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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Chinese tourist asks govt when 21-day Songkran Festival begins
When does the 21-day Songkran Festival in Thailand begin? A Chinese tourist raised the question as he launched a video of himself getting ready for a water fight in Bangkok without any Songkran events, asking the Thai government when it would start. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports, along with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and the National Soft…
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Counterfeit 1,000-baht notes found in central and east provinces
Counterfeit 1,000-baht notes have hit businesses hard in two provinces, with shop owners in Samut Songkhram and Ratchaburi reeling from the circulation of fake currency. A warning has been issued to the community, along with guidance on how to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit banknotes. This follows a social media alert in Samut Songkhram Province about the spread of fake…
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Stranded melon-headed whale rescued on Phuket Beach (video)
Patong Beach in Phuket yesterday was the scene of a thrilling rescue operation as lifeguards hastened to save a melon-headed whale, a protected marine species in Thailand, that had been cast ashore. The event drew the attention of numerous tourists, who flocked around the site, cheering on the lifeguards during their daring rescue mission. The marine mammal, also known less…
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Analysts predict BoT to maintain policy rate despite weak baht
There’s a growing consensus among financial analysts that the Bank of Thailand (BoT) won’t lower its policy rate during its April 10 meeting, despite a weakening baht and economic outlook. This perspective is strongly held by Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research), according to Kanjana Chockpisansin, the head of research. Kanjana stated that they believe the BoT’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will…
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Phallic faux pas: Thai man gets penis stuck in plastic bottle
A randy 65 year old Thai man sought help from a rescue foundation in the Taling Chan district of Bangkok after making a dick of himself by getting his penis stuck in a plastic bottle for a day. The leader of the Thawi Wattana Ruam Katanyu Rescue Foundation, Thawatchai Sintumongkhon, told Channel 7 that he and his team were alerted…
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Bangkok woman arrested for 360 million baht medical glove fraud
Police arrested a 27 year old female sales representative for allegedly defrauding international companies through a fake medical glove business. The arrest took place yesterday at a residence in the Lat Phrao 71 Alley, Lat Phrao Road, Bangkok. The suspect, identified only by her first name, Supanida, is accused of accepting orders and payments for medical gloves from companies based…
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Thailand Video News | Disabled son of premier league star takes to Muay Thai ring, Deputy PM Anutin affirms support for regulated cannabis use
In this video, Alex and Jay cover the news stories across the country. The Move Forward Party faces legal hurdles over monarchy reform, while Deputy PM Anutin advocates for regulated cannabis amidst controversy. Laotian monks on pilgrimage encounter harassment in Thailand, and a Thai man runs naked for conscription exemption. In Muay Thai, a disabled man breaks boundaries with a unique…
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Thai Stop Gambling Campaign criticises government’s plans
The general secretary of the Stop Gambling Campaign Foundation responded to a recent statement by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Tuesday regarding the potential establishment of an entertainment complex to address the issue of illicit gambling activities. The Thai PM had outlined plans for the Provincial Administration and National Security Departments to oversee the situation, acknowledging the existence of covert…
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Sun at zenith dazzles across Thailand without creating hottest day
Today, a solar phenomenon graced all 77 provinces of Thailand, with a sun at zenith event that stretched from the southernmost district of Betong to Mae Sai in Chiang Rai. There’s a common misconception that such an event marks the hottest day of the year, but this is not necessarily the case. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT)…
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Southeast Asia sees 130% growth in YouTube Shorts daily views
A significant increase in daily views for YouTube Shorts has been observed in Southeast Asia, with a growth of over 130% in the year ending July 2023, according to Niharika Kapoor, the Asia-Pacific head for Shorts scaled partnerships. This format, which limits videos to a maximum of 60 seconds, has been instrumental in attracting new creators to the global YouTube…
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Thai ferry fire: Authorities blaze into action saving all aboard (video)
The Thai authorities successfully rescued 97 passengers and 11 crew members after a fire broke out on an overnight ferry travelling from the mainland in the southern province of Surat Thani to Koh Tao. ThaiRath reported that the fire started in the engine room of the Koh Charoen 2 ferry at around 6.30 am today, April 4, when the boat…
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Thai community in shock as teacher faces molestation allegations
Shock reverberated throughout a local community as allegations surfaced against a schoolteacher accused of attempting to molest a 10 year old student in her own home, not once but twice. The child’s grandmother caught the perpetrator in the act, leading to a confession and subsequent police report. However, the case shows no progress, raising concerns about justice being served. In…
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Thai durian dismay: Growers feeling ‘fruit-ile’ as production plummets
The revered Nonthaburi durian, a cherished variety of Thailand’s king of fruits, has witnessed a drastic production decline to just 10% compared to the previous year, plunging growers into a state of crisis. This significant drop is attributed to the rapidly changing and prolonged hot weather conditions affecting the country. The scarcity has driven up the prices of this year’s…
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Child swipes phone in swift snatch at Bangkok eatery (video)
Popular Bangkok restaurant Red Panda Yakiniku took to social media to share CCTV footage of a child sprinting into their establishment, stealing a mobile phone from the cashier’s counter, and fleeing. The post is an appeal to the child’s guardians to return the stolen item. The Facebook post featured a clip showing a child dashing into the Red Panda Yakiniku…
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Foreign diver faces fine for touching whale shark in Thailand (video)
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) fined a foreign tourist for touching a whale shark while diving at Mu Koh Surin National Park in the southern province of Phang Nga. Drama erupted among local travel agencies in the southern provinces of Thailand after a video and pictures of a diver touching the tip of a whale…
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Mango madness: Online frenzy over black streaks yields revelation
A social media user’s concern about strange black lines in a mango sparked a significant online dialogue, leading to a flurry of comments and a revelation that these lines are not harmful to humans. The incident occurred today, April 4, when an individual posted a photo of some mango with black streaks to a group called Knowledge Around Us, questioning…
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Kaeng Tai Pla from southern Thailand voted worst dish in the world
TasteAtlas, one of the globe’s most famous food guide platforms, declared Kaeng Tai Pla from southern Thailand as the worst dish in the world in its 100 Worst Rated Foods in the World. Multiple Thai dishes have made their names on the world’s best dishes by TasteAtlas but there is no chance to shine for Kaeng Tai Pla, which is…
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Giant golden king cobra rescued from car wheel in Chon Buri
Residents of Ban Bueng, Chon Buri, were thrown into a state of alarm when an almost 4-metre-long golden king cobra entangled itself around a car wheel in the early hours of the morning. The incident triggered an urgent call for rescue services, as the presence of the venomous snake posed a significant danger to the local community. At around 5am…
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Police misconduct alleged at Thai festival after brawl
An incident at a beer garden during the Thao Suranari Victory Celebration in Nakhon Ratchasima Province turned violent, resulting in allegations of police misconduct. On the evening of April 2, a group of teenagers became embroiled in a brawl, which inadvertently implicated an innocent bystander. A 20 year old man, Na (surname withheld), reported that he was struck in the…
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Drunken monk in Bangkok detained for lewd acts (video)
Bangkok’s bustling streets witnessed a bizarre incident recently when a 62 year old man was detained by police for inappropriate behaviour. The incident occurred at 7.30pm yesterday, April 3, when Bangkaew police officers from Samut Prakan province were alerted to a man, clad in monk’s robes, exhibiting drunken behaviour and leering at women’s breasts and buttocks in Kingkhaew Market. Upon…
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Two navy conscripts die in early morning Chachoengsao road crash
A tragic road accident claimed the lives of two people early this morning when a van carrying navy conscripts collided with an 18-wheeler in Chachoengsao province. The van, which was hired by navy personnel returning to their homes for the Songkran holiday break, veered off course when the driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel. The incident occurred at 4.30am,…
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DNP denies plans to transfer Lop Buri macaques to Khao Yai
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) dismissed allegations that it plans to transfer macaques from Lop Buri to Khao Yai National Park. Atthapol Charoenchansa, the Director-General of DNP, clarified this during a media briefing yesterday, April 3. The director general discussed an action plan intended to manage the monkeys causing disturbances to Lop Buri residents and…
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Phuket court to revive tourist section amid rising crime against visitors
The Phuket Provincial Court is set to revive its tourist section in response to an increasing number of court cases involving tourists. This initiative is led by the acting chief justice of the Phuket Provincial Court, Kriangsak Rodpunshoo. He disclosed that the influx of both local and international tourists in Phuket has led to a spike in both criminal and…
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Woman climbs signal pole in desperation over money woes
Tension gripped Bo Win Subdistrict, East Pattaya on Monday when a distressed woman scaled a telephone signal pole in a bid for attention. The woman’s 56 year old husband Prasit (last name withheld) identified her as 58 year old Piew. He disclosed that the incident unfolded after he returned from work in the evening when a dispute arose over financial…
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Rayong fisherman nets suspected ambergris worth millions of baht
A fishing expedition near Hua Hin beach in Rayong province recently turned up an unexpected catch for a local fisherman, who netted what appeared to be a lump of ambergris, a valuable substance used in the production of perfume. The discovery has sparked excitement among residents, and experts are being called upon to confirm the authenticity of the find. The…
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Thai economy forecasts growth between 2.8% and 3.3%
The Thai economy, driven primarily by exports, forecasts growth between 2.8% and 3.3% for this year, as reported by the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB). The committee, representing diverse sectors, has retained its initial forecast, projecting a 2.0% to 3.0% increase in exports. Following a 1.9% expansion in the previous year, Thailand’s economic growth is projected…
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Thai man runs naked after Buddha statue grants conscription exemption
A Thai man honoured his vow to a Buddha statue at a shrine in the central province of Ang Thong by running naked after the statue granted conscription exemption. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) summons Thai men aged over 21 years old for military conscription every year. Failure to attend the conscription draw can result in imprisonment for up to three…
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NBTC excludes World Cup from ‘must have’ broadcast rule
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) board yesterday unanimously decided to exclude the World Cup football tournament from its “must have” rule, effective immediately. This rule has been in place since 2012, obliging companies that own the broadcast rights to seven major sporting events to allow free TV channels to air the content. The seven events include the FIFA World…
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Bangkok man arrested for flaunting gun while intoxicated
Bangkok police arrested a 60 year old man following reports of him brandishing a firearm while intoxicated at a rental room. The arrest was a coordinated effort by senior law enforcement officers, including Police Lieutenant General Thiti Saengsawang, the Metropolitan Police Chief, and his deputies, along with investigative officers from the fourth subdivision. The man, Prasobchok, also known as Chok…
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Deputy PM supports regulated cannabis use in Thailand
In a significant public announcement, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul voiced his stance on the ongoing cannabis debate in Thailand, declaring he supports regulated use. This followed an interview with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on France 24, in which the leader suggested the reclassification of marijuana as an illicit substance due to its deemed harmful effects on Thai society.…
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