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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Chalong Bay luxury yacht goes up in flames
A 34.2-metre luxury yacht yesterday suffered extensive damage in a dramatic blaze, which left its towering mast levelled. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) sprang into action around 3pm, dispatching two boats, Tor 111 and Tor 272, to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the yacht, Obsession II, anchored and continuously burning. The yacht’s crew, who…
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Thai govt boosts support for park rangers with wage increase
The Thai government has taken a significant step to strengthen the crucial efforts of national park rangers by introducing a series of measures to improve their welfare and support. Among these measures is a wage increase, serving as a clear acknowledgement of the invaluable contributions made by park rangers across the country. The Director-General of the Department of National Parks,…
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Blaze destroys British man’s condo in Pattaya
A terrifying blaze erupted in the early hours of May 17 at the Center Condotel on South Pattaya Road, causing extensive damage and forcing the frantic evacuation of residents. The fire, reported at 3.36am, initially broke out on the 12th floor, quickly spreading to the 13th floor as thick smoke engulfed the building, creating a chaotic and perilous scene. Kraithong…
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Thailand’s sports equipment market to hit 32 billion baht
The sports equipment market is set for significant growth in the coming years, thanks to a surge in consumer interest in health and wellness since the Covid-19 pandemic began. President of the Thailand Sporting Trade Association Kitti Charoenpornpanichkul reported that the domestic sports equipment market reached a value of approximately 30 billion baht (US$826 million) last year. This figure surpasses…
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Rocket near-miss with aircraft prompts safety concerns in Surin
Rocket fireworks narrowly missed an aircraft in Surin province on Sunday, prompting officials to urge pilots to navigate around them. The district chief denied the incident occurred in his area, highlighting a lack of clarity about the event’s location. Local reporters were alerted to illegal gambling activities at the Boon Bang Fai rocket festival behind a temple in Ban Jang…
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Old habits die hard: Man fresh out of prison nabbed for Yaba pills
Barely a week after his release from prison, a Bangkok man was apprehended for distributing Yaba pills obtained from a former inmate friend. He was caught selling pills at 8 baht each, totalling 6,000 pills, before being ensnared in a police sting operation. At 7.40pm yesterday, investigative units from Sing Buri Provincial Police, alongside local authorities, received intelligence about a…
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Underground sex bar exposed: 24 Thai women arrested
Taipei law enforcement swooped on an illicit underground bar in the Zhongshan District in Taipei, Taiwan, uncovering a web of illegal activities and arresting 24 Thai women suspected of working as hostesses. The raid, conducted on Saturday, May 18, resulted in the arrest of the 29 year old bar owner, identified only as Chiang, along with four of his employees…
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Researchers identify 17 novel genetic variants associated with risk of alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive brain disorder causing memory loss and cognitive decline, affects millions of people worldwide. Scientists have long sought to uncover the genetic factors contributing to this condition to develop better treatments and prevention strategies. Recently, researchers made significant strides by identifying 17 novel genetic variants linked to Alzheimer’s disease, bringing us closer to understanding and potentially combating…
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Rent rage: Thai woman fries trio with hot oil over 8,000 baht
A Thai woman attacked two women and a two year old girl with scalding hot cooking oil over an unpaid rent bill of 8,000 baht. The victims sought help from the Paveena Foundation for Women and Children with their medical treatment and to ensure the attacker faced justice. The victims revealed that the attacker tried to convince them to drop…
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Former PM Somchai Wongsawat stuns with senate bid
Former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat made a surprise appearance at the Chiang Mai district office at 9am, marking the opening of senatorial candidate registrations. Eyewitnesses report that Somchai, whose brief tenure as prime minister lasted from September 18 to December 2, 2008, did not address the media, slipping quietly into the registration process. Somchai’s short-lived stint as prime minister was…
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Hot-headed son punches rescue unit for arriving late, father dies
In a tragic turn of events, a delayed response to a medical emergency by a rescue unit resulted in the untimely death of a bedridden patient in Bangkok. What began as a call for assistance swiftly escalated into a violent altercation when the son of the patient, frustrated by the tardiness of rescue personnel, physically assaulted a rescue officer. Lumphini…
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Thailand and Australia join forces to tackle human trafficking
To tackle the scourge of human trafficking, the Thai government, in partnership with Australia, has unveiled a groundbreaking training facility in Bangkok. The Counter Trafficking in Persons Center of Excellence (CTIP-COE) officially opened on May 17 by Minister of Justice Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong and Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Angela Macdonald. This centre represents a significant stride in the ASEAN-Australia…
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Scandal rocks PM Srettha: Ethics violation accusation
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin remains resolute amid an ethics complaint that could see him suspended. While on an official visit to Italy on Sunday, PM Srettha addressed the brewing controversy. A group of acting senators filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court, accusing him of violating the code of ethics in his recent appointment of PM’s Office Minister Pichit…
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Thai woman disappears in Switzerland with American boyfriend
The family of a missing Thai woman took to social media to search for her after she lost contact with them 24 days ago, following her travels to Switzerland with her American boyfriend. The older sister of the missing woman shared Noon’s story on a Facebook group, Travelling in Switzerland by Yourself, on May 18, urging group members to notify…
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Startups urge inclusion in Thai digital wallet scheme
Startup communities are urging the Finance Ministry to include them in the government’s upcoming digital wallet scheme. They see this as a pivotal chance to promote the adoption of digital technologies among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), fostering digital transformation. President of the Thai Startup Trade Association Yutthana Srisavat, alongside Pawoot Pongvitayapanu, a leading figure in the startup ecosystem has…
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PM Srettha’s Milan move: F1 races, and airport overhauls
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met with Intesa Sanpaolo, a leading international financial institution in Milan to discuss funding for Thailand’s Land Bridge project. The bank is aware of the Thai government’s plans to expand Suvarnabhumi, Phuket, and Chiang Mai airports and showed keen interest, hinting at future detailed discussions. The prime minister also revealed that Intesa Sanpaolo is enthusiastic…
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Buddhist tradition meets eco-friendly innovation
As Visakha Bucha Day approaches tomorrow, Buddhists worldwide prepare to honour the birth, enlightenment, and attainment of complete Nibbana of the Lord Buddha according to tradition. This sacred day, steeped in tradition, sees millions making merit, observing religious precepts, and performing the evening ceremony of wian tian, where devotees walk around temple chapels in a candlelit procession, commemorating the Buddha’s…
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Cash clash: Temple abbot stabbed over 20-baht in Phuket
A suspected drug addict stabbed an abbot from the Phra Thong Temple in Phuket after the monk delayed giving the attacker 20 baht in cash. Officers from Thalang Police Station investigated Phra Thong Temple after being notified of the stabbing at around 11pm on May 19. The temple’s abbot, Phra Kru Suwan Phuttapiban, was the victim. He sustained a stab…
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Nun gifts 7 million baht BMW to famous preacher
A social media sensation ensued when a nun and her disciples gifted a brand-new luxury BMW car worth 7 million baht to a renowned preacher, Luang Ta Sinsap, at Wat Pa Bo Nam Phra In in Ubon Ratchathani. The Facebook page of Nun Chen, from the same temple, yesterday posted images of a black BMW sedan with red license plates…
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Thailand Video News | Thai woman blames police drug search for miscarriage, Former DSI chief faces 44 million baht asset seizure
In this Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover the recent news across the nation. Beginning with Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission seized 44 million baht from former DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit for accumulating unusual wealth. A Thai woman, Orranee, is suing the police after a vaginal drug search allegedly caused her miscarriage. Pichit Kleepjinda’s mysterious death raises suspicions of poisoning…
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Bangkok holds five-day Pride fest to boost LGBTQ+ tourism
Thailand is gearing up to host a five-day Pride event in Bangkok, aiming to establish itself as Asia’s rainbow capital. This event, organised by the government alongside private and civil sectors, will feature a series of activities running from May 31 to June 4 under the theme Celebration of Love. Ann Chumaporn, founder and president of the Bangkok Pride Parade,…
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Thai hotels urge reform of unfair land and building tax rates
Hotels are calling for a revision of the property tax calculation based on land appraisal prices and business income to address the uneven recovery within the hospitality industry. President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun highlighted that the land and building tax remains a significant challenge for hotel operators. This year, the full rate is set to be…
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Eye spy: Thai man uses CCTV cameras to stalk female neighbour
A Thai woman in the northern province of Chiang Rai is seeking help after her neighbour used CCTV cameras to spy on her, flew a drone over her home, and threatened to break into her residence. The victim, Pennapha, who also goes by the name Yui, disclosed the particulars of a dispute with her male neighbour to ThaiRath and extended…
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Russian driver collides with motorbike, leaving one dead
Last night, a Russian man driving a car in Pattaya caused a severe accident by colliding with a motorcycle, leaving one person dead and one critically injured. The incident occurred on Sukhumvit Road, near the South Pattaya traffic light, as the driver, appearing inebriated, sped down the road. Local rescue services quickly arrived at the scene, finding the car’s front end…
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IIC chief goes after Israeli and Hamas leaders in legal showdown
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) lodged applications for arrest warrants against prominent Israeli and Hamas figures, in a move marking a significant escalation in legal actions against leaders of both sides. But that’s not all. Alonso Gurmendi, an international law expert at King’s College London, stated that the West must have a moral conscience and decide…
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Thailand drives PromptPay QR code payments forward
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is accelerating its efforts to expand the digital payments ecosystem, aiming to make transactions more accessible and convenient for both Thai citizens and foreign visitors. This strategic move aligns with the growing global trend toward digital financial solutions and aims to enhance financial inclusion and cross-border transactions. A key focus of the BOT‘s initiative is…
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Assange granted appeal: A Wikibreak in his extradition case (video)
Julian Assange lives to fight another day after the UK High Court ruled that the embattled, award-winning journalist could appeal against his extradition to the United States. The WikiLeaks founder, a thorn in the side of the so-called democratic Western political powers, was granted permission to challenge the order demanding his transfer to the US, where he faces charges for…
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Thailand plans Formula One circuit near U-Tapao airport by 2028
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced plans to construct a Formula One racing circuit near U-Tapao Airport in Rayong province within the next three to four years. The prime minister shared this vision after meeting with Formula One Group executives in Milan yesterday. The 62 year old prime minister emphasised the importance of international sporting events for boosting tourism, expressing the…
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Thai PM explores potential projects with Italian investors in Milan
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin embarked on a visit to Milan, Italy, where discussions with prominent investors from financial institution Intesa Sanpaolo highlighted potential avenues for collaboration on key infrastructure projects in Thailand. During his meetings, the 62 year old Thai prime minister disclosed plans regarding the Land Bridge project and the possibility of hosting a Formula One race in Thailand.…
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Thai woman seeks help as daughter’s drug threat endangers baby
A Thai woman is seeking help from the authorities after her junkie daughter made a death threat against her and forced her baby to take drugs. The 59 year old woman, Sanom, turned to social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet for help after her drug-addicted 42 year old daughter, Mod, spiralled out of control. She and locals in the area…
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