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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Thailand’s warm weather, low cost of living, and good healthcare attract many long-term expats, including retirees and remote workers. Life here feels easy and affordable, but medical costs can be high if something goes wrong. Private hospitals are popular because...
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Shinawatra greenlights 5.1 billion baht for soft power industries and Songkran
The Soft Power National Development Committee, headed by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has approved a budget of 5.1 billion baht to boost 11 industries in Thailand, including the Songkran festival. The plan includes a grand Songkran celebration, dubbed the World Water Festival – The Songkran Phenomenon, to draw international tourists to Thailand. The announcement was made on December 1. The Soft Power…
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Young women ignore safety warnings at Phu Chi Fah, sparking concerns
Two young women risked their lives by crossing a safety line at Phu Chi Fah viewpoint to take photographs, triggering concerns from officials about a potential increase in copycat behaviour. Phu Chi Fah National Park in Thoeng, Chiang Rai, reported the incident occurred at 6.04am on October 26, and issued a public warning on their page. The tourist attraction has…
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Pregnant Burmese woman begs thief to return 240,000 baht’s worth of gold
A pregnant Burmese woman turned to social media to convey her heart-wrenching disappointment and appeal to a thief for the return of gold accessories valued at over 240,000 baht, which were stolen from her. The Burmese victim shared an image of now-empty gold containers along with a video capturing her emotional plea on social media. In the video, she tearfully disclosed…
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Thai dancer reports ex-partner for physical abuse and animal cruelty
Doing Good Foundation founder Dr Panadda Wongphudee and Dr Darunee Sutthipithak, known as Pecky Sritanya, yesterday, accompanied a 32 year old dancer who suffered physical abuse, to Bang Khen Police Station. The dancer, Pattiporn (surname withheld), reported to Deputy Investigation Officer Rattichai Piyawet that her former boyfriend, 33 year old Prakasit from Nan province, had subjected her to physical abuse,…
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Chon Buri: Four Cambodian men posing as fake monks apprehended in Si Racha
Four Cambodian individuals posing as fake monks were apprehended by immigration police on a mountain near a community in the Si Racha district, Chon Buri. They were disguised as fake Buddhist monks in yellow robes, residing in makeshift shelters. The operation was carried out this morning, December 1, following residents’ grievances about several Cambodian nationals masquerading as monks and asking…
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Thai man jailed for up to 10 years for illegally selling tiger carcasses
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and related departments arrested a Thai man for running an online shop illegally selling tiger carcasses and other protected animals. This comes in the wake of the arrest of two individuals in January this year for selling tiger carcasses online. The case was connected to another suspect managing a Facebook…
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NACC scandal: Former Deputy Secretary-General’s shocking assets cover-up lands him in Supreme Court snare
The Supreme Court delivered a decisive blow to Prayat Puangjumpa, the former deputy secretary-general of the National Counter-Corruption Commission (NACC). Prayat’s appeal, aimed at overturning a false asset declaration conviction, was mercilessly rejected, resulting in a suspended jail sentence and a hefty fine. The Supreme Court, in a plenary meeting, upheld the previous court’s ruling, affirming a four-month suspended jail…
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Political prognosis: Advisor probes Thaksin Shinawatra’s health and cell
The health status and incarceration conditions of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have come under the scrutiny of Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, an advisor to the Parliament Committee on Budgeting Study and Budget Administration Follow-up. Somchai is pressing the government to shed light on Thaksin’s situation, 100 days after his transfer to the Police General Hospital following chest pain, hypertension, and low…
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Thai Prime Minister to review proposed energy tariff increase
Srettha Thavisin, the Thai Prime Minister, is set to convene a meeting with the relevant bodies following the revelation that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) intends to surge the energy tariff from 3.99 baht per unit to 4.68 baht per unit from January to April next year. This proposed increase has stirred renewed demands for a revamp of the nation’s…
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Thai Ministry of Interior launches online registration for debt assistance
The Ministry of Interior has initiated a programme to assist citizens struggling with off-system debt, inviting them to enrol either online or in-person from today, December 1, until February 24 next year. This scheme is part of the government’s efforts to alleviate the impact of high-interest-rate debts on the populace. For online registration, individuals can visit the website https://debt.dopa.go.th. The…
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Sukhothai: 24 year old man with drug addiction problems shoots grandfather
A 24 year old Thai man, who reportedly had a problem with drug addiction since high school, shot his grandfather. The young man’s mother had travelled from Bangkok to take him to rehab but instead, she arrived home to attend her father’s funeral. The incident occurred in the small district of Ban Dan Lan Hoi in Sukhothai province. The local…
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Thai woman mysteriously dies, her body found in abandoned garbage chute
Police suspect foul play after the body of a missing Thai woman was found in an abandoned garbage chute at a Royal Thai Army welfare accommodation in the Phayathai district of Bangkok. Bang Sue Police Station officers received a report of the death of a 36 year old Thai woman, identified as Ann, at 9.40pm yesterday, November 30. Ann’s lifeless…
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Half of new HIV infections in Thailand among 15-24 year olds
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) in Thailand has revealed that nearly half of the annual 9,000-plus new HIV infections are individuals aged between 15 and 24 years old. This trend has persisted for several years, according to Dr Suchada Jiamsiri, the head of the Division of Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) at the Ministry of Public Health’s DDC.…
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Bangkok: Flat fare of 20 baht for Red and Purple line interchange
The Transport Ministry announced the implementation of a flat fare of 20 baht for passengers interchanging between the Red and Purple lines using EMV contactless payment. Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote unveiled the scheme yesterday, November 30, stating that it is in line with a Cabinet resolution from October 16, which authorised the ministry to establish a 20-baht flat fare…
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Petrol tanker flips and ignites in Phetchaburi resulting in severe injuries
A petrol tanker overturned and caught fire in Phetchaburi province, severely injuring the driver who was engulfed in flames. The vehicle, completely damaged in the incident, is suspected to have veered off course due to the driver potentially falling asleep. This mishap occurred at 12.24am, as reported by Phetchaburi’s Emergency Response Centre. The ten-wheeler petrol tanker with licence plate number…
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Motorcycle accident: Collision with food delivery truck in central Thailand causes fatality
A tragic motorcycle accident occurred today when a rider crashed into a food delivery truck, leading to the death of an unidentified male. The incident happened at 2.30am on the Bang Khaen-Nong Suea Road, near the TU Dome Plaza, in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani. The deceased had no identification documents on him, but two tablets of methamphetamine were found…
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Thai nursing students demand government expedite delayed student loans
A group of 60 nursing and public health students from Sri Sa Ket and Nakhon Si Thammarat publicly requested the government to expedite the disbursal of their student loans, which has been delayed for several months. Four representatives from the first-year class of Chalermkarnchana University’s Faculty of Nursing at Sri Sa Ket journeyed to Bangkok to deliver a letter outlining…
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Old paths, new strides: BMA’s overhaul project steps up to refurbish Bangkok’s pathways
Bangkok‘s Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has initiated a comprehensive project to refurbish the city’s antiquated pathways. The objective is to create robust and user-friendly pathways that cater to the needs of pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities and wheelchair users, as per the announcement made by Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt today, November 30. The renovation project has already taken off, with work…
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Thailand’s electricity rate of 4.68 baht only a suggestion, says Energy Ministry
The suggested electricity rate of 4.68 baht per unit is merely a proposal, confirmed Energy Ministry spokesperson Pongsapol Yodmuangcharoen today. Emphasising that the final price falls under the purview of the Energy Ministry and is overseen by Energy Minister Peeraphan Salirathaviphak, Pongsapol assured that it won’t be fixed at this figure. He further confirmed that consumers will not face an…
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Indian national arrested in Ang Thong over illegal loans in Thai baht
An Indian national has been arrested for operating an illegal daily loan scheme in Ang Thong. The arrest followed complaints by residents to the local Justice Centre about the extortionate interest rates and violent threats from the loan shark. The investigation, conducted today, November 30, found that an Indian man, identified only as Harinda, had loaned amounts ranging from 2,000…
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Sky’s the limit: Vietnam Airlines unveils game-changing route connecting Da Nang and Bangkok
Vietnam Airlines soared into the limelight by inaugurating a direct route between Da Nang International Airport and Bangkok‘s Don Mueang International Airport. The airline’s bold move, announced yesterday, November 29, is set to revolutionise travel between these two dynamic destinations. At the launch event, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand, Phan Chi Thanh, expressed optimism about the prospects of the newly established…
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Holiday nightmare: British citizen stranded in Thai hospital with a 400,000 baht plea to escape
A British citizen‘s tropical holiday in Thailand has turned into a desperate battle for survival, as he faces suspected leukaemia in dire hospital conditions. With blood-soaked beds and a looming 10,000 pounds (446,000 baht) bill, Dean Penson’s ordeal has become a nightmare that his friends are determined to end. Penson, a British citizen from Southend-on-Sea, who looked forward to a…
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Mid-air madness: Unruly passenger turns Lufthansa flight to Bangkok into chaos
A 53 year old German man turned a routine Lufthansa flight from Munich to Bangkok into a chaotic nightmare. From threats to undressing and attempting to set a blanket ablaze, this turbulent episode forced an unscheduled landing in India. Just a few hours into the 10-hour and 45-minute journey, chaos erupted as the unnamed German man unleashed a series of…
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Thailand ink nightmare! Celebrity Josie Gibson’s hilarious tattoo mishap revealed
In a jungle full of surprises, British celebrity Josie Gibson spills the ink on her outrageous Thai escapade that left her with a jaw-dropping tattoo fail. The 38 year old This Morning presenter isn’t just battling creepy crawlies in the jungle set of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Gibson also shared the consequences of a tipsy Thai…
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Former sailor allegedly runs hotel auction scam, causing 3 million baht losses
Nearly 200 people accused a former Thai sailor of running a hotel auction scam that caused more than 3 million baht in losses. Renowned Thai lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet, accompanied by 20 representatives of the victims, visited the headquarters of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, to file a complaint against a former sailor and his company regarding the hotel auction scam.…
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Thai community enterprise signs 100 million baht deal for Korat’s Golden Bananas export to Japan
A landmark deal worth 100 million baht has been signed between a Japanese buyer and a Thai community enterprise group for the purchase of 5,000 tonnes of Korat’s Golden Bananas. This first-ever export deal, set to greatly benefit local farmers, has been hailed for its potential to open new markets for Thai growers. The contract was signed at the Lamtakong…
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Young man arrested for false dietary supplement advertising on social media
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) apprehended a young man advertising dietary supplements of a popular brand on social media, with the products boasting exaggerated benefits. The suspect was charged before being handed over for prosecution today, November 30. On the previous day, the DSI’s investigative operation team, led by Witthawat Sukhantharot, Director of Trace and News Investigation Centre, captured…
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Lotto-luck chase: Thai man on wild hunt for lost lottery ticket after jackpot surprise months later
A Thai man embarked on a frantic search for a lost Thai lottery ticket after belatedly discovering he’d scooped one of the top prizes some nine months after the draw was made. The lottery winner, 29 year old Yotsakorn Sangteerathiti, revealed to Channel 3 that he bought a government lottery ticket for the upcoming draw tomorrow, via the Pao Tang…
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Chiang Mai deputy police chief suspended over sexual assault allegations
The Chiang Mai Deputy Police Chief has been suspended from duty following allegations of sexually assaulting a woman he had met via Facebook. The incident reportedly took place on November 22, according to the case filed at the Muaeng Jee Police Station in Lamphun Province, case number 426/2023. The accused, a police lieutenant colonel and a deputy police chief of…
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Love, lies, loss: Thai woman loses 3 million baht after 1 month with romance scammer
A 65 year old Thai woman lost 3 million baht after a month-long online conversation with a romance scammer she met on a Facebook dating group. The victim’s son urged Channel 3 to share his mother’s experience as a warning to others who use dating applications or engage in online dating. He recently found out that his mother had been…
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