme heat has been particularly severe in the country’s northern and northeastern regions. The Meteorological Department of…
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Thailand and India to launch QR cross-border payments
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is set to introduce QR code cross-border payments between Thailand and India by the third quarter of this year, with a broader vision to expand this system into a pan-Asian multinational payment network. The Assistant Governor for Payment Systems Policy and Financial Consumer Protection Group at the central bank, Daranee Saeju, revealed that the payment…
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Thailand Video News | Weather experts debunk rumours of extended summer, Bangkok traffic cop killed by drunk driver during charity event
In this Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover a series of recent events across Thailand, tragedy and turmoil have struck various regions, leaving a trail of chaos and uncertainty. A traffic policeman tragically lost his life in Bangkok during a charity event, falling victim to a drunk driver’s reckless actions. Meanwhile, Pattaya witnessed havoc as an intoxicated joyride spiraled…
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NBTC board rejects new mobile tariff structure due to lack of study
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) board declined to approve a new tariff structure for mobile services, citing a lack of comprehensive study on the matter. The proposed tariff would have charged customers on a per-second basis, reflecting actual usage. The board has voiced concerns over the potential for increased costs for consumers and has asked for a more…
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Monks’ wild antics: Sanctuary showdown ends in poaching arrest
Ongoing tales of monks behaving badly continue, this time in the Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary in northeastern Thailand, as two Buddhist monks, Phra Maha Montri and novice Atikhun Maneewong, were apprehended for allegedly engaging in wildlife poaching. They were released on bail on Saturday, with their relatives acting as guarantors. The arrest took place on Thursday, punctuating ongoing investigations into…
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Second phase of macaque relocation kicks off at historic park
The second phase of relocating macaques from Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park to the Huai Sai Wildlife Breeding Centre was initiated yesterday by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) in Phetchaburi. The initiative, which involves the placement of cages at 12 locations within the park, commonly known as Khao Wang, aims to capture 205 macaques. In…
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Thai customs to impose VAT on all postal imports
The Customs Department of Thailand next month is set to begin levying value-added tax (VAT) on all imported goods sent through postal services, regardless of the items’ value. This move comes in response to low-priced imports from China that have been flooding the market, providing an unfair edge as domestic producers are taxed. Currently, imported goods sent via postal services…
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Israel-Iran conflict threatens Thai economy in Q2
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran poses a potential threat to the Thai economy in the second quarter. Anticipated challenges include currency depreciation, an increase in oil prices, and a decrease in purchasing power. This comes after the International Monetary Fund reduced its Thai GDP forecast significantly from 4.4% to 2.7% growth, due to a slump in domestic consumption.…
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Acid attack leaves Burmese mother and baby severely injured
A brutal acid attack has left a 27 year old Burmese woman and her eight-month-old baby with severe injuries. The incident, which occurred on October 19, 2023, involved the woman’s ex-husband, who launched the attack while she was bathing her daughter. The assailant, a Myanmar national like the victims, used a yellow plastic bottle to disperse the acid, causing grievous…
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Thai PM’s frozen durian order: A fruitful venture worth millions
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday publicised the country’s recent acquisition of a 300-million-baht (US$8.1 million) frozen durian order on social media. The announcement came in the aftermath of his trip to Chanthaburi, which further emphasised the global appetite for Thai durians. “Post my visit, an order was placed. Business tycoons have expressed interest in placing an annual order worth 300…
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Phuket’s tram feasibility study on track for smooth ride ahead
The much-awaited tram project in Phuket, set to link Phuket International Airport with the Ha Yeak Chalong intersection, is advancing steadily as its feasibility study is on track to finish within six months. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit revealed yesterday that the 41.7-kilometre tram system’s study is being carried out by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA), with intentions to present…
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Thai police bust major cryptocurrency mining operation
Thai police apprehended multiple individuals and confiscated over 650 cryptocurrency mining devices valued at over 200 million baht in Samut Sakhon and Ratchaburi, following an investigation into suspected electricity theft. The high-profile crackdown involved officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) and Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) officials, who targeted the locations due to their exceptionally high power usage. The…
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Construction workers’ row escalates into knife attack in Pattaya
A heated argument over professional prowess escalated into a violent confrontation between two construction workers in Pattaya on Saturday night. The altercation resulted in one man being grievously injured by a knife attack. Pattaya police received a report of the incident at 8.36pm. Over ten officers swiftly converged on the scene, a residential property located within the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung…
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Thailand’s hazardous waste crisis prompts law enforcement calls
Serious fires at hazardous waste storage facilities in Rayong and Ayutthaya, coupled with the illegal smuggling of cadmium tailings from Tak to numerous Thai provinces, have brought the issue of waste management into sharp focus in Thailand. With a shocking 36 million tonnes of hazardous waste produced annually, as reported by the Department of Pollution Control, concerns are increasing over…
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