News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Sponsored 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Warning at Jomtien Beach: Erosion creates dangerous slope
Jomtien Municipality placed warning signs around Jomtien Beach, alerting tourists to a hazardous slope formed by erosion. The signs advise visitors to steer clear of the affected area for their safety. A significant portion of the beach, stretching approximately 1 kilometre, has experienced severe erosion due to monsoon waves and strong winds. This natural process has resulted in a steep…
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Thailand unveils 3.75 trillion baht budget bill to boost economy
As the House of Representatives kicked off a three-day debate, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin introduced a 3.75 trillion baht budget bill for the 2025 fiscal year, aimed at revitalising Thailand’s sluggish economy. Simultaneously, he remains focused on advancing the digital wallet scheme. The budget intends to stimulate economic growth, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 2.5% to 3.5% in 2025…
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Drunk Thai taxi driver found dead in car outside ex-wife’s apartment
A drunk Thai taxi driver was found dead in his car parked outside his ex-wife’s apartment in the Bang Bon district of Bangkok on Tuesday night. Officers from Bang Khun Thian Police Station were alerted to the man’s death by 43 year old Thai woman Surumpa, at around 10pm, on June 18. She discovered the lifeless body of her ex-husband,…
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Tourists’ Phuket beach fun turns into life-or-death drama
Eight foreign tourists narrowly escaped drowning in Phuket’s treacherous seas yesterday after ignoring warning signs on the beaches. In the first harrowing incident, two Indian couples defied the red flag flying on Karon Beach and ventured into the turbulent waters. Witnesses reported the tourists quickly found themselves overwhelmed by the powerful waves and wind, unable to swim back to shore.…
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Colombian suspect in 70 million baht theft arrested in Bangkok
Thai immigration officers apprehended a wanted Colombian suspect in Bangkok after an extensive joint operation with Malaysian police, who had been investigating a major theft case. The arrest followed a high-profile burglary in Kuala Lumpur, where a group of thieves targeted the residence of a prominent businessman, making off with valuables worth over 70 million baht (US$2 million). The burglary,…
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Man kills stepfather to protect mother from domestic violence
A young Thai man intervened to protect his mother from her abusive stepfather, resulting in the stepfather’s death. The incident occurred in the early hours of today at a townhouse in the Nong Chok district of Bangkok. At around 2.30am, police officer Sujit Meenampan received a report of a stabbing incident. The police, including police chief Niruchpol Yothamat and forensic…
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Thai industries sentiment index drops to 88.5 as layoffs rise
Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) experienced another decline in May, dropping to 88.5 from April’s 90.3 points, as 15,000 workers have been laid off since the beginning of the year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Layoffs in the first five months of 2024 emerged as the TISI, which measures the manufacturing sector’s health, fell for the second…
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Heavy rain warning issued for three eastern provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for heavy rain in three eastern provinces: Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat. Bangkok residents are advised to carry umbrellas, as thunderstorms are expected to cover 40% of the area. The upper Andaman Sea will experience waves up to 2 metres high. The TMD’s 24-hour weather forecast predicts a southwest monsoon covering the…
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Speeding pickup crashes into pole, killing driver instantly
A speeding pickup truck crashed into a utility pole, resulting in the driver’s immediate death. The collision occurred at 12.30am today, with CCTV footage capturing the vehicle’s high speed before the accident. Police Captain Kosin Jamthonglang of Nakhon Ratchasima City Police Station received the accident report. The incident took place at the intersection near an affordable housing project in Ban…
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Italian arrested for cocaine sales and illegal business on Samui
Police in Surat Thani arrested an Italian man allegedly involved in selling cocaine and operating a motorbike rental business illegally on Samui Island. The arrest, made on June 18, followed an investigation by Surat Thani Immigration based on tips from concerned locals. Officers identified the suspect as 39 year old Mattio who was apprehended on Lamai Beach Road in the…
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DP World eyes investment in Thailand’s 1 trillion baht Land Bridge
Dubai-based logistics giant DP World has expressed interest in investing in Thailand’s ambitious 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge project, as confirmed by the Ministry of Transport. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World, will meet with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin tomorrow, June 21, to discuss potential collaboration on the project. DP World is renowned as the world’s third-largest…
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Chicago museum to return 900-year-old artefact to Thailand
A 900-year-old artefact, originating from the Phanom Rung Historical Park in Buriram, will be repatriated by the Art Institute of Chicago to Thailand’s Fine Arts Department (FAD). Phanombut Chantarachot, FAD Director-General, announced yesterday June 19 that the US institute intends to return a 12th-century fragment of a pilaster depicting the Hindu deity Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana. This artefact is part…
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Thailand promotes OTOP products to boost local economies
Thailand’s deputy interior minister recently presided over the opening of an event aimed at developing and supporting marketing channels for One Tambon One Product (OTOP) items, poised to enhance community enterprises. The event, titled Community Enterprises: United in Promoting Thai Products saw the participation of Deputy Interior Minister Kreang Kalltinant, who was accompanied by several members of the ministry, alongside…
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Mother and infant found dead in Maha Sarakham pond
A tragic discovery was made as a mother and her 10 day old infant were found dead in a pond in Maha Sarakham. The pair had been missing since yesterday, with the mother reportedly battling postpartum depression. At approximately 7am today, police officer Yutthasart Yenwattana received a report of two bodies floating in a pond near Ban Si Wichai in…
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Thailand’s big gamble: Mega casinos set to hit the jackpot
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced that Thailand is on the brink of legalising large-scale entertainment complexes with casinos. The final draft of this ambitious bill is set to be ready for Cabinet deliberations within the next three to four weeks. Julapun revealed that 16 government agencies have already weighed in on the plan. “Their insights will be included as…
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Thailand aims to become regional aviation hub by 2030
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin unveiled a vision to transform the country into a regional aviation hub as part of the Ignite Thailand, Aviation Hub initiative, aiming to enhance Thailand’s capacity and attractiveness in the aviation sector. The Bangkok-born prime minister stressed the need to address existing problems before upgrading the aviation hub. Suvarnabhumi International Airport, once ranked 13th globally, has fallen…
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Drunken old age taunt in Pattaya leads to machete attack
A dispute in Pattaya led to a violent attack where a drunk man, after mocking an older man of his age, was attacked with a machete and sustained a severe head wound. The incident unfolded last night near Wat Huai Yai in Banglamung district, Chon Buri. Police and rescue workers reached the site at 9.36pm, after receiving reports of a…
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PM Srettha’s review: Torsak may return as police chief
The results of an investigation into conflicts among senior police officials have been submitted to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, recommending that Torsak Sukwimol could return to his position as National Police Chief, while Surachate Hakparn aka Big Joke remains under review. PM Srettha received a report from the Fact-Finding and Legal Examination Committee, chaired by Chatchai Promlert, concerning publicised conflicts…
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Samut Prakan drug operation seize narcotics worth 10 million baht
Samut Prakan police launched the second phase of their anti-drug operation, titled Operation Clip Wings to crack down on small-scale drug dealers, resulting in the seizure of hundreds of thousands of methamphetamine pills and other narcotics. The operation began with a briefing at 10am yesterday in the Samut Prakan Provincial Police headquarters spearheaded by the Commissioner of Provincial Police Region…
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Ajinomoto’s secret to doubling Thai farmers’ yields
Ajinomoto FD Green (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (Ajinomoto FD Green), a leading eco-friendly enterprise and subsidiary of the renowned Ajinomoto Group, is making waves in sustainable agriculture by empowering Thai farmers. Through their innovative Thai Farmer Better Life Partner project, now in its fourth year, they aim to revolutionise cassava and coffee farming. Ajinomoto’s initiative, part of its global 2030 sustainability…
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Sumptuous new Thai takeaway opens in Canberra
If you want to know what three generations of restaurant experience taste like, drop into Canberra’s brand-new Thai takeaway shop, Tuckshop Tamada. Co-owner Nat Yota stated that her family has been in the food business for a very long time. “My grandma opened one of Canberra’s first Thai restaurants when she migrated from Thailand. Later, my parents ran their restaurant…
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When pigs fly: Mercedes-Benz crash sends pork & workers flying
A rear-end collision involving a Mercedes-Benz and a pork delivery truck sent fresh pork and workers flying and left scattered all over the road, resulting in eight injuries yesterday in Nakhon Pathom. At 6pm yesterday, police officer Yanapat Buajumras received a report of a car crash involving a sedan and a pickup truck on the inbound Phetkasem Road near the…
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Thai government expands 30-baht healthcare to 46 provinces
The Thai government expanded its 30-baht healthcare policy, allowing residents to access medical services with their ID cards across 46 provinces, including Bangkok. This initiative aims to ensure better healthcare accessibility and efficiency for all citizens. Jadet Thammathat-Aree, Secretary-General of the National Health Security Office (NHSO), announced the implementation of this policy on Monday, June 17, in accordance with the…
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BoT opposes cash handout scheme, urges help for those in need
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) firmly opposes the digital wallet cash handout initiative proposing a 500 billion baht cash distribution to nearly all adult citizens to boost consumption, emphasising that it would be more beneficial to directly assist those in need. Private consumption is expected to grow by about 4% this year following a record 7% increase last year. However,…
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Seafood restaurant owner’s son surrenders after fatal shooting
A seafood restaurant owner’s son turned himself in to police after shooting two of his employees, resulting in one death and another serious injury, in a late-night incident. The incident took place early this morning at a well-known seafood restaurant in the Thian Thale area where the suspect, 31 year old Thanakorn allegedly shot and killed one employee and critically…
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Police raid in Pattaya uncovers 25 illegal immigrants
Chon Buri immigration officers conducted a surprise raid on an apartment building in Pattaya, arresting over 25 illegal immigrants from Myanmar. Acting on a tip-off from concerned residents regarding disturbances caused by a significant number of undocumented foreign workers residing on Soi Kho Phai 4/5, Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, the authorities swiftly moved in. During the inspection, officers discovered a…
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Court allows suing in adulterous relationships, regardless of gender
A landmark decision by Thailand’s Constitutional Court will soon allow wives to sue their husbands’ lovers, irrespective of their gender following a court ruling yesterday. The ruling yesterday referenced Section 1523 of the Civil Code contravenes Section 27 of the constitution, which guarantees the rights and liberties of Thai citizens regardless of sex. This ruling mandates the enforcement of the…
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South Korea’s tourism boom leaves Thailand in the dust
South Korea witnessed a staggering 87% surge in foreign arrivals this year but Thai visitors tell a different story. According to recent data from the Korea Tourism Organisation, arrivals from Thailand have plummeted by over 21% from last year, totalling just 119,000 visitors from January to April. The decline has raised eyebrows across the tourism industry, with experts pointing fingers…
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Bangkok college clash leaves one dead, 14 arrested
Bangna police and relevant agencies addressed the media regarding a violent altercation between two technical college institutions in Ramkhamhaeng, Bangkok, which resulted in one death and one injury. The incident occurred recently, and police have since arrested Kanok, a 20 year old former technical college student, along with 13 others, including nine minors and four other adolescents. The altercation involved…
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Pattaya to become Southeast Asia’s premier destination
Pattaya, known for its bustling nightlife, is apparently trying to shed its old skin and emerge as a beacon of transformation in Southeast Asia. Recent years have witnessed a remarkable overhaul aimed at elevating visitor experiences and community living standards. Key infrastructure upgrades are at the heart of this makeover. Underground installations of electrical and communication cables, revamped road surfaces,…
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