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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Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you
Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...
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Motorcyclist killed in hit-and-run by lorry driver in central Thailand
A tragic road incident has claimed the life of a 43 year old motorcyclist in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan. An 18-wheel lorry collided with the victim’s motorcycle, resulting in fatal head injuries. The 39 year old driver, Wasan, refuted allegations of fleeing, claiming ignorance of the incident that killed the victim Phinyo. At approximately 9.20am today, Deputy Inspector Anan Thongleua of…
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Phantom frenzy: Lopburi locals hunt for notorious ghost causing sleepless nights (video)
Residents of Lopburi are on a hunt for a notorious ghost, causing sleepless nights due to its eerie presence in central Thailand. A 70 year old pig farmer, Wichien, today revealed he encountered this ghost twice. The hunt has sparked excitement and fear among residents who have taken to TikTok to document their thrilling ghost hunts. Wichien’s first encounter with…
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PM Srettha urges swift evacuation decision as death toll of Thai workers in Israel hits 30
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin urgently called upon Thai citizens residing in Israel to make a swift decision regarding their evacuation amidst escalating global concerns. The Thai death toll in Israel has distressingly reached 30. Addressing the public from Beijing on Wednesday, the prime minister expressed his concern. “For those who are still undecided, it’s crucial to decide promptly as…
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Chiang Mai property stirs online debate, selling dream or reality for 80,000 baht?
A plot of land, measuring just one square wah (equivalent to 4 square metres) and priced at 80,000 baht, has caused a stir on social media. The land, located in a village in Chiang Mai, comes complete with a groundwater system, a water tank, and a steel cage. The online Chiang Mai property post advertising the sale also included a…
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Elderly man accused of child sex abuse commits suicide in northern Thailand
A 72 year old man accused of child sex abuse committed suicide, escaping the legal consequences of his actions. The mother of the 11 year old girl victim revealed that she too had been molested by the same man when she was a child. The child sex abuse incident came to light when an 11 year old girl sent a…
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Stringing along trouble: Cambodian guitarist strikes wrong chord in Bangkok church heists
A Cambodian guitarist was arrested today after being accused of stealing musical instruments from Christian churches across Bangkok. The church theft arrest took place at an unnamed rental room in Suk Sawat Road, Phra Samut Chedi district, Samut Prakan. The suspect, Hek Sophol, was sought after an arrest warrant was issued by the Criminal Court of Southern Bangkok on October…
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Sunny-side up: Thai exports set to crack 3.6% growth in 2023
Positive prospects are forecasted for Thai exports next year, with an anticipated growth rate of 3.6%. This rebound follows a projected 2% drop this year, according to a recent report by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC). UTCC’s president, Thanavath Phonvichai, attributes this optimistic projection to several factors including lower interest rates and easing inflation globally, which…
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Thai worker survives shooting in Israel, returns home thanks to fellow expat
A Thai worker who survived a shooting incident in Israel has returned home to Khon Kaen province thanks to the heroic efforts of a Thai woman from Nong Bua Lamphu. The Thai worker’s mother, Boonhom Butmo, expressed her deepest gratitude to 40 year old Jam for ensuring the safe return of her son, Ono. When reporters visited Ono’s parents at…
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Thai PM dismisses rumours of expensive Super App for digital currency scheme
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin quashed rumours yesterday regarding the development of a new application for the country’s forthcoming 10,000-baht digital currency handout scheme. Speculation had been rife that an affiliate of property behemoth Sansiri Plc was to develop the new digital wallet application, named Super App, at a whopping cost of 12 billion baht. However, the 61 year old…
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NIA Reform: Thailand supports startups and SMEs market entry
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) reformed its financial assistance measures, shifting focus towards aiding startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in getting their products to market, rather than simply supporting the development of prototypes. This year, the state agency has allocated 300 million baht to support these businesses, to generate a 3 billion baht economic and social impact, which…
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National police chief probes Thaksin’s hospital treatment amid special privilege claims
National Police Chief General Torsak Sukvimol requested a report from the Police General Hospital (PGH) regarding the medical treatment provided to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who is currently incarcerated. This request was prompted by a photograph circulating on social media that depicted Thaksin, donned in a patient’s gown and mask, presumably heading for CT and MRI scans. The image, which…
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Thailand to establish dedicated appeal court for narcotics cases
The Supreme Court of Thailand has set in motion plans to establish a dedicated appeal court for narcotics cases, aiming to expedite the legal process for confiscating assets of drug networks. This initiative follows a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin and the newly appointed Supreme Court president, Anocha Chevitsophon. The deputy prime minister requested guidance from Anocha Chevitsophon…
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Real estate giant Siam Piwat secures global partnerships to boost retail reputation
The Siam Piwat Group, a leading real estate and retail developer in Thailand, secured partnerships with seven global retail giants, boosting its reputation as a popular global destination. The group, which owns and operates several prominent shopping centres, including Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, ICONSIAM, and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, has also been in talks with Hyundai Department Store…
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Thai police to trial reflective vests for increased safety in tourist areas
The bustling tourist areas of Thailand will soon see police personnel donning new reflective vests, a move aimed at enhancing safety measures for both Thai citizens and international visitors. This decision was brought to life by Police General Torsak Sukvimol, the commissioner general of the Royal Thai Police, and was announced on October 16. Officers from the Crime Suppression Division…
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Revved up worries: Middle East turmoil puts Thai car exports in the hot seat
The Federation of Thai Industries’ Automotive Industry Club warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict could potentially disrupt car exports to the region. Particularly, the popular pickup exports could see a downturn if the dispute remains unresolved. Given the current stagnation in domestic sales, the Thai auto industry relies significantly on its exports. Surapong Paisitpatanapong, the vice-chairman of the Federation…
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Thai workers in Israel red zone plead for government aid to return home
A plea for help has been issued by 28 Thai workers located in Israel. They are calling for the Thai government to facilitate their return home after their employer allegedly abandoned them in a high-risk area of ongoing conflict, known as the “red zone” and coerced them into continuing their work. A 31 year old man, Pongsakorn Intaworn, from Ban…
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Bangkok’s electric train flat fare drops to 20 baht, ridership soars by 90%
A surge of nearly 90% in ridership was recorded on Bangkok’s Red and Purple electric train lines on Monday, following the introduction of a 20-baht flat fare. The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) source revealed that the number of passengers on both lines escalated to 94,446 on Monday, marking an 86% increase from the previous day. The 20-baht flat fare…
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Chinese corporations eye investment in Thai green economy
Chinese corporations have expressed their intent to invest in Thailand’s green economy and development projects, renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs), and transportation infrastructure, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The Chinese investment announcement came after discussions between PM Srettha and Chinese business executives at the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing. The 61 year old…
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Thai student’s tragic death after falling victim to iPhone online scam
A tragic incident unfolded in Nakhon Si Thammarat when a 19 year old student was found hanged in her home after falling victim to an online scam. The fraudsters duped the victim, Atiya, into paying 20,000 baht for an iPhone 13 that never existed. The police launched an investigation yesterday to capture the culprits, including a woman who held an account…
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Thai women heroically rescue compatriots amidst Israel conflict
Two Thai women have emerged as heroes following their daring rescue of 32 Thai workers amidst the recent tumult in Palestine and Israel. The courageous act of the women, Wipawadee “Jam” Vannachai and Napaporn “Nong” Sohasun, caught the public’s attention yesterday when a series of videos shared by Wipawadee chronicling their risky mission went viral. This commendable act was carried…
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Thai tycoon Premchai Karnasuta’s release reignites interest in Black Panther case
Premchai Karnasuta, a high-profile individual known for his involvement in the infamous Black Panther case, is set to be released from Thong Pha Phum prison today. This news has reignited interest in the case, which once shook the nation, on social media platforms. Premchai, the primary defendant in the case, is the president and managing director of Italian-Thai Development Public…
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Thai human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa bail hopes derailed again on less majeste charge
Arnon Nampa, a prominent human rights lawyer, faced a second denial for his bail request, as informed by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). The appeal court’s decision came yesterday, October 16, justifying it with the severity of the royal defamation charges against Arnon and the potential risk of him absconding if set free. Consequently, the court found no grounds…
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Chiang Mai military seize 12.2 million meth pills
Early this morning morning saw the seizure of over 12 million methamphetamine pills by military personnel in the Wiang Haeng district of Chiang Mai. The Pha Muang task force’s rangers of the Royal Thai Army discovered two suspicious pickup trucks parked in a garden along the Ban Mai Muang Jod road in the Piang Luang Tambon at around 5am, today,…
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Bangchak finalises Esso Thailand acquisition
The energy conglomerate Bangchak Corporation, listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), finalised its acquisition of Esso Thailand shares via a tender offer. The deal, valued at 3.54 billion baht, has resulted in Bangchak owning 76.3% of Esso Thailand. Previously, Bangchak secured a 65.99% stake in Esso Thailand, the entity managing Esso petrol stations, from Esso Asia Holdings Pte…
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Thai businesses on track to navigate energy price cuts: TDRI concerns loom
Thai businesses are assessing the implications of the government’s recent energy price cuts, amidst concerns from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) about the potential adverse long-term effects of the policy. The Srettha Thavisin-led government has decided to slash the power tariff from 4.45 baht per kilowatt-hour to 3.99 baht between September and December and cap the retail price of…
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Thai woman’s lottery luck hits the skids: Damaged tickets raise winning dilemma
A young woman’s joy of winning the lottery with five tickets was abruptly dampened when she discovered the tickets were severely damaged. This incident sparked online debate about whether she could still claim her winnings. The lottery tickets, purchased for the draw on September 1, were five in total. The first two tickets, numbered 295491, along with one ticket numbered…
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Tesla ghost hunt goes viral: Scientist on track to uncover cemetery mystery in Thailand
A viral TikTok video featuring a Tesla car detecting a ghost in a cemetery sparked scientific analysis today by Dr Chetsada Denduangboripant, a lecturer in the Department of Biology at Chulalongkorn University. He suggested that the anomaly could be due to a malfunction in the car’s sensor and software systems. The viral video was posted by @aunnyc, who drove her…
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Bangkok father arrested for incestuous rape of daughter leading to pregnancy
A shocking case of incestuous rape emerged leading to the arrest of a man who confessed to sexually abusing his 14 year old daughter, resulting in her pregnancy. Paveena Hongsakul, the Chair of the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women, today, October 17, at 11am, accompanied the victim’s mother, 34 year old Oi (pseudonym), to the Prawet Police Station…
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Money mishap:Thai woman’s 20 baht note goes ‘choo-choo’ in the frying pan
A Thai woman mistakenly fried a 20 baht banknote, resulting in a shrivelled and crispy note that sparked much mirth on social media asking whether a bank would accept it. A wave of humorous responses from netizens ensued after a Twitter user yesterday posted an image, from a life and family problems consultation group, where the woman sought advice, accompanied…
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High-end restaurants warned of new scam involving bogus wine shop and fake reservations
A new kind of scam targeting upscale restaurants has been exposed. Scammers posing as customers reserve tables, deceiving eateries into buying wine from bogus shops. The TikTok account, ambersmixedfamily, shared a video warning about this new type of con targeting high-priced restaurants. Ammy, the account owner, shared a chat conversation where a man approached the restaurant via Line, a messaging…
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