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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What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?
The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...
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Gunman shot dead in fatal cross-province catastrophe in Thailand
In a tragic turn of events that unfolded across two provinces, a fatal shooting in Nakhon Pathom province led to the death of a police officer, Siwakorn Saibua, and sparked a dramatic confrontation in the central province of Kanchanaburi. The incident involved a prominent community leader, Prawin Chaiklai, commonly known as Nok, who enjoys considerable influence in the area due…
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Shock and recharge: Thailand’s EV sector hopes for spark
The Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) expects greater manufacturer interest in Thailand’s EV sector. The latest incentive package might be less appealing than earlier ones. Current incentives consist of tax reductions and subsidies for car producers and importers. These incentives aim to boost EV production and consumption from 2022 to 2023. The incentives range from 70,000 to 150,000 baht…
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Cooling clash in Bangkok: Air con proposal met with heated debate
A proposal to provide classrooms with air conditioning units sparked a heated debate in Bangkok, despite the city’s ongoing concern about PM2.5 safety. The recent rejection by the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) of this initiative aimed at protecting young learners from PM2.5 dust pollution raises concerns about balancing health protection and potential drawbacks in school environments. The BMC turned down…
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Thai PM’s night market escapade in Khon Kaen stirs up lotto luck frenzy
Thailand Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin last night visited a bustling night market in Khon Kaen, sparking interest among superstitious locals looking for lottery numbers. The visit was filled with interactions with local traders enjoying their evening meals. PM Srettha and his entourage, including Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of Culture, Precha Phonphanich, son of Sermsak, and Suriya Chuengrungrueangkit, Minister of Transport,…
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Sub-merging optimism: Thai’s submarine engine deal with Germany and China
The Thai government is hopeful of a renewed agreement with Germany and China, centring around the engine for a new submarine under construction in China. Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang conveyed his confidence in a mutually beneficial deal between the three nations. The discourse involves the potential installation of a German-made engine in the Chinese manufactured submarine, as initially stipulated by…
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Sad serenade: Thai man’s bridge suicide plunge echoes old tune
“What becomes of the brokenhearted” sang Jimmy Ruffin in the summer of 1966, in the case of a crestfallen 33 year old Thai man from Udon Thani province, that would mean an attempt to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. Natthawut Sanphakarn threatened to end his life by jumping off a bridge after experiencing heartbreak a staggering 20 times.…
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TAT reveals 20 unique wellness itineraries to capture global attention
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently hosted a Thailand Wellness Business Make Over seminar aimed at encouraging health and wellness providers to devise creative offerings that appeal to the Global Wellness Tourism Market. A key aspect of the event was a wellness itineraries contest that successfully drew participation from a range of providers. Aligned with the Thai Government’s Thailand…
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Thai weather forecast: Heavy rain, storms, trouble brewing – stay vigilant
The Thai Meteorological Department warned today there will be heavy rain and thunderstorms, affecting 60% to 80% of areas in Thailand. The public is urged to stay vigilant due to the potential dangers from heavy and accumulated rainfall that may lead to flash floods and forest run-off, particularly in hillside areas near waterways and low-lying areas. In the northern region,…
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High-speed pickup collides with trailer in Khon Kaen, killing two instantly
A high-speed pickup truck collided with a trailer truck attempting a U-turn, killing two people instantly. The pickup driver, an employee delivering goods, and an unidentified passenger died at the scene. The incident occurred at 3am yesterday, near the Makro shopping centre, Chum Phae district, Khon Kaen province. At the accident scene, in the middle of the road at a…
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Flash flood rescue heroes: Kalasin’s disaster team saves tree-clinging locals in N.E. Thailand
Kalasin’s Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office swiftly came to the aid of locals trapped by flash floods, stuck to trees for up to 14 hours in northeastern Thailand. The local government, led by Thanaset Chaisongkramthanatat, the Mayor of Kuchinarai, called on officials to stay alert and assist affected citizens. Ongoing rainfall has already resulted in flash floods across four…
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Party-goer’s predawn plunge: Drunk biker crashes into 5-metre pit in central Thailand
A young biker returning from a party at 4am today, suspected of being drunk while driving, ignored warnings and crashed his motorcycle into a 5-metre deep concrete pit. The incident occurred beneath a bridge in Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi. The driver, from Suphan Buri province, was found unconscious and reportedly drunk at the bottom of the pit. The pit, approximately…
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Ride of terror: Malaysian tourist’s Bangkok kidnap nightmare with a twist
A Malaysian tourist recently shared a harrowing experience while travelling in Bangkok, accusing a Thai ride-hailing driver of attempting to kidnap him and his four friends for a human trafficking gang. The Malaysian tourist, who goes by the name Andrew Tong on Facebook, recounted this life-changing experience. According to Tong, the incident unfolded on their final day in Bangkok as…
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Promotion dinner ends in tragedy: Local chief’s link to gunman sparks deadly clash
A gunman, allegedly linked to a local chief, killed one highway police officer and critically wounded another on Wednesday night in the Mueang district of Nakhon Pathom province after a heated discussion about a promotion at a dinner meeting. The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) commander, Montree Theskhan, confirmed that CSD police, led by deputy Pornsak Laolujiralai, are actively searching for…
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House fire claims lives of 3 year old boy and his bedridden grandmother
A house fire claimed the lives of a three year old boy and his 68 year old bedridden grandmother in the central province of Lopburi. The Kok Samrong Police Station officers yesterday, September 6, summoned firefighters to the scene in the Kok Samrong district of Lopburi province. Upon arrival at the scene officers met the house owner, 21 year old…
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Thai women’s volleyball team clinch third Asian championship title in thrilling match
The Thai women’s volleyball team won their third Asian championship title by defeating China 3-2. Police General Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party and President of the Thai Olympic Committee, praised the team’s skills and determination. The tournament, officially known as the PPTV 22nd Asian Senior Est Cola Women’s Volleyball Championship, was held from August 30 to September…
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Isaan fishing tragedy: Thai woman’s life snapped by mysterious gunshot
A woman tragically lost her life to a mysterious gunshot while she was fishing with her husband and a friend near a rice field in the Isaan province of Buriram. The 29 year old woman, named Bee, died at Laharn Sai Hospital after she was shot near her breast in a rice field on Tuesday, September 5. Bee’s husband, 25…
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Thai man’s mysterious disappearance makes waves: Fortune-teller’s underwater prediction sparks search
A local fortune-teller prophecised that a missing 68 year old Thai man, who mysteriously disappeared from his home in Buriram, northeast Thailand, was underwater. The local fortune-teller’s claims prompted villagers and rescue teams to search both underwater and on land. Incredibly, two days after he went missing, the man returned home unharmed, revealing that he had been sitting and sleeping…
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Cash crackdown: Thai government’s e-payment pledge to curb corruption
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed yesterday that the Thai government is set to implement e-payments across the state sector as a pivotal strategy to tackle the rampant issue of corruption. The announcement was made at an Anti-Corruption Day event organised by the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT), which the prime minister chaired. This event marked Srettha’s first public forum since…
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Diesel dreams: Government plans 2-baht tax cut to fuel price drop below 30 baht per litre
The Excise Department is preparing a proposal to reduce diesel tax by 2 baht per litre and aiming to lower the retail price of diesel to less than 30 baht per litre according to the newly formed government. The proposal is in the pipeline following Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s announcement to slash the retail price of diesel to 30 baht…
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Cocaine surprise: Kenyan women’s shocking 3-kilo stash at Phuket Airport
Phuket International Airport officials recently detained three Kenyan women, who were found carrying nearly 3 kilogrammes of cocaine. The narcotics, estimated to be worth approximately 10 million baht, were concealed within their bodies. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board had earlier tipped off local police and customs officials about foreign nationals smuggling cocaine into the country through Phuket Airport.…
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Lat Phrao Road takes a dive: Sinkhole chaos in Bangkok
There was a bit of a sinking feeling in Bangkok last night when Lat Phrao Road in the Wang Thong Lang district of the city collapsed, resulting in a 2-metre-deep hole in the left lane, causing chaos and a gridlock in the capital. The road collapse is believed to be connected to the ongoing cable tunnel construction in the vicinity.…
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Former Thai deputy speaker implicated in corruption scandal over educational project
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) declared yesterday that Charoen Jankomol, the previous first deputy House speaker, engaged in corrupt practices related to a parliamentary project’s misappropriation. The former Pheu Thai Party MP served from August 2, 2011, to December 9, 2013. The NACC’s investigation revealed that Charoen, along with six parliamentary officials, were indicted for corruption in the administration of…
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Motorcycle accident claims life of elderly man in busy Pattaya district
A tragic incident unfolded in the bustling Phanat Nikhom district of Chon Buri province, as a 63 year old man lost his life in a motorcycle accident. Another motorcyclist was also injured during the incident. The mishap occurred on Tuesday, September 5, on the heavily frequented Sukprayoon Road within the Ban Serd sub-district. Initiating investigations into the motorcycle accident, local…
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Red Bull heir’s hit-and-run case mishandled by 15 top Thai officials, says NACC
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) declared 15 high-ranking police officials and prosecutors culpable for mismanaging the infamous 2012 hit-and-run case connected to the Red Bull heir. Among the implicated are prominent figures including Somyot Poompanmoung, the former national police chief, and Nate Naksuk, the previous deputy attorney-general who had dismissed the residual charges against him, according to NACC spokesperson Niwatchai…
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One Family, One Soft Power policy introduced to promote Thailand’s soft power
The new government of Thailand, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, has introduced a policy known as One Family, One Soft Power (OFOS). This policy aims to promote Thailand’s soft power, starting by improving the skills of Thai people with free training programmes and workshops. The political campaigns of the Pheu Thai Party gained a lot of interest from the…
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Special warfare officer shot dead, deputy commander injured in Nakhon Pathom dispute
A fatal shooting occurred in Nakhon Pathom province, where one man lost his life while another sustained injuries. The incident took place in a spacious yard fronting a house located in Ta Kong Subdistrict, Mueang District. The shooting resulted in the death of Sub-Lieutenant Sivakorn Sai Bua, a staff sergeant from the 1st Special Warfare Command, 2nd Infantry Regiment, and…
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Severe weather warning for 56 Thai provinces as heavy rain and flash floods loom
A severe weather warning has been issued by the Thai Meteorological Department today, warning 56 provinces against heavy thunderstorms. The northeast region, accounting for 80% of the area, is expected to face the brunt of the downpour. Bangkok, too, is under a warning to prepare for potential flash floods and runoff. This alert comes in response to a strong monsoon…
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Thailand’s ruling party seeks consensus amid dispute over House committee leadership
A dispute over who should preside over various House committees in Thailand prompted an invitation for a meeting this week, issued by the whip of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. The aim is to reconcile the differing views. Wisut Chainarun, a Pheu Thai list-MP and party whip, revealed that out of the 35 House committees, multiple parties are vying for…
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Pang Cha apologises for copyright infringement over logo design
Pang Cha, a popular Thai tea brand, has publicly apologized for allegedly infringing on copyrighted material used as inspiration for their logo. The controversy began when Peeramon Chomdhavat, an expert in traditional Thai clothing, compared the logo of Pang Cha to an image of a Thai woman on a Regency calendar on his Facebook page, questioning the originality of the…
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Bangkok warehouse fire causes chaos in the Vibhavadi area
A four-storey warehouse, adjacent to a luxury car showroom in Vibhavadi area was engulfed in a rapid fire yesterday. The incident, which led to minor injuries for two fire-fighters, reportedly started with sounds of explosions before the fire spread quickly. The warehouse, located in Soi Vibhavadi 22 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Jompol, Chatuchak District, Bangkok, stores various types of goods, including electric…
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