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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Fatal highway crash: Container truck skids off course, collides with taxi
A container truck skidded off course on the highway, causing its container to unhinge and cross the median strip, resulting in a fatal crash with an oncoming taxi. The accident happened on the special highway between cities number nine around kilometre 58+000 heading towards Bang Phli, at approximately 9.25pm yesterday. The truck veered from the leftmost lane to the far…
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MFP faces corruption probe over contentious Deputy House Speaker expulsion
The Move Forward Party (MFP) has come under scrutiny in a corruption probe following the contentious expulsion of Deputy House Speaker Padipat Santipada. Known activist Srisuwan Janya announced his intention to petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate the incident. The MFP’s move was viewed with suspicion, with Srisuwan and several political observers deeming it a tactic to simultaneously…
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Bangkok’s Sustainability Expo 2023 highlights local goods and projects
The Sustainability Expo (SX) 2023 was inaugurated on Friday with a soft launch, putting the spotlight on the potential of local goods to enhance lifestyle standards. Known as the most extensive annual sustainability exhibition in the ASEAN region, SX 2023 is taking place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok until October 8. Three sectors, the SX Food…
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Blackpink’s Lisa to receive Thai cultural ambassador award for promoting local culture
Announced earlier this week, Lalisa Lisa Manoban, a member of the globally renowned K-Pop group Blackpink, is set to receive a prestigious cultural ambassador leader award from Thailand’s Culture Ministry. The celebrated singer, who hails from Buriram, has been recognised for her significant contributions to promoting Thai culture on an international stage. A grand and formal ceremony is on the…
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Thai visa-free scheme boosts Chinese tourism, domestic travel surges
The Thai government’s visa-free scheme for Chinese and Kazakh tourists is proving to be a success, according to the country’s Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Srettha Thavisin. Running from September 25 to February 29, the scheme coincides with several significant Chinese holidays and forms part of the government’s Quick Win strategy to stimulate the economy. PM Srettha, who shared his…
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Thai Lawyers for Human Rights honoured at Clooney’s Justice for Democracy Defenders gala
The Clooney Foundation for Justice recognised the efforts of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) at The Albies, a gala held in New York City. The TLHR was among six honorees from around the globe, celebrated for their work towards defending democracy activists and others who have been the target of legal harassment and persecution. The award ceremony was named…
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Experience the essence of fall with new menu at Blue by Alain Ducasse
Fall is the season of rich flavours and sumptuous ingredients. Michelin-star restaurant Blue by Alain Ducasse welcomes the season with a magnificent fall menu that marries tradition with innovation while showcasing the freshest seasonal ingredients. Executive Chef Wilfrid Hocquet curates a surprise menu around the best seasonal produce for those who want to fully surrender to the Ducasse culinary vision.…
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Airline employee accused of molesting teen at Suvarnabhumi Airport
A male airline employee from a famous airline tricked a 15 year old boy into a bathroom at Suvarnabhumi International Airport before the victim’s mother learned of the incident and filed a complaint. The police are urgently pursuing the suspect to take legal action. At 12.30pm today, a reporter was informed about an incident involving a male employee from a…
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Thai government’s multi-billion baht transport projects boost Andaman coast tourism
The Thai government has launched multiple transport infrastructure projects in Phuket, a southern island province, aiming to stimulate tourism in the Andaman coast region. rime Minister Srettha Thavisin inspected the ongoing projects on Friday. These are being coordinated by the Transport and Tourism and Sports departments, headed by Suriya Jungrungreangkit and Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol respectively. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke reported that…
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Thai police demand transparent probe into online gambling allegations
A transparent investigation into the alleged involvement of Suchanun Sucharitchinsri, known as Minnie, in running online gambling websites has been demanded by Thai police. High-ranking officers, including a confidant of Deputy Police Chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, are said to be implicated in the case. The call for an investigation was made at the headquarters of the Royal Thai Police…
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MFP ousts deputy speaker in controversial political manoeuvre
Political manoeuvres have seen Deputy House Speaker Padipat Santipada ousted from the Move Forward Party (MFP), a strategic move that preserves the position for MFP allies while the party transitions into its new function as the primary opposition party. This was the consensus amongst politicians and academics alike. Padipat, having been given an ultimatum by the MFP, made the decision…
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Thai police chief seeks clarity after deputy’s home searched amid appointment rumours
The newly appointed national police chief, Police Genera; Torsak Sukvimol, sought clarification from deputy national police chief Police General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, following a police search of the latter’s residence earlier this week. Pol. Gen. Torsak addressed inquiries after a photo of him shaking hands with Big Joke gained attention on social media yesterday. Reports in the media suggested…
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Thai universities shine in Times Higher Education World Rankings
Nineteen universities in Thailand have made their mark on the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024, drawing commendations from Thailand’s Minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation, Supamas Isarabhakdi. This year’s list included 1,904 universities from 108 countries and regions, with THE evaluating more than 134 million citations from over 16.5 million research publications and survey responses…
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Young Thai woman found dead after suspected overdose in northeast Thailand
A tragic incident occurred in Udon Thani province when a young woman was discovered dead in her ex-boyfriend’s room. Authorities promptly arrived at the scene to conduct an investigation. The victim, 21 year old Supak, was found lifeless on the floor of room A9. The room’s occupant, a 20-year-old named Charupong, revealed that the deceased had consumed an excessive amount…
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Acid attack survivor scammed out of motorbike by brutal loan shark
In a recent incident, a 26 year old woman from the Ban Ngang district of Buriram province found herself victimised twice over. Initially, the woman, Wunpen, suffered facial disfigurement and blindness from an acid attack by her ex-husband in 2020. Recently, she has been defrauded by a loan shark who refused to return her mortgaged motorbike, allegedly selling it to…
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LINE to LY-nk with Yahoo Japan: App’s big transformation creates a buzz
Starting from Sunday, the widely-used application LINE is set to undergo a significant transformation as it merges with Yahoo Japan, resulting in a name change to LY. The announcement of these substantial changes has generated quite a buzz among users. In light of this merger, LINE will integrate into Yahoo Japan and adopt the new identity of LY Corporation. As…
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Yala’s sizzling vegetarian fest: A spicy stir of cultures draws tourists like dim sum buffet
The Yala Vegetarian Festival is now sizzling hot like a stir-fry wok. It kicked off with a spicy city-wide procession circling Betong in southern Thailand, and yellow flags popping up like corn in a kettle. This cultural fusion extravaganza, blending Thai spice with Chinese nice, is attracting more tourists than a dim sum buffet. Today, the festival kicked off at…
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Purr-fectly unexpected: Cat-astrophe as nail tech invades cat café
In a fur-midable twist, ‘a Daily‘ cats café found itself in a bit of a ‘purr-dicament’ when a customer decided to ‘pam-purr’ themselves with nail services right alongside the resident feline friends. The café, typically a meow-sterpiece of tranquillity, suddenly found itself with nail equipment ‘paws-ing’ for attention and tables ‘claw-sing’ a bit of chaos.” The owners expressed concern for…
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Bangkok Governor warns residents near Chao Phraya River of potential floods due to unexpected storm
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt issued an alert for communities living near the Chao Phraya River to be on guard against high water levels due to the storm surge effect at around 7pm today. The 57 year old city chief revealed at Bangkok City Hall that the volume of seawater was significantly higher than forecasted, leading to a 30% surge in…
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Thailand’s Purple Line: Ticket to ride gets a price plummet
The board of The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) voted yesterday to reduce the fare for the Purple Line electric train service to no more than 20 baht. Initially, this fare rate applies only to those paying with standard EMV credit or debit cards, identifiable by their four overlapping curved lines symbol, similar to a WiFi symbol. However,…
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Tak’s rising waters put dams at risk, residents urged to seek high ground
Severe rainfall in Tak province caused a mass influx of water into reservoirs, exceeding their storage capacity and raising concerns over potential dam breaches. The deputy governor has ordered immediate action to prevent further erosion and expansion due to Tak flooding, urging residents to quickly move their belongings to higher ground. Heavy rainfall in Tak province today resulted in a…
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Fishy business: Tyre blowout flips lorry in east Thailand
A lorry transporting fish suffered a tyre explosion in Rayong, causing the vehicle to flip and crash into a tree, seriously damaging the entire vehicle. The driver, 29 year old Sunthorn Yotdam, sustained injuries, while the fish, primarily tilapia numbering in the thousands, were scattered across the road, resulting in an estimated loss of no less than 100,000 baht. Police…
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Monk’s mysterious death unveils temple ‘whodunit’ in central Thailand
The mysterious death of a 57 year old monk in a temple in Ang Thong province sparked a police investigation. The body was found in a monk’s hut, lying on the floor surrounded by a foul smell, with blood and yellow liquid on the ground. A lottery ticket for the October 1 draw was discovered in the hut, which drew…
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Mun River’s flood tide brings venomous twist to northern Thailand
The continuous rise of the Mun River has resulted in severe flooding, submerging nine districts in Ubon Ratchathani, northern Thailand. Inhabitants scramble to evacuate while also dealing with venomous animals, including snakes and scorpions, that have been displaced by the floodwaters. Agricultural damage is extensive, with an estimated 46,000 acres of farmland affected. The flooding has also impacted tens of…
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Thai economy loses steam: UTCC’s growth forecast trims to 3%
With an anticipated dip in exports and a delay in state budget preparation, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) revised its economic growth forecast for the current year to 3%, a decline from the previously estimated 3.6% in December last year. The revised growth forecast is reflective of new government measures aimed at lowering the cost of…
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Severe flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima sparks fears of 1980 disaster repeat
Torrential rains triggered severe flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima causing residents to hastily evacuate their homes. The situation has raised concerns of a repeat of the devastating floods of 1980. The Thai authorities are closely monitoring the situation, especially in the Lam Takhong area. Khao Yai National Park Head, Chaiya Huay Hongs Thong, reported that the depression storm has led to…
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TV host left scarred after beauty treatment botch-up at popular Thai clinic
A beauty clinic client shared her traumatic experience after a beauty procedure went wrong, resulting in severe burns on her face. The beauty treatment was carried out by a new employee who apparently adjusted the equipment incorrectly. The client, named only as Am, works as a TV show host. She has been left in agony, unable to work, and facing…
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Taxi turmoil on Pattaya Beach Road: Bangkok driver’s threatening encounter
In the early hours yesterday, Pattaya City Police received a complaint from a Bangkok taxi driver alleging that he was threatened by an unidentified man he believed to be a Pattaya taxi driver. The incident took place on Pattaya Beach Road, where Chanai Waisuwan was trapped in a traffic jam while heading back to Bangkok after dropping off a passenger…
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Phuket set for 148 billion baht infrastructure boost to uplift tourism
The renowned resort island of Phuket is set to undergo a significant infrastructural facelift, courtesy of a proposed budget of 148 billion baht by the Transport Ministry. The ambitious Phuket infrastructure upgrade plan includes the addition of a second airport on the island, a move aimed at transforming Phuket into a prime regional tourism hub. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit disclosed the…
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Thailand’s lucky L6: Your shot at 180 million baht lottery jackpot begins October 1
The Government Lottery Office of Thailand announced the launch of a six-digit lottery, referred to as L6, with the first draw set for Sunday, October 1. This new lottery offers the chance to win up to 180 million baht. This L6 will be sold in paper form as well as digital format, according to the announcement. The sale of L6…
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