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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XBB Omicron variant rising in Thailand: New strategies deployed
Approximately 52% of new Covid-19 cases in Thailand have been attributed to the XBB sub-strain of the Omicron variant, according to the Centre for Medical Genomics. As a result, a prominent doctor has urged the public to obtain booster shots before the onset of the rainy season. The XBB variant and its sub-strains have been responsible for recent surges in…
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BJT’s ambitious plan to creating a ‘land bridge’ to boost economic growth in southern Thailand
The Bhumjaithai Party in Thailand vows to push forward with the development of a “land bridge” connecting the Andaman Sea with the Gulf of Thailand, which they believe will stimulate economic growth in the South. Itthidet Supong, spokesperson for Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, stated that Anutin is particularly keen on constructing an overland freight route, which is slated to link…
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Thailand’s Tourist Police under fire for carrying famous lawyer’s luggage (video)
Thailand‘s police chief Pol. Gen. Damrongsak Kittipraphat ordered an urgent investigation into a video of Tourist Police officers assisting with the luggage of a famous lawyer at Suvarnabhumi Airport after the clip sparked concerns that the act was inappropriate and outside of the officers’ specified duties. Chief Damrongsak held a conference yesterday at the Royal Thai Police (RTP) Headquarters to…
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Jordanian attacks Thai singer’s brother at condo in Thailand
A Jordanian man allegedly attacked the brother of a Thai singer, Kanyarat “Lula” Tatiyaporn, at a condominium in Thailand. The victim sustained a ruptured eardrum and multiple wounds all over his body. Lula revealed details of the incident and provided an update on her brother’s condition to KhaoSod yesterday. She explained that the incident occurred on the evening of Saturday,…
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Thailand’s Grade 5 textbook sparks outcry over alleged malnutrition endorsement
Critics have misinterpreted the content of a Thai-language textbook for Grade 5 pupils, following allegations that it appeared to condone malnutrition among young children, according to the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC). OBEC’s secretary-general, Amporn Pinasa, asserted that the criticised chapter, found in the Pasa Patee textbook used by fifth-graders, is actually a story about appreciating the value…
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Thai government acts fast to evacuate nationals from Sudan
The government of Thailand is making arrangements to evacuate Thai citizens from Sudan as swiftly as possible, utilising nearby airports such as Cairo Airport in Egypt and the American Air Force Base in Djibouti. This decision follows increasing concerns over the security situation in Sudan, with fears growing for the safety of the estimated 300 Thai nationals residing in the…
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Thailand’s Raja Ferry temporarily suspends Pha Ngan – Sumui route
Raja Ferry Port Company suspended all ferry services between Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Samui in Surat Thani province in southern Thailand from Sunday – Wednesday (April 23-25). The company made an official announcement on Saturday… “Raja Ferry Port will suspend ferry service from Pha Ngan to Samui and Samui to Pha Ngan route from 23-25 April 2023. Customers who…
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Vote wisely: PM Chan-o-cha’s election appeal
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party’s candidate for prime minister, has called on voters to think carefully before casting their ballots, cautioning that electing the wrong politicians could have disastrous consequences for the country. As part of his election campaign, Prime Minister Chan-o-cha visited Tha Pla district to drum up support for the UTN candidates running…
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Thailand’s heatwave nears end, rainy season looms
Thailand’s hot season approaches its conclusion as the rainy season is set to begin in mid-May, according to the country’s Meteorological Department. The hot season peaked on April 15, when the temperature reached a record high of 44.6°C in Tak. Deputy director-general Thanasit Iam-ananchai has stated that throughout the weekend, daily heat indices or apparent temperatures are anticipated to surge…
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Thailand’s fruit exports to China keep on peel-ing with a juicy growth
Thailand, already a dominant fruit exporter to China, witnessed a remarkable growth of 3.72% in 2022, generating more than 168 billion baht in revenue. The country’s thriving fruit industry found an avid market in China, which imported over 2.17 million tonnes of Thai fruit last year, according to a recent report from the Commerce Ministry. A diverse assortment of Thai…
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Thai airforce gets ready to rescue Thais in Sudan
Amidst the ongoing violent conflict in Sudan, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is getting ready to rescue Thai nationals currently stuck in the country. The RTAF has readied an Airbus A340-500 and a C-130 aircraft for the operation. Spokesperson AVM Prapas Sornchaidee said that RTAF commander ACM Alongkorn Wannarot has expressed deep concern for the Thai citizens in Sudan.…
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Summer storms to hit upper Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department expects summer storms to hit upper Thailand from Sunday to Wednesday. The department is forecasting summer storms, thunderstorms, gusty winds, isolated hail and lightning in upper Thailand from today (Sunday) to Wednesday. A moderate high-pressure system from China is expected to affect the northeastern region of the country and the South China Sea from Monday to…
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Heat and drought expected to impact Thailand
Heat and drought are expected to impact Thailand soon. The end of the summer season is predicted to arrive by the middle of month, but Thailand is expected to face the harsh impact of the El Niño phenomenon around the middle of June. This will lead to severe drought conditions, according to the Meteorological Department (MD), Bangkok Post reports. The…
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Thai activists say new electricity rates won’t solve root causes of high prices
A decision by an Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) subcommittee to reduce electricity rates from May to August has been met with reservations from Thai energy activists and politicians, who argue that the move does not address the root cause of expensive power bills. Yesterday, the subcommittee approved the fuel tariff (Ft) rate adjustment, which considers changes in fuel costs and…
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Officials establish help centre for Thais in Sudan
Following the outbreak of violent clashes in Sudan, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) has established a help centre for Thais who are currently in Sudan. The SBPAC set up the centre to aid 210 Thai students who are currently facing difficulties in Sudan, as fighting continues to escalate in the nation’s capital, Khartoum. The centre is located at…
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American YouTuber popular with Thais to compete in influencer boxing event
An American Youtuber who is popular among Thais is gearing up to compete in the “Influencer Boxing” contest in England today (Saturday). With over 13 million subscribers on YouTube, 30 year old Nathan Bartling has become a household name in Thailand and is proud to represent the country he now calls home. Bartling said on social media… “I never thought…
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Former doctor with mental health issues kills brother in central Thailand
A former doctor with mental health issues killed his brother, who also had mental health issues, in their family home in the Suphan Buri province in central Thailand this morning. He reportedly became violent due to a lack of medication. The incident happened at a two-storey house on the Khun Krai Road in the Tha Pee Liang sub-district in Suphan Buri…
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Thai police arrest members of syndicate smuggling petrol from Malaysia
The Royal Thai Police‘s (RTP) Fuel Crime Suppression Centre recently announced the arrest of two suspected members of a criminal syndicate known as “Jae Fang” in Hat Yai, Thailand. The group has allegedly been smuggling petrol from Malaysia and reselling it in the southern provinces of Songkhla, Satun, and Narathiwat. The suspects, Nee Usman and Eeb Madyusoh, were apprehended while…
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Thailand considers providing free e-cigarettes following England’s strategy
Thailand‘s End Cigarette Smoke Thailand (ECST) Group has praised the UK‘s efforts to provide free vaping kits and its focus on preventing minors from accessing e-cigarettes. This positive response follows England’s recent announcement of a £45 million budget for the distribution of vaping kits to reduce smoking rates. The campaign includes a further £3 million budget dedicated to monitoring and…
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Ladyboy assaults and robs Taiwanese tourist in Bangkok (video)
A Taiwanese tourist thought he lost his wallet during Songkran celebrations on Silom Road in Bangkok last weekend. However, upon inspecting a short video that his friend took, he realised that his wallet was stolen by a ladyboy he was sexually harassed by. In the 13-second-long clip, the Taiwanese tourist is pictured trying to get away from a ladyboy who…
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Prosecutors requested to charge Kong Salak Plus CEO by DSI
Thailand‘s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has requested that prosecutors bring charges against Panthawat “Nott” Nakwisut, the beleaguered proprietor of the now-defunct Kong Salak Plus online lottery platform, and 16 others for money laundering and gambling offences. On Friday, DSI detectives submitted their findings to the public prosecutors at the Attorney-General’s Office in Bangkok, situated on Ratchadapisek Road. Pongsathon Inamnuay,…
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Cops bust crypto mine stealing electricity near Bangkok
Police raided a huge crypto mine in Samut Prakan province, just south of Bangkok, yesterday. To dig for their digital currencies, the miners used stolen electricity with damages amounting to more than one million baht. Police from Samut Prakan Police Station and officials from the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) raided a three-storey rented building in Soi Mungkorn-Nark Dee in Phraek…
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Indian man in Pattaya allegedly kidnapped by his own son
Police are investigating the case of an Indian restaurant owner in Pattaya who was allegedly kidnapped and attacked by his own son and his son’s Thai friends yesterday. Luckily, the victim managed to escape by jumping out of a moving car and is under the care of authorities, reports KhaoSod. Yesterday, the officers from the Mueang Pattaya Police Station rushed…
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Thai man implants magnets into his fingers for 40 years to win at Hi-Lo
A Thai man implanted magnets into his own fingers for 40 years in order to cheat in the popular but illegal Hi-Lo dice game. He finally asked a doctor to remove them because he wanted to board a flight and was scared his magnetic fingers would sound the alarm at airport security. The doctor, Wat Lun, posted photos of the…
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Following complaints, Phuket officials swoop on stray dogs
Following a number of complaints from fed up locals, Phuket officials on Wednesday swooped on stray dogs in the island province’s main city district. The residents had complained that a pack of dogs had been causing a nuisance. They said the dogs were chasing after motorcycles, as well as defecating on streets and people’s properties. The Department of Public Health…
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Kind police officer delivers order on behalf of Grab driver who fainted amid Thailand’s scorching heat
Thai netizens praised a police officer from Chana Songkram Police Station in Bangkok, Thailand, for his kindness after he volunteered to deliver an order on behalf of a Grab delivery driver who fainted and crashed his motorbike amid sweltering heat on Wednesday. The 45 year old Grab driver and his 14 year old daughter picked up an order from a…
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Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16: What you need to know
Thailand has recently reported 27 cases of the new Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16, leading authorities to closely monitor its transmission speed and the ease with which it can escape people’s ability to handle the virus following months, if not years, of vaccinations and herd immunity development. The Ministry of Public Health is recommending that individuals, particularly senior citizens and those with…
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Tourism Authority of Thailand launches Vijitr lighting extravaganza across country
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched the ‘Vijitr’ lighting extravaganza, a series of light and sound events taking place across the five regions of Thailand from April to June 2023. The aim is to promote meaningful travel experiences and the drive towards more sustainable tourism. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said… “This ‘Vijitr’ lighting in five…
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Thailand’s alcoholic beverage sales jump by 30% during Songkran
Thailand certainly seems to have enjoyed itself after celebrating Songkran for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Thailand’s alcoholic beverage sales jumped by 30% during the Songkran holiday, according to Thanakorn Kuptachit, an advisor to the Thai Alcohol Business Association. Related businesses such as restaurants, entertainment venues, hotels, and event organisers, also got a boost from Songkran.…
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ERC’s tariff cut to benefit households
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is anticipated to reveal a decrease in fuel tariffs (Ft) from May to August today, resulting in a drop in power tariff rates for households to 4.70 baht per kilowatt-hour unit from the current 4.77 baht per unit. This decision comes in response to public outcry over surges in electricity bills during the summer months,…
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