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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Newly discovered Nishimura comet visible in Thailand this Sunday
Keep your eyes pointed upwards this weekend as Thailand will be treated to a rare celestial sighting. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) has revealed that the Thai population might have the opportunity to observe the newly discovered Nishimura comet this Sunday evening as it approaches the sun. The comet, officially tagged as C/2023 P1 and named after…
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Brew-haha: Lazada and Shopee ban Lung Jun Coffee beans over explicit content
Two leading Asian e-commerce platforms, Lazada and Shopee, have banned Lung Jun Coffee after discovering the brand sold coffee beans with explicit pictures and advertisements referring to a man and woman’s private parts. ThaiRath reported that concerned locals, upon encountering Lung Jun’s coffee beans on an e-commerce platform and noticing social media posts drawing attention to the explicit brand’s content,…
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Stray dog sanctuary’s ‘leash’ of hope in jeopardy as land lease nears end
In an unexpected turn of events, Hope for Strays Foundation, a registered non-profit organisation, is facing a critical situation. Located in Nongprue, to the east of Pattaya, the Foundation is a sanctuary for over 300 dogs. However, the impending end of the land lease in March of next year has put the existence of the shelter in jeopardy. A new…
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Police chief commits suicide after death of subordinate
The Superintendent of Highway Police Division 2 committed suicide today at his house in the Pathum Thani province near Bangkok. Police General Wachira Yaothaisong reportedly had been battling depression and was said to be stressed over the death of his subordinate, Police Major General Siwakorn Saibua. The Highway Police Inspector, Siwakorn, was murdered at a gathering at the house of…
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Laos-link drug bust: Thai police seize 100,000 illicit tablets in holy heist
Police today swooped to arrest a group of drug traffickers operating between Thailand and Laos and confiscated over 100,000 tablets of illicit substances. The operation unveiled a drug trafficking route originating from neighbouring Laos, with deliveries strategically timed before Buddhist holy days, as Laotians traditionally abstain from immoral activities on such sacred occasions. The arrest operation, led by Rutthaphon Naowarat,…
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Fallen mystery: Thai mother seeks answers in daughter’s Japan condo death
A Thai woman demanded an investigation into the death of her 23 year old daughter who mysteriously fell to her death from the eighth floor of a condominium in Japan, just one day after her arrival. The mother, 48 year old Somporn, reached out to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women yesterday, September 10, seeking assistance to find the…
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Thai thief’s muddy caper: Stolen food cupboard’s bizarre journey
In a truly ‘food for thought‘ incident in Surin’s Isaan province, a baffled Thai homeowner recounted an odd story involving a thief who swiped his food cupboard, only to ditch it nearby, all thanks to an unexpected ‘muddy munch’ venture. The Thai man, Weerayut Choowa, reached out to the Daily News to share his unusual story. Weerayut stated that he’d…
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New government policy statement urged to focus on escalating costs, tourism
Public expectations are high as the government prepares to present its policy statement in Parliament today, with the populace eager for it to fulfil commitments to resolve daily-life issues and rejuvenate the economy. Leaders in various sectors have made their pleas, requesting the new government to pay attention to its policy to the needs of their industry. Thaniwan Koonmongkon, head…
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Thong Lor turmoil: Thai man physically beat wife to death at construction site in Bangkok
A Thai man turned himself in to police last night after he physically beat his wife to death in the dormitory of a construction site in the Thong Lor neighbourhood of Bangkok. Thong Lor Police Station officers were notified of the death of 37 year old woman named Irada Winyayong at 7pm yesterday. Upon investigation at the scene, Irada was…
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Thai government plans central budget use for farmers’ debt relief
The Ministry of Agriculture is planning to utilise the central budget to support farmers’ debt relief in case next year’s budget is delayed. The ministry is aligning its plans with the government’s policies, especially Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s strategy of reducing production costs. In an interview before announcing the policy, Deputy Ministers of Agriculture and Cooperatives Chaiya Phromma stated that…
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Thai call centre scam gang linked to family murder caught in Cambodia
Four Thai citizens were arrested in Cambodia for their involvement in a call centre scam network. Supol Wongwian coordinated the call centre scam network’s operations, while the three young women, Nisarat Sukasem, Kanokporn Kraisuk, and Kornkanok Singthit, made calls to victims. They are facing charges related to participating in a transnational crime syndicate, fraud, and computer crimes and will be deported…
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Foreigners make a ‘cremazing’ splash with Gene Kelly-inspired dance in Thai temple rain
A group of enthusiastic foreigners sparked both amusement and criticism among Thai netizens after sharing a video of dancing and singing in the rain Gene Kelly style in front of a crematorium at a temple in Thailand. A foreign woman shared a video of herself and friends on her TikTok account @ks_photogallery on Wednesday, September 6. The video features six…
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Maniq tribe marvels: Southern Thai Buddhist committee champions culture conservation
A plea for the preservation of the Maniq tribe’s cultural heritage and living standards was recently raised by a Buddhist committee known as the Five Precept Protection Committee, stationed in southern Thailand. Their primary concern is the potential impact of external influences on the tribe. The appeal was made during the committee’s tour of Satun province, where they were assessing…
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Bangkok crane catastrophe claims engineer’s life and injures Burmese workers
A crane collapse at a construction site within Srinakharinwirot University in the Asoke neighbourhood of Bangkok resulted in the death of a Thai engineer and caused injuries to two Burmese workers. The crane operator fled the scene amid the tragedy. Thong Lor Police Station officers rushed to the construction site at 4pm yesterday together with the rescuers and medical professionals. The…
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Durian dispute turns fatal: Man confesses to brutal murder of elderly buyer in southern Thailand
A brutal murder took a shocking turn yesterday when the perpetrator confessed to the police. The alleged murderer, 24 year old Muhammad Rusli turned himself in, admitting to killing 71 year old durian buyer named Jaelong Baluebae. Rusli revealed that he had buried the elderly man near a canal in the Taya village, Narathiwat province, southern Thailand, after a heated…
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Phuket’s PIPO heroes: Two Thai men saved, but waves claim two
The Port-in-Port-out (PIPO) authorities in Phuket rescued two Thai men after their fishing boat capsized yesterday. Regrettably, two fishermen lost their lives in this tragic incident. The authorities were notified that a red fibreglass boat named Baan Kung Mang Korn capsized near an island called Koh Aeo in the Mueang district of Phuket due to powerful waves. There were four…
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CPN plans 3 billion baht expansion of Phuket condos
Central Pattana (CPN), a company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), announced its intentions to introduce two additional phases to its condominium project, Phyll Phuket, near Central Phuket Floresta. The Phuket condos expansion, which includes nearly 700 units worth a total of 3 billion baht, is set to launch in the forthcoming year. This decision is motivated by…
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Japanese fugitive escapes Thai police custody in daring car chase, manhunt underway
A Japanese fugitive escaped police custody in a daring car chase. He was initially detained at the Immigration Bureau in Suan Phlu on Saturday, September 9, before managing to commandeer a police vehicle and flee the scene. The Japanese man, Yuki Yanagi, who was later discovered to have abandoned the vehicle and taken a taxi, remains at large. The incident…
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Suicide rate in Thailand hits half-decade peak despite prevention efforts
Suicide numbers in Thailand have been on a steady incline over the past five years, peaking at 4,800 lives lost in the previous year, as reported by the Department of Mental Health (DMH). Yesterday marked World Suicide Prevention Day, a global initiative spearheaded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that took place yesterday. This event brings together international efforts to…
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Phuket urges small hotels to obtain a licence ahead of anticipated 2.19 million tourists
Phuket is gearing up for the high season by encouraging small hotel operators to obtain a licence. This move is part of the city’s preparation to host over 10,000 tourists daily, equating to 2.19 million visitors annually. The Phuket Boutique Accommodation Consortium (BAC) held a seminar on September 7 to advocate for a ministerial regulation that was issued by the…
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Prime Minister plans mobile Cabinet meeting to address Nong Bua Lamphu’s economic challenges
The Prime Minister, has confirmed his plans to hold a mobile Cabinet meeting in Nong Bua Lamphu province this November. The primary focus of the meeting will be to address the economic challenges the province is currently facing. Srettha Thavisin announced his decision during his visit to the Customs Office at the Laos border checkpoint in Nong Khai. The selection…
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Civilian defence minister to navigate Thai military reforms amid coalition challenges
The newly appointed Defence Minister, Sutin Klungsang, is in the spotlight as he is expected to navigate through various challenges within the military while maintaining stability within the Pheu Thai-led coalition government. As the first civilian to take the defence minister position without also holding the role of the prime minister, Sutin is expected to manage military reform, the southern…
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Supreme court dismisses cannabis case against former Health Minister Anutin
The Supreme Administrative Court has put an end to a lawsuit targeting the former Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul over his legalisation of cannabis. The plaintiffs, who took legal action against the former minister, have been categorically defined as not being direct victims of the legalisation of cannabis, hence their case has been dismissed. This news follows in the…
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NHSO plans digital transformation, enhanced universal healthcare
Thailand’s National Health Security Office (NHSO) is set to improve its services in alignment with the new government‘s policy, according to the NHSO secretary-general, Jadet Thammathataree. The planned modifications pertain to the universal healthcare package, commonly referred to as the gold card scheme and the digital transformation of the NHSO system. The NHSO has recently engaged in discussions with the…
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Thailand’s transport sector set for major 29.7 billion baht upgrade
A bright future is on the horizon for Thailand’s transport and logistics system. The Transport Minister, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, has recently outlined his ambitious plans for the country’s railways and maritime sectors. Revealed during his inaugural speech, these policies are set to be formally announced next week. Suriya believes that by focusing on these areas of transport improvement, Thailand can significantly…
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Visa-free policy for Chinese tourists may boost economy, workload
The first meeting of the new government’s Cabinet this week will discuss the predicted increase in workload for authorities as they prepare to implement a proposed visa-free policy for Chinese visitors. The policy is viewed as a major strategy to boost Thailand’s tourism sector, expected to generate massive revenue, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The prime minister has consistently…
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Thailand considers barter trade with China for submarine amid procurement issues
The Defence Minister of Thailand revealed that the government is considering various alternatives, including a barter trade arrangement or the purchase of fertilisers from China, to resolve the ongoing issues concerning the procurement of a submarine for the navy. Sutin Klungsang spoke on the matter at a seminar discussing Thai security and geopolitical challenges, hosted by Rangsit University’s College of…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport’s SAT-1 terminal to soft-launch boosting capacity by 33%
Suvarnabhumi International Airport, governed by Airports of Thailand (AoT), is set to soft-launch its Satellite 1 (SAT-1) terminal on September 28, following a successful full-scale trial involving 180 mock passengers and their luggage. The trial aimed to evaluate operations at both the SAT-1 satellite passenger terminal and the primary terminal, with Thai Airways offering assistance by supplying cabin crew and…
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New refugee screening system stirs fear among asylum seekers
Bangkok is home to a church where Vietnamese refugees find a temporary haven from lives fraught with fear of arrest or deportation. This is because Thailand, having not signed up for the UN Refugee Convention, does not have a system in place to differentiate between refugees and other migrants, resulting in thousands of individuals living under the radar. Soon, a…
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Digital wallet initiative and anti-corruption boosted by Thai deputy PM
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, hosted a meeting with the governors of the country’s provinces. The discussion revolved around the ministry’s key objectives, including loyalty to the highest institution, the implementation of anti-corruption measures, and the support for Pheu Thai’s 10,000 baht digital wallet initiative. The meeting took place at Centara Grand at Central Plaza Lat…
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