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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Thai police seize 10 million meth pills, arrest major dealer
A major drug bust led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Anutin Charnvirakul resulted in the seizure of 10 million methamphetamine pills and the arrest of a key suspect in Pathum Thani province. In a significant clampdown on drug trafficking, Thai police apprehended a major drug dealer and seized a colossal haul of 10 million methamphetamine pills.…
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Jetstar Asia soars to Krabi and Clark, Philippines
Jetstar Asia announced two direct routes to Krabi and Clark, Philippines, promising to whisk passengers away to paradise. Starting June 7, thrill-seekers can jet off to the mesmerising shores of Krabi, with the low-cost carrier offering six weekly services to this South Thai gem. From June 16, travellers can hop aboard for a journey to the heart of the Philippines’…
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National Office of Buddhism Facebook page hacked to post porn
The National Office of Buddhism (NOB) of Thailand filed a complaint with the police after its official Facebook page was hacked and flooded with porn pictures and videos. More than 80,000 Buddhist followers were shocked by the series of pornographic pictures and videos shared by the NOB. The first porn content was shared early this morning, March 6, and the…
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Thai artists revive childhood nostalgia at enchanting exhibition
In a whirlwind of nostalgia and creativity, three Thai artists, Chanathip Chuenbumroong, Napol Isaracheewa, and Toon Kaewkerd, delve into the cherished memories of childhood to craft mesmerising wood carvings showcased at the exhibition …With A Time Capsule. Chanathip, revered as a master woodcarver renowned for his iconic characters Fat Fox and Moon, has reimagined his craft with a captivating twist.…
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Surging gold prices trigger counterfeit boom in Thailand
Police have issued a stark warning about a surge in counterfeit gold following a significant increase in its price. The warning comes after a prominent store suffered a loss of over 8 million baht (US$ 224,000) due to the undetectable blending of gold with other metals using sophisticated techniques. The Royal Thai Police’s Central Forensic Science Division, in a joint…
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Will Thaksin return to Chiang Mai home?
In an exclusive statement, Thaksin Shinawatra’s youngest daughter debunked rumours, stating that while her father expressed a desire to visit Chiang Mai, there are no concrete travel arrangements yet. Thaksin’s youngest daughter, Paetongtarn, made known that nothing had been planned. “As of now, no specific itinerary has been planned. He said he’d like to visit his ancestors’ graves. And his elder…
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Thai woman arrested for procuring sexual assault of niece
Officers from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division of the Police arrested a Thai woman in Bangkok yesterday for orchestrating the sexual assault of her 11 year old niece on behalf of her boyfriend, whom she met on a dating app. The report of the sexual assault in the southern province of Chumphon attracted public attention last month after her father…
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Khon Kaen plans for state-of-the-art light rail transit system
Khon Kaen province declared its intention to kickstart the construction of a cutting-edge Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. Planned to begin in 2025, this ambitious LRT project, the first of its kind outside Bangkok, promises to usher in a new era of modernised transit, with its inaugural route encircling the Bueng Kaen Nakhon Reservoir. The maiden phase of this visionary…
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Bangkok airports hit turbulence: Ranked among world’s worst
Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok ranked among the worst air travel hubs in Asia according to Business Financing’s recent report. The financial information and research website from the UK, Business Financing, launched the Best & Worst Airports in the World, According to Business Travellers in February this year. This rank is based on the business…
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Former health official faces summons over molestation allegations
A former public health official, who still practises as a doctor in Udon Thani, is set to be summoned by the police over allegations of molesting an 18 year old Lao housekeeper. Identified as Praewa, the young woman was employed by the doctor to provide care for his 80 year old mother at his residence in Soi Phon Phisai 2,…
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Indian tourist survives 6th floor plunge onto floating deck
In North Pattaya, a 43 year old Indian tourist defied the odds as he miraculously survived a terrifying fall from a condominium building’s 6th floor, only to land on a floating deck one floor below. Responding to a frantic distress call at approximately 4.36am today, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation’s rescue volunteers arrived on the scene to find the tourist,…
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Facebook, Instagram overcome global outage, services restored
Social media giants Facebook and Instagram fully restored their services after a global outage that lasted over two hours. The platforms experienced a significant disruption that left users worldwide unable to access their accounts. Yesterday around 10pm, multiple users reported on Twitter that they were logged out of Facebook and Instagram and could not log back in. The outage was…
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Fugitive woman arrested for fraud and embezzlement in Sing Buri
Police apprehended a 51 year old woman for her involvement in a multifaceted criminal enterprise that included document forgery, job application fraud, and a significant embezzlement scandal. These events followed her flight after being caught using fake documents, leading her to con people by selling products online without delivery, ultimately exposing her full participation in an 18 crown scheme—a term…
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Thai PM sets sail with plans for exclusive mid-sea airport in Hua Hin
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin plans to create a cutting-edge mid-sea airport in Hua Hin, exclusively catering to the jet-setting elite. This visionary project aims to connect Thailand’s most stunning destinations, promising unparalleled luxury and convenience for affluent travellers. But the innovation doesn’t stop there. The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is gearing up for a groundbreaking seaplane terminal at Phuket International…
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Japan’s banana boost leaves Thai growers going ape
Thai banana growers are going ape over the news that Japan is considering increasing the import quota of Thai bananas, potentially adding a bunch of up to 100,000 tonnes. This announcement came after a fruitful meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Tokyo, Japan, where the Thai Trade Representative, Naruemon Phinyosinwat, alongside the Thailand team, held discussions…
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Ryal Thai Navy appeal for frigate procurement funds rejected
A Thai government source revealed yesterday that the special House committee responsible for scrutinising the 2024 budget rejected a Royal Thai Navy (RTN) appeal against its decision to deny its request for budgetary funds for the procurement of a new frigate. The House committee dismissed the RTN’s appeal with a vote of 37 against and 16 in favour, along with…
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Thai brothers dead, Indonesian tourists injured in road accident
An accident on Highway 7 en route to Pattaya, left two brothers dead and several Indonesian tourists injured on Monday, March 4 at 3pm. The accident involved a six-wheeled truck and a minivan which collided with each other. Promptly responding to the distress call, Highway Police dispatched rescue personnel. Upon arrival at the accident scene, authorities were met with a…
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2 Russian women arrested for providing sex services in Phuket
Police arrested two Russian women at a hotel in the Katu district of Phuket on March 4 for illegally providing sex services. Officers from Patong Police Station investigated the illegal activities being offered by foreigners in the area. Upon discovering that these illicit sex services were being provided by Russian women, the officers proceeded to search for their contact details.…
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Israel-Hamas war survivor denied financial aid by Israeli authorities
A 35 year old Thai labourer hailing from Udon Thani province, recently voiced his grievances to the media. The Thai labourer, Wittawas Kulwong, alleged that despite being a survivor of the Israel-Hamas war, his name was conspicuously missing from the list of Thai workers set to receive financial aid from Israeli authorities. According to a report yesterday, March 5, Wittawas…
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British man quits England for Thailand’s tropical tranquility
A disgruntled British man declared he had quit England for Thailand pledging never to return to his homeland. Riyan Ruparelia left Blighty for the Land of Smiles in January vowing he’d had enough of truth-twisting ruling Conservative Party, Sir Keir Starmer’s Tory-lite opposition Labour Party, and the economic destruction of the United Kingdom, and not to mention its soaring crime…
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NBTC disaster alert system: No more SMS alerts
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) alongside Advanced Info Services Plc (AIS) has pioneered a mobile phone broadcasting service primed to forewarn citizens of imminent natural disasters. At a joint press conference, NBTC chairman Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck and Varunthep Watcharaphon, AIS’s chief of business relations, unveiled the successful trial of this innovative broadcasting service. Funded by the Universal Service Obligation…
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Thailand’s social security fund faces bankruptcy risk in 30-40 years
The Labour Ministry raised the alarm that the Social Security Fund (SSF) of Thailand is on the brink of bankruptcy, and could be insolvent in 30 to 40 years if there are no changes made to its current policies. This warning was issued during a meeting between the newly established Social Security Board (SSB) headed by Sustarum Thammaboosadee, an academic…
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Filipina ladyboys accused of illegally offering sex services in Bangkok
Following the clash between Thai and Filipina transwomen on Soi Sukhumvit 11 in Bangkok yesterday, some locals came forward to accuse the Filipina ladyboys of illegally offering sex services to European tourists in the area. The altercation between Thai and Filipina transwomen reportedly sparked after more than 20 Filipina ladyboys attacked two Thai transwomen and stole their belongings. A friend…
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Thai abbot found burnt in forest shocks local community
A revered abbot’s tragic demise has sent shockwaves through a Thai community after his body was found burned to the extent that only his upper torso remained identifiable. The abbot, Luang Pu Poon Thitapunyo, of Wat Pa Kesem Suk in Phetchabun Province, was discovered in a forested area behind the temple. The police have been meticulously piecing together evidence ever…
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Bangkok ramps up safety with tech for Songkran Festival
Ramping up safety measures for the upcoming extended Songkran Festival, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has proposed an increase in the deployment of cutting-edge technology. Adit Ngamjitsuksri, an advisor to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, shared on Tuesday that the BMA has instructed the Traffic and Transportation Department to enhance surveillance by installing additional CCTV cameras along the popular Khao San…
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Thailand braces for intense heatwave and summer storms
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for sweltering to intense heat this weekend across upper Thailand, with the risk of summer storms causing heavy rainfall, potential hail, and strong winds. Bangkok is among the areas to be affected. The forecast for the coming week, from March 5 to March 11, indicates that a low-pressure system caused by intense…
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Foreign man kicks up a storm over discriminatory bike rental policy in Phuket
A foreign man brought to light a discriminatory practice at a foreign-owned motorcycle rental shop in Phuket. The shop refused to serve his Thai wife and other Thai customers, justifying their decision by alleging that Thais frequently engage in motorcycle theft, complain excessively, and are unable to meet the necessary deposit requirements. The foreign man, using the account BlacksmithSolid2194, took…
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NACC investigates high-profile online gambling network case
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has taken charge of a high-profile investigation into the alleged association of Deputy National Police Chief, Police General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, and four others with a large-scale online gambling network. The decision, backed by a majority vote during a commission meeting on Monday, was made public yesterday. The NACC will also probe a connected…
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DSI grills teacher candidates over Khon Kaen exam scam
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has initiated an extensive interrogation of candidates for assistant teacher positions at the Primary Educational Service Area Office 2 in Khon Kaen, following allegations of widespread exam fraud. Investigators have discovered that exam materials were being sold for 600,000 baht each. The probe, which took place today at the Learning Promotion Office in Ban…
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British Airways reignites Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur routes
British Airways (BA) is recommencing its connections with Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, adding fuel to the excitement of travellers eager to explore Asia once more. Starting in late October, British Airways will be steering its Boeing 777s three times a week from London Gatwick (LGW) to Bangkok, veering away from the previous daily flights from Heathrow. However, first-class cabins will…
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