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 Moving with family? Here’s how to cut health costs in Thailand
Relocating to Thailand with your family brings exciting new opportunities, but it also comes with the challenge of managing healthcare costs in a new system. Thailand has both public and private healthcare options, each offering different prices and quality of...
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Indian man dies filming snake challenge
A 22 year old Indian man died in a state of intoxication while filming himself playing with a snake. The video, which is four minutes and 38 seconds long, shows 22 year old Rohit Jaiswal impersonating Shiva, the god of destruction, wrapping a snake around the hand and neck of the young Indian man from the state of Uttar Pradesh. The…
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Thai Commerce Minister defends recent sugar price increase
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce defended the recent sugar price hike following discussions with all parties involved. The minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, maintains the decision was made based on appropriate cost considerations, not a failure to control prices. Today, at Government House, Phumtham addressed concerns that the government couldn’t control sugar prices after a Cabinet meeting yesterday decided…
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High controversy: Thai police in pot predicament as video of bong-smoking officer goes viral (video)
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) is under fire after a viral video showed a police officer in uniform smoking ganja from a bong. It was later revealed the RTP officer suffers from mental health problems. The drama erupted on Thai social media after the popular Facebook page, Eight-pointed Star (ดาวแปดแฉก), shared a video of the police officer behaving inappropriately by…
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PM Srettha encourages Thai students in Stanford to return and work in Thailand
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met with Thai students at Stanford University, encouraging them to return and work in Thailand. The Thai PM believes that the future will see leading companies investing in the nation, and providing employment opportunities. PM Srettha, who also serves as the Finance Minister, held discussions with the administration of Stanford University and interacted with Thai students…
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Starry spectacle alert: Catch the Leonids meteor shower’s dazzling dance on November 17
The National Institute of Astronomical Research (NARIT) announced that the Leonids meteor shower will be visible from the night of November 17 to the early morning of November 18, with a peak rate of up to 15 meteors per hour. Suparerk Karuehanont, the director of the Academic Services and Astronomical Communications Centre, revealed that the Leonids meteor shower, also known…
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Knockdown house scam: Elusive Thai builder arrested for defrauding clients
A high-end knockdown house builder, known in the community as Tiger Craftsman, was apprehended by the police and highway patrol today, after absconding with deposit money from clients. The 30 year old suspect responsible for orchestrating this knockdown house scam, identified only as Watthit, was detained by the authorities on Sirisothon Road, Lat Khwang, Ban Pho, Chachoengsao province. Watthit allegedly…
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Phimai Festival alert: Homemade bomb found near Nakhon Ratchasima school
A suspicious object resembling a homemade bomb was discovered today in front of a school in the Nakhon Ratchasima province. Authorities quickly intervened to inspect and safely dispose of the object, suspecting it was created by teenagers planning to use it during the Phimai Festival. The police station in Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima, received a notification from a member of the…
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Teen accuses spiritual medium of sexually abusing her and a friend
A 17 year old Thai girl accused a spiritual medium in the Isaan province of Buriram of raping her and sexually harassing her friend while performing rituals to wash away bad luck and evil spirits. The teenager, 17 year old Bee, revealed to the public that she and another friend were victims of sexual abuse by a 60 year old…
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Smooth sailing: Suvarnabhumi Airport’s snazzy channels promise swift boarding for foreign jet-setters
Foreign passengers will soon experience expedited boarding at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, thanks to the introduction of automatic channels set to go live next month. The move aims to ease congestion at the airport, allowing for a smoother transit experience for travellers. Currently, the automatic processing at Suvarnabhumi is limited to travellers holding Thai, Hong Kong or Singaporean passports, as relayed…
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12 year old Irish girl’s secret vaping journey turns lungs into an 80 year old’s
A 12 year old girl from Northern Ireland secretly started vaping at the tender age of nine, leading to severe illness and a near death experience. Her lungs’ ability to function was comparable to an 80 year old’s due to the extensive damage. In recent years, e-cigarettes have gained popularity, initially advertised as a safer alternative to traditional smoking and a…
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Burglary at roadside restaurant in Ban Bueng shocks community
An incident of burglary at a roadside restaurant in Ban Bueng, Chon Buri, shocked the community today at 9am. The local police, led by Police Captain Suradet Imjai, swiftly responded to the scene. Their investigation revealed that the suspect, identified as 37 year old Sanchai, also known as Ton, was a familiar face who had been previously helped by the…
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Thai celeb Baitoey granted bail in Forex-3D Ponzi scheme case for 5 million baht
Renowned singer and actress Suteewan Thaweesin, better known as Baitoey, burst into tears as the court granted her bail in the aftermath of the Forex-3D Ponzi scheme scandal. She was instructed to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, report to court as scheduled, and is prohibited from leaving the country. The bail was set following the submission of a 5 million…
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Unrest brews over forced card stunts at Thai school football match
A traditional, unity-building football competition has sparked a social media outcry, with the hashtag #EndForcedCardStunts trending. The controversy started during the 30th Jaturamitr Samakee (Unity) Football Match held at the National Stadium in Pathum Wan district between four all-boys schools, namely: Suankularb Wittayalai School, Bangkok Christian College, Assumption College, and Debsirin School, from November 11 to 18. The biennial competition, aimed…
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Loan sharks heartlessly kill Thai fruit vendor over 400 baht debt near Pattaya
In a shocking event, a 45 year old fruit vendor tragically lost his life after a gang of loan sharks terrorised and shot him right outside a convenience store. The victim’s girlfriend, 41 year old Saengduen revealed the heartbreaking moments leading up to the event, which happened on the evening of November 14. The storefront of Itthiphol (surname withheld), is…
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Ham handed: 2 Thai men arrested on illegal pork imports, over 10 officials found involved
Two Thai men surrendered to police over illegal pork imports after fleeing Thailand to evade the arrest. More than 10 government officials were found to be involved in the illegal operation. Recently, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for the delay in investigating and arresting suspects in the illegal…
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Northern Thailand: Tourists flock to Doi Mae U-Kor for stunning blooming Mexican sunflowers
The Doi Mae U-Kor mountain is currently attracting a throng of tourists eager to admire the sprawling fields of blooming Mexican sunflowers. These golden blooms, stretching across 500 acres of hillside, have become a significant draw for visitors, both Thai and international. It is expected that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will receive no less than 100,000 visitors this…
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Thai merchant in warrior outfit draws crowds for lottery luck at local temple
A merchant has donned a warrior outfit in a bid to promote some good luck ahead of tomorrow’s national lottery draw. At Wat Salalee, Bang Phai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nonthaburi Province, residents yesterday flocked to the local temple to pray for fortune, seek career advice, and crack an egg for lucky numbers. The lottery good luck faithful have returned multiple…
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Doi Inthanon’s chilly spell boosts tourism in Chiang Mai
Tourist activity is bustling in Chiang Mai as visitors flock to experience the chilly weather of Doi Inthanon, witness the sunrise, and admire the beautiful sea of mist. Doi Inthanon National Park, located in Jomthong, Chiang Mai, reported the cool morning atmosphere at 7am, with temperatures plunging to a low of 9 degrees Celsius at the peak of the mountain. Temperatures…
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Lop Buri residents bite back, seek authority action as iguanas wreaks havoc on farms
Residents in the central province of Lop Buri are urging authorities to intervene as the population of iguanas in the region has surged dramatically. The animals have reportedly bitten a resident and caused significant damage to plantations and agricultural produce. Channel 3 reported that a master’s degree student conducted a study in the Khao Phaya Doen Dong community in Lob…
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Southern Thailand: 30K meth pills found in car wreck after fatal crash
A high-speed car crash in the rainy weather led to the discovery of a large stash of meth pills. The driver of a white Honda sedan collided with an electric pole around 10.30pm last night, in Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The severe impact left the car in ruins and the driver, identified as 41 year old Phatthrawatee from…
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Legal eagle throws down gauntlet: Lawyer challenges health minister to probe effectiveness of psychic practitioner
Renowned lawyer Ronnarong Kaewpaet challenged Public Health Minister Dr Chonlanan Srikaew to scrutinise the healing methods of a psychic practitioner. This comes after the lawyer experienced no relief from his body aches following a session with the psychic practitioner, named Keerati Somkid, or Ajarn Aek. The incident took place yesterday at 5.30pm at Sasi Nonthaburi and Apartment, located on Kanchanapisek Road,…
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Digital wallet and e-refund schemes in Thailand face legal and funding challenges
The proposed digital wallet and e-refund schemes considered significant growth drivers for Thailand’s GDP next year, are potentially at risk due to legal and funding obstacles. Analysts have indicated that these challenges could lead to a substantial reduction in the implementation of these costly digital schemes in Thailand, which are scheduled for rollout next year. Maybank Securities notes that legal…
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Sobering reminder: Entertainment venues to open until 4am, but no alcohol sale to drunks
The Thailand Health Minister yesterday stressed that entertainment venues must not serve alcohol to customers who are already drunk, even if establishments are allowed to stay open until 4am. Partygoers have been advised to carry breathalysers. Public Health Minister Cholnan Sikaew said that the policy allowing nightclubs to stay open until 4am had not yet been implemented. Cholnan made known…
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Thailand’s digital wallet initiative raises concerns among tourism sector
The forthcoming 10,000-baht digital wallet initiative has raised concerns among tourism operators in Thailand. The scheme is viewed as primarily beneficial to the retail sector, leaving the tourism sector behind, which could have potential economic repercussions leading to a potential decline in domestic travel. Sanga Ruangwattanakul, the head of the Khao San Road Business Association, suggests the scheme offers limited…
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TCAS round 3 fees waived by Thai government for higher education boost
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul announced that the TCAS Round 3 testing fees will be waived to alleviate the financial burden on students and parents. This initiative provides an opportunity for all Thai students to pursue higher education. During a policy presentation and inspection at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI),…
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Woman from Kalasin province tragically killed in high-speed collision with pickup truck
A tragic accident occurred when a woman from Kalasin Province rode her motorbike onto the road and was hit by a speeding pickup truck. The force of the collision propelled her into a forest across the road where she tragically lost her life. The incident took place yesterday. The local police in Ban Pho, Chachoengsao Province, were notified about the…
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Family feud: Dirty plates row boils over into violent clash in central Thailand
A heated dispute over unwashed dishes escalated into a violent encounter in a residence in Bang Pakong, Chachoengsao, on the night of yesterday. The family feud resulted in severe injuries and a police investigation, as revealed by Deputy Inspector Pataweekarn Prakobkaew. A 37 year old man, Montri, sought help from neighbours, bloodied and beaten, claiming he was attacked by his…
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Teen almost loses penis after being forced to get beeswax injection
A 15 year old Thai boy almost lost his penis after his school friends forced him to have a beeswax injection and recorded a video of the procedure to blackmail him. The victim’s mother claimed the incident happened at her son’s school in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat on August 1 but the case has not progressed because…
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Vibhavadi Road accident: Fatal big bike crash in Bangkok stirs public concern
A fatal road accident that occurred around 4.30am today, saw a young man on a big bike collide with a parked sedan on Vibhavadi Road, resulting in a fatality. The accident was reported to Police Captain Kajorndet Bunma, Deputy Investigation Officer at Vibhavadi Police Station. The Vibhavadi Road accident took place near the 238th toll booth on the Vibhavadi-Rangsit inbound…
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New ESG fund could boost Thai stocks by up to 70 billion baht
Analysts predict that a forthcoming environmental, social and governance (ESG) fund could draw investments of between 20 and 70 billion baht into 114 stocks listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand’s (SET) ESG index this year. The long-term savings fund, which is set to be established later this year, will be focused on investing in domestic ESG stocks and bonds.…
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