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 What is the 5 year visa for the digital nomad in Thailand?
The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is a great option for digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers who want to stay in Thailand for a long time. This multiple-entry visa is valid for five years, allowing stays of up to 180...
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Thailand’s Student Loan Fund tackles 100 billion baht in bad debts
The Student Loan Fund (SLF) in Thailand has accumulated bad debts amounting to 100 billion baht (US$2,816,902,000). This is a significant increase from 2017 when the total non-performing loans stood at 60 billion baht. The SLF’s manager, Chainarong Katchapanan, attributes this surge to borrowers prioritising other repayments, such as credit card debt and mortgages, over their student loans. The SLF…
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Best plants to repel mosquitoes in Thailand
As the relentless rainy season brings swarms of mosquitoes in and around homes in Thailand, one way to combat their existence is by using naturally repelling plants. Here, we have a list of plants that can help keep these Dengue Fever carriers at bay. 1. Rosemary Aside from being a versatile and delectable herb, rosemary leaf contains oils that have…
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YouTube sensation’s military adventure sparks controversy
A Thai YouTube star finds herself at the centre of a military storm as her latest video sparks a frenzy of controversy. Accusations fly as critics question the Royal Thai Army (RTA)’s involvement in what some dub a cunning information operation (IO). The RTA denied claims that a popular YouTube channel, Pigkaploy, was manipulated in a so-called information operation. Ploypailin…
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Lazada Thailand’s CEO shake-up
Lazada Thailand is poised for a major shake-up as insiders reveal plans to oust current CEO Werapong Goo in favour of COO Varitha Kiatpinyochai. The anonymous source suggests Goo’s departure is driven by a pursuit of new horizons, leaving the company at a critical crossroads. Varitha, who has spent eight years at Lazada Thailand, emerges as the frontrunner for the…
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Knife-wielding Thai man sends tourist running for his life in Chon Buri
A knife-wielding Thai man was caught on CCTV attempting to attack a tourist on Soi Na Jomtien 20 yesterday morning, January 19 in Chon Buri. The confrontation began with the tourist inquiring about the location of a beer shop from a local woman and her friends. The group offered to fetch the beer for him, but before the kind gesture…
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Emily in Paris star Ashely Park battles with tonsillitis in Thailand
Ashley Park, a renowned actress from Glendale, California, recently survived a life-threatening ordeal during a new year vacation in Thailand, putting the filming of the much-anticipated fourth season of ‘Emily in Paris’ in jeopardy. In a candid Instagram post yesterday, January 19, the actress, who portrays Mindy Chen in the Netflix hit series, disclosed the harrowing details of her near-death…
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Singaporean TikTok user hospitalised after consuming fried silk worms in Thailand
A Singaporean TikTok user documented her gastronomic adventure at the night markets of Bangkok on January 14 when her intrigue in freshly fried insects landed her in hospital. In a 30-second video, Nicolette Wee enthusiastically showcased her purchase of a bag of grasshoppers. “So thick, fat, and juicy. Oh my gosh, the crunch and the legs were dangling out. I…
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Bhumjaithai’s Chontida Asavahame quits party
Chontida Asavahame, the fifth candidate on Bhumjaithai’s political roster, has quit the party. The move dashes any hopes she had of replacing former Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob as an MP, according to an inside party source. Supachai Jaisamut, Bhumjaithai’s registrar, confirmed the development, revealing that the party promptly notified the Secretariate Office of the House of Representatives about Chontida’s resignation. This…
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IndiGo launches flights from Hyderabad to Bangkok late February
Indian airline IndiGo announced the launch of daily nonstop flights between Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) starting February 26. IndiGo’s Airbus A320 family aircraft will be your chariot on this exhilarating journey, as it swoops into Bangkok, marking its 14th international destination from HYD. In a head-to-head battle, IndiGo goes wing-to-wing with Thai…
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Massive international drug bust in Phra Khanong district
Officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) and Immigration Police arrested a Nigerian national, along with eight other suspects linked to a sprawling drug trafficking network. The bust unfolded at Pavilion Mansion, Udomsuk 49 Alley, Bang Chak district, Phra Khanong, Bangkok. A total of nine individuals including 40 year old Nigerian national, identified only as Fabian, were apprehended, with a…
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Hua Hin Health Park revolutionises healthcare with grand opening
Hua Hin Health Park celebrated its grand opening yesterday, January 19, ushering in a new era of comprehensive wellness. The ceremony witnessed the presence of Hua Hin Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul who conveyed his heartfelt congratulations and actively participated in the inaugural festivities. A star-studded gathering included notable figures like Cheep Suksee from the Municipal Council, representatives from the Hua Hin/Cha-am…
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SUV inferno leaves two women seriously injured
A speeding SUV spiralled out of control, crashing into a streetlight post and erupting into flames on the Mab Eiang-Laem Chabang Road on January 17. The aftermath left two women injured and the vehicle reduced to ruins after the inferno. Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing sequence of events, with the SUV hurtling down the road before the catastrophic collision. One of the…
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Thai PM pushes for minimum wage raise
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared yesterday that Thailand must abandon its reliance on low labour costs to entice foreign investments, pushing for a raise in the country’s minimum wage. Addressing a panel discussion titled Learning from ASEAN at the World Economic Forum in Davos, PM Srettha emphasised a paradigm shift in priorities. “Low labour cost should not be the attracting…
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Shocking teen crimes spark government debate on harsher punishments
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed plans to reevaluate legal consequences for young offenders involved in heinous crimes. This revelation comes in the aftermath of a brutal slaying allegedly committed by a group of teenagers aged 13 to 16 in Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district. Caught on security cameras attacking a 47 year old woman with mental health issues named Buaphan Tansu, the…
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Naked British man found dead in luxury Chon Buri condominium
The owner of a luxury condominium in the Sriracha district of Chon Buri today found the dead body of a naked British man inside the room. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed. The juristic person of the condo told Channel 7 that the British man, 57 year old Matthew, usually bought products from a convenience store on…
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Actress Ava Six Scenes clears up 150 million baht credit card rumour
A video that has been creating a buzz on social media recently features Ava Pawornwan Verapuchong, a millionaire actress. The video shows Ava pulling a credit card from her wallet, causing viewers to focus on the card. It is a THE WISDOM (Visa Infinite) card from Kasikorn Thai Bank, which is exclusively for those with deposits and investments starting at…
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Thonburi Healthcare Group unveils plan to tackle decline in Thai doctors
Thonburi Healthcare Group Plc (THG), which manages Thonburi Hospital, is teaming up with Assumption University to combat Thailand‘s chronic doctor shortage. An international medicine programme is set to launch in 2025, in collaboration with the prestigious St Luke School of Medicine. THG CEO Tanatip Suppradit explains that the programme plans to admit 60 students annually, attracting talent not just from…
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Globalisation twist: Economic growth sizzles but income inequality and carbon clashes cloud horizon
The evolution of globalisation, while contributing to worldwide economic growth, has also introduced new economic challenges including increased income inequality and market failures due to carbon emissions. This was the view expressed by Eric S Maskin, Adams University Professor at Harvard’s Department of Economics. Maskin, a 2007 Nobel Laureate in Economics for his work in mechanism design theory, shed light…
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Northern Thailand experiences temperature drop as smog levels rise
The northern region of Thailand is currently experiencing a decrease in temperature of 1-3 degrees Celsius due to a moderate high-pressure system covering the northeast and the South China Sea. Concurrently, weak westerly winds in the upper regions blanket the north, resulting in cool to cold weather with morning fog. Meanwhile, areas in the northeast, central, east and upper south…
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Thai government tests new lottery system with tickets as low as 20 baht
The Government Lottery Office (GLO) plans to experiment with the sale of three-digit and two-digit lotteries within a sandbox system mid-year this year. The test will involve one million numbers, both direct and permutation, to combat underground lottery operations. The cost per ticket is expected to range between 20 to 50 baht. The director of GLO revealed that the initial…
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Phuket’s seven-colour lobster eyes official recognition as Thai GI treasure
Phuket‘s renowned seven-colour lobster is poised to attain official recognition as one of Thailand’s geographical indication (GI) treasures, according to the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP). Departing from the norm, Department Director-General Vuttikrai Leewiraphan disclosed that officials recently started an investigation to delve into the intricacies of seven-colour lobster farming and glean insights from the local entrepreneurs who have turned…
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Pattaya mayor’s health revolution: Poramet rolls out mobile healthcare service
Mayor Poramet Ngampichet unveiled the Community-based Mobile Healthcare Service project, kickstarting the fiscal year with the inauguration of the first-ever mobile healthcare service. The event unfolded at Pattaya City School No. 1 in Nong Pla Lai, East Pattaya, yesterday, January 18, in anticipation of a healthier community. This revolutionary initiative has a multi-pronged approach, aiming to provide accessible medical services,…
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Pad Haggis sparks fusion frenzy at Edinburgh’s Ting Thai restaurant
Popular Edinburgh eatery Ting Thai is set to redefine Burns Night celebrations with its daring culinary creation, the Pad Haggis. This limited edition dish, born from the success of Ting Thai’s trendsetting Pad Thai, promises a fiery twist to the traditional Scottish supper. Exclusively available through the Deliveroo app from January 23, the Pad Haggis is poised to add an…
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STARLUX Airlines to launch LA and San Francisco to Chiang Mai flights
Taiwanese airline, STARLUX Airlines, is launching new routes from Los Angeles and San Francisco to the northern province of Chiang Mai. The launch event, held at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on January 16 showcased the distinct traditions of Chiang Mai while underscoring TAT’s unwavering commitment to enhancing US-Thailand travel. As a warm Chiang Mai welcome, passengers on the inaugural…
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Police officer arrested for using and selling Yaba from police station
Officers of Nong Pling Police Station in the central province of Nakhon Sawan arrested a colleague for selling methamphetamine, also known as Yaba, on the police premises. Nong Pling Police Station‘s narcotics suppression unit discovered 55 year old Police Sub-lieutenant Suttirat Ampasawet offering drugs to addicts in the province. Officers then posed as customers and ordered 50 tablets of Yaba…
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Demand for stricter juvenile law after brutal murder by teenagers in Sa Kaeo
The brutal murder of a woman in Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district by five teenagers has triggered demands for stricter penalties for serious offences committed by juvenile delinquents. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, January 11, saw the teenagers, aged between 13 and 16, captured on security camera footage attacking the woman, 47 year old Buaphan Tansu, and later confessing to…
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13 year old Thai volunteer rescuer dies in drunk driving accident
A 13 year old Thai volunteer rescuer tragically died on duty in a multi-vehicle accident, the result of a collision caused by a drunk driver in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok. The teenage Thai rescuer, Weerayut Jindadaeng, was pronounced dead at the accident scene on the road under the Ngam Wong Wan Toll in Nonthaburi province. He suffered serious head injuries from…
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Thai Consular introduces electronic documents services including e-passports
Thailand‘s Department of Consular Affairs has introduced biometric e-passports and AI-powered consular applications. Below is a list of the e-services that the Department of Consular Affairs have launched: E-passports. The star of the show is the e-passport, boasting biometrics galore – facial images, fingerprints, and iris scans, all in line with international standards. E-visa. With an online system already rocking…
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NZ pilot strips naked at airport security check after argument
Every frequent flyer knows the drill: the seemingly endless choreography of removing liquids, laptops, belts, and shoes at airport security, but one senior pilot for Air New Zealand decided to go one step further and strip naked at Queenstown International Airport (ZQN). Neil Abbott, described by his colleagues as a “bit of a character,” was set to fly to Auckland Airport…
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Thai explosion victims receive 10,000 baht compensation as identification continues
The identification of 12 victims from the recent explosion has been confirmed and efforts are being made to complete the process today. Meanwhile, rescue workers are gathering body parts, some found over a kilometre away from the incident site. A total of 10,000 baht in preliminary compensation has been handed over to the families of the deceased by Udom Pongfa,…
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