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 How one hospital visit in Thailand could cost more than your whole trip
Thailand is a favourite spot for travellers who want to enjoy more while spending less. From cheap street food to low-cost hotels and fun attractions, it’s easy to stretch your budget here. But there’s one thing many people don’t think...
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Samut Prakan: Young woman hit by lorry and killed in road accident involving motorcycle
A 21 year old woman was killed in a road accident at 9.30pm last night (November 17) when her motorcycle collided with a dog, causing her to lose control and be run over by a trailing lorry. The road accident occurred in the middle of Soi Bang Pla 2, in front of Sinpetch Village, Moo 11, Bang Pla Subdistrict, Bang…
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Seismic upheaval in Myanmar prompts call for earthquake-resistant structures in Thailand
A seismic upheaval of 6.4 magnitude rattled Myanmar and was perceptible in various regions of Thailand yesterday, prompting engineers and academics to urge the implementation of stringent regulations to ensure the resilience of structures against future earthquakes. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.4, originated in Myanmar at 8.37am yesterday. The Earthquake Observation Division of the Meteorological Department reported the…
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Thailand’s Public Health Ministry finalises Cannabis-Hemp Act draft
The Cannabis-Hemp Act‘s first draft has been completed by the Public Health Ministry, and despite public speculation, cannabis will not be reclassified as a narcotic. According to Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew, the new legislation is a refined version of the initial draft, now streamlined from 94 to approximately 70 sections. The updated version addresses public concerns and closes loopholes…
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Anti scam centre freezes 2,500 bank accounts in fight against fraud
In a significant move against call-centre scams, the Anti Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC) froze 2,671 bank accounts in its initial two weeks of operation. Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke shared these statistics, highlighting the effectiveness of the centre, which was launched on November 1 to combat such fraudulent activities. The centre received a staggering 38,564 distress calls from victims within…
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Northeast Thailand: Fatal motorbike accident at Amata City Chon Buri Industrial Estate claims life
A fatal motorbike accident claimed the life of a 25 year old resident from Don Mod Dang, Ubon Ratchathani. The incident occurred at approximately 10.30pm yesterday, November 17, within the Amata City Chon Buri Industrial Estate located in Don Hua Lo, Mueang District. Ratphol Ratchawakarn, the Deputy Inquiry Official of Don Hua Lo Police Station in Chon Buri, received a…
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Noodle shop owner’s touching tale of caring for ailing old man goes viral (video)
A TikTok user named @doodee_jau, posted a video clip while watching a sick old man that she cared for lying in bed. The accompanying message read: “Grandpa, you are at peace now. I don’t think it will be the last time. I will love and miss you always. This life is nothing like this. But merit brought us together.” At 1.30pm…
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Fateful flight: French tourist becomes another statistic of the ‘Pattaya Flying Club’
A 43 year old French tourist became yet another statistic of the insensitively named “Pattaya Flying Club” when he jumped from a hotel building in Pattaya and died at the scene. Police Lieutenant Anirut Jeroh, Deputy Inspector of Investigation, Pattaya City Police Station, received a report at 4.20am this morning of a French tourist who fell to his death from…
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Thai military to engage Myanmar over repatriation delay
The Thai military is set to engage Myanmar over the delay in the repatriation of 41 Thai nationals who were recently rescued from illegal businesses in Laukkaing township. This was revealed today by Colonel Natee Thomsen, the commander of the Thap Chao Tak Taskforce of the Pha Mueang Force. Col. Natee plans to discuss the reasons behind the repatriation delay…
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Cave heroes to the rescue again: Thailand and Norway aid India’s tunnel turmoil
The government of India asked Thai and Norwegian rescuers from the Tham Luang cave rescue mission to help save 40 workers trapped by a tunnel collapse in the northern state of Uttarakhand. The 4.5-kilometre tunnel in Uttarakhand collapsed on November 12 during construction. Around 50 people were working on the site. Some workers at the ends of the tunnel managed to…
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Ayutthaya sundown: Experience history at night in special event
Ayutthaya Historical Park has invited the public to the Ayutthaya Sundown event at Wat Chaiwatthanaram, a significant historical site. The event, aimed at promoting Thailand’s soft power policy, allows visitors to explore the ancient temple at night from today to November 21. The initiative, supported by the government’s Thailand Creative Content Agency (THACCA), is geared towards making Thailand a global…
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Thailand’s thriving collectibles market of 90s cassette tapes
The allure of the cassette tape, the quintessential item of the 90s youth, is unwavering. The sensory joy these analogue devices offer through their tangible nature has seen their value increase over time, transforming them into valuable collectables. This is particularly true for tapes from certain artists, which are not only hard to find but have also become a lucrative…
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Thai rights commission calls for immediate Gaza ceasefire
The Thai National Human Rights Commission (NHRCT) called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip. The commission’s plea comes amidst escalating violence which has resulted in the tragic loss of over 10,000 Palestinian civilian lives, with a significant proportion of victims being Arab women and children. This crisis has also led to the displacement of an estimated one…
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Noodle apology: Ichiran stirs controversy with ‘not-so-fresh’ pop-up in Thailand
Renowned Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran issued an apology following criticisms and confusion over its pop-up store in Thailand. The restaurant admitted that the ramen they served was not fresh but dry, with the soup base imported from Japan. Their statement aimed to clarify the misunderstanding, expressing regret for any communication errors. The pop-up store, which attracted ramen enthusiasts and influencers for…
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Thai man to return from Israel after winning 60 million baht from savings lottery
A Thai man working in Israel during the conflict in Palestine decided to return home after his parents won 60 million baht in the savings lottery conducted by the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). The official Facebook page of the BAAC, Baan Kok branch, in the northern province of Uttaradit, congratulated a Thai man who scooped the first prize…
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Northeast Thailand: Fatal motorcycle accident in Udon Thani caused by poorly lit conditions
A fatal motorcycle accident in the dark claimed the life of a 25 year old man from Udon Thani province. The incident occurred near a concrete factory situated on the Na Kha-Sum Sao Road, in the large Thon district of Na Kha. The accident scene was attended to by Police Lieutenant Colonel Ratchapol Morarat, an investigative officer of Na Kha…
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Myanmar earthquake: 6.4 magnitude hits, tremors felt in Thailand (video)
A significant earthquake of 6.4 magnitude jolted Myanmar at 8.37am today, as confirmed by the Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). The epicentre was noted to be around 100 kilometres in the northwest direction from the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed the epicentre of this seismic event approximately 76…
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Czech mate: Thailand’s wheels of fortune spin with potential investments
The Czech Republic has expressed interest in investing in Thailand’s automotive and medical sectors, according to Nalinnee Taveesin, Thai Trade Representative. The Czechs are keen to establish economic partnerships in Thailand’s automotive industry, to attract Czech automotive companies for investment, develop technology, and set up production bases in Thailand. The companies showing interest are the Skoda Group (Volkswagen Group), a…
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Pheu Thai leader discusses soft power at Thailand 2024 beyond Red Ocean seminar
The leader of the Pheu Thai Party addressed the audience on the Soft Power: The Great Challenger during the Thailand 2024 Beyond Red Ocean seminar organised by Prachachat, a newspaper publisher, on November 15. The term soft power has been making rounds in Thailand recently, defined by the Thai government as an influential power that assimilates new cultures through societal…
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Bangkok ranked fourth most searched destination in the world
One of the world’s leading online travel agencies ranked Bangkok as the fourth most searched destination in the world. Prime Minister Office Spokesperson Chai Watcharong announced the good news for Thai tourism at a recent press conference, saying that Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, was praised by eDreams Odigeo, is one of the top ten destinations most searched for by…
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Sadao checkpoint: Entrepreneurs urge continued operation
Songkhla-based entrepreneurs in the Sadao district appealed to the government to keep the old Sadao immigration checkpoint operational alongside the new one. The move aims to stimulate both trade and tourism with Malaysia. The appeal follows the circulation of rumours concerning the government’s intention to close the Sadao checkpoint in preference for the newly constructed border checkpoint. The discussion involved…
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Crop déjà vu: Critics dub gov’s agri-reform a rerun of past plans
The government’s current measures to reform the nation’s agricultural sector, particularly rice farming, are largely seen as reiterations of former strategies, declared industry commentators. They suggest that any budget-based support should come with certain stipulations. Aat Pisanwanich, an international economics lecturer, after evaluating these measures, observes that the central policy appears to be a three-year debt suspension for farmers, with…
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Educational inequality sparks call for Thai government investment in human capital
The Equitable Education Fund (EEF) urged the Thai government to bolster investments in human capital to enhance the lives of students belonging to low-income families and curtail educational inequality. The call was made at the annual Equity Forum, held at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, to deliberate on the significance of such investments in addressing educational disparities. Kraiyos Patrawart,…
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Northern Thailand: Massive cold front triggers thunderstorms and temperature drop
A massive cold front has descended upon Northern Thailand, causing thunderstorms and strong winds, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). This is expected to result in a significant drop in temperature, with an additional cold snap predicted to hit tonight. The cold front has already enveloped Vietnam’s upper region, Laos and the South China Sea. As a consequence, northern…
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Photo betrayal: Teenage Thai boy suffers from depression after being blackmailed by 10 classmates
A 15 year old boy is suffering from depression after 10 of his classmates used his naked photo to blackmail him. The victim’s father said the incident happened at the end of July. Three classmates created Instagram accounts pretending to be three female students. The boys used the accounts to chat and flirt with the victim before tricking the victim…
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Powering up the tracks: Red Line operator urged to spark commuter surge with enhanced feeder network
Red Line operator SRT Electrified Train Co was asked by the Transport Ministry to enhance its feeder network to drive an increase in the number of rail passengers within Bangkok. Surapong Piyachote, the Deputy Transport Minister, explained that the SRT Electrified Train Co, in conjunction with the Department of Rail Transport, has charted out plans for an integrated feeder network…
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Uthai Thani resident scoops 60 million baht in BAAC Gold Bag lottery
A lucky resident of Ban Khok, Uthai Thani, became the latest millionaire after winning the first prize in the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) Gold Bag lottery. The winner walked away with a staggering 60 million baht in the first draw of the lottery. The BAAC Thailand Facebook page announced the news yesterday. The post congratulated the new red-label…
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Beefed-up border battles: Thailand tightens grip on smuggling surge
Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke yesterday revealed an alarming rise in beef smuggling into Thailand, with yearly figures reaching over 100,000 tonnes. This has led to the government committing to tougher actions against the culprits. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordered all relevant departments including the Customs Department and Department of Livestock Development, to intensify their efforts in curbing this illegal beef…
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Thai man arrested for setting fire to 2 cars to relieve stress
Police arrested a Thai man who set fire to two cars in Pluak Daeng district in the eastern province of Rayong. The suspect said he burned the cars to relieve stress. Firefighters rushed to control the blaze, which broke out at 3.30am on November 6, engulfing two cars parked outside a condominium on Road 3245 in Pluak Daeng district of…
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3 foreign men under suspicion in murder of Taiwanese man in Bangkok hotel
Police revealed three foreign men are under suspicion in the murder of a Taiwanese man at the Niran Grand Hotel in the Udomsuk neighbourhood of Bangkok. Bangna Police Station officers provided details after an investigation into the death of the 47 year old Taiwanese man, Chu Chiang-shen last night. Deputy Police Inspector Kongphon Wongchan reported that Chu had several head…
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Thailand’s Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong railway project on track for 2028
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is progressing well with the Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong double-track railway project, a 323.1-kilometre initiative set to be operational by 2028. Construction of the railway started on February 15 last year and is ahead of its schedule with 3% completion while 80% of the required land has been expropriated, as per Nirut Maneephan, the…
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