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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Chaiyaphum province mobilises aid for Thai labourers in Israel amid escalating conflict
As the conflict in Israel escalates, Thai labourers in the region are facing increased worries about their safety. Despite this, many are determined to remain and continue working. The most recent violence between Israel and the alleged Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas has resulted in several thousand rockets being fired into Israel, leading to numerous fatalities. Among the dead are 12…
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Bangkok firefighters tackle fire outbreak at Soi Ladprao entertainment venue
Brave firefighters today successfully dealt with a fire outbreak at an entertainment venue located on Soi Ladprao 122 in Bangkok after a 30-minute operation. The fire broke out at 9.30am. Upon receiving the report, Lieutenant Jutaphong Chanchandilokchoti from Wang Thong Lang Police Station promptly arrived at the scene alongside the Bangkok Metropolitan Fire and Rescue Department. The fire scene was…
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Arrest warrant issued against Burmese man for murder of former diplomat in Thailand
Royal Thai Police submitted documents and evidence to the Thailand Courts to issue a warrant for the arrest of a Burmese man for the suspected murder of a former Thai diplomat at a house in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. The suspect reportedly escaped arrest outside Bangkok but police believe he is still in Thailand. Following the death of 63 year old…
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Delivery fraud: Thai rider disappears with eight iPhones worth over 100,000 baht
A Thai delivery rider vanished after collecting eight iPhones, valued at over 100,000 baht, causing the client, Kittiphong Loeslaew, to voice his frustrations online. The delivery service is expected to compensate him for the loss. The online community advised Kittiphong to file a formal complaint against the delivery fraud, as the rider and vehicle registration details were available. They also…
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Ex-Transport Minister arrested over corruption allegations
Former Minister of Transport and Pattaya Mayor Itthipol Khunpluem was detained upon his return from Cambodia, a development that has drawn significant attention. The Thai Immigration Police acted swiftly, taking Itthipol into custody in connection with a high-profile corruption case currently under investigation by the Corruption Case Office Two of Rayong Province. This case stems from a judicial order issued…
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Phuket tuk tuk drivers attack Saudi Arabian passenger over service fare
Officers from Patong Police Station arrested three thuggish Thai tuk tuk drivers for assaulting a Saudi Arabian passenger on Rat U Thit Road in Phuket after the foreigner paid them only 300 baht out of 400 baht for a 3-kilometre journey. A video of three Thai tuk tuk driver thugs physically assaulting the Saudi man went viral on Thai social media.…
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Nurse Count Dao treats homeless man’s injury in a heartfelt video
A well-known TikToker suphaporn9949, also known as Nurse Count Dao, recently shared a poignant and deeply moving, heart-wrenching video. After spotting an elderly man, appearing to be homeless, sitting in front of a convenience store, she decided to buy him a meal. However, her attention was drawn to a substantial wound on his foot, compelling her to purchase medicine and…
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French mother demands justice for son sexually assaulted by Thai man in Koh Samui
A French mother is demanding justice after her seven year old son was sexually assaulted by a predatory Thai pedophile in a grocery store on Koh Samui island in Thailand. Remarkably, despite her son being the victim of a sickening sexual assault, the French mother had her passport confiscated after the suspect filed an assault charge against her. To add further…
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Airbnb’s Thai-cation: Boosting GDP and jobs in the Land of Smiles, study shows
A recent study by Oxford Economics highlights the significant role played by Airbnb in Thailand’s tourism sector, making a substantial contribution to the country’s GDP and job market. According to the report commissioned by Airbnb, the platform made a substantial 31 billion baht contribution to Thailand’s Gross Domestic Product in 2022, supporting almost 56,500 jobs. This translates to approximately 1.7%…
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2 Thai teenagers suspected of murdering former diplomat
Royal Thai Police detained two Thai teenagers following the murder of a former Thai diplomat. The teenagers, aged 15 and 17, were the last people to visit the former diplomat’s home before his dead body was discovered. The dead body of 63 year old Wichit Chitwimarn was discovered in a three-storey luxury house on Soi Vibhawadee-Rangsit 20 in Bangkok’s Chatuchak…
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Thai farm worker killed in Israel, wife mourns unexpected loss
A 39 year old Thai farm worker from Kalasin, Thailand, was tragically killed in Israel yesterday, leaving his wife in shock as they had just spoken that morning. The victim, identified as Somkuan Phansadat, had been working on a farm in Israel when he was caught up in an act of violence perpetrated by Hamas, seen by many in the West…
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Historic satellite launch rescheduled: Thai THEOS-2
Thailand’s second earth observation satellite, THEOS-2, is slated to be launched once more from the French Guiana spaceport. Supamas Isarabhakdi, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), revealed the launch would occur at 8.36am today. This comes after the initial launch attempt on October 7 was halted due to minor signal irregularities detected in the last 14…
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Illegal firearms crackdown: Thai police clamps down on illicit trade after alarming surge in gun violence
Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Phuridej targeted 114 illegal firearms distributors across Thailand in an extensive nationwide crackdown. The illegal firearms crackdown, involving over 800 officers including a special task force known as “Hanuman” from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), came in the wake of increased online trading of illegal firearms, including modified guns, homemade guns, and blank guns. The illegal…
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Bangkok shooting survivor recounts horrific encounter with Siam Paragon gunman
A survivor of the recent shooting at the Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok recounted her terrifying encounter with the 14 year old gunman. Anyapat Thipjirasakul, while fleeing the scene, came face to face with the teen gunman on an escalator. His immediate reaction was to fire, hitting her in the shoulder. Despite the pain, she continued running, scared he…
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Heavy rainfall warning: Northern Thailand braced for potential flash floods
The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning regarding continuous heavy rainfall affecting 54 provinces, predominantly in the northern region. The department anticipates that 80% of the northern territory will experience heavy downpours, posing a risk of flash floods. The department’s 24-hour forecast, issued today, suggests a trough of low pressure moving across the northern and lower northeastern provinces. Simultaneously,…
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Thai truck driver shot in Israel during Hamas attack, contact lost
A 28 year old woman from Nong Song Hong District, Khon Kaen, revealed a shocking incident involving her 26 year old husband. The woman, Supattra Asanok, revealed her husband, Phadung Butmo, originally from Kham Mueang District, Khon Kaen, currently works as an agricultural goods truck driver in Israel. He was shot in the back and right buttock during a Hamas…
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Inheritance tax law changes aim to reduce economic inequality
A revenue department insider has revealed plans for the adoption of the prime minister’s proposal to make changes to the inheritance tax law. The objective of the amendment is to reduce economic inequality, according to the anonymous source. The source disclosed three key points that form the guidelines for the amendment. The first is the application of the inheritance tax…
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Thailand’s commerce ministry aims for 20% cross-border trade boost
The Commerce Ministry of Thailand has an ambitious vision for the upcoming year – pushing cross-border trade value to 1.2 trillion baht, marking a 20% increase from this year’s estimated 1 trillion baht. Deputy Commerce Minister Napintorn Srisunpang, the overseer of the Business Development Department, Trade Negotiations Department and Foreign Trade Department, disclosed the ministry’s strategy to achieve this. They…
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Thai government’s 5% GDP growth aim deemed optimistic amidst challenges
The administration of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin aims to boost annual GDP growth by 5%. This goal was unveiled during a policy statement delivered by the premier to the heads of government agencies last week during discussions about the fiscal 2024 budget. However, the World Bank recently cut its growth forecast for Thailand to 3.4% this year and trimmed its…
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AI adoption boom: Igniting innovation, doubling productivity, and fostering cross-gen cooperation
The revolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in businesses is underway, igniting innovation, boosting productivity by twofold, and fostering cross-generational cooperation. Currently, the United States alone hosts over 14,700 AI startups, with more sprouting daily, according to McKinsey. Forecasts suggest that AI adoption and digitisation will automate between 30% and 40% of existing jobs, augment 50 to 60% of job tasks,…
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Elderly woman in Buriram lives alone without basic amenities for 30 years
An 84 year old woman has been living alone for over 30 years without any basic facilities such as electricity and water in her Buriram home. This distressing scenario unfolded in the Buriram province where the woman lives in a dilapidated house. She is unable to walk and relies on the kindness of her neighbours and leftover food from a…
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DSI crackdown on counterfeit dietary supplement warehouse in Chon Buri costing over 10 million baht
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) raided a warehouse in central Chon Buri storing counterfeit dietary supplements for humans and pets, causing damages exceeding 10 million baht. The raid was carried out in response to Thailand being closely watched by the US Trade Representative (USTR) for intellectual property rights violations and stemmed from tips about unlawful sales of supplements via…
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Thailand’s TCL suspends VIP bus service after passenger complaints, slaps 10,000 baht fine on operator
Dr Sanlak Panuwatli, the managing director of Transport Company Limited (TCL), addressed recent complaints made by passengers about the standard of their VIP bus services. The complaints were raised on the Facebook page อยากดังเดี๋ยวจัดให้ รีเทริน์ part 6, which posted images and messages about the substandard conditions of TCL’s VIP buses. Upon investigation of the raised issues, TCL found that the…
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Former diplomat found dead in Bangkok luxury home under mysterious circumstances
The body of a former diplomat was discovered in the bathroom of a luxurious house, locked from the outside and covered with cardboard boxes today. The house, located in the affluent neighbourhood of Soi Vibhavadi Rangsit 20, Jom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok, was inspected by Deputy Superintendent Puthipong Hongthong and his team following the report of a death. The three-storey luxury…
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Accused gambling MP sits on Anti-Corruption Committee, claims Thai Patriots Network leader
Srisuwan Janya, the leader of the Thai Patriots Network, revealed that a member of Ratchaburi’s House of Representatives, previously accused of gambling in a viral video, sits on the Anti-Corruption Committee. This is a committee that is highly contested, especially when the individual was a member of the Blue Party during his tenure as a Ratchaburi representative. Despite the selection…
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Thai national killed, 11 detained in Israel amid evacuation challenges
A Thai national lost his life and approximately 11 others were taken into custody during a Hamas assault on Israel, disclosed Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, early today. He also highlighted the ongoing air travel restrictions that are hindering evacuation efforts. Ahead of his international journey from Sunday to Thursday, PM Srettha shared at Wing 6 in Don Muang that…
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Buriram military officer seeks forgiveness after killing two cyclists in hit-and-run accident
A 52 year old military officer from a camp in Buriram province has requested permission to conduct funeral rites for two cyclists he fatally struck with his pickup truck. The incident involved six bicycles and took place on Highway No. 24 from Chokchai to Dech Udom, specifically at the 133+800 km mark in Chalerm Phrakiat district. The collision resulted in…
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Thai CEOs discuss sustainability’s key role in supply chain survival at SX2023
The Sustainability Expo 2023 (SX2023) has illuminated the essential role of sustainability in successful supply chain networks. The Thailand Supply Chain Network (TSCN) Business Partners Conference, also known as the TSCN CEO Panel, took place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center as part of the ongoing expo. The key topic of discussion was the self-application of sustainable practices for…
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Tourist vehicle overturns on Doi Inthanon injuring six: Driver’s unfamiliarity suspected
A tourist vehicle overturned on Doi Inthanon, resulting in injuries to six passengers. The accident happened near kilometres 32-33 on the route to Doi Inthanon, a mountain located in the Ban Luang district of Chom Thong, Chiang Mai. The injured passengers had to crawl out of the wrecked Toyota Fortuner. The accident occurred around 6pm yesterday, involving a black Toyota…
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Bangkok workers rally for better employment conditions and against privatisation
World Day for Decent Work was marked by a significant rally in Bangkok, where approximately 600 workers rallied for their cause. The protestors demanded the government address unjust employment conditions and enhance employment security. The rally, which took place along Ratchadamnoen Avenue, saw the participation of members from the Thai Labour Solidarity Confederation (TLSC), the State Enterprises Workers’ Relations Confederation…
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