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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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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Bangkok cops swoop to arrest notorious Sex Creator in human trafficking operation
Amid a crackdown on child exploitation, a special operation by the Department of Administrative Services, and Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, successfully targeted four locations in Bangkok and Pathum Thani, arresting a notorious human trafficking operation known as “Sex Creator.” The group is accused of exploiting a 16 year old girl by filming explicit content for sale on global online platforms,…
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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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Thai health chief champions surrogacy for same-sex couples
In a move anticipating the impending legalisation of same-sex marriage in Thailand, the nation‘s Health Department Director-General Atchara Nithiapinyasakul is pushing for a revision of the Surrogacy Act. The aim is to open the doors for homosexual couples to adopt a baby through a surrogate mother, addressing not just personal desires but also a national crisis. As Thailand grapples with…
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PM Srettha discusses direct flights from Brussels to Bangkok at WEF
At the 54th World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to discuss stronger ties between the two nations at the Congress Centre on January 17. Coming out of the high-profile meeting, the prime minister-cum-finance minister pledged to explore the prospect of direct flights between Brussels and Bangkok with the involvement of…
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Thai-German man arrested for sexually assaulting daughter and distributing child porn
Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested a half Thai half German man in northeastern Thailand on January 14 for sexually assaulting his seven year old daughter and distributing child porn online. The Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany, Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), handed over information and evidence on the Thai-German suspect, identified only as Tony, to the DSI on…
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Tourists arrested for refusing to pay for beach chairs in Pattaya
Two tourists were arrested by Pattaya police yesterday, January 18, for refusing to pay for beach chairs. According to eyewitnesses, the drama unfolded when the two men, one sporting a shirtless bravado and described as aggressive, attempted to commandeer beach chairs without paying. The eagle-eyed owners promptly reminded them that the coveted chairs came at a cost, igniting a fiery…
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Frenchman arrested in Chiang Mai for selling fake ID cards
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers arrested a Frenchman in the northern province of Chiang Mai for making and selling fake identification (ID) cards of French citizens. Unfortunately, another French suspect managed to evade the arrest. The French authorities discovered the sale of counterfeit ID cards on the dark web. These fake identities were used to commit several crimes in…
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Reef-rescue ripples: Marine department dives deep to tackle 338kg ghost net near Rin Island
In a splash of environmental heroism, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, along with volunteer divers, dove into action to tackle a colossal problem near Rin Island in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district. On Wednesday, January 17, the team embarked on a mission to untangle a whopping 338kg ghost net that had ensnared a coral reef. Prompted by concerned divers,…
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Heavy-duty: Thai police to crackdown on overloaded trucks
The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has been empowered to crack down on trucks exceeding legal weight limits. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul inked the amendment to the ministerial order, marking a significant shift in highway law enforcement, disclosed ministry spokesperson Trisulee Trisaranakul yesterday, January 18. Before this regulatory facelift, only local highway officials, primarily from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), wielded…
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Thai activist Arnon Nampa sentenced to four years in prison for royal defamation
Activist and lawyer Arnon Nampa has been given a four-year prison sentence by the Criminal Court. Arnon was charged with violating the lèse-majesté law under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the Computer Crime Act. This decision comes after 39 year old Arnon was found guilty of defaming the monarchy, a crime carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years.…
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Thai PM tweets from the top: Srettha’s Swiss summit scoop at Davos World Economic Forum
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin took to his Twitter account to keep his compatriots in the loop about his diplomatic encounters in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum (WEF). The 61 year old Thai prime minister spared no detail in sharing snippets of his discussions with a constellation of influential figures at the WEF. From rubbing shoulders with executives of…
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Phuket’s Cafe Del Mar faces police action over noise pollution
Phuket’s much-loved entertainment hotspot Cafe Del Mar had a brush with the Kamala police recently over an issue of noise pollution disturbing residents. This internationally known beach club found itself in hot water when the Kamala police declared that the volume of their music was exceeding acceptable levels. This was causing considerable disruption to the peaceful existence of the locals…
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Thai PM hails Thailand as top Airbnb hotspot and UK Telegraph’s 6th best destination this year
Thailand emerged as the ultimate getaway for Chinese tourists, clinching the top spot on Airbnb‘s coveted list and securing the 6th position in The Telegraph’s must-visit destinations for 2024. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke revealed that Thailand outshone all rivals on Airbnb’s hotel booking platform during the winter season of December 2023 to February 2024. “Thailand is the most sought-after destination…
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Police rescues Thai man clinging to wife’s car for 15 kilometres
A police officer rescued a Thai man clinging to his wife’s car for 15 kilometres on the Asian Highway in the central province of Ayutthaya following a dispute fuelled by jealousy. The Police Lance Corporal of Phrain Racha Police Station, Tiwa Puttakawee, came across the incident while driving home on Wednesday, January 17. Tiwa saw a Thai man, later identified…
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Construction worker killed in crane accident on Rama II, Bangkok
A construction worker was killed on the under-construction elevated road near Soi 72, heading towards Kanchanaphisek Road in the Samae Dam area, Bang Khun Thian District, Bangkok, at precisely 1.27pm today, January 18. A sling snapped, sending the crane’s suspended basket hurtling to the ground on Rama II Road in Bang Khunthian district. Rescue workers, racing against time, revealed that one…
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Thailand unearths lithium and sodium, amps up as EV battery hub
Thailand discovered two significant deposits of lithium and sodium, key ingredients for electric vehicle (EV) battery production, marking the country’s stride towards becoming a central and primary production base in the region. Radklao Inthawong Suwankiri, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed that the Ministry of Industry’s expedited exploration led to the discovery of the lithium mines, known…
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Thailand real estate danger zones: Under 3 million baht homes struggle to sell
The Real Estate Information Centre (REIC) identified ten dangerous zones for property development in Thailand, where houses and condominiums priced below 3 million baht are not selling. These areas require a selling period of between 30-78 months. The list, released today, includes Pak Kret and Khlong Luang, among others. Wichai Wiratkaphan, Inspector of the Government Housing Bank and Acting Director…
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Thai boy’s cane music tribute to late grandfather strikes a chord on TikTok
A Thai boy’s tribute to his late grandfather captivated many on TikTok. The clip, shared by TikTok user @somchutiya today shows the young lad playing a traditional Thai instrument, the cane, in front of his grandfather’s memorial, alongside a trophy he won in a recent competition. The young musician is seen kneeling before the bone repository of his beloved grandfather,…
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Suspects arrested for murder of Chumphon orchard owner
The Thai Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) apprehended two suspects in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, following the murder of a durian orchard owner in Chumphon last December. The durian orchard owner was identified as 54 year old Thawat (no surname given). The perpetrators were identified as 62 year old Pramote (surname withheld) and 59 year old Niyom. A police investigation found that…
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Vietjet Air and Trip.com join hands for better travel service
Vietjet Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with global travel giant Trip.com Group to provide a more convenient experience for travellers worldwide. Passengers are in for a treat as Vietjet Air’s official website will soon serve as a one-stop-shop for a plethora of travel offerings from Trip.com Group. From hotels to airport transfers, attractions, and activities, travellers can effortlessly…
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Former Thai boxer severely beats man trying to rape his daughter
A former Muay Thai boxer severely beat up a man who tried to rape his daughter at a house in the southern province of Songkhla in the early hours of this morning. The victim, 18 year old Parichart Chimlongdam, told Channel 7 that the incident happened at 2am, today, January 18, an hour after she went to bed and fell…
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RTA sergeant questioned over double murder at Nakhon Phanom petrol station
A Royal Thai Army (RTA) sergeant is now under intense interrogation in connection with the chilling double murder of two petrol station workers last month. Police Major General Thawatchai Thungpao, Nakhon Phanom police chief, led the operation yesterday afternoon, January 17, alongside crack investigators from Nakhon Phanom’s Muang station and Provincial Police Region 4. The suspect, still awaiting identification, is…
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Thai Airways unveils new route to India’s Kochi
Thai Airways (THAI) made its intentions known to operate flights to Southwest India, by applying to India’s civil aviation authorities to introduce a brand-new route from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to Kochi in Kerala. Scheduled to take off in April, the airline plans three weekly flights. Renowned for its impeccable service, THAI is set to dispatch its A320-200, exclusively configured for…
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Thai woman’s kind gesture betrayed as masseuse swipes 18,000 baht (video)
A Thai woman’s act of kindness was betrayed when she hired an unemployed neighbour as a masseuse in the northern province of Lampang. The masseuse repaid her kindness by stealing around 18,000 baht from the Thai woman. The victim, Tan, filed a complaint at Khelang Nakorn Police Station on January 16 after she caught the 52 year old masseuse named…
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Lottery vendor scoops 6 million baht lottery jackpot
A lottery vendor in Nakhon Phanom province scooped the first prize jackpot in yesterday’s lottery draw. The winning ticket, number 105979 landed a 6 million baht bounty for the vendor. The 63 year old lottery vendor, Onchan Suriyon, also known as Uan, resides at Ban Thung Mon, Village No. 8, Kham Toei Subdistrict, Mueang District, and set up her stall at…
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Thai cyber police bust child porn ring with over 15,000 members
Cyber police widened their investigation following the arrest of the administrator of a secret group selling child pornography clips, with over 15,000 members and a membership fee of 100 to 200 baht. The arrest comes after the suspect was apprehended on drug charges today, January 18. The operation was led by Police Colonel Chusak Khanadnit and Police Lieutenant Colonel Runglerd…
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Thai man arrested for stealing 3.4 million baht from 97 year old woman
Police arrested a light-fingered Thai man for stealing 3.4 million baht from a 97 year old Thai woman by transferring money to his bank account 127 times using a mobile banking application. A community leader, Jadesada Cha-onchom, accompanied the 97 year old victim, identified only as A, to file a complaint against the alleged 24 year old thief, Thanaphat Jaipeng,…
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