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 Moving with family? Here’s how to cut health costs in Thailand
Relocating to Thailand with your family brings exciting new opportunities, but it also comes with the challenge of managing healthcare costs in a new system. Thailand has both public and private healthcare options, each offering different prices and quality of...
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Batwoman’s viral revelation: 20 new bat coronaviruses raise alarm bells
A groundbreaking study spearheaded by Batwoman recently brought to light over 20 new strains of coronaviruses harboured by bats, all of which embody a high risk of transmission to humans. This is no blood-sucking joke. The discovery has sparked global apprehension regarding the looming threat of subsequent outbreaks. Dr Shi Zhengli, director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at…
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Baht-tered and bruised: Bahraini’s pocket picked by Pattaya transwoman
In a twist of misfortune, a Bahraini man ended up at Mueang Pattaya Police Station seeking assistance after falling victim to a Thai transwoman pickpocket in Pattaya, leaving him 10,000 baht lighter The foreign victim, 55 year old Hasan Almuqahwi, reported the incident to Thai police at 1am today, September 28. He explained that a Thai woman and a transwoman…
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Rice raid: Thief leaves school in a grainy situation in northern Thailand
A brazen thief in Nakhon Ratchasima left a local school in a predicament after stealing sacks of paddy rice intended for student lunches. The theft occurred at Baan Nong Wa En School in Bua Yai district, where the culprit broke into the school’s rice storage, making off nearly half of the stockpiled rice. The incident was discovered by Wanmanee Thongprom,…
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Central Thailand’s ‘high’ note: Historic drug bust lands four in cuffs
A significant drug bust occurred in Nakhon Pathom province late last night, resulting in the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of the largest amount of narcotics ever recorded in a single operation in Thailand. The operation, part of an ongoing drug suppression mission, took place at a house in the Mueang district of Nakhon Pathom, where yesterday, September…
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Thailand’s DES ministry launches Anti Online Scam Centre amid rising fraud
Amidst growing concerns over online fraud, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), in unison with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) police and other associated agencies, is launching an Anti Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC). The AOC, which begins its operations on November 1, is set to function as a war room, implementing technology to provide intelligent assistance,…
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Pickpocketing pair pinched: Cambodian couple confesses to Bangkok crime spree
Police arrested a Cambodian couple for more than 100 pickpocketing offences in different areas of Bangkok. The Khmer couple confessed to their crimes and revealed that they had learned their dishonest skills from Vietnamese thieves in Thailand. Pickpocketing complaints from both Thais and foreigners in various business districts of Bangkok, such as Sukhumvit, Nan, Silom, and Sathon, started pouring into…
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Call centre gang member involved in triple murder case arrested at Thai-Cambodia border
A female member of a call centre gang, involved in a triple murder case in Samut Prakan, was detained by Sa Kaeo immigration officers today. The suspect had been covertly working online in Poipet, Cambodia before returning to Thailand via the permanent border crossing at Ban Khlong Luek, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province. Following a tip-off, Police Colonel Rung Thongmon,…
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Gemstone caper: DSI rocks the boat, suing 32 scammers in 227 million baht bluff
The Special Case Investigation Department (DSI) filed a lawsuit against a scammer and her 31 associates for soliciting fraudulent investment in precious gemstones, causing damages exceeding 227 million baht. The case encompasses over 50,000 documents and the suspects will be handed over to the prosecutor on September 28. The DSI revealed that the Financial Business Crime Division had been investigating…
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Twisted tale of chubby-chasing motorcycle thief ends in jail suicide
The chubby-chasing motorcycle thief, who used a dating app to target victims and steal their motorcycles, reportedly committed suicide while in custody at Sam Kork Police Station in the central province of Pathum Thani. The deceased prisoner, Pacharapon, was arrested in Ayutthaya province on Monday, September 25 before officers transferred him to Sam Kork Police Station in Pathum Thani, where…
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Thailand skies set to THEOS-2: A space-age milestone on the horizon
The forthcoming launch of Thailand’s second earth observation satellite, THEOS-2, on October 7, was announced by Supamas Isarabhakdi, the Minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation. At a recent press conference, Supamas shared that the low-earth orbit satellite’s launch will be a significant milestone for the country’s expertise in space technology and expressed plans for the THEOS-3 project. Supamas…
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Bridging the gap: DRR lays tracks for Kui Buri railway safety and progress
The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) has completed two rail crossing bridges in the Kui Buri district, as part of safety measures to prevent road accidents. The bridges, located between the fourth intersection of Highway No 1003 and Baan Pho Riang, are expected to support the Transport Ministry’s future double-track railway projects. This initiative comes in response to the State…
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Border Banter: Thai and Cambodian PMs tackle disputes and scams in talks
The discussion between Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand, and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, will primarily revolve around the issues of Thai-Cambodia border disputes and call centre scams. The meeting is regarded as a significant move towards strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations, as this is the Thai PM’s first visit to an Association of Southeast…
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Currency crunch: Thai SET under strain as rates rise and baht bites
A recent policy rate hike of 0.25% by the Bank of Thailand, coupled with the weakening baht, is placing pressure on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). Analysts have suggested this after observing that the index slipped below the resistance level of 1,500 points. The Thai bourse experienced a downturn at the opening yesterday, following a 0.88% drop to conclude…
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Permit panic: Thailand spots 3,000+ migrant workers in hot water
The Department of Employment in Thailand identified over 3,000 migrant workers operating without required permits. This discovery was part of an ongoing clampdown on migrants engaged in jobs deemed off-limits for foreign workers. Between October of the previous year and yesterday, the department conducted random checks on 53,732 workplaces across the country that employ migrant labourers. These investigations revealed that…
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2 Thai taxi drivers deceived by scam passenger posing as wealthy man
Two Thai taxi drivers urged Channel 3 and the media to issue a warning after they were deceived by a scam passenger who posed as a wealthy man. The drivers lost valuable amulets, a mobile phone, and 2,000 baht. The Thai taxi drivers were identified as 54 year old Yanyong Pongkit and 35 year old Nopporn Chewanitjakun. Yanyong revealed that…
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Thai police dismantle major drug syndicate seizing narcotics worth 300 million baht
In a first major operation under new leadership, the Thai Police successfully dismantled a significant drug syndicate, seizing 15 million methamphetamine pills, 443 heroin bars, 420 kilogrammes of crystal meth, and a significant quantity of Happy Water and Five Five drugs. The raid took place yesterday, at 11.30pm in a house in Nakhon Pathom. The operation, led by Deputy Commissioner,…
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Thailand braces for heavy rain and strong winds, warns TMD
The Department of Meteorology (TMD) issued its 13th announcement, revealing that numerous provinces are set to be impacted by heavy rainfall today and tomorrow September 28-29. Strong winds, flash floods, and forest run-offs are expected in many areas. High waves are anticipated in the sea today. The announcement focused on the low-pressure area covering the western part of the northern…
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Tragic motorcycle collision kills two young men in Buriram province
A shocking collision between two motorcycles in Buriram province resulted in the tragic demise of two young men. Police Lieutenant Colonel Rek Wichian, deputy investigator of Nang Rong Police Station, Buriram, coordinated with medical staff from Nang Rong Hospital and Siam United Heart Rescue unit to investigate the incident that occurred at about 8pm yesterday. At the scene of the…
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Nonthaburi man livestreams suicide following legal woes
A 29 year old man identified as Anan committed suicide by shooting himself, following a livestream on social media where he vented his frustrations about ongoing court cases. The incident took place at his rented two-storey townhouse in the Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi province. Upon arrival at the scene, Lieutenant Colonel Pruet Jamroonsartsiri, the head of Bang Bua…
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Lopburi homeowners swing into action against monkey invasion
Homeowners in Lopburi province are calling for assistance from authorities as they battle an ongoing monkey invasion. The primates are wreaking havoc, causing significant damage to the properties and possessions of Lopburi residents and homeowners who are living in fear. A user on TikTok has highlighted the severity of the issue by posting a distressing clip of monkeys vandalising a…
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Ele-fantastic fortune: Thai cactus with trunk-like growth attracts good luck-seeking locals
Residents of Phayao province are flocking to a golden chicken ball cactus, believed to be a good luck charm due to its unusual growth resembling a baby elephant’s trunk. The cactus belongs to 46 year old Phatharaporn, who has experienced an influx of customers and a significant increase in income since the peculiar growth appeared. The golden chicken ball cactus,…
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Bangkok braces for wet woes: Governor rallies to tackle flood fury
Heavy rainfall last night in Lat Krabang and Bang Khen prompted Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to establish six rallying points to tackle flood-prone areas around the clock. He urged citizens to plan their travel and return home early. This action was inspired by the rainfall recorded in the Bang Na and Phra Khanong areas yesterday, September 27 which lasted for…
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Tennis tantrum tamed: South Korean player apologises for unsportsmanship behaviour
Petulant South Korean tennis player Kwon Soon-woo apologised to Thai tennis opponent Kasidit “Boom” Samrej and Thai sports fans for his unsportsmanlike, aggressive behaviour during their encounter at the 19th Asian Games in China. Thai tennis player Boom recorded an impressive victory over South Korea’s Kwon in the men’s singles match on Monday, September 25, at the Olympic Tennis Centre in…
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Year-end bonus frenzy: Thai companies make it rain with envy-inducing rewards
Over ten renowned Thai companies are set to distribute generous year-end bonuses for 2023, leading to a wave of envy. The highest bonus reported is 7.3 months’ salary plus an additional 37,000 baht. Some of the companies declaring such bonuses include IHI Turbo Thailand, Jtekt (Thailand), Siam Toyota, Siam ATT I-Shin, Trimotive, SIAM DENSO KYOSAN, IJT Thailand, TTK, TBKK, and…
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Tragedy on the rocks: Missing Russian tourist found dead after speedboat collision
The body of a Russian tourist who had gone missing following a collision with a speedboat was discovered today on the Haad Tian rocks near Pattaya’s Koh Larn. The tragic incident occurred on Monday, September 25, when a speedboat strayed into a restricted area, resulting in a collision that claimed the life of the Russian tourist and injured his Thai…
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Lost and found, but not forgiven: Thai woman’s kind gesture met with mobile phone mayhem (video)
In a viral video viewed over 3.2 million times, a Thai woman’s attempt to return a lost mobile phone resulted in a torrent of verbal abuse from the caller on the other end of the line. The incident, posted by a TikTok user identified as 492959kj, sparked a wave of online commentary, with many netizens criticising the caller’s behaviour and…
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Flash floods warning in Loei as heavy rainfall continues for two days
Heavy rainfall for two consecutive days in Loei province, specifically in Phu Kradueng district, caused a surge of forest run-off into the Pong River. The sudden rise in water level prompts officials to alert residents to the potential flash floods, urging them to move their belongings to higher ground. Phu Kradueng experienced intense rainfall day and night over two days…
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Egg-stonishing discovery: Thai woman finds unusual ‘rock’ in boiled egg in eastern Thailand
A 55 year old Thai woman encountered an unusual incident while eating her boiled egg in Rayong, eastern Thailand. Patcharin Jaisuk bit into a hard substance which, upon extraction, turned out to be a peculiar stone nestled within the egg yolk. Believing it to be an auspicious sign, Patcharin, who has been selling boiled rice for more than 30 years,…
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Wedding photo dispute sparks social media backlash as disappointed Thai bride seeks sponsors for reshoot
A social media feud erupted over wedding photos between a recently married Thai couple and their photographer due to dissatisfaction with the quality of the 4,000 baht pictures in central Thailand. The bride openly voiced her disappointment, even seeking sponsors to fund a redo of the wedding shoot. However, the photographer later clarified the situation, resulting in public backlash and…
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Thai workers stage ‘regulation rebellion’ against Burmese manager in protest near Bangkok
More than 1,000 Thai workers at a company in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok protested against a Burmese manager for reportedly implementing unjust regulations, insulting his workers, and attempting to replace Thai staff with Burmese nationals. The superintendent of Bang Sao Thong Police Station, and the Samut Prakarn Provincial Labour Protection and Welfare Department, rushed to the factory yesterday, September…
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