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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TikTok user exposes taxi overcharge in Bangkok, fare hits 105 baht (video)
A TikTok user sparked a conversation about taxi services after posting a video showing an unusually high fare for a short journey. The user, under the name namotasapakavato1, warned fellow passengers after a taxi ride from a BTS station to Rangsit became a cause for concern—not only did the driver bring along his wife, who sat in the front seat,…
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Significant drop in forest fires in Chiang Mai and northern region
Protected Areas Regional Office 16 Director Kritsayam Kongsatree revealed an unprecedented 79% drop in blazes across Chiang Mai and its northern neighbours. Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) Chief Kritsayam manages a colossal 7.8 million rai encompassing 19 forests in Chiang Mai and Lamphun. His proactive patrolling initiatives have slashed the number of hotspots from the ominous…
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Adultery suspected in murder of Thai man in Chachoengsao
Police suspected adultery as a motive for the murder of a Thai man whose body was found on the roadside of a motorway in the central province of Chachoengsao on January 29. The man asked his wife for a divorce and told her that he had a child with another woman before he disappeared. The lifeless body of the 33…
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Royal Thai Air Force plans 19 billion baht for new fighter jets acquisition
The commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), Punpakdee Pattanakul, announced a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year totalling 19 billion baht (US$537 million), intended for the acquisition of new fighter jets. These could potentially be the US F-35 or Sweden’s Gripen E/F. Despite the recently instated government offset policy, Punpakdee’s comments suggest the RTAF’s determination to secure…
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Thailand faces thunderstorms and high waves, north cools down
Today’s weather update signals turbulent conditions across the country, with the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issuing an alert for thunderstorms in 20 provinces. The forecast warns of high waves exceeding 2 metres in the southern seas, while the northern region experiences a significant drop in temperature. The weather pattern over the upper northern region is influenced by a westerly…
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14 year old student stabs peer to death in Bangkok school tragedy
The tragic event of a 14 year old student allegedly stabbing his peer to death at Matthayom Naknawa- upatham School in Suan Luang district unfolded on Monday. The incident has prompted the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to step in, minister Varawut Silpa-Archa yesterday, January 30 confirmed. The accused student reportedly attacked his classmate after the school assembly,…
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Chinese tourist drowns on Rayong’s Koh Samet
A Chinese tourist drowned at Ao Tubtim, Koh Samet, Rayong at 5pm on on January 27. Phe police officers rushed to the accident scene following a report of a Chinese tourist drowning. Local rescue and Rayong medical teams were also dispatched. Clad in a blue swimsuit, the 46 year old Chinese tourist lay lifeless. Despite the immediate deployment of first…
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Teen dies in Bangkok after motorcycle chase ends in horror crash
A tragic accident in Bangkok claimed the life of a 17 year old teen after a motorcycle chase ended in a violent collision with a garbage truck. The incident occurred at around 3.15am today on Kanjanapisek Road, Bang Khae District. The police, forensic experts, and emergency medical teams were called to the scene, where they found the young victim dead.…
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Thai workers overseas contribute 60 billion baht in Q1
Over 21,000 Thai workers were dispatched overseas in the first quarter of the 2024 fiscal year, generating nearly 60 billion baht (US$1.69 billion) in remittances, as disclosed by a leading labour representative. The period of October to December saw 21,281 Thais heading overseas for work, half of whom, numbering 10,024, were recruited by the private sector, according to Pairoj Chotikasathien,…
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Royal project scam exposed with six arrests and 270 million baht loss
An illicit operation, exploiting the name of royal projects to defraud unsuspecting investors, has been exposed. Six individuals implicated in the scheme have been apprehended, with damages resulting from the con estimated at a staggering 270 million baht (US$7.6 million). The arrests followed a comprehensive search operation spanning Bangkok, Lop Buri, Chachoengsao, Songkhla, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, confirmed Police Major…
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Drastic fivefold rise in e-cigarette use among Thai schoolchildren
E-cigarette usage amongst Thai schoolchildren has witnessed a drastic fivefold rise over the last seven years, with the majority of users starting their vaping journey during their primary school years, reveals a newly conducted study. The study was carried out amongst 6,700 students and the findings were shared at a seminar, the collective effort of the Centre for Tobacco Control…
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Driver perishes as 22-wheel truck overturns in Si Racha
A tragic incident unfolded yesterday as a 22-wheel trailer truck lost control on a curve and overturned in the Si Racha district of Chon Buri, resulting in the driver’s death. The driver was trapped in the wreckage, and it took rescue workers over three hours to extricate the body. The accident occurred near the Burapha Golf Course in Si Racha.…
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Agriculture chief defends against bribe claims in corruption case
The Director-General of the Department of Rice staunchly defended actions taken in a controversy involving a well-known activist, Srisuwan Janraya, who was offered money to halt corruption complaints. At 1pm today, January 30, at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Natthakit Khanthip addressed the allegations that a consultant to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives suggested that the director-general’s wife…
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Phuket Airport’s got trunks: Viral sensation as tourists make splash in speedos
A Facebook user sparked viral attention after sharing an image in the Thai Tourism group, Du Lịch Thái Lan, capturing the unusual sight of two foreign tourists clad in tiny speedo trunks at Phuket International Airport. The social media post, by Bui Thi Huong, which rapidly garnered over 500 likes, featured a caption in Vietnamese saying, “Heard that Phuket Airport…
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Uthenthawai campus halts admissions amid escalating student gang violence
The Uthenthawai Campus of the Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-Ok has been directed by Supamas Isarabhakdi, the Minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation, to halt admitting new students and expedite its relocation. This decision aims to curb the escalating violence resulting from clashes between student gangs from the Uthenthawai Campus and the nearby Pathumwan Institute of Technology. During…
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Bangkok leverages Boys Love series for global Thai product boost
Bangkok’s commerce scene is set to undergo a transformative boost as the Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, revealed a groundbreaking initiative to elevate Thai products and services to the global stage through the popular and increasingly recognised medium of television and films. Slated to reach an audience of three million across 100 countries, the scheme aims for…
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Nakhon Pathom temple draws lottery hopefuls seeking divine luck
A temple in Nakhon Pathom province has become a hub for lottery enthusiasts as the draw date approaches. At Wat Sawang Arom, worshippers and gamblers alike are flocking to seek blessings and lucky numbers, particularly from the revered statues and the mystical water basin which has been associated with previous lottery wins. Wat Sawang Arom, nestled in the district of…
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Stray bullet injures man in Bangkok car park incident
A stray bullet hit a man in the leg as he sat in his car in a Bangkok car park last night. The incident was reported to the Thonglor police around 8.50pm by the victim, Voraset Klueniam, a 53 year old man. Voraset was in his vehicle, stationed in a parking area on Rama 4 Road, when a bullet, originating…
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Bangkok singer arrested for 2 million baht luxury theft spree
An up-and-coming singer was apprehended by Bangkok’s Metropolitan Police on allegations of stealing over 2 million baht worth of luxury branded goods. The arrest of 29 year old Thanandon Ramasutha, was the culmination of a meticulous police investigation following a burglary at a celebrity manager’s home in January 2024. On January 29, in front of a house in the Lat…
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Taiwanese man arrested in Pattaya on overstay and money laundering charges
Pattaya police yesterday arrested a Taiwanese man on charges of money laundering. Additionally, they discovered that he had overstayed his visa validity by over 430 days, equivalent to approximately a year and five months. Officers from the Sub-division 2 Tourist Police Division 1 and Chon Buri Provincial Immigration Office were alerted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand…
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Phetchaburi police hunt for killer after man shot 14 times
A brutal murder on the streets of Phetchaburi has local police searching for a cold-blooded killer who shot a 30 year old mobile trader known for his good looks, multiple times in broad daylight. The assailant, captured on CCTV footage, pursued the victim, Suthat, on a motorcycle before firing at close range and then fleeing the scene. The incident occurred…
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Foreign man in Phuket caught on TikTok video damaging police wheel clamp
A video featuring a foreign man, using a stone to smash a lock and chain on his motorcycle after it got clamped by police in Phuket, has gone viral in Thailand. Thai netizens called on the police to clarify the charges the foreigner faces. The video was shared by a TikTok user, @_neung132, who appears to be a traffic police…
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Rayong solar company lays off 800 amid financial woes
A prominent solar cell manufacturing company in Rayong has been forced to lay off a significant number of employees, totalling 800, affecting both day and night shifts. The layoffs come as a consequence of several months of financial strain where the company had deferred paying 75% of wages. The Chon Buri-Rayong News Page today reported that the company decided to…
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Chiang Mai lottery fever spikes with lucky numbers for Chinese New Year
The bustling city of Chiang Mai is witnessing a surge in the popularity of lottery tickets as locals eagerly seek out auspicious numbers for the upcoming draw on February 1. The demand is particularly high for numbers associated with Chinese New Year, which aligns with the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese calendar. In the early hours of…
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Thai Airways flight diverted to Sydney, captain clarifies decision
A Thai Airways captain faced criticism over a decision to divert a Bangkok-Melbourne flight to Sydney due to poor visibility, sparking online debate. The incident occurred on January 28 when the flight was unable to land in Melbourne as planned. A passenger, claiming extensive flying experience, posted a complaint on Facebook accusing the captain of not carrying enough fuel and…
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Thai gold prices drop at market open, gold bars at 34,050 baht
Gold prices in Thailand saw a decline at the opening of the market, comparing the last price from January 29. The Gold Traders Association (GTA) reported the selling rate for gold ornaments at 34,550 baht per baht-weight (a traditional Thai unit of measurement for gold, equating to 15.16 grammes) for today, marking a decrease of 100 baht from the previous…
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Thai student allegedly raped by police officer over fine fracas in northern Thailand
A Grade 11 Thai student was allegedly raped by a police officer after she failed to pay a 2,000 baht fine for failing to produce a driving licence in the Isaan province of, northern Thailand. The story began when the well-known page Saimai Survive shared the student’s distressing story after she was stopped by officers for not possessing a driving…
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Witchcraft whispers: Swiss man ensnared in black magic murder mystery
Social media users accused a Swiss man of employing black magic as part of a plot to murder his Thai wife, following the discovery of a Jack of Hearts card in the dead woman’s mouth. Identified only as Roland, the Swiss man eventually admitted to killing his wife, Orathai Phosingam, and disclosed that he had concealed her body in a…
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Thailand welcomes cooler mornings as temperatures dip
A high-pressure system or moderate cold air mass continues to cover Thailand and the South China Sea, leading to cooler morning temperatures across several regions of the country. The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) forecast that the north, northeast, central, eastern, and upper southern parts will experience cold weather in the mornings. In the north, residents woke up to chilly conditions…
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Swiss man confesses to strangling wife during argument in Thailand
A 53 year old Swiss national confessed to Thai police that he inadvertently strangled his wife, Orathai Posee-ngarm, during a heated argument. The confession came during a five-hour interrogation at the Khon Buri Police Station, where the Swiss man, known only as Roland, had initially gone to retrieve his previously seized passport. Roland’s confession also revealed that he had transported…
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