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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Court rejects anti-corruption agency’s review bid in Prawit’s wristwatch probe
The Supreme Administrative Court yesterday upheld a prior court’s decision against the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) request for a case review involving luxury wristwatches linked to former Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. The court found no basis for the review, which would require the NACC to disclose details of their investigation into the wristwatch controversy to political activist Veera Somkhwamkid.…
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Tourist minivan crash in Mae Hong Son injures seven: Steep route and driver inexperience blamed
A tourist minivan lost control on a curve in Mae Hong Son, crashing into guardrails and a tree, leaving multiple passengers injured. The crash took place yesterday, in the Ban Rak Thai area. The minivan, carrying seven tourists from Sing Buri province, was travelling back from Ban Rak Thai, a popular Yunnan Chinese tourist village. The vehicle, a Toyota with…
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Heavy rainfall to hit 43 Thai provinces: Bangkok residents warned of flash floods
Today, Thailand’s Meteorological Department warned 43 provinces of continuous heavy rainfall, affecting 70% of the area. Bangkok is particularly hit with strong winds, and the risk of flash floods is high. The Meteorological Department’s 24-hour weather forecast indicates a high-pressure system or a mass of cold air from China is spreading and covering northern Thailand. This condition leads to thunderstorms…
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Thai hostages safe in Gaza, release hinged on Israeli military ceasefire
Seyed Reza Nobakhti, the Iranian ambassador to Thailand, confirmed that the Thai hostages currently held in Palestinian territories remain safe. He mentioned that the hostages, along with others, will only be released once the Israeli military halts its attack on the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian militant group, Hamas, had captured about 200 hostages, including 19 Thai workers, during an unexpected…
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Myanmar national sought by Thai cyber police in iPhone fraud scheme involving mule accounts
The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau is gearing up to issue an arrest warrant for a Myanmar national involved in a fraudulent iPhone sale to a sixth-form student. The scheme involved easily controlled mule accounts, with a recent arrest of a 39 year old woman, Nattanicha Suksri, who was involved in withdrawing funds. The arrest took place yesterday in Chiang Rai…
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Universal healthcare with one ID card set to expand in Thailand
The One ID Card, Universal Healthcare initiative is set to be extended to four additional provinces in Thailand, according to Dr Chonnan Srikaew, minister of the Ministry of Public Health. Stating that the new policy will be officially announced on October 24, the minister clarified that the single ID card will enable citizens to access healthcare services in all networks, including…
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Over 100 victims lured into buying fake concert tickets and perfume
Forty victims, representing more than 100 others, filed a complaint with the police after a Thai woman lured them into buying fake concert tickets and perfume from their beloved Thai singer, Palitchoke “Peck” Ayanaputra. One of the victims, whose identity has not been revealed, told ThaiRath that Peck’s fans formed a group on social media to talk about Peck and…
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Flight flab: Thai airlines weigh in on passenger pounds
Several airlines have introduced weight checks for passengers and their luggage before boarding to calculate standard and average passenger weight. This passenger weigh-in measure, initiated today, allows airlines to distribute weight more effectively on international flights, thus reducing fuel usage. Foreign airlines have implemented the passenger weigh-in rule to investigate and calculate standard and average passenger weight. The collected data…
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Internet star Lina Jung highlights squalid state of 100 million baht Bangkok complex home
Popular Internet idol Lina Jung recently exposed the shocking condition of her city-centre shopping complex home, worth over 100 million baht, which she has resided in for over 30 years. The building has been left in a squalid condition, filled with drugs, sanitary bags, and rubbish, prompting Jung to draw the attention of the Royal Thai Police and the Governor of…
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Compensation for Thai families with members killed in Israel conflict
Eight deceased Thai workers, who were victims of the attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, were brought back home this morning, aboard a commercial flight. Upon landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan province, their bodies were transported to their respective hometowns. The commercial flight, El Al Flight LY083, carried the eight verified Thai males from Israel,…
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Missing 12 year old Bangkok girl sparks urgent search
A 12 year old girl has been missing for three continuous days under mysterious circumstances. Her distraught mother found a chat conversation between her daughter and a young man, prompting urgent police action to locate her. Concerns for her safety arose when the last CCTV footage of her was found at 10am today at Bang Na Police Station. Kanthasat Pongpaibulvech,…
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Thai couple arrested for filming and selling explicit content of women lured via dating app
A Thai husband and wife were apprehended by the Royal Thai Police for allegedly deceiving women through a dating app, playing them with alcohol, filming explicit content, and subsequently selling it on social media platforms. The couple, 24 year old Kantakawee Boonchalom and 27 year old Rossukon Phanarboon, who identified themselves as sex creators, reportedly earned around 600,000 baht from their…
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Unusual golden crab discovery stirs lottery luck hopes in Phayao province
Residents in Phayao province were “claw-struck” when they stumbled upon a rare golden yellow crab. The locals are “pinching” the hope that this quirky catch might be their lucky charm in the upcoming lottery draw. Authorities from Phu Sang National Park have playfully dubbed the crustacean “Cliff Crab” and are delving into whether it falls under the category of protected…
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Health superstitions: Thai neurosurgeon frustration over brain surgery delay (video)
A peculiar health superstitions case was shared by a renowned neurosurgeon at Chiang Mai Ram Hospital involving a 55 year old male patient who postponed a scheduled brain surgery due to astrological beliefs. The patient’s health condition involved a brain haemorrhage, caused by a fall two months ago. The neurosurgeon, Pracha Kanyaphrasith, revealed his patient’s brain was still swollen from the…
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Roya Gazette declares Wat Suthat Thepwararam an archaeological site
The Royal Gazette recently announced the Department of Fine Arts declaration, which designates the land area of the ancient site Wat Suthat Thepwararam as an archaeological site, encompassing 28 rai and 76 square wa. Today, it was reported on the Royal Gazette website that the Department of Fine Arts announced the zoning of the archaeological site. The declaration was signed…
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Thai labour ministry provides financial aid to bereaved families of workers
Eight Thai workers’ bodies were received at Suvarnabhumi International Airport today, with a detailed explanation of financial aid provided to the bereaved families. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Phairoj Chotikasathien, visited the airport to explain the procedure and participate in the mourning ceremony. Phairoj revealed that religious rites and wreath-laying ceremonies would be conducted upon the arrival of…
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British man with depression falls to death from condo in Pattaya
A British man became yet another statistic of the insensitively named “Pattaya Flying Club” after he fell to his death at a condominium in the popular seaside resort. His Thai caretaker said the deceased had been depressed after losing his Thai boyfriend. Officers at Mueang Pattaya Police Station were notified at 7am today, October 20, of the death of an…
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Thailand’s EV initiative: Driving towards a greener future
The Thai government has embarked on an ambitious plan to replace ageing government vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs), in line with their carbon neutrality goal set for 2050. The Thai EV initiative move was prompted by a notification issued by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, encouraging the use of EVs within the government sector. PM Srettha’s order, issued via the Secretariat…
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Couple arrested for operating illegal karaoke bar and prostitution in northern Thailand
Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested a couple for running an illegal karaoke bar and human trafficking in the Isaan province of Loei and rescued three young Lao women from prostitution. The CIB received a tip-off that a Thai couple had turned their restaurant in the Loei province into an illegal karaoke bar, offering sex services to customers.…
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Ghost encounter leaves Thai Dhamma retreat-goer spooked in Chiang Mai
A Thai woman claimed that a ghost haunted her after completing a Dhamma retreat at a Rampoeng temple in the northern province of Chaing Mai. She also shared her selfie with the ghost in the background on TikTok. Sawitcha “Pear” Butsara, shared a spooky video of her ghost encounter on TikTok @pipimpeary, on Wednesday, October 18, with the caption… “What…
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Scam targets Thai overseas workers’ financial data amid Israel-Palestine conflict
The Thai Department of Employment raised the alarm on a new scam targeting the financial data of overseas workers amidst the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict. The scam involves tricking victims into downloading a fraudulent money transfer app on their mobile devices. Sompong Kaewwandee, the head of the Chiang Rai Provincial Employment Office, issued a public warning on Thursday, cautioning people against…
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Prehistoric alligator’s undercover mission: 230,000 years submerged in Thailand
Alligators’ ability to remain submerged for several hours is common knowledge among herpetologists but it came as a surprise to some that one in Thailand had managed to remain buried for 230,000 years. The astonishing archaeological discovery was announced by Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which reported the unearthing of fossilised remains belonging to an extinct alligator species,…
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Monk’s divine intervention calms drunk Russian man causing chaos in Pattaya
A Thai monk used divine intervention to control a drunk, out-of-control Russian man causing chaos on a street in Soi Chalerm Prakiat 19 in Pattaya by tapping the lid of his alms bowl on the foreign man’s head. The monk said the lid tapping was his way to encourage people to remain calm. The 26 year old Russian man, Rusten…
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Thailand’s future so bright, it’s gotta rock Ray-Bans
The future’s looking so bright for Thailand that it’s gotta wear shades, and not just any old shades, preferably Ray–Ban sunglasses. Fortunately, for residents in the Land of Smiles, EssilorLuxottica, the renowned creator of Ray-Ban sunglasses, has recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art factory in eastern Thailand, poised to serve as a prominent production centre for the Asia-Pacific region. Located in Rayong…
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Pickup truck accident leads to woman’s canal rescue in Kanchanaburi
An accident involving a pickup truck teetering on the edge of an irrigation canal alarmed local residents in Thamuang district, Kanchanaburi province. Emergency services were swiftly notified and upon arrival, discovered the empty vehicle poised precariously on the embankment. A search ensued, and 400 metres downstream, a woman was found floating in the water. She was swiftly rescued by locals…
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Tragic accident: Bangkok Police Deputy Superintendent dies in motorbike crash
A tragic accident claimed the life of a deputy superintendent today who was returning home from his shift. In the early hours of the morning around 2am, 41 year old Thongplaew Hanpaiboon was riding his Yamaha Nmax motorcycle when he collided with a barrier on an elevated bridge near Makasan Pond in the Ratchathewi district of Bangkok. The accident scene, a…
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Ghost hunt in Lopburi village creates chaos as million baht reward retracted
News of a ghostly “Krasue” haunting a village in Ban Berk, Tha Wung district, Lopburi province, has caused widespread fear among locals. A subsequent offer of a million baht reward for capturing the Krasue, a nocturnal female spirit of Southeast Asian folklore, by a resort owner in Saraburi province has escalated the hunt for the spectre. However, it is reported…
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Landslide in Chaiyaphum province prompts dramatic rescue
A landslide incident near the floodgate of the Chi River in Chaiyaphum province led to a dramatic rescue. Five locals yesterday narrowly escaped death as the ground gave way, causing multiple motorcycles to fall into the river. The unexpected event occurred at Bueng Lahan (Yai Kaew canal), Nong Bua Ban sub-district, Chatturat district. Volunteers from the Nong Bua Ban Subdistrict…
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Bangkok taxi driver accused of kicking out female passenger
Police summoned a Thai taxi driver caught on a viral video kicking out a female passenger on a road in Bangkok for making a phone call in his cab. The victim, Ploy, shared the video with local news site Red Skull as she got into a heated argument with the taxi driver on the street. In the video, Ploy and…
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Thai education embraces UK programmes to boost English language proficiency
Thailand has officially embraced programmes initiated by the United Kingdom, designed to boost English language proficiency among Thai students and teachers. The Education Minister of Thailand, Police General Permpoon Chidchob, held a conversation with the UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, to discuss this educational collaboration. The British ambassador, Mark Gooding, was also present at the discussion…
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