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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Video game violence: Bangkok teen’s mall shooting sparks #Don’tBlameTheGame trend
A trending hashtag, #Don’tBlameTheGame, emerged online following a violent incident involving a 14 year old boy in a Bangkok shopping mall. The teenage killer, who allegedly had a history of playing the Battle Royale-style game, sparked a debate about the link between video games and violence. However, many online users assert that blaming video games is not the solution and…
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Retired MP arrested for defrauding victims of money and sex
Police arrested a retired Member of Parliament for the central province of Sukhothai at his home in the Isaan province of Nong Bua Lamphu after he pretended to be a spiritual medium to defraud his cult followers, robbing their money and coercing some into having sex with him. “former mp’s cunning cult con: arrested for exploiting followers One victim filed…
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Thailand tourism threatened, Bangkok mall shooting deters Chinese tourists
The tragic shooting at Siam Paragon in the heart of Bangkok yesterday has potentially hampered Thailand tourism. Thousands of Chinese netizens criticised the incident on Weibo, some even stating they would never visit Thailand again. Several casualties, including Thai, Myanmar, and Chinese nationals, resulted from the incident. As soon as the unfortunate event occurred, the hashtag #Paragon started trending on Twitter. The…
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Whooping cough warning: Pertussis cases surge, one fatality in southern Thailand
The Disease Control Department (DCD) in Songkhla province reported an alarming increase in the number of cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, particularly among children. The department confirmed the diagnosis of two patients in the region, with one fatality in Pattani province. The disease, caused by the bacteria B. pertussis, is highly contagious and spreads through coughing, sneezing,…
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Thai motorcycle production makers ready to ‘gear’ up as sales pick up speed
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) anticipates a surge in Thai motorcycle manufacturing during this year’s final quarter, following a period of slow sales. This optimistic forecast was made earlier this year by the FTI’s Automotive Industry Club (AIC), based on an uptick in tourism and the easing of the semiconductor shortage. July saw a 12.7% year-on-year increase in local…
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Juvenile court procedures in dealing with 14 year old Siam Paragon gunman
Juvenile Court spokesperson Sorawit Limprangsi today revealed the legal procedures in dealing with a 14 year old offender who used a 9mm gun to shoot people at the Siam Paragon shopping mall, resulting in injuries and fatalities. Sorawit stated that upon arresting a juvenile, the Juvenile Court procedures will verify the lawfulness of the arrest. The investigative officer must bring…
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Fire breaks out at prison in Bangkok, inmates and officials unharmed
A fire broke out at Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok‘s Chatuchak district at 10.40pm last night. Fortunately, no inmates or officials were injured in the incident. The fire was reported to Pracha Chuen Police Station, which later worked with Lat Yao Fire Station to bring the blaze under control. The fire originated in a single-story structure within the prison…
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Thai monk’s ‘soul-soothing’ fire dance ignites interest in ancient healing
A 71 year old monk from Wat Pa Theppitaks Daennabun, located in Nong Mod Daeng, Lahan Sai District, Buriram Province, uses the ancient method of fire stepping to treat various ailments and cleanse karma. This method was practised today, when a social media user posted a video showing the monk stepping on a heated iron plate or tractor blade, then…
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Bangkok’s brave trio: Police heroes steal hearts after Siam Paragon shooting
A commendable and heroic act by three dedicated police officers unfolded in the bustling heart of Bangkok, garnering widespread admiration and recognition from both the Deputy National Police Chief and an appreciative online community after the Siam Paragon shooting incident. The officers were hailed for their exceptional professionalism and valour as they apprehended the teenage perpetrator involved in a shooting…
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Thai stock market plunges amid public debt concerns and reduced GDP forecast
Following a decline of over 1.5% yesterday, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) dropped below the 1,450 points mark. This follows mounting apprehensions concerning escalating public debt and economic growth after the World Bank scaled down its forecast for the Thai GDP. Daol Securities (Thailand) noted selling pressure from the majority of investor groups due to persisting worries about the…
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Thailand banks break the ice: Freezing loan rates to thaw financial stress
Thailand’s state-run banks have taken a bold step to counteract high interest rates by freezing their loan rates. This move has been initiated to assist low-income earners and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as disclosed by Vitai Ratanakorn, who holds dual roles as president and chief executive of the Government Savings Bank (GSB). The GSB, which currently services six million loan…
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Chinese and Burmese killed, 5 injured, twins rescued in shooting rampage at Siam Paragon Bangkok
The shooting rampage at Bangkok’s Siam Paragon shopping mall yesterday tragically claimed the lives of a Chinese woman and a Burmese woman, and injured five others while a brave Thai woman rescued Chinese twins after their mother was killed. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) announced that the shooting occurred at the mall yesterday afternoon, October 3, resulting in the deaths…
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Thailand’s digital wallet project: Green light to make cash splash
The government of Thailand has given the green light for the formation of a committee for its ambitious digital money handout scheme, otherwise known as the digital wallet project. Slated for launch in February, the initiative aims to stimulate the economy by providing each Thai citizen above the age of 16 with 10,000 baht (US$269) in digital money. The project, requiring…
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Severe weather warning issued for Thailand: Heavy rain forecast across 44 provinces including 80% of Bangkok
Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall across 44 provinces, including an 80% area of Bangkok. The public is advised to remain alert for sudden flash floods and forest runoff, particularly in low-lying and mountainous regions close to waterways. This severe weather warning comes due to the Monsoon trough passing over the central, lower northeastern,…
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Eighth day of search for missing mushroom picker in Khao Kho forest as new clues emerge
A desperate search for a 61 year old mushroom picker lost in the Khao Kho Forest in northern Thailand has entered its eighth day, with over 100 people, including residents and officials from various departments, joining the hunt. Tragically, the man, known locally as Khamphan Sisonkarn or Lod, disappeared on September 27 while foraging in the community forest of Jawa…
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Bangkok hotel launches Fifty Shades of Grey theme room
G Boutique Hotel Surawong Bangkok extends an invitation to kinky couples who desire Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey fantasies to experience its newly launched Fifty Shades of Grey-themed room, equipped with BDSM gear for those seeking an unconventional adventure. G Boutique Hotel Surawong Bangkok is a 3-star hotel in the heart of the Thai capital, just a 3-minute walk from…
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Weakening baht boosts Thailand’s exports and tourism
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin pointed out yesterday that the weakening baht, despite its potential negative impact on energy import costs, is actually proving to be a boon for the country’s exports and tourism. The baht had earlier plummeted to an 11-month low against the US dollar, trading at 37.095. According to the 61 year old prime minister, who also…
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ThaiBev expansion: 7 billion baht investment includes new Cambodia factory
ThaiBev, the Singapore-listed food and beverage company, announced an investment plan of 7 billion baht for the expansion of its operations both domestically and internationally. The company’s CEO, Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, revealed that 4 billion baht will be used to construct a new beverage factory in Cambodia, while 3 billion has been set aside for logistics facilities, a biogas factory, and…
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Car takes a dive, one man survives: Dramatic sea plunge at Sattahip pier caught on camera
A shocking incident occurred in the early hours of this morning when a car plunged into the sea at the Sattahip – Koh Samui ferry pier, Chuk Samet, Sattahip, Chon Buri. One man managed to escape by breaking the car window, but two women remained trapped in the submerged vehicle. The event was captured on CCTV at around 4am today.…
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Thai welfare department pushes for more ‘home-run’ support as homeless program stalls
The Thai Department of Social Development and Welfare is advocating for increased housing subsidies for the homeless, following a year in which fewer than 100 individuals signed up for the programme, revealed Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister of Social Development and Human Security. This joint initiative of the department and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation allows for half of the participants’…
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Tourism confidence in Thailand plummets amid economic jitters
The tourism confidence index in Thailand has taken a hit, with figures sliding from 91 in the same period of 2019 to 69 in the third quarter of this year, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT). The third quarter’s number also represents a decline from 74 and 72 recorded in the first and second quarters of 2021 respectively.…
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Unmasking Wadee: Twitter user reveals twisted tricks of fraudulent fortune teller
In a shocking series of revelations, a Twitter user @summeru756762 exposed a fraudulent fortune teller known as Wadee, who manipulates individuals into obedience, forcing them to transfer money and physically abusing them. The victim, acquainted with the trickster for four years, detailed a chilling account of manipulation, coercion, and abuse that has sparked widespread outrage and led to other victims…
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Breaking news: Three shot dead, five injured by teenage gunman inside Siam Paragon (video)
UPDATE: Three people have been reportedly shot dead and at least five people were injured today by a teenage gunman on the rampage at Siam Paragon Mall in Bangkok. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officers swiftly responded to the scene, where one officer successfully apprehended the alleged gunman, a 14 year old boy at 5.06pm inside the luxury Siam Paragon…
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Thai villager wins 100,000 baht in lottery from ancient tree numbers
In an enchanting twist of fate, an anonymous resident was thrust into a realm of financial prosperity after uncovering the winning lottery numbers, bestowed upon them by an ancient and revered tree nestled within the tranquil confines of Ban Beng Temple in Sri Narong, Chumphon Buri, Surin. This auspicious turn of events led to the resident’s remarkable windfall—a substantial prize…
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Shell shock: Giant turtle roadside rescue fuels lottery frenzy in northeast Thailand
A giant turtle was discovered crawling on a road by a young man who decided to take it home, sparking a flurry of lottery number predictions among the local villagers in northeast Thailand. The unusual occurrence took place in the Nong Thep community, Sri Narong District, Surin province. The 28 year old man, Kaewprasert, was en route to buy some…
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Helmet heist: Foreign couple’s brazen theft to dodge checkpoint fines caught on CCTV
A security camera caught a foreign couple stealing two motorcycle helmets from a post office welfare house in the northern province of Chiang Mai in a bid to avoid being fined at a police checkpoint. The director of the Mae Ping Post Office, Kraisri Thongwirat, discovered that two helmets belonging to the post office had gone missing yesterday, October 2.…
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Survivor’s trauma lingers a year after the daycare centre massacre in northeast Thailand
The trauma of the brutal daycare centre massacre at a Thai nursery still lingers, especially for Paweenuch Supolwong, a four year old survivor in Nong Bua Lamphu. The horrific daycare centre massacre that unfolded a year ago in the rural village of Uthai Sawan, ended in the deaths of 36 people, shattering the peace of this close-knit community. Now, every movement…
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Bangkok underwear thief caught with knickers in a twist at entertainment haunt
A Thai thief who stole women’s underwear from a coin-operated laundry shop has been apprehended. The arrest occurred after the police issued an arrest warrant, and the suspect was later found at an entertainment venue. Numerous women’s undergarments were discovered hidden under the seat of his motorbike. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jedsada Yangnok, the superintendent of Wang Thong Lang Police Station,…
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Chilli reception: Thai senators to spice things up with complaint after Icelandic restaurant row
Thai senators are preparing to lodge a complaint with the Icelandic government following an incident where Doctor Porntip Rojanasunan was thrown out of a Thai restaurant in Iceland by its Thai proprietor. Last week, a video went viral on Thai social media depicting a Thai man, who identified himself as the owner of a restaurant in Iceland, expelling Porntip from…
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Tha Bo’s watery battle: Northern Thailand community withstands relentless flooding for two weeks
In the face of relentless and devastating flooding, the resilient community of Tha Bo in Ubon Ratchathani, northern Thailand, has been grappling with the harsh reality of nature’s fury for the past two weeks. The disaster uprooted the lives of 11 families, comprising 40 individuals, who found refuge and solace at Wat Ban Tha Bo. Their homes have been submerged…
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