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 Where to travel in Thailand in April [2025]
Travelling in Thailand is peak during April if you are looking for a real taste of summer. With high temperatures, amazing beaches, and exciting events, April is an amazing time to visit the country as a whole. Due to the...
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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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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 trio arrested for fraud and coercion in job scam
Three Thais were arrested yesterday for fraud and coercion by tricking victims into a job scam and by forcing them to open mule accounts in the eastern region and West Thailand. Police Major General Saruti, Sopha District, Commander of the Provincial Crime Suppression Division, Pol. Col. Pattanaphong Sriphinphao, Superintendent of Region 2, Provincial Crime Suppression Division, Pol. Lt. Col. Narong…
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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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Prosthetic police probe: Thai man accuses hopalong cop of wife’s murder confession coercion
A Thai man accused a hopalong cop with a prosthetic leg at Aranyaprathet Police Station in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo of torture and forcing him into confessing to the murder of his wife. Buaphan Tansu was brutally assaulted and murdered by a group of five teenagers, who are now in police custody. Initially, the police wrongly arrested 54…
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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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Police general takes flight: Aims to soar Suvarnabhumi Airport into global top 50 in 2 years
The new chairman of Airports of Thailand (AoT), Police General Visanu Prasattongosoth, announced an ambitious plan to elevate Suvarnabhumi International Airport into the top 50 global airports within two years. The strategy, revealed yesterday, January 18, is part of AoT’s broader initiative to upgrade and increase the capacities of six airports under its jurisdiction, in response to the anticipated global…
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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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Thai man faces record 50-year sentence for royal defamation
A Thai man from Chiang Rai faces an unprecedented 50 year imprisonment sentence for royal defamation. This comes after the Court of Appeal added to his existing convictions, according to a report by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) released on today. The sentence, delivered to 30 year old Mongkol Busbas Thirakot, is reportedly the longest ever served for offences…
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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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Thailand uncovers human trafficking operation worth over 117 million baht
A year-long investigation into human trafficking led by Thailand’s National Police Office, under the command of Police Lieutenant General Torsak Sukwimon and Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn resulted in the arrest of a man from Bangladesh. The suspect, 46 years old Asraf, has been involved in a clandestine human trafficking network, charging each individual between 100,000 and 150,000…
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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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Clean Air Bills passed in Thai Parliament
At the House of Representatives, lawmakers united across party lines to pass seven Clean Air bills after an exhilarating debate which concluded with an overwhelming 443 votes in favour and just one abstention. A coalition of government and opposition parties, alongside a civil society organisation, orchestrated this legislative symphony. To ensure meticulous examination, a formidable 39-member committee, comprising both government…
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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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Thai horror breaks new ground: The Cursed Land unleashes chilling Islamic spirits
Thai horror films have long captivated audiences with their spine-chilling tales rooted in local ghosts and mythology but The Cursed Land, a Thai-Malay language horror film, is being recognised at the International Film Festival Rotterdam for challenging preconceived notions and introducing audiences to a realm of demonic entities and Thai Muslim identity. The Cursed Land, directed by Panu Aree and co-directed…
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Thai TikTok user strikes lottery luck after solar doll offering
A Facebook and TikTok user recently struck it rich after winning on three lottery numbers with a prize of hundreds of thousands of baht. The winning streak came after 40 year old Kongkwan Kongnan posted a video of herself offering four solar-powered dancing dolls to her local spirit house and asking for luck. The video, which Kongkwan posted on both…
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Bogus bucks: 2 Thai men nabbed for selling fake US dollar bills, 1 suspect still at large
Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers arrested two Thai men for selling fake US dollar bills at a petrol station in the Isaan province of Buriram. Another suspect successfully evaded arrest and remains at large. Police in Buriram province received several reports about the use of counterfeit US dollar banknotes and discovered that most of the fake bills allegedly came from…
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