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 chat commerce predicted to hit 1.14 trillion baht by 2028
Chat commerce in Thailand is expected to reach a staggering 1.14 trillion baht by 2028, according to predictions by Line Thailand. This substantial increase, up from 462 billion baht in 2023, represents a compound annual growth rate of 19.2%. Jirat Watanakarin, who heads e-commerce growth and strategy at Line Thailand, said Thailand is one of the world’s largest markets in…
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97 year old woman’s 3.4 million baht stolen by assistant in Thailand
A 24 year old man has been arrested for stealing over 3.4 million baht (US$96,840) from an 97 year old woman. The arrest of the accused, Thanapat (surname withheld), was executed today (January 16), by Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyaphong Wongketuchai, the head of Ban Pong Police Station in Ratchaburi Province, along with his investigative team. The stolen money was spent…
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Thailand and Palestine to join forces to free Thai hostages
Thailand and Palestine promised to take their 12-year relationship to new heights with discussions on tourism and trade between Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara and Walid Abu Ali, Ambassador of the State of Palestine. Both sides conveyed their pleasure at the strong Thai-Palestinian relations that have flourished since August 1, 2012. With the Thai embassy in Amman, Jordan, assuming control of…
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Hotel maid arrested in Patong for snatching 140,000 baht from foreign guests
A Swiss man and two Cyprus nationals found money missing from their rooms at Patong, Phuket on December 27 last year. The man reported to Patong Police that US$700 (24,600 baht) had gone missing from his room at The Great Hotel on Sirirat Road, Patong, Kathu District. Two more similar incidents were subsequently reported on January 6 by Konstantnos and…
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9 year old Thai boy accused of sexually assaulting dog
A Thai grandfather is seeking justice for his nine year old grandson after his school teacher in the Chamni district of the Isaan province of Buriram accused the boy of sexually assaulting a dog. As a consequence, the boy has been banned from attending school. The 58 year old grandfather, named Lhong, asked Channel 3 to spread the story of…
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Thai government spends 185 billion baht in 123 days met with criticism
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s coalition government unleashed a whopping 185 billion baht assault on Thailand’s economic and social quagmires, thansettakij.com on January 13. The audacious measures by the 61 year old PM include a multifaceted approach to lighten the burden on citizens, with reductions in fuel and electricity prices, financial lifelines for struggling small to medium-sized businesses, debt relief for…
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Thailand to tackle declining birth rate as national issue
Cholnan Srikaew, the Public Health Minister, announced the government’s intent to prioritise the country’s dwindling birth rate as a national issue. In a response to Senator Ampol Chindawattana’s query regarding the falling birth rate, Cholnan explained that the challenge isn’t straightforward to address due to shifting priorities and socioeconomic values. The government, however, recognised the urgency of the situation, given…
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Work from Bangkok home possible due to increased PM2.5 pollution
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) struck a deal with civic groups, proposing work from home plan for 50,000 of the city’s workers if PM2.5 intensity hits the red level for three consecutive days, declared Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. The 57 year old city chief, in a strategic morning meeting with top-tier administrators, addressed the escalating PM2.5 dust crisis throttling the…
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Royal Project Gastronomy Festival 2024 to tantalise taste buds at Siam Paragon
The Royal Project Gastronomy Festival 2024 is set to dazzle food enthusiasts at Siam Paragon. As it marks the 55th anniversary of the Royal Project Foundation and celebrates the auspicious sixth cycle birthday of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, this culinary spectacle promises an indulgent journey into the realm of superfoods and regal delicacies. The festival, titled Vitality Life of…
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13 year old Thai boy nabbed for stealing phone of Turkish tourist in Pattaya
An overwhelmed Turkish tourist thanked Mueang Pattaya Police Station officers for the swift arrest of a 13 year old Thai boy who stole his mobile phone. The theft took place at 4.30am yesterday, January 15, while Police Sergeant Major Thatsanai Termphon from the Mueang Pattaya Police Station was on duty at a police booth on Jomtien Beach Road. Thatsanai heard…
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High-speed chase in Sisaket ends with seizure of 90,000 meth pills worth 600,000 baht
In a dramatic turn of events, a high-speed chase unfolded as law enforcement pursued and arrested a man and woman, seizing 90,000 methamphetamine pills near Khao Phra Wihan National Park. A high-speed chase led by law enforcement officers ended in the arrest of a 26 year old man and 19 year old woman, in a parking lot at the Khao…
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Thailand launches safety initiative to lure back tourists
In a bid to allure international tourists, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) rolled out its Thais Always Care project, a beacon of safety and hospitality in the heart of the famed Amazing Thailand campaign. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool unveiled the initiative, underlining its core ethos – the Land of Care. “Thais Always Care is more than just a slogan,…
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Korean YouTubers’ visa status in Thailand under scrutiny
Intrigue surrounds the visa status of popular Korean YouTubers, P’ Jung and Cullen, as a prominent lawyer’s query ignites discussions on their prolonged stay in Thailand. Recent sightings at the Ministry of Labour add to the mystery. Following the query by prominent lawyer, Ronnarong Kaewpetch, regarding the visa status of two popular Korean YouTubers in Thailand, P’ Jung and Cullen…
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Thailand’s education system needs urgent overhaul to meet trade, investment demands
The pressing need for Thailand to expedite its educational development to match trade and investment needs has been highlighted by Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO). The dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of the contemporary trade, investment, and technological sectors necessitates a workforce equipped with adaptable skills and thinking capabilities. Poonpong detailed that despite some…
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Thai government contemplates extending humanitarian aid to Myanmar
A military source revealed that the Thai government is deliberating on extending widespread humanitarian aid to assist the vulnerable populations in Myanmar. Additionally, Thailand is considering hosting discussions with the leader of Myanmar and ethnic minority factions to resolve the country’s crisis. The Thai prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, has been engaged in conversations with Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara and the…
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Thai education: Foundations and milestones under King Rama V’s Reign
This Teacher’s Day, let’s journey back in time to delve into the establishment of the first Thai schools, both royal and public, dating back to the reign of King Rama V. These institutions have survived to this day, marking a significant milestone in the country’s education history. King Rama V, after ascending the throne in 1868, observed the importance of…
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Bangkok braces for rising dust pollution, considers work-from-home scenario
Bangkok’s City Hall is on high alert as it keeps a close watch on the escalating ultra-fine dust pollution levels. The governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, raised the possibility of initiating a work-from-home programme if alarmingly unsafe levels persist for three days in a row. Chadchart yesterday indicated that a warning would be disseminated through the City Hall’s network, which boasts over…
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Royal Thai Navy honours Krom Luang Chumphon with tribute walk-run event
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) yesterday staged an event titled Walk-Run in Tribute to His Royal Highness Krom Luang 100 Years Apakorn Day. The event was inaugurated by Admiral Adung Phan-iam, Commander of the RTN, along with His Royal Highness Chiyakorn Apakorn Sesavej Chairman of the Apakorn Foundation. The event took place at the Navy Command Headquarters, Wang Nanthana Nayan…
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Tao Ngoi’s tortoise statue: Thailand’s new hotspot for lottery enthusiasts
The famed Tortoise Statue of Tao Ngoii has become a hot spot for lottery enthusiasts seeking lucky numbers after its landscape was revitalised. The changes, which took place at the end of 2023 in the Tao Ngoi public park, have turned the area into a flourishing tourist attraction. The park is home to two large Naga sculptures located near the…
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Phuket community gathers for fun-filled Children’s Day celebrations
Phuket was brimming with joy and laughter yesterday as the community gathered to commemorate Children’s Day. A plethora of activities were arranged throughout the island, transforming the usually serene atmosphere into a vibrant, lively carnival for the younger generation. In a heartwarming gesture, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and his wife, Busadee Suwannarat, opened the doors of the Provincial Hall to…
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Oink oink: Unidentified man allegedly rapes pregnant pig in Buriram
An unidentified man allegedly raped a pregnant pig in a pen at a Thai woman’s home leaving residents living in fear in the Chalerm Phra Kiat district in the Isaan province of Buriram. Concerns grew among locals in the area after a 40 year old pig owner named Kong, revealed a shocking story to Channel 3. Kong explained that she…
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Thai data privacy watchdog uncovers massive breach involving over 5,000 organisations
Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) recently uncovered a significant privacy breach involving 5,261 organisations. Among these, a majority of 4,886 were government agencies from both central and local sectors. The lapse in data protection was observed between November 9 of the previous year and January 12. The violations were primarily due to excessively revealing personal data on various websites…
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Glove wars: Public Warehouse Organisation gears up for legal battle over undelivered goods
The Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO) is currently embarking on a legal battle against its former director and six other officials for undelivered gloves. The lawsuit is centred around the return of a 2 billion baht deposit that was paid for a 112 billion baht rubber glove purchase during the Covid-19 pandemic, which was never delivered. Kriangsak Prateepvisut, the PWO director,…
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Severe drought crisis looms in Nakhon Ratchasima with water reservoirs depleting
Nakhon Ratchasima province faces a severe drought crisis, with medium-sized water reservoirs at worrying levels, holding less than half their capacity. A halt on off-season rice farming has been ordered and urgent discussions are underway to secure water reserves throughout this year’s dry season. The Nakhon Ratchasima Irrigation Project’s water allocation division today reported on the water situation in the…
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Ancient artefacts over 600 years old discovered in Phayao province
The Department of Fine Arts began inspecting a historical site and ancient artefacts over 600 years old, discovered by locals in Phayao province. The villagers had unearthed coins and ancient Buddha statues while renovating a sacred site. The discovery occurred today in Ban Hua Khua, Chun District, Phayao Province. Villagers revealed the discovery of a large number of ancient artefacts following…
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Bangkok man arrested for selling unauthorised SIM cards online for 40 baht
A 41 year old Thai man was arrested yesterday for selling unauthorised SIM cards through Facebook. This was part of a three-month investigation led by police officers Worawit Yanchinda, Wasan Thawatchaiwirut, Nat Thadanai Bamrungsri, and Narongdet. The accused, Chaiyot, was apprehended in a parking lot at a Ratchayothin Zone mall in Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok, with 1,465 SIM cards, a…
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Driver of sedan involved in taxi collision to undergo alcohol test in Thailand
Police are set to conduct a thorough physical examination of the driver involved in a collision with a taxi on Ratchada Road in Bangkok. Suspicion was raised after a yellow liquid was found discarded in his white sedan, prompting an investigation into potential alcohol consumption. The offending vehicle, which had been abandoned in a side street, has been seized and…
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Cop’s gunshot drama: Thai police officer faints in car after marital gunfire misfire
A Thai police officer reportedly fainted in her car after discharging a firearm in an attempt to threaten her husband, only to be startled by the recoil of the gunfire, in the southern province of Surat Thani. A Thai rescuer, Somwang Sang-ngam, told Channel 3 that his team received a report of a shooting from the Mueang Surat Thani Police…
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Bank of Thailand resists calls for policy adjustments amid economic slump
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) countered government calls for monetary policy adjustments to stimulate the country’s slumping economy. Piti Disyatat, BoT Assistant Governor, stated today, January 15, that interest rates, already quite low compared to global standards, are not the solution to an economy being pummelled by external factors like dwindling global demand. Piti emphasised that the country’s lacklustre economic…
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Tantrum in the sun: Foreigners’ sunbathing sparks debate at Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok
A debate erupted over two foreigners sunbathing at Sanam Luang, a leisure park in front of Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. Numerous netizens expressed disapproval of the act, while some argued that the foreigners might be behaving based on cultural differences. Additionally, there were calls for the park to be opened to the public. Facebook user Kamron Patprayoon shared a…
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