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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Millionaire takes China’s gaokao exam for 27th time, seeking university dream
In a sea of young students taking China’s rigorous “gaokao” college entrance exam on June 7, 56-year-old Liang Shi stands out as a grey-haired, self-made millionaire attempting the test for the 27th time. Liang has come a long way from working in a factory to founding a thriving construction materials business, but one ambition remains unfulfilled: achieving a high enough…
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American transwoman marries Thai woman, fuelling hopes for future of same sex marriage (video)
In a heartwarming story that transcended stereotypes, an American transwoman married her Thai partner in Thailand on Sunday, June 4. They hope their same-sex union will be accepted in the country. The touching tale gained widespread attention after a popular Thai makeup artist, known as Wave Make Up on TikTok, shared videos of the couple, introducing them to the online…
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Heavy rainfall to hit 54 provinces, Bangkok at risk of flash floods
Heavy rainfall and floods are expected to hit 54 provinces in Thailand, with a 70% chance of precipitation across the country, according to the Meteorological Department. Bangkok could face flash floods, while increased wave heights are predicted for the Andaman Sea today. The Meteorological Department’s 24-hour forecast predicts heavy rainfall and thunderstorms due to a trough of a low-pressure area…
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Thai Buddhist monk’s daily life TikTok goes viral (video)
A video showing a day in the life of a Thai Buddhist monk went viral, garnering over 600,000 views within hours, as the TikTok vlog gained praise from netizens and increased interest in monastic life. Yesterday a Thai Buddhist monk using the TikTok handle @mek_tc posted a video blog (Vlog) offering a glimpse into the daily life of a monk.…
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Woman burns to death in car at Pattaya reservoir in suspected suicide
A tragic incident occurred near the Mabprachan Reservoir in Pattaya, where a woman lost her life after setting herself on fire inside a parked car. The police believe it was suicide. The incident took place yesterday evening, June 5, when residents alerted the Pattaya Police and Sawang Boriboon rescuers about a car engulfed in flames. Upon arriving at the scene,…
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Thailand celebrates five cities designated as UNESCO Creative Cities
Thailand earns global recognition with five cities designated as UNESCO Creative Cities. Government Spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri celebrated the achievement, emphasizing the cities’ diverse creative talents and cultural heritage in areas like gastronomy, crafts, folk arts, and design. Phuket was the first Thai city to be honoured with the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy status back in 2015. The island’s local…
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Fashion frenzy: Ayutthaya’s traditional Thai costume rentals thrive as Blackpink’s Lisa sparks tourist trend
Thai traditional costume rentals in Ayutthaya are experiencing a surge in business as tourists flock to follow in the footsteps of Blackpink member Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban, who today visited the historical site wearing a traditional Thai outfit. The singer’s Instagram post, showcasing her visit to the ancient temple of Wat Chaiwatthanaram, has reignited public interest in traditional Thai clothing and…
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Power play on the border: Thai electricity authority shocks Myanmar towns with supply halt
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) of Thailand halted the supply of electricity to two Myanmar border towns following a request from the Myanmar government. These towns, located across the Moei River, have been the site of significant illegal investments by groups of Chinese businessmen. Shwe Kokko and Ban Le Le Ko, both situated in Myanmar’s Karen State, are the two…
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Thai cyanide serial killer faces highest number of charges in Thai history
The Thai cyanide serial killer, Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, faces 80 charges for the murders of 14 victims and the attempted murder of one surviving victim. This makes her the criminal with the highest number of charges in Thai history. The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, today confirmed that the number of victims of…
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Prayut government accused of severe ethical breach over Thai constitution violation in torture law delay
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) received a petition from the Thai Constitution Protection Association and officials of the May 1992 Heroes’ Relatives Committee. The petition accuses the government of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, particularly Somkid Thepsuthin, the former Minister of Justice, of violating the Thai Constitution through the deliberate postponement of the implementation of the anti-torture and enforced disappearance law. Srisuwan…
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Friendly gesture turns fiesty: Singaporean woman’s anger leads to assault on Thai man
An angry Singaporean woman today assaulted a well-intentioned Thai man trying to help her at an entertainment venue in the northern province of Chiang Rai. The victim’s girlfriend, Prempraphat Suwanachai, provided a detailed account of the incident during an interview with Channel 7. According to Prempraphat, the altercation occurred around 3.30am. Prempraphat and her boyfriend were working at the entertainment…
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Slippery roads lead to terrifying motorcycle accident for mother and 12 year old child
A mother and her 12 year old son encountered an accident on their way to school, with the boy’s arm caught in the wheel of their motorcycle in Bangpakong, Chachoengsao. Good Samaritans and a police officer immediately rushed to help the injured pair in the incident that happened on a rainy morning. The left arm of the boy, age 12,…
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Thai hospital misdiagnoses man’s gallstone condition, quick intervention saves health
A 42 year old expatriate named Nick reached out for help on May 21 after being discharged from the hospital without a clear diagnosis of his abdominal pain. He had been experiencing discomfort in his right lower abdomen and an ache in his left lower chest that radiated into his back and upper abdomen. Nick had been unwell for two…
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Fugitive Thai man finally arrested after murdering British man in Pattaya 17 years ago
A Thai man on the run for 17 years after murdering a British man in Pattaya was finally arrested after a hospital checkup exposed his identity. Three other suspects involved in the crime were jailed, served their time and subsequently released. The incident occurred in 2006 when 47 year old British tourist Stephen Parkinson encountered four Thai men while riding…
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Deadly accident in Lampang: 1 killed and another severely hurt
A tragic accident occurred in Lampang province, where a man lost his life and another was severely injured after attempting to move a broken-down pickup truck. Another truck, coming from behind, failed to notice the emergency situation and crashed into them. On the evening of June 5, Ban Aeuom police station in Lampang was alerted to a horrific collision near…
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US SEC sues Binance for deception, crypto market takes a hit
Cryptocurrencies and shares in blockchain-related firms experienced a sharp decline following the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) lawsuit against Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange. The SEC accused Binance and its CEO Changpeng Zhao of secretly controlling Binance.US, inflating trading volumes, diverting customer funds, and failing to restrict US customers from its platform. This has led to a drop…
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Green pit viper’s visit to Thai home sparks lottery frenzy
A woman was startled by an unexpected, metre-long green pit viper crawling around her window at her home in Phayao province, sparking a social media frenzy where many believe the snake may have brought good luck. The resident, Kannanat Prompao, shared a video clip on her Facebook account of the snake approaching her window, with a caption stating, “It just…
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Prescription for resignation: Workload forces nearly 900 new doctors to quit
Nearly 900 new doctors quit within six months in Thailand with a heavy workload and poor work systems cited as contributing factors. Meanwhile, the Medical Council has issued guidelines for working hours to help alleviate the situation. Thai medical professionals are concerned about the high number of doctors who resign after a few months. This year, 2,700 newly graduated doctors…
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Microsoft to pay US$20m in FTC settlement over child data collection
Microsoft has agreed to pay US$20 million in order to settle charges brought by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over allegations that the tech giant illegally collected personal data from children without obtaining parental consent. The FTC accused Microsoft of violating the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by gathering personal information from young users of its Xbox…
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Thai MFP pledges higher welfare, minimum wage, and economic growth
The Move Forward Party (MFP) in Thailand announced its commitment to increasing welfare spending and raising the minimum wage, while simultaneously promoting economic growth through opening up the market to competition and reducing corruption. The Thai economy experienced a 2.6% growth last year as it gradually recovered from the global pandemic. The MFP, which is striving to lead a coalition after…
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Cowardly cop dismissed after attacking wife and smashing her car (video)
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) sacked a cowardly cop attached to Mueang Satun Police Station after he viciously attacked his wife and smashed her car in the middle of the road in southern Thailand. The incident took place on the road in the Sadao district of Songkhla province at 1.20am on Saturday, June 4. The cop, 51 year old squad…
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Thai King sends condolences to India after tragic train collision
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of Thailand has expressed his condolences to Indian President Droupadi Murmu following the devastating rail accident in Balasore, State of Odisha, which claimed the lives of over 270 individuals last Friday. In the message, the King stated… “Queen Suthida and I are shocked and deeply saddened by the catastrophic collision of trains in Balasore, State…
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Golden surge: Thailand witnesses 100 baht spike in gold prices
Gold prices in Thailand saw a strong surge today, with prices for gold bullion and gold ornaments rising by 100 baht compared to their closing levels on June 5. Data from the Gold Traders Association revealed that the price for gold ornaments stood at 32,750 baht per baht weight, while gold bullion was being bought at 32,150 baht and sold…
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Thai Move Forward Party vows 100-day push for same-sex marriage bill
The leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP) pledged to introduce a bill legalising same-sex marriage and promoting gender equality once the party forms a government. In a recent Facebook post, MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat stated that the party’s marriage equality bill would be pushed for passage within 100 days of forming a government, as part of a memorandum of understanding…
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Ghosts or coincidence? DJ’s death adds to haunted room’s dark history
A former popular DJ was found dead in his haunted room, leaving a haunting note about ghosts and previous deaths. Neighbours were unaware of the tragic incident until a foul smell led rescuers to investigate. On June 4, the Sawang Phon Kuson Rayong Rescue Foundation, local authorities, and police officers from Muang Rayong Police Station responded to a rented room…
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Postman faces 200,000 baht baht bill for lost parcel
In the Nang Rong district of Buriram province, a postal worker has reported the disappearance of a valuable parcel worth over 200,000 baht (about US$5,800). Seeking fairness and assistance, the postman is uncertain about the fate of the package. The customer who lodged the complaint is demanding compensation for the lost merchandise. Uthai, the postman, admits he signed for the…
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5 trapped as house collapses in Samut Sakhon; rescue efforts underway
A house collapse in Samut Sakhon province left five people trapped under the wreckage, prompting swift action from rescue officials. Two of the victims suffered severe injuries, while preliminary investigation reveals that the house condition had been in bad shape, posing a hazard to its inhabitants. Authorities in Samut Sakhon were alerted to a single-storey wooden house collapse within Soi…
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Yellow Line monorail trial attracts 80,000 passengers, plans expansion
Nearly 80,000 passengers took advantage of the Yellow Line’s trial run over the weekend, as the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) plans to extend the trial to all 23 stations by mid-month. Pichet Kunadhamraks, the DRT’s director-general, stated that the current trial run includes 13 stations from Hua Mak to Samrong. Pichet noted that a large number of people participated…
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Thai and South Korean officials tackle illegal ‘little ghosts’ labourers issue
A recent meeting between the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Thailand and South Korean authorities aimed to address the issue of illegal Thai labourers, or “little ghosts,” working in South Korea. The discussions focused on finding a systematic resolution to labour problems that could lead to human trafficking. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, at least 170,000 Thai labourers were working in South…
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Highway 12 expansion completed, boosting Thailand-Myanmar-Laos economic ties
The completion of Highway 12’s expansion, which connects Thailand with Myanmar, and Laos, is expected to significantly enhance cross-border economic activities among the three nations. Government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri announced that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is optimistic about the economic benefits the highway will bring, particularly to the residents of Kalasin and Mukdahan in northeast Thailand. Highway 12 forms a…
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