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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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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New era in Thailand: Srettha Tavisin voted 30th Prime Minister of Thailand
Thailand can finally hail a new leader after Pheu Thai Party candidate Srettha Tavisin secured enough votes from members of the National Assembly of Thailand to become the kingdom’s 30th prime minister. Today, August 22, marked a day of significance for Thailand, as the nation witnessed two important events. Leading the headlines was the return of a former Thai PM,…
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CardX braces for regulatory change raising customer debt repayment 3%
CardX, a credit card service provider operating under SCB X Group, anticipates a potential issue with customer compliance linked to an upcoming regulatory change from the Bank of Thailand. The central bank presently permits credit card users to repay their debt at a minimum rate of 5% of the overall credit balance each month, a measure introduced to aid consumers…
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Scam alert: Runaway contractor defrauds 100+ Thai victims with 16 million baht loss
Over 100 Thai people have fallen prey to a construction scam orchestrated by a contractor who is currently on the run. The resulting financial toll of this fraudulent scheme is projected to surpass 16 million baht. A contingent of 50 victims formally filed a complaint with Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn. They detailed…
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Thaksin Shinawatra’s 15-year exile ends with immediate jail term upon return (video)
Former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was jailed this morning only hours after his aeroplane touched the tarmac at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok – ending his 15-year self-imposed exile. The 74 year old ex PM’s aircraft landed at 9am today and he was immediately escorted to the Supreme Court to acknowledge and begin an eight-year prison sentence. Despite…
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Political change, Thai PM appointment poised to boost stocks
The anticipated appointment of Thailand‘s 30th prime minister this week is predicted to bolster stocks likely to benefit from political change and the policies and stimulus measures proposed by the Pheu Thai Party, reported Bangkok Post. Brokerage firm Asia Plus Securities (ASPS) projects the 11-party coalition, which declared on Monday its possession of 314 MP seats, will secure enough senatorial…
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McKinsey foresees AI technology dominating Thailand’s future
The Thai branch of global consultancy McKinsey & Company predicts that the three most impactful trends for Thailand over the next year will be generative artificial intelligence (AI), immersive technology, and climate technology. The prediction is a part of the company’s 2023 Tech Trends Outlook, which was published in July. Gordon Candelin, senior expert and leader of McKinsey Design Southeast…
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Jealous husband’s tragic twist: Foiled murder-suicide bid
A jealous Thai husband’s murder-suicide plan was foiled when police and rescuers intervened just in time after he attacked his wife with a knife and then sought to end his own life. A rescuer from the Jit Kusol Foundation, in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen, revealed the story on Facebook. The murder-suicide incident reportedly took place at 10.50pm on…
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DLT nets 7 billion baht in vehicle tax due to convenient online payments
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) collected over 7 billion baht in vehicle tax in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, thanks to the ease of its “from anywhere” payment system. This figure represents the taxes received from the owners of 5.5 million vehicles between October of the previous year and July of the current year. The…
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Cash-strapped mum’s baby dies after two days with caregiver, police investigate
A 20 year old mother, grappling with financial difficulties, surrendered her eight month old baby to a caregiver for two days, where the child tragically died. The baby was reportedly healthy and cheerful with no known medical conditions. The police have summoned both parties for further investigation. Sergeant Major Kawi Chuaysang, an investigator from Pak Klong Rangsit Police Station, was…
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House shooting in Thailand leaves one dead, couple injured
A ruthless gunman stormed a house, firing at a couple until his magazine was emptied. One person died on the spot while the couple sustained injuries from stray bullets. The event occurred yesterday, with police now having a lead on the gunman involved in this brutal house shooting. The house shooting took place in a single-story concrete house in the…
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Pet feud turns tragic: Thai man kills 1 injures another in deadly dog dispute
A Thai man surrendered to the police after he shot two victims following a row over their pet dogs fighting. One victim was murdered and the other is injured and in intensive care. The gunman, 43 year old Kamon Puangsee, shot 38 year old Wisut Sujajing four times in the chest before turning the gun on Wisut’s 25 year old…
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‘Quite an adventure’ says Scottish pensioner of his snake-infested Indiana Jones river rescue in Thailand (video)
A Scottish pensioner declared it was “quite an adventure” as he was plucked from a snake-infested river in Thailand after embarking on an Indiana Jones-type Boy’s Own escapade. The 77 year old Scot found himself marooned in his inflatable dinghy for nearly seven hours in the treacherous waters of Udon Thani province. Initially setting out for a leisurely kayak cruise…
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Thai family rescued from house full of trash, cockroaches, and poisonous animals
Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Chorayuth “Tonkla” Chaturapornprasit and his team helped a family of four living in a slum house overwhelmed with trash and an army of cockroaches, rats, snakes, and centipedes. The MP Tonkla shared the story on Facebook, on August 19, that he visited the family at their house in Soi Charoenkrung 76 in the Bang Kho…
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American-Thai couple arrested for running Thailand’s largest online escort service
A significant breakthrough in the fight against online prostitution rings came to light last Friday when Thai Police revealed the capture of an American-Thai couple. The authorities believe they were the brains behind Thailand’s most extensive online escort service and sex agency website, tailormade to cater to an international clientele. The website, which was revealed in a joint press briefing…
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Thailand sees surge in Monkeypox cases, majority in Bangkok
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) in Thailand reported 217 cases of Monkeypox (mpox) this year, with the majority of cases diagnosed in Bangkok. The deputy director-general of the DDC, Sopon Iamsirithaworn, revealed that the cases from July 2022 through April primarily involved foreign individuals. However, more recent cases predominantly affect the Thai population. According to Sopon, the transmission of…
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Thailand’s DES Ministry plans legal action against Facebook over scam complicity
Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry is preparing a legal case seeking the shutdown of Facebook within the country, accusing the social media giant of collusion with fraudulent operators. The ministry alleges that Facebook has been complicit in aiding scammers, who utilised the platform’s sponsored pages to deceive Thai citizens into making investments. The ministry plans to invoke the…
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TikTok mobile shop owner praised for aiding elderly man with utility bills
A TikTok user who runs a mobile phone repair and purchase store made headlines this week for his kindness towards an elderly man that pawns his mobile phone every month to pay his utility bills. The shop owner not only refrains from charging interest but also provides the elderly man with food to take home. The account @5parinyaaek888 posted a…
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Chiang Rai police seize nearly two million meth pills in major drug bust
In a massive crackdown on drug trafficking, Chiang Rai Police Force seized nearly two million meth pills in two major cases. From October 1, 2022, to July 19, 2023, the Region 5 Provincial Police intercepted more than 90 million meth pills and confiscated property worth 453 million baht. The announcement was made today, by a team comprising senior officers from…
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23 year old graduate reports train harassment incident to police
A recent graduate has reported harassment from an alleged rail official aboard a train to Bang Mun Nak Police Station. The woman, 23 year old Punyanuch is seeking justice for an incident that took place on August 15. While travelling on train number 202 from Phitsanulok to Nakhon Sawan, she was molested by a man claiming to be a train…
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Size matters: Thai actor ‘Beams’ into spotlight with candid quest for a bigger penis
A Thai actor recently rocked the nation’s headlines for revealing to the public he wants a bigger penis. Saranyoo “Beam” Prachakrit announced his decision to have a penis filler injection to enlarge the size of his member at the Men’s Health by Masterpiece Hospital in Bangkok. The safer choice for those who are worried about the size of their peckers.…
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Fare play: Bangkok taxi driver bucks trend, returns 400,000 baht to passenger
A Bangkok taxi driver put the breaks on the capital’s bad boy cabbie reputation after he returned nearly 400,000 baht to a Bangladeshi passenger. There’s not a day that goes by without a story breaking of one of Bangkok’s bad boy taxi drivers ripping off customers, refusing to service or turn on meters, brawling with passengers or even masturbating. One…
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Rice prices spike threatens farmers in Thailand
An increase in rice prices is causing concern for local farmers and rice millers in Uttradit, Thailand. The Agricultural Cooperative of Uttradit City Limited, known for producing and selling the “Good Udom” brand of bagged rice, is currently facing a shortage of husked rice. This crisis is due to large-scale rice millers purchasing at high rates, causing the price of…
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Karmic curiosity: Korat’s Non Sa-at Forest Temple unveils captivating Hell Tour
Located in Korat, the notable Non Sa-at Forest Temple, also known as Karma Base Forest Temple, launched an intriguing Hell Tour. The initiative aims to educate visitors about the concept of karma and encourage them to fear wrongdoings, prompting a shift towards good deeds. Situated in the Chok Chai district of Nakhon Ratchasima, the temple serves as a care centre…
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Car wash scam exposed: TikTok user reveals mechanics stealing parts in viral video in Khon Kaen
A TikTok user’s video showing car wash technicians allegedly stealing car parts has caused an uproar. The clip was accompanied by a warning caption that read… “Took my car to get washed and got my catalytic converter stolen. Saw it with my own eyes, four to five mechanics were working on it enthusiastically. Ended up at the police station.” The…
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Yaba ordeal: Mother seeks aid as son’s dark turn targets family cat
A Thai mother reached out to a non-profit organisation for help after her 10 year old son was exposed to methamphetamine, commonly known as Yaba, and attempted to kill the family’s pet cat. The woman told the Paveena Foundation for Women and Children that her son’s personality had changed for the worse during the past month. The boy is out…
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Climate change: Thai businesses warned of ‘global boiling,’ rising power costs
The United Nations has warned of the global boiling – the intense rise in temperatures and associated power costs we are seeing now, which are predicted to only worsen in the future. Thailand witnessed an unprecedented rise in electricity bills and an all-time high average temperature in July. This salient shift in weather patterns is leading businesses and governments to consider…
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Roadside shock: Man stumbles upon wife’s dead body, suspicion lingers in Chon Buri
The suspicious death of a woman rocked the local community in Chon Buri province after a man found his wife’s dead body by a roadside. The 49 year old husband, Prachuap went out searching for his wife, Khamao, when she did not return home from a trip. Upon discovering his wife’s dead body, he tried to help her up, intending…
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Gold demand dips, jewellery market sees prices fall to 32,100 per baht weight
Demand for gold jewellery in Thailand experienced a drop causing a significant price dip in today’s market, according to the local gold traders association. The gold bar was trading at 32,100 baht per baht weight, a reduction of 150 baht compared to yesterday’s closing price, as reported on the association’s official website at 9.24am today. The 96.5% pure gold bars…
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NIDA survey says: Pheu Thai Party’s unique political partnership faces public disapproval
A recent telephone survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed significant disapproval of the Pheu Thai Party‘s plan to form a special government in collaboration with its political adversaries, Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation (UTN) parties. This survey, also known as the NIDA poll, was conducted from August 15 through August 17 and involved a detailed…
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Thailand sees 17% boost in foreign investment, hitting 58.9 billion baht in 7 months
Thailand saw a 17% increase in foreign investment, reaching 58.9 billion baht in the first seven months of this year. The announcement was made yesterday by Rachada Dhnadirek, the deputy government spokeswoman. Investors from Japan played a major role, with 94 groups contributing 19.89 billion baht. The United States followed with 67 entities investing 3 billion baht. Singapore had 61…
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