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 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Thai schools to shift lessons online amid severe air pollution threat
Schools in Thailand may transition to online classes if fine dust pollution reaches critical levels, according to the Thai Education Ministry. Teachers are advised to monitor students’ health as PM2.5 haze pollution affects several provinces, including Bangkok. Siripong Angkasakulkiat from the Education Ministry stated yesterday, January 14, that Minister Permpoon Chidchob urged the creation of appropriate plans to organise classes…
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Forks of fury: Woman seeks justice after nightspot stabbing drama
A Thai woman is seeking justice after being accused by a group of nearly 10 women of pouring water over them before they attacked and stabbed her in the back with a fork at a nightclub in the southern province of Songkhla. The 24 year old victim, Tar, brought the matter to Channel 7 after the police failed to update…
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Driving Thailand’s economy into the high-tech fast lane
In a bid to supercharge Thailand’s sputtering economy, Industry Minister Akanat Promphan is rallying the manufacturing sector to shift gears and embrace high-tech innovation. With aspirations to increase GDP growth by 1% annually, Akanat is touting cutting-edge products as the next big play, given the triple threat of tech disruptions, geopolitical spats, and looming climate change. Since the pandemic, Thailand’s…
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Thai-ing up rates: BoT bosses feel heat over 2% cap warning
Bank of Thailand (BoT) bosses are under fire after warnings from the top brass at the National Economic and Social Development Council that their key policy rate should not breach the 2% mark. BoT chief advisor Supavud Saichuea insisted keeping the lid on interest rates is crucial, given the country’s inflation target and sluggish GDP growth. Speaking at a high-profile…
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Chinese couple beg for help in Bangkok amid son’s trafficking fears
A distraught Chinese couple has made a desperate plea outside the Chinese embassy in Bangkok, seeking help to find their missing son, suspected to be a victim of human trafficking in Southeast Asia. The couple, 64 year old Sun Maoxing and his wife 60 year old Wang Weiju, travelled from China’s Shandong province to Thailand on their first-ever trip abroad,…
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Brrr-illiant care: Chiang Mai Zoo keeps animals cozy at 10°c
As temperatures in Chiang Mai drop to a chilly 10 degrees Celsius (°C), Chiang Mai Zoo is stepping up to ensure its animals stay warm and healthy. Located at the foot of a mountain, the zoo faces sharp nighttime and early-morning temperature dips, prompting a range of protective measures for its residents. Zoo director Wutthichai Muangman revealed that heat lamps…
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Thailand’s nuclear power plan delayed amid policy uncertainties
Thailand is preparing for the integration of nuclear power technology but the implementation of the new power development plan (PDP) for small modular reactors (SMRs) is experiencing delays. The PDP, effective from 2024 to 2037, has yet to be enforced, involving collaboration between the Energy Regulatory Commission and the Office of Atoms for Peace on nuclear power and electricity management. SMRs,…
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Bangkok chokes on toxic air as PM2.5 levels hit danger zone
Bangkok’s air quality plummeted to hazardous levels, with PM2.5 dust particles soaring to the orange health-threatening category across all 50 districts, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported today. The average PM2.5 concentration in the city reached 47.6 µg/m³ this morning, significantly exceeding the safe limit of 37.5 µg/m³. The five worst-affected districts are Nong Khaem (56.7 µg/m³), Khlong Sam Wa…
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HK singer cancels Bangkok concert amid Chinese safety fears
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan Yik-shun has abruptly cancelled his upcoming Bangkok concert, citing safety concerns for Chinese citizens travelling to Thailand. The February 22 show at Impact Arena was called off following the rescue of a mainland Chinese actor from a cross-border scam syndicate. Sunfan Media Group, the concert organiser, announced the decision last Friday, January 10. “After careful…
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Baht bus brawl: Phuket driver and foreign man row over fare
A physical altercation broke out between a Thai baht bus driver and a foreign man outside a hotel in Phuket after the foreigner refused to pay the agreed transport fare. The Phuket Times shared a video of the altercation today, January 14. However, the page did not specify when or where the incident occurred. The accompanying post read… “Fighting! The…
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Scrambled spat: Egg row ends with knife attack in Pattaya
Pattaya police and rescue workers rushed to a chaotic scene on Sunday where a domestic dispute over frying eggs took a violent turn, leaving a man with a knife lodged in his head. Officers arrived at a rental room in Soi Paniadchang 8, Central Pattaya, yesterday, January 12, to find 36 year old Krisada Matcha, bleeding profusely and stumbling down…
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Fatal collision scatters chicken parts on Thai road
A collision involving a six-wheeled truck and a trailer truck yesterday on the Pho Phra Ya-Tha Ruea road in Mueang district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, resulted in one fatality. The impact led to fresh chicken parts scattering across the road. Police Lieutenant Banchoed Jongphitakphong of the Tha Ruea Police Station received the accident report yesterday, January 13, at 12.30pm,…
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Leicester City helicopter crash inquiry begins
A long-awaited inquiry has been launched into the crash of a Leonardo AW169 helicopter at Leicester City Football Club on October 27, 2018. The accident claimed the lives of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Chairperson of King Power Group and Leicester City FC, along with two pilots and two others. The inquiry, led by Professor Catherine Mason at Leicester Town Hall, opened yesterday, January 13…
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Sinful: Ex-nun claims reveal monk-key business at Isaan temple
A former Thai nun exposed the inappropriate behaviour of an abbot at Dan Phra In Temple in the Isaan province of Mukdahan, claiming the monk engaged in sexual activities with her for over seven years and gave her large sums of money donated by Buddhists. The former nun, Phorn, urged the news Facebook page เจ๊มอย v+ (J Moi V+) to…
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Over 200,000 mule accounts targeted in scam gangs crackdown
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) launched an all-out crackdown on scam networks using over 200,000 mule bank accounts to siphon off approximately 100 billion baht from Thai citizens since 2022. The scale of the financial crimes has prompted an urgent collaboration between the RTP, the Bank of Thailand (BoT), and other agencies. At a high-level meeting yesterday, January 13, Police General…
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Bucket list gone wrong: Swansea gran’s naked Bangkok escapade
A 61 year old grandmother from Swansea found herself stark naked and wandering her hotel, allegedly after downing a tainted bucket of booze in bustling Bangkok. Janet West’s unnerving adventure adds a chilling chapter to the ongoing saga of suspected deadly drinks across Southeast Asia. West’s bizarre evening unfolded amid the wild festivities of the new year on Bangkok’s buzzing…
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Chinese tourists cancel Thailand trips amid safety concerns
Hotels and airlines are experiencing widespread cancellations from Chinese tour groups ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday, with independent tourist bookings also slowing due to safety concerns in Thailand. Eason Chan, a singer and actor from Hong Kong, cancelled a planned concert in Thailand last week, citing safety concerns for Chinese fans visiting the country. Additionally, Hong Kong’s Security…
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Police raid reveals sim box scam in Bangkok apartment
Police in Region 1 raided an apartment in the Lat Phrao area, uncovering eight sim box devices used for scam calls to defraud victims out of millions. The apartment was rented by a foreign national. Efforts are underway to expand the investigation and make arrests. Police Major General Worachat Saenkham, commander of the Region 1 Investigation Division, along with other…
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Thai tomboy assaulted by neighbour over loud noise in Pattaya
A Thai tomboy is seeking justice after a male neighbour allegedly threatened her with a knife and beat her with a baseball bat at an apartment in Pattaya last week, reportedly over loud noise. CCTV footage also captured the tomboy damaging her neighbour’s room. The altercation between the couple, Sirinapa and Kanokwan, and their neighbour, Tee, occurred at around 12.25am…
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Thailand’s equal marriage bill praised as non-discrimination model by UN
Thailand’s Equal Marriage Bill has been acknowledged by the United Nations as an exemplary non-discrimination policy for other member states to emulate, as per Michaela Friberg-Storey, the UN resident coordinator. During the launch of the Flag of Love Across Thailand campaign at the United Nations Conference Centre yesterday, January 13. Friberg-Storey highlighted Thailand’s upcoming milestone on January 23, when it…
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Firestarter: Thai man torches own home in Yasothon blaze
A man suffering from mental health issues set fire to his own home, causing significant damage to a two-storey wooden house in Ban Song Pueay, Mueang Song Pueay, Kham Khuean Kaeo district, Yasothon province. The incident occurred yesterday, January 13, with strong winds exacerbating the fire’s rapid spread. Emergency services deployed two firetrucks to the scene, working alongside locals who…
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Hat Yai gears up for Chinese New Year with parades and contests
Hat Yai is pulling out all the stops for a dazzling Chinese New Year celebration, promising a week of vibrant festivities from January 28 to February 2. This iconic festival, a highlight for Thailand’s Chinese community, will take over Srinakorn Foundation School with parades, dragon and lion dances, fireworks, and breathtaking lantern sculptures. The festival is packed with activities to…
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Accident claims life of motorcyclist in Nakhon Si Thammarat (video)
A tragic accident occurred in Mueang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, yesterday, resulting in the death of 48 year old Chitlada. The incident involved an 18-wheel truck and a motorcycle driven by Chitlada, who was returning home from rubber tapping. Police Colonel Phadungphong Duksukkaew received the report yesterday, January 13, and instructed investigators to examine the scene with a local…
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Motorbike tragedy: Nigerian tourist killed in Phuket red-light crash
A Nigerian tourist tragically lost his life in Phuket yesterday, January 13 after running a red light at the Samkong Intersection in Ratsada subdistrict, Kathu district, and colliding with a speeding passenger van. The fatal accident, which occurred at 3.10pm has reignited public outrage over reckless driving and traffic violations in the province. Dashcam footage shared by Facebook user Chawalit…
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PM Paetongtarn slams 4.4 billion baht asset allegations
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has come out swinging against allegations of falsifying her assets statement, branding the claims as baseless and politically motivated. The accusations stem from a report by the Isra News Agency, suggesting that she misrepresented a staggering 4.4 billion baht debt owed to close family members. “It’s a debt between me and my relatives,” the premier insisted…
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Former police officer accused of laundering 1.7 million baht
The Office of Anti-Money Laundering (AMLO) lodged a complaint against a former senior police officer, accusing him of money laundering. This follows an investigation by Thung Maha Mek Metropolitan Police Station into a group involved in illegal online gambling, which revealed financial connections implicating certain individuals. Police Major General Nopasilp Poolsawat, deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and spokesperson,…
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Boy suffers electric shock from claw machine in Thai mall
A six year old boy suffered an electric shock from a claw machine at a shopping mall, with initial claims attributing it to static electricity. However, further investigation revealed the issue to be an electrical leak. The incident occurred on January 13, when the boy’s mother, a member of the Facebook group We Are Consumers, posted a warning about the…
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Tuk tuk crashes into timber truck in Surat Thani, driver dies
A tragic accident occurred involving a tuk tuk and a parked timber truck yesterday in Mueang Surat Thani district. The collision resulted in the death of the tuk tuk driver and injuries to seven passengers, six of whom were seriously hurt. Police Lieutenant Thanongsilp Kayannoi from the Mueang Surat Thani Police Station received the report of the accident yesterday, January 13…
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Child dragged by kite in Thailand’s windy paddy field (video)
A video of a child being dramatically dragged across a field while flying a kite has rocked social media with calls for more vigilance from parents and guardians. The video was posted on TikTok by user@plai200737 yesterday, January 13. The strong winds caused the large kite to pull the child through the dusty paddy field. Despite the unexpected force, the child…
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Thailand video news | Thailand approves casino legalisation to boost tourism and economy, Malaysia PM denies concealing document on Najib’s home detention
In Thailand video news today, Alex and Jay bring you a roundup of significant stories from Thailand and beyond. From a dramatic catamaran rescue near Phuket to Thailand’s groundbreaking casino legalisation, the headlines cover critical developments and human-interest tales. Other stories include a tragic dental surgery incident in Chiang Rai, a viral pickpocketing case in Bangkok, and heartfelt tributes for…
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