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 Thailand vs. the West: What expats save on healthcare each year
Healthcare in Thailand is much cheaper than in Western countries, making it a great choice for expatriates looking for affordable medical care. Both public and private healthcare options offer high-quality services, with savings of up to 80% on procedures like...
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Thailand’s Public Health Ministry finalises Cannabis-Hemp Act draft
The Cannabis-Hemp Act‘s first draft has been completed by the Public Health Ministry, and despite public speculation, cannabis will not be reclassified as a narcotic. According to Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew, the new legislation is a refined version of the initial draft, now streamlined from 94 to approximately 70 sections. The updated version addresses public concerns and closes loopholes…
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Anti scam centre freezes 2,500 bank accounts in fight against fraud
In a significant move against call-centre scams, the Anti Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC) froze 2,671 bank accounts in its initial two weeks of operation. Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke shared these statistics, highlighting the effectiveness of the centre, which was launched on November 1 to combat such fraudulent activities. The centre received a staggering 38,564 distress calls from victims within…
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TikTok user introduces followers to Thai dish of golden orb spider (video)
A TikTok personality, known as @tdploy, recently introduced her followers to an unusual dish, Golden Orb Spider from her native region. The dish, Golden Orb Spider (แมงย่างซี้น), prepared from a large spider indigenous to Thailand, sparked curiosity amongst her online community yesterday (November 17). Despite the creepy appearance, @tdploy assures that its taste is surprisingly delicious. Nestled within the forest,…
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Northeast Thailand: Fatal motorbike accident at Amata City Chon Buri Industrial Estate claims life
A fatal motorbike accident claimed the life of a 25 year old resident from Don Mod Dang, Ubon Ratchathani. The incident occurred at approximately 10.30pm yesterday, November 17, within the Amata City Chon Buri Industrial Estate located in Don Hua Lo, Mueang District. Ratphol Ratchawakarn, the Deputy Inquiry Official of Don Hua Lo Police Station in Chon Buri, received a…
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Fateful flight: French tourist becomes another statistic of the ‘Pattaya Flying Club’
A 43 year old French tourist became yet another statistic of the insensitively named “Pattaya Flying Club” when he jumped from a hotel building in Pattaya and died at the scene. Police Lieutenant Anirut Jeroh, Deputy Inspector of Investigation, Pattaya City Police Station, received a report at 4.20am this morning of a French tourist who fell to his death from…
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Thai military to engage Myanmar over repatriation delay
The Thai military is set to engage Myanmar over the delay in the repatriation of 41 Thai nationals who were recently rescued from illegal businesses in Laukkaing township. This was revealed today by Colonel Natee Thomsen, the commander of the Thap Chao Tak Taskforce of the Pha Mueang Force. Col. Natee plans to discuss the reasons behind the repatriation delay…
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Chiang Mai: Thief arrested for stealing from temple caught in moral dilemma
A 20 year old man was recently apprehended in Chiang Mai for stealing from a charity donation box at Jettiyanusorn temple, also known as Ban Yang Phra That temple, in Doi Saket. The suspect reportedly fled on a bicycle after the theft, which took place on November 8. Upon his arrest, the man confessed to taking 200 baht in cash…
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Cave heroes to the rescue again: Thailand and Norway aid India’s tunnel turmoil
The government of India asked Thai and Norwegian rescuers from the Tham Luang cave rescue mission to help save 40 workers trapped by a tunnel collapse in the northern state of Uttarakhand. The 4.5-kilometre tunnel in Uttarakhand collapsed on November 12 during construction. Around 50 people were working on the site. Some workers at the ends of the tunnel managed to…
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Thailand’s thriving collectibles market of 90s cassette tapes
The allure of the cassette tape, the quintessential item of the 90s youth, is unwavering. The sensory joy these analogue devices offer through their tangible nature has seen their value increase over time, transforming them into valuable collectables. This is particularly true for tapes from certain artists, which are not only hard to find but have also become a lucrative…
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Thai rights commission calls for immediate Gaza ceasefire
The Thai National Human Rights Commission (NHRCT) called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip. The commission’s plea comes amidst escalating violence which has resulted in the tragic loss of over 10,000 Palestinian civilian lives, with a significant proportion of victims being Arab women and children. This crisis has also led to the displacement of an estimated one…
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Central Thailand: Lorry driver hits two motorcyclists, refuses responsibility causing public outrage
The incident of a lorry driver hitting two motorcyclists and refusing to take responsibility has been met with outrage. Chalipa Rinradamanee, also known as Pim Seefor, decided to confront the driver after her son and his friend were injured in the accident. The lorry driver, who initially apologised for the incident, claimed that he was unable to meet her due…
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Noodle apology: Ichiran stirs controversy with ‘not-so-fresh’ pop-up in Thailand
Renowned Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran issued an apology following criticisms and confusion over its pop-up store in Thailand. The restaurant admitted that the ramen they served was not fresh but dry, with the soup base imported from Japan. Their statement aimed to clarify the misunderstanding, expressing regret for any communication errors. The pop-up store, which attracted ramen enthusiasts and influencers for…
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Northeast Thailand: Fatal motorcycle accident in Udon Thani caused by poorly lit conditions
A fatal motorcycle accident in the dark claimed the life of a 25 year old man from Udon Thani province. The incident occurred near a concrete factory situated on the Na Kha-Sum Sao Road, in the large Thon district of Na Kha. The accident scene was attended to by Police Lieutenant Colonel Ratchapol Morarat, an investigative officer of Na Kha…
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Myanmar earthquake: 6.4 magnitude hits, tremors felt in Thailand (video)
A significant earthquake of 6.4 magnitude jolted Myanmar at 8.37am today, as confirmed by the Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). The epicentre was noted to be around 100 kilometres in the northwest direction from the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed the epicentre of this seismic event approximately 76…
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5 year old girl survives 3 metre fall from balcony in Pattaya
A five year old girl in Pattaya was left alone in her room and subsequently fell 3 metres from a balcony onto a canopy. The incident occurred in a commercial building in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. The child suffered abdominal pain and injuries from the impact and was rushed to the hospital. The girl was found…
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Czech mate: Thailand’s wheels of fortune spin with potential investments
The Czech Republic has expressed interest in investing in Thailand’s automotive and medical sectors, according to Nalinnee Taveesin, Thai Trade Representative. The Czechs are keen to establish economic partnerships in Thailand’s automotive industry, to attract Czech automotive companies for investment, develop technology, and set up production bases in Thailand. The companies showing interest are the Skoda Group (Volkswagen Group), a…
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Bangkok ranked fourth most searched destination in the world
One of the world’s leading online travel agencies ranked Bangkok as the fourth most searched destination in the world. Prime Minister Office Spokesperson Chai Watcharong announced the good news for Thai tourism at a recent press conference, saying that Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, was praised by eDreams Odigeo, is one of the top ten destinations most searched for by…
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Sadao checkpoint: Entrepreneurs urge continued operation
Songkhla-based entrepreneurs in the Sadao district appealed to the government to keep the old Sadao immigration checkpoint operational alongside the new one. The move aims to stimulate both trade and tourism with Malaysia. The appeal follows the circulation of rumours concerning the government’s intention to close the Sadao checkpoint in preference for the newly constructed border checkpoint. The discussion involved…
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Trash horror: Waste collector stumbles upon newborn’s tragic fate in black Bangkok rubbish bin
A shocking discovery was made by a waste collector in the Nong Chok district of Bangkok when he found the discarded dead body of a newborn in a black rubbish bin. The incident happened at 4am this morning. Authorities from Suwinthawong Police Station, forensic doctors from the Police Hospital, and officials from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation were swiftly alerted to investigate the…
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Crop déjà vu: Critics dub gov’s agri-reform a rerun of past plans
The government’s current measures to reform the nation’s agricultural sector, particularly rice farming, are largely seen as reiterations of former strategies, declared industry commentators. They suggest that any budget-based support should come with certain stipulations. Aat Pisanwanich, an international economics lecturer, after evaluating these measures, observes that the central policy appears to be a three-year debt suspension for farmers, with…
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Northern Thailand: Massive cold front triggers thunderstorms and temperature drop
A massive cold front has descended upon Northern Thailand, causing thunderstorms and strong winds, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). This is expected to result in a significant drop in temperature, with an additional cold snap predicted to hit tonight. The cold front has already enveloped Vietnam’s upper region, Laos and the South China Sea. As a consequence, northern…
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Photo betrayal: Teenage Thai boy suffers from depression after being blackmailed by 10 classmates
A 15 year old boy is suffering from depression after 10 of his classmates used his naked photo to blackmail him. The victim’s father said the incident happened at the end of July. Three classmates created Instagram accounts pretending to be three female students. The boys used the accounts to chat and flirt with the victim before tricking the victim…
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Samut Prakan: Lottery vendor strikes gold with first-prize ticket in unsold stock
A lottery vendor experienced an unexpected stroke of luck when she discovered a first-prize winning ticket in her husband’s unsold stock. She credits her fortunate find to the spirit of the 7-Eleven store in Bang Hua Suea where they operate their lottery stand. At 8pm last night, reporters spoke with 56 year old Paiboon Panphakdee and his 52 year old…
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Powering up the tracks: Red Line operator urged to spark commuter surge with enhanced feeder network
Red Line operator SRT Electrified Train Co was asked by the Transport Ministry to enhance its feeder network to drive an increase in the number of rail passengers within Bangkok. Surapong Piyachote, the Deputy Transport Minister, explained that the SRT Electrified Train Co, in conjunction with the Department of Rail Transport, has charted out plans for an integrated feeder network…
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Beefed-up border battles: Thailand tightens grip on smuggling surge
Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke yesterday revealed an alarming rise in beef smuggling into Thailand, with yearly figures reaching over 100,000 tonnes. This has led to the government committing to tougher actions against the culprits. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordered all relevant departments including the Customs Department and Department of Livestock Development, to intensify their efforts in curbing this illegal beef…
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Thai man arrested for setting fire to 2 cars to relieve stress
Police arrested a Thai man who set fire to two cars in Pluak Daeng district in the eastern province of Rayong. The suspect said he burned the cars to relieve stress. Firefighters rushed to control the blaze, which broke out at 3.30am on November 6, engulfing two cars parked outside a condominium on Road 3245 in Pluak Daeng district of…
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TikTok Thai training twist: App eyes Thailand for next big move
TikTok, the popular video-sharing social media app, is considering establishing a training centre in Thailand. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed this after meeting with the app’s executives during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. The intent is to utilise the platform’s popularity to promote Thai food and local products, often referred to as soft power. The 61…
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3 foreign men under suspicion in murder of Taiwanese man in Bangkok hotel
Police revealed three foreign men are under suspicion in the murder of a Taiwanese man at the Niran Grand Hotel in the Udomsuk neighbourhood of Bangkok. Bangna Police Station officers provided details after an investigation into the death of the 47 year old Taiwanese man, Chu Chiang-shen last night. Deputy Police Inspector Kongphon Wongchan reported that Chu had several head…
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Multi-vehicle collision disrupts traffic on Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai road
A catastrophic traffic accident involving three cars and a motorcycle resulted in one fatality and six injuries on the Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai Road at the intersection leading to the Mae Kwang Dam in Doi Saket, Chiang Mai. The multi-vehicle collision occurred at 7.20pm yesterday, leading to an immediate investigation by the police to ascertain the cause. The scene of the…
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Thai prime minister set to meet world leaders at APEC summit in San Francisco
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to meet US President Joe Biden among other world leaders at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco. Discussions on a broad spectrum of issues are projected to take place today during their meeting at the APEC Summit dinner. In addition to the US president, the 61 year old prime minister’s…
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