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 12Go introduces Japan Rail Passes to enhance travel accessibility for international travellers
For those who have travelled throughout Thailand, 12Go is a well-known provider of various trips, though the platform itself has a much wider reach. Ranging from buses to planes, 12Go is undoubtedly a leading booking platform for travel throughout the...
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Thailand’s virtual banking sector faces competition for licences
Thailand’s emerging virtual banking sector is seeing intense competition as the number of applications has surpassed the available licences. The Bank of Thailand (BoT) announced it received five applications for virtual banking licences before the deadline, with plans to grant a maximum of three licences. The successful bidders are expected to be announced by mid-2025. The BoT has not disclosed…
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Phetchaburi temple under fire for destroying cultural plaster art
A prominent temple in Phetchaburi province is facing criticism for destroying cultural plaster art by a national artist to make way for a coffee shop. Academic and renowned writer Niphatporn Pengkaew shared images and comments on Facebook yesterday, September 23, showcasing the plaster art, and local wisdom of Phetchaburi. The post revealed that the plaster art, created by national artist…
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Thai monk with psychiatric history stabs abbot over loan warning
A Thai monk with a history of psychiatric treatment stabbed an abbot at a temple in the Isaan province of Loei yesterday, September 23, after the victim warned him not to borrow money from a temple visitor. Somkid, a 29 year old community leader in the Nonghin district of Loei, reported the stabbing at Phu Kham Noi Khiri Khet Temple to…
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Move over Moo Deng: Penguin Pesto steals the spotlight
Among the sea of monochrome penguins at Melbourne’s Sea Life Aquarium, one fluffy superstar is stealing the show – and the Internet can’t get enough of him. Meet Pesto, the penguin chick who’s gone from a 200-gramme hatchling to a massive 22.5 kilogrammes in just nine months! Affectionately dubbed an “absolute unit” and a “linebacker,” Pesto’s viral fame has eclipsed…
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Pattaya: Couple snatches motorbike while noodle shop owner naps
A chicken noodle vendor in Pattaya woke up to discover his motorbike had vanished – all because he left the key in the ignition while taking a nap. The 26 year old vendor, Thanapol Bingkhunthod, runs a small but busy chicken noodle shop on Soi Arunothai. His day took a turn for the worse yesterday, September 23, when a crafty…
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Bangkok bonanza: Chinese tourists ‘Agoda’ crazy for Golden Week
A popular travel booking platform, Agoda, reported that Bangkok is one of the top five destinations among Chinese tourists for the upcoming Golden Week from October 1 to 7. Agoda revealed the number of searches for overseas accommodations by Chinese nationals on September 23. The report showed that the number of searches increased by 137% compared to the same period…
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Foreign man found hanged at Phuket resort
In a chilling discovery on Sunday morning, the body of a foreign man was found hanged outside a resort in Koh Kaeo, Phuket province, leaving police scrambling to uncover his identity. The grim scene was uncovered by a hotel staff member at around 7.50am, on September 22, who immediately alerted the police. Arriving at the scene, officers were joined by…
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Thai PM’s Office hits back at ethics amendment critics
Political storms are brewing over Thailand’s controversial charter amendment proposal but the Prime Minister’s Office is pushing back, insisting the revisions won’t weaken the fight against corruption. Yesterday, September 23, PM Office Minister Chousak Sirinil dismissed concerns surrounding the Pheu Thai Party’s charter amendment plan, which includes revising ethical standards for political officeholders. Critics claim it could undermine the constitution’s core…
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Thai government to tighten grip on online scammers
The Government of Thailand is set to unleash new laws in its war against online scams, with a toughened stance on cyber criminals. Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Economy (MDES) Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, vowed to not only protect consumers but also tackle the soaring number of fraud cases that threaten the nation’s economic security. Responding to concerns raised by Senator…
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Phatthalung romance: Love-struck victim won’t ‘stick’ it to attacker
A love-struck Thai man in the southern province of Phatthalung has decided to forgive and forget, even after his boyfriend savagely attacked him with a wooden stick, leaving him unconscious. Remarkably, the victim has declared he still loves his assailant. Officers from Mueang Phatthalung Police Station were alerted to the assault at a house in the Mueang district of Phatthalung…
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Thai man killed in boating accident near pier in Nonthaburi
A boating accident occurred last night near Wat Som Kliang Pier in Nonthaburi, resulting in the death of a 58 year old man. The incident involved a collision between a paddle boat and a motorboat. The deceased, Weerawong, was paddling to pick up his mother from the pier when the motorboat, driven by 63 year old Manit, suddenly collided with…
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Thai baht hits 19-month high as US dollar weakens
The Thai baht has soared to its highest level in 19 months against the US dollar, driven by a weaker American currency and profit-taking in gold markets. Opening at 32.92 per dollar today, the baht marked a significant rise from September 20’s closing rate of 33.60 baht. This appreciation follows the dollar’s depreciation, which was triggered by the US Federal…
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Domestic tourism makes tracks but misses 1 trillion baht mark
Domestic tourism is on track to achieve 200 million trips this year, though revenue is anticipated to fall short of the 1 trillion baht (US$30 billion) target, reaching only 965 billion baht (US$29.3 billion). The private sector is urging for the promotion of second-tier cities through a loyalty programme to bolster local tourism. From January to July, domestic tourism receipts…
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Thai man alleges police officer assault over Laotian bar girl
A Thai man accused a police officer and his friends of physically assaulting him over a Laotian bar girl in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo on Saturday, September 21. The 40 year old Thai man, Sarawut, asked Channel 7 to help him seek justice, claiming he was assaulted by a police officer and his two friends at around 2am…
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Thailand promotes products with Piccadilly Circus campaign
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce has launched the Think Thailand Next Level branding campaign to promote Thai products and services. The event, led by Pichai Naripthaphan, took place at Piccadilly Circus in London, aiming to elevate Thailand’s image globally. The campaign’s launch featured a gigantic digital billboard at Piccadilly Circus, a prominent public space and a central hub in London. This…
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Thailand delays minimum wage hike to 400 baht by two weeks
Thailand’s decision to delay the planned increase in the minimum wage to 400 baht per day will extend the wait by about two weeks, according to a senior labour official. This postponement, initially set for October 1, is due to the committee responsible for the hike not meeting quorum requirements in its recent sessions. The committee, comprising representatives from employers,…
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Drunk Belgian man dances naked and defecates in police station
A Belgian man faces deportation after dancing naked and defecating during his detention at a police station in Nonthaburi near Bangkok in the early hours of this morning. Officers from Pak Kret Police Station were notified by a security guard at around 5am today, September 24, that a foreign man was walking along the expressway, raising concerns for both the…
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Monk neglected by hospital in Prachuap Khiri Khan
A group of monks and disciples confronted medical staff at Thap Sakae Hospital in Prachuap Khiri Khan, claiming negligence in treating an ailing senior monk, forcing him to seek care elsewhere after waiting for two hours without assistance. A lawyer named Prapatpong Phumchai and disciples of Phra Khru Phasuk Wiharakan, also known as Luang Por Sompong, the abbot of Wat Ang…
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Tragic tale: Heroic son drowns saving mother in Buriram river
In a heart-wrenching tale of bravery, a mother narrowly avoided drowning when her son leapt into the water to rescue her, tragically losing his own life in the process. Devastated and heartbroken, the grieving mother expressed her anguish, saying that, as the older one, she felt she should have been the one to perish instead of her beloved son. Police…
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New land slug species discovered in Thailand
Two newly discovered species of land slugs have been identified in Thailand, prompting further research on their conservation. The Animal Systematics Research Unit at Chulalongkorn University revealed these findings yesterday, September 23. Land slugs, also known as banana slugs in central Thailand, belong to the same group as snails but have lost their shells completely. Locally, they are known by…
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Chiang Mai: Flash floods hit more than 200 homes in Mae Rim
Flash floods have severely impacted the Mae Rim district in Chiang Mai, with over 200 homes affected and Mae Sa Elephant Camp preparing to relocate elephants due to landslides and damaged infrastructure. Heavy rains caused flash floods in Mae Rim district, Chiang Mai. The flooding, which began early yesterday, has affected over 200 homes, catching many residents off guard. The…
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Pickup truck fire sparks alarm on Karon beachfront
A pickup truck fire sparked alarm among locals and tourists along the Karon beachfront yesterday, September 23. The blaze broke out around 12.10pm near the Thavorn Palm Beach Hotel. Firefighters from Karon Municipality, along with traffic police, swiftly responded, rushing to the location of the fire. They found a white Nissan pickup truck, registered in Phuket, with flames and smoke…
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Man arrested for selling kratom drinks to students in Sisaket
Police in Sisaket arrested a man for illegally selling kratom-infused drinks to students, seizing numerous items as evidence and pressing serious charges against him. District Chief Thanadet Phra-arak of Benchalak ordered the crackdown, directing Deputy District Chief Supoj Chaikuchin and members of the 18th Benchalak Volunteer Defense Corps to collaborate with local police. The operation, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel…
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Monsoon leaves Patong Beach littered with trash and plastic waste
Patong Beach has become heavily littered with trash and plastic waste as the southwestern monsoon continues to batter Phuket’s west coast. A large section of the beach was found covered in debris on Sunday afternoon, September 22, highlighting an ongoing environmental issue. A local expatriate, having lived in Phuket for approximately five years, described the situation along the northern part…
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Thai MP’s car catches fire after inspecting Lampang floods
People’s Party MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn experienced a frightening moment when the car transporting him caught fire after returning from inspecting flood conditions in Lampang, en route to Chiang Mai Airport. A Good Samaritan helped extinguish the fire, revealing they suddenly smelled something burning and saw smoke before flames erupted. Wiroj, a list MP from the People’s Party, shared his alarming…
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Elderly woman murdered in Ayutthaya, suspect caught hiding nearby
A 73 year old woman was tragically murdered at her home in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The suspect, a 44 year old man, confessed to the crime, revealing he entered the house at night, assaulted the victim multiple times, and suffocated her with a pillow. Police in Ayutthaya received a report of the incident and immediately coordinated with medical professionals from Ayutthaya…
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East Pattaya residents fear sinkhole could swallow up their homes
Residents of Soi Wat Boon Samphan in East Pattaya are living in fear as a massive sinkhole threatens to swallow their homes. Locals of Soi Wat Boon Samphan 11, which connects to Soi Wat Boon Samphan 9, raised the alarm over severe erosion that has ravaged the road behind their village, fearing the worst is yet to come. A visit…
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Teenage Thai girl stabs grandmother to death after repeated insults
A 14 year old Thai girl stabbed her grandmother to death in a rented room in the Bang Bon district of Bangkok, following repeated insults from the victim. Officers from Samae Dam Police Station, along with a rescue team, were called to the rented room near Bang Bon Temple in the Bang Bon district to investigate the death of 48…
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Truck driver dies after falling asleep and crashing into trees
An 18-wheel truck driver lost control, veered into a ditch, and crashed into trees, resulting in a fatal accident. The truck’s front was destroyed, and the 64 year old driver died at the scene, suspected of falling asleep at the wheel during a long solo journey. Yesterday, September 23, Major Thandol Chorchun, an investigator from Cha-uat Police Station, received a…
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This insurance plan could cover some pre-existing conditions for 60 years+
As we age, health becomes an even bigger priority. Having the right coverage can give us the peace of mind we deserve. Those over 60 need to make sure that they’re well-prepared for life’s unexpected medical expenses. They need access to essential care, such as regular doctor visits or hospital stays, without worrying about financial strain. Stay protected and focus on…
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