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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Massive crackdown on scam calls: Over 13,000 SIM cards suspended
In a move to combat the surge in mobile phone-related online scams, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) has unleashed a crackdown, suspending services for 13,237 SIM cards that were being misused to make over 100 calls daily. Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong revealed on January 25 that the suspension spree commenced on January 20 as…
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Srisuwan arrested for alleged extortion in police crackdown operation
Police arrested prolific petitioner Srisuwan Janya at his Pathum Thani home yesterday for an alleged extortion case. Natthakit Khongthip, director-general of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives’ Rice Department, claimed Srisuwan demanded 3 million baht to keep quiet about supposed irregularities in the department’s projects. Natthakit, fearing for his reputation, negotiated the amount down to 140,000 baht, agreeing to an…
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German president visits rice fields in Isaan and North Thailand
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier embarked on a journey to Thailand’s rice fields in Ubon Ratchathani and Chiang Rai. The two Thai provinces boast over 4.2 million rai of rice fields. President Steinmeier and his delegation paid a visit to the Suan Ta Rom Demonstration Farm in Trakan Phuet Phon district, Ubon Ratchathani. The 35-rai (56,000 square metres) integrated farmland showcased…
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Thai teachers pierce lips of 36 kids over gum mischief
A committee is probing a case where a Thai teacher subjected 36 seven to eight year olds to an outrageous punishment of using a safety pin to pierce the inner lips of every child in the primary 3 class at Wat Dan Samrong School in Mueang district, Samut Prakan. The shocking act unfolded when a 27 year old Thai teacher,…
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House in Bangkok deemed to have supernatural powers up for sale
A house in Bangkok, deemed to have supernatural powers, has garnered viral attention as it goes up for sale. The supposedly supernatural house costs 33.3 million baht (US$934,500) and claims to see the past and future. Furthermore, allegedly, it can warn of potential dangers and make lottery predictions. A black hole is also claimed to be seen. A Facebook post…
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Fire engulfs recyclable waste mountain in northern Thailand
A fire erupted atop a mound of recyclable waste at the headquarters of Wongpanit International Co Ltd in Phitsanulok province. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Over 20 fire engines and a multitude of firefighters battled for hours to wrestle the flames under control in the northern province’s Mueang district. Wongpanit, a recycling centre boasting over 2,000 franchise branches nationwide, witnessed…
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Thai office party costume contest goes viral with 40,000 baht win
A new year’s office party in Thailand has taken social media by storm, with a viral video showcasing an extravagant costume competition based on the Thai soft power theme. With a staggering first prize of 40,000 baht, the event featured employees going all out with their costumes, including elaborate representations of local landmarks such as Samila Beach’s mermaid statue and…
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Thai pervert caught on CCTV stealing clothes and flipflops for masturbation (video)
A CCTV camera in an apartment in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok caught a Thai man with a rubber shoe fetish, stealing clothes and flipflops for kinky masturbation purposes. Police believe the man has previous form for this. A 76 year old Thai woman, who lives in an apartment in the Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi province, reported the pervert…
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MFP Pita: Double standards in Thaksin investigation
Move Forward Party (MFP) Chief Advisor Pita Limjaroenrat denied any intentional negligence in the Thaksin Shinawatra investigation, sparking controversy over alleged double standards. Despite rising criticisms, Pita insists his party is on a mission for justice, aiming to expose systemic unfairness rather than targeting individuals. The 43 year old former MFP leader refuted claims of deliberate oversight in the investigation into…
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Thai father attacks suspect who sexually assaulted his daughter
A Thai father in the southern province of Chumphon tied up and brutally attacked an alleged pedophile who reportedly sexually assaulted his 11 year old daughter. Police said they could not arrest the pervert until they got results from the victim’s medical examination. The physical assault against the 42 year old Thai man was reported to the Phutta Phratheep Lang…
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Bangkok version of Monopoly helps to boost tourism
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) teamed up with Winning Moves, one of the top board game publishers, to introduce the Bangkok edition of the popular economics-themed game, Monopoly. This Thai twist on the classic Monopoly game boasts 22 dazzling properties, each a stunning showcase of Bangkok’s iconic landmarks and attractions. From the majestic Grand Palace to the serene Wat Pho,…
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Thai rural school fights educational inequality with single teacher for 19 students
A rural school overseen by the Primary Education Office of Nakhon Phanom in Nong Yat subdistrict has only 19 students with one single teacher looking after the class. Thanyalak Deechan, the only teacher at the Dong Choke Ratsadon-uthit school, revealed to Thai PBS that the establishment caters to 19 students ranging from kindergarten to primary 6. To compound the challenge, the…
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German reporter allegedly makes up story about Thai police corruption
A German man arrested in Pattaya last year for having sex with an underage girl insisted that he had never paid a 1 million baht bribe to Thai police. The man said a German reporter distorted and sensationalised the story from his interview to attract public attention. Police raided a nightclub, Cobra Beer Bar, in Pattaya for human trafficking in…
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Update: British teacher arrested for sexual assault in Thailand
More details have emerged on the international school teacher in Thailand who sexually abused four young students aged seven to eight. David Brown, a 49 year old teacher from Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear, stands accused of luring children into his office during dinner breaks for purported extra English lessons. The horrifying revelations claim that Brown engaged in sex acts with…
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Bangkok-Nong Khai train service to blaze a trail to Vientiane
The Bangkok-Nong Khai train will depart from the Thanaleng station in Laos to the brand-new Khamsavath station in Vientiane next month. The Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport, Pichet Kunadhamraks, revealed that the SRT has been operating trains from Nong Khai to Thanaleng, and now, the final stretch from Thanaleng to Khamsavath will mark the climax of this journey.…
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Man caught with fake red plate on Mercedes in Nakhon Pathom
Highway police apprehended a man driving a new Mercedes Benz with a red license plate after they discovered the plate was counterfeit. The driver, identified only as Wanchai, admitted to ordering the attractive number plate online. The incident occurred today when Police Major General Phakaphon Suchon along with Pol. Lieut. Col. Kla Sombatphibun inspected the area under their jurisdiction. They…
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Astrologer warns Leos and Geminis of end-of-month financial strain
Toward the month’s end, financial caution is the word on everyone’s lips, especially for those born under two particular zodiac signs. Thosaporn Sritula, a renowned astrologer, issued a stark warning for those under the signs of Leo and Gemini, advising a temporary halt to travel plans and discretionary spending due to financial instability. Even though incomes are steady and not…
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American tourist found with magic mushrooms at police checkpoint in Kamala
An American tourist has been arrested for the possession of magic mushrooms in Kamala, Patong, Phuket. At a traffic checkpoint, officers stopped a Honda Click motorcycle at around 5.30pm on January 23, with 27 year old Egyptian Khaled Mohamed Abobakr and an American woman named Karima Salah Mohamed onboard. A shoulder bag was searched and dried buffalo dung mushrooms were…
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Lithuanian man fined 12,000 baht for drifting BMW in Chon Buri
Chon Buri Provincial Court fined a Lithuanian man 12,000 baht for dangerous driving and getting behind the wheel without a licence after a video of him drifting his luxury BMW Z4 went viral on Thai social media earlier this month. The footage captures a black BMW Z4 drifting through the centre of an intersection, surrounded by stationary vehicles waiting at…
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Thai FDA warns against unsafe online cosmetics containing banned substances
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a startling revelation about unsafe cosmetic products sold online. After collecting samples today, the regulatory body found banned substances, including hydroquinone, retinoic acid, and steroids, in five cosmetic items from an online store. These findings have triggered an urgent public announcement to warn consumers about the potential dangers of these products. The online…
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DSI probes Aranyaprathet police for alleged torture and false confession
The 56 year old man, who was allegedly tortured into a false confession by Aranyaprathet police, is now under the spotlight of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). The contentious case revolves around the murder of Panya Khongsaenkham’s mentally unstable wife, 47 year old Buaphan Tansu, where he was initially made a scapegoat. Aranyaprathet police have been accused of coercing Panya…
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Monkey mayhem: Phuket officials tackle trespass trouble and rampaging macaques in Khao Toh Sae
The Phuket vice governor chaired a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of trespassing on Khao Toh Sae, Phuket, and the increasing cases of macaques attacking tourists and locals alike. Held at the offices of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO), government officials including those from the Phuket Provincial Ombudsman’s Office and Phuket Forestry were in attendance. Complaints have…
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Thai star Kong Huayrai becomes ‘rich father’ to boy in need
In 2022, the Thai singer Kong Huayrai encountered a fourth-grade boy, Tle, selling garlands barefoot at an intersection in Khon Kaen province to support his sick grandmother and younger sister after their mother’s sudden departure. Recognising Kong as a celebrity, Tle was thrilled when the singer bought all his garlands and told him to go home and rest. Later, Kong…
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Ukrainian found dead on durian plantation in Koh Samui
A 32 year old Ukrainian man was found lifeless, hanging from a durian tree in Koh Samui. Police and forensic officials, led by Police Captain Rawi Na Boonno, arrived at the durian plantation in the remote village of Moo 3 in the Maret subdistrict. The steep terrain required a four-wheel drive pickup truck to transport the investigators to the crime scene.…
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Tourism boom in Thailand: Hottest trends and bold predictions for 2024
The Thailand Tourism Forum 2024 (TTF 2024) recently revealed that the tourism industry will be revived despite the shadows of the pandemic, igniting hope among industry leaders. Jesper Palmqvist, Managing Director of STR Global, predicts a surge in Thailand’s hospitality sector with the addition of 10,000 new hotel rooms this year. These establishments, primarily upper-midscale and luxurious, signify a robust…
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Tourists survive speedboat crash in Trat
A tourist speedboat crashed into a reef 16 miles off the Laem Thian area on Koh Kut, Trat on January 24. The Trat Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Center (CARDC) dispatched three marine rescue speedboats at 2.30pm to the island with the aid of 12 tourists and three crew members who were stranded. However, at one point the rescue teams…
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2 suspects arrested for murder of millionaire give conflicting stories
Police arrested a Thai man and woman for the murder of a 77 year old millionaire in the central province of Chantaburi. Each suspect blamed the other. The lifeless body of the millionaire, Panithi Kosalanan, was discovered in a pond on her plantation in Chantaburi province on January 22. The autopsy and suspicious signs in her home suggested murder, prompting…
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Thailand braces for rainstorms, Bangkok faces minor impact
A significant weather warning has been issued today by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), cautioning of potent rainstorms expected to hit 12 provinces, including a minor impact on Bangkok. The upper parts of Thailand woke to a cool to cold morning with strong winds at 5am today, January 26, as a robust high-pressure system continues to dominate the country and…
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Monks reveal details on vicious elephant attack in West Thailand
Details have emerged regarding a fatal elephant attack that occurred on January 23 in the Sri Sawat district of Kanchanaburi. Reports flooded in when a village head received alarming news from locals that the lifeless body of 50 year old Phra Maha Bancha, a monk on a spiritual journey, had fallen victim to a brutal elephant attack. The gruesome scene unfolded…
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Bueng Kan family mourns as man with kidney issues found dead
A family in Bueng Kan province faced a tragic loss when a 47 year old man unexpectedly died at home. The man, who held a Master’s degree, was found unresponsive in his bathroom yesterday, January 25. The local police, led by Deputy Inspector Kritphak Muakswai, were alerted to the incident and arrived at the scene alongside medical personnel from Bueng…
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