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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One-legged Thai dine-and-dasher ‘hops’ it, leaves 5,700 baht bill in central Thailand
A one-legged Thai man hopped out of a restaurant and a petrol station in the central province of Ayutthaya in a daring dine-and-dash manoeuvre, resulting in a 5,700 baht loss. A female staff member who accompanied the legless man was also abandoned in the midst of it all. The restaurant’s manager, speaking to Channel 3, revealed that the 60 year…
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Teen’s truckin’ troubles: Migrant worker smuggling ends in pickup predicament in central Thailand
A 19 year old man was apprehended for smuggling 13 illegal migrant workers in a pickup truck that he claimed to have borrowed from his father under the pretence of visiting his girlfriend. Phinwit Udomphon, an officer from the Ayutthaya Provincial Police, stated that efforts to curb the smuggling of illegal workers into Bangkok and its surrounding provinces continue unabated.…
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Toll-free treat: Thailand waives toll charges on major expressways for King Bhumibol Memorial Day
The upcoming holiday tomorrow, October 13, has led the Thailand Expressway Authority (TEA), under the Ministry of Transport, to waive toll charges on three major expressways, covering a total of 60 toll gates. The decision was made to facilitate travel on the anniversary of the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, a public holiday as declared by…
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Thai worker held hostage by Hamas in Israel as local officials scramble to assist
A Thai worker in Nong Bua Lam Phu, identified as Paiboon Rattanin is among a group of five to seven Thai workers captured by the Hamas group in Israel. The last contact with the 42 year old Paiboon was on October 6, before his co-workers in Israel sent footage of the group being hauled into a trailer by a tractor…
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World Bank identifies growth potential in Thailand’s secondary cities
The World Bank has highlighted the potential for growth in Thailand’s secondary cities such as Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Rayong in a recent study. The report, Thailand Urban Infrastructure Finance Assessment, suggests that these cities could boost Thailand’s economy if they invest in urban infrastructure improvements, such as mass transit systems and renewable energy sources. However, the study points…
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Follicle flare-up: Thai breakdancer seeks hair transplant amid balding battle
A follically challenged Thai breakdancer has a hair-raising dilemma and only a hair transplant will resolve it after the sport’s rigorous demands made him go bald. Thai breakdancer Kantapon Rodsaart is looking for someone to sponsor a hair transplant after revealing the competition at the recent Asian Games made him lose his hair. Breakdancing made its debut at the Asian…
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Thai labourer’s death in Israel sparks fears, call for government aid
The Thai labourer tragically killed in Israel during a mortar attack on Tuesday sparked pleas from his family for government aid in repatriating his remains back to his native Si Sa Ket province in Thailand. Phongphat Suchat and another Thai worker lost their lives when a mortar round detonated close to their location, according to the 29 year old’s brother,…
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Russian woman’s allergy to ganja causes chaos in Pattaya
A Russian woman in Pattaya caused chaos in an ambulance as Thai rescuers tried to attend to her ganja allergy. A resident came across a Russian couple and their son on a footpath near a seaside condominium at 1am yesterday, October 12. The woman was sitting on the ground looking confused. Her husband also looked unwell but was able to…
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Tragic farewell: Depression claims life of MP’s wife in central Thailand
The wife of Chart Thai Pattana Party MP Supachok Srisukajorn reportedly committed suicide at her home in the central province of Nakhon Pathom. It is believed the 28 year old pharmacist had a prolonged battle with depression. A housemaid discovered the body of the MP’s wife, Yadapa Tansudcharoenying, in her bedroom at the home in Nakhon Pathom’s Phra Patone sub-district yesterday,…
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Thailand to launch emergency alert system following Siam Paragon shooting incident
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) of Thailand have initiated a collaborative project to implement an effective emergency alert system. The move comes in the wake of a shooting incident at the Siam Paragon Mall on October 3. DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangthong relayed that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is keen…
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Mane change: Thai police let their hair down with 5cm rule revision
Thailand’s national police chief has instituted a revision in police regulations, permitting male officers to sport hair up to 5 centimetres long. This move is a marked difference from the 2018 uniform practice code which mandated that male officers maintain a closely cropped hairstyle with the back and sides of their heads completely shaven. In the new 2023 uniform practice…
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Policeman accused of assaulting wife and luring her into gang rape
A Thai woman reached out to a social media influencer to seek help after her police officer husband physically assaulted her and lured her into a gang rape scene. Thai social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet accompanied the victim, 30 year old A, to the Children and Women Protection Sub-Division to start legal processes against the woman’s husband. The woman…
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Phuket’s vegetarian festival to boost Thai economy with 9 billion baht (video)
Anticipations are high as the annual 10-day vegetarian festival in Phuket is set to yield more than 9 billion baht in revenue, as estimated by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Meanwhile, the Phuket Provincial Commercial Office reports a drop in vegetable prices compared to the corresponding period last year. Thanet Tantipiriyakit, who presides over the Phuket Tourist Association, noted…
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Influenza cases rise fivefold in Thailand amid illegal antiviral drug concerns
A startling surge in influenza cases has been observed in Thailand this year, with a fivefold increase compared to last year’s monthly averages. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to the public about illegal antiviral medications labelled as oseltamivir being smuggled into the country. Doctor Thira Woratanarat from the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University revealed, on…
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El Niño could trigger three-year rice shortage, warns Thailand’s Commerce Minister
Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai expressed worries over a potential three-year-long impact of the El Niño-induced drought. This prolonged effect could potentially harm rice production and create a shortage in domestic consumption. Phumtham commissioned the Internal Trade Department and Foreign Trade Department to jointly monitor and alleviate the potential impacts of the El Niño phenomenon and the ensuing drought. He voiced…
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Thai government defends 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme amid economic criticism
Economic experts’ criticism of the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme was rebuffed yesterday by its supporters, who asserted that the cash handout would alleviate disparity and provide a crucial financial boost to the disadvantaged. Jutipong Phummul headed the faction, which handed a plea to the government, encouraging the implementation of the digital wallet initiative. Presented in Parliament as an economic strategy…
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Two more Thai labourers die in Israel-Palestine conflict, death toll rises to 20
The ongoing conflict in Israel has claimed the lives of two more Thai labourers, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, bringing the total Thai death toll to 20. The Thai labourers lost their lives amid Hamas rocket attacks and aerial bombardments near the Gaza Strip. Kanchana Patarachoke, the ministry’s spokesperson and director-general of the Department of Information, shared this distressing…
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Tour firm directors arrested for misleading Thai workers about overseas job opportunities
A Thai police force led by senior officer Eakasit Pansita arrested two tour company directors today, for allegedly deceiving over 80 individuals with promises of overseas job opportunities. Thirty year old Warintorn and 27 year old Pattanachai were taken into custody at separate locations. Warintorn was detained at a hotel in Mu Si, Nakhon Ratchasima, while Pattanachai was arrested inside a…
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Chon Buri man arrested after threatening and sexually assaulting minor leading to pregnancy
A 49 year old man has been arrested for sexually assaulting a 12 year old girl, resulting in her pregnancy. The suspect was apprehended at a friend’s house in the Phanat Nikhom District of Chon Buri Province after he had been in hiding since the incident occurred. Boonlue is believed to have committed the assault twice at the girl’s home…
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Qatari man nabbed for allegedly raping Thai man at Bangkok hospital (video)
Police arrested a Qatari man for allegedly raping an 18 year old Thai man in a bathroom of a private hospital in Bangkok. The suspect denied the charges. An officer from Lumpini Police Station conducted an investigation into the sexual assault case and managed to identify the suspect as a 23 year old Qatari man named Saoud Hussain Ma Alyafel.…
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Phichit flooding: Eight districts hit, 885 households submerged
The province of Phichit is currently grappling with severe flooding that has affected eight districts, with as many as 885 households submerged and damage to the local infrastructure. The situation has been worsened by the overflowing of the Nan and Yom rivers, leading officials to raise red flags, signalling the start of a flood crisis. The water level in the…
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Delivery dilemma: Thai logistics firm in hot water as labour exploitation claims posted
A prominent private logistics company has been forced to navigate emerging challenges, as allegations of labour exploitation surge. A post from the Riders Union page highlighted the plight of the company’s employees, who face drastic cuts in their commission rates and are expected to deliver up to 200 to 500 parcels a day without overtime pay. The post alleged… “Employees…
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Chinese tourists drop by 75,093 following shooting in Bangkok
The Economic Division of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported that the number of Chinese tourists in Thailand last week fell by 75,093 compared to the previous week. The ministry said Thailand received 497,966 foreign tourists last week. This was 54,453 or 9.86% less than the previous week. The number of foreign tourists in the country decreased, especially Chinese…
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Famed Thai actress reports 2.4 million baht gold trading investment scam
A former Thai soap opera actress and her husband have reported an investment scam to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), involving a gold trading business operated by the son of a famous Bangkok singer. The couple was convinced to invest in the business, promising high returns of 10%, resulting in a loss of 2.4 million baht. The former actress, 63…
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Torrential rains cause major disruption with flooded roads and railway lines in southern Thailand
The southern region of Mueang district, Nakhon Ratchasima, home to Suranaree University of Technology and the 80th Anniversary Stadium, has been severely affected by the torrential rains over the past two days, causing the accumulated rainwater to total 26 centimetres. The torrential rains led to natural canals overflowing and flooding major roads and railway lines, causing significant inconvenience to the…
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Thai Labour Ministry addresses worker transfer issue in Israel amidst unrest
The issue of Thai workers being sold to other employers in Israel was addressed by Pairoj Chotiksathien, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour today. He clarified that the transfer of workers to new employers does not violate Israeli labour law, following an investigation by the Labour Attaché in Tel Aviv. Pairoj disclosed today that he ordered the Labour…
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Viral elevator nightmare: Thai woman’s lift ordeal shocks the Internet (video)
A young Thai woman’s terrifying experience of being trapped alone in a continuously ascending and descending lift has gone viral online. The ordeal, shared by a TikTok user known as @dreamiiqueen, saw the lift stop at an unselected, under-construction floor, leaving her in deep shock. The video, captioned “The first and last time with this incident #stucklift #trappedinlift #lift,” garnered…
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Debt debacle: Thai man attacked, forced to settle loan shark score for ex-employee (video)
A Thai man sought justice for himself after he was attacked and forced to pay an 8,000 baht debt to the loan sharks on behalf of his former employee. A video of the victim, 50 year old Kan, subjected to a brutal assault by a group of 20 loan sharks was shared on Thai social media. The video shows a…
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MFP MP accused of sexually harassing volunteer team member
A Facebook account called What is the MFP lying about today? (วันนี้ก้าวไกลโกหกอะไร), accused a Member of Parliament (MP) in the central province of Prachin Buri from the Move Forward Party (MFP) of sexually harassing a woman from the party’s volunteer team. The Facebook page shared a screenshot of a conversation between a man and a woman centred on explicit sexual…
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Public health strategy: Thailand’s DMS unveils 13-point plan to tackle cancer
The Department of Medical Services (DMS) has unveiled its 13 Quick Win strategy, led by the Director-General’s representative, Amporn Benjaphonpitak. This public health strategy is designed to tackle liver and bile duct cancer diagnoses, establish mini-rehabilitation centres in every province, set up four health zones, and enhance services in Bangkok’s Don Mueang district and Chiang Mai’s Mueang district. The objective…
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