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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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A solution for infected people to vote during Bangkok’s governor election
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health insists that the voice of even Covid-19 infected people won’t go unnoticed. The ministry says they’ve got a solution for infected residents to vote for their new Bangkok governor. The 11th election for the governorship of Bangkok will be held on May 22. It will take place 9 years after the last Governor election in…
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Inspections reveal 12 Thai prisons serving rotten food to inmates
Spot-check inspections conducted at prisons across Thailand reveal that a total of 12 prisons were serving rotten food to inmates. The prisons were serving chicken, pork, vegetables and condiments all past their use-by-date. Prison officers in the 12 prisons are thought to have profited from the scandal, according to Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, who publicly addressed the results of the…
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Scalpers resell Justin Bieber concert ticket at more than one million baht
Justin Bieber Justice World Tour tickets have been scalped and resold for more than one million baht. The promoter’s official account says… “This is too much!” and warns of the cancellation of scalped tickets. Justin Bieber announced his Justice World Tour in Bangkok, and it will hit Rajamangala National Stadium on November 6. The ticket prices started at 2,500 baht,…
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Thailand’s police warn, don’t fall for ‘deepfake’ scams
A Thai deputy police spokesman warned people today that scammers are using so-called ‘deepfake’ technology to pretend to be police on video calls, and pressure people to transfer money to them. The spokesman pointed out that Royal Thai Police does not have a policy of making video calls to anybody involved in a criminal case, be it the defendant, suspect…
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Freight trains between North Korea and China suspended due to Covid-19
A South Korean media agency said today that freight train services between China and North Korea have been suspended. The agency said services were suspended due to Covid-19 infections in the Chinese border city of Dandong. Meanwhile, South Korean authorities say they are keeping an eye on the situation. An official from South Korea’s unification ministry said the government is…
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Senior Thai naval officer allegedly forces marines to drink semen
In a video circulating online, a senior naval officer is seen forcing trainee marines to drink what he says is semen mixed with fish sauce. Today, a naval base in Chon Buri province confirmed that the clip is real and happened at Sattahip Naval Base in October last year. The Royal Thai Navy has launched an investigation into the incident…
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Officials warn of upcoming storms in several regions of Thailand
Officials are warning of thunderstorms, gusty winds, and even hail in Thailand’s north, northeastern, central, and eastern regions. This includes the Bangkok area. Last night parts of the city were presented with an impressive thunder and light show to welcome in the start of the annual wet season. The Thai Meteorological Department says that from May 1-2, a moderate high-pressure…
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Chon Buri authorities reorganise vendors at Na Jomtien Beach
Municipal and traffic police are reorganising vendors on Na Jomtien Beach to give tourists more space to enjoy beach vibes after they received complaints that food carts are blocking the traffic and parking areas along the beach. Na Jomtien Beach had been improved to prevent coastal erosion and draw more tourists with a budget of 600 million baht. The beaches…
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UPDATE: Police arrest taxi driver who robbed drunken foreigner asleep on sidewalk
Following the report of a drunken foreigner who got robbed by a taxi driver while sleeping on the sidewalk in Bangkok, police have already arrested the suspect. The taxi driver said he meant to just wake the foreigner up, but the man’s assets ‘enticed’ him. Last Sunday, a local Thai news Facebook page reported that a taxi driver had robbed a…
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Friday Covid Update: 14,053 new cases; provincial totals
129 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 28,400 with 6,702 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 14,053 new Covid-19 cases and 16,782 recoveries. There are now 155,910 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of the new cases recorded…
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American consulate in Chiang Mai accused of covert military operations
US officials in Thailand are denying allegations that a new American consulate in Chiang Mai is supplying weapons to rebel groups in neighbouring countries and is being used for covert military operations. A local Thai group wrote an open letter requesting US President Joe Biden rethink the purpose of the consulate, which is scheduled to be completed by the end…
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Thailand’s Department of Health reveals 5-10% of population refuse to wear face masks
Thailand’s Department of Health says a survey on face masks conducted during Songkran reveals that more than 90% of the population in Thailand wears face masks in public spaces. However, another 5-10% “refused” to wear face masks, saying they are “uncomfortable”. Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health Ekkachai Piensiwatchara reported that 5-10% of the Thai population didn’t wear face…
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Chon Buri residents believe woman behaving bizarrely ‘possessed’
Chon Buri residents believe a woman is “possessed” after she jumped out of her car near a gas station in Mueang district, and started acted strangely. The 31 year old woman reportedly started acting with a number of bizarre behaviours, according to police from Chon Buri Police Station. These behaviours included rubbing her body with a Chinese talisman, and chanting…
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Overhead traffic sign strikes car, passengers escape unscathed
As if Thailand’s roads weren’t dangerous enough, now drivers have another hazard to watch out for: falling objects from aging highway infrastructure. In recent weeks, there have been numerous reports of signs and concrete striking vehicles. The latest incident happened on Thursday, when a massive overhead traffic sign fell and struck an SUV on Phahonyothin Highway in the central province…
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Squabble over 50 billion baht beachfront land in Phuket
Beachfront land in Phuket valued at 50 billion baht remains occupied, despite the Supreme Court’s orders for 9 claimants to vacate their plots. The Thai government, locals and companies have squabbled over the 178 rai of land – which covers 3 kilometres of Layan Beach – for 30 years. Officials from the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, inspected the…
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Airlines worldwide ordered to follow new entry measures for Thailand from May 1
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has instructed all airlines to follow the new entry measures applicable from Sunday, according to a Nation Thailand report. The notification follows the decision by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to drop the Test & Go entry scheme. This means overseas arrivals no longer need to undergo PCR testing on arrival or book…
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Death of elderly actor in quarantine raises concerns over Hong Kong’s Covid rules
The death of Hong Kong actor Kenneth Tsang while in mandatory hotel quarantine has raised concerns about the territory’s strict entry requirements. Tsang was found dead in his quarantine room having recently returned from Singapore. While tributes have been pouring in for the late actor, many, including renowned columnist Chip Tsao, have lambasted Hong Kong’s quarantine policy. “If it weren’t…
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Domestic tourism stimulus campaigns to be extended
The government will extend its “We Travel Together” domestic tourism stimulus campaign, as well as the less popular “Tour Teaw Thai” campaign, until the end of 2022, according to a Bangkok Post report. Yuthasak Supasorn from the Tourism Authority of Thailand says phase 5 of “We Travel Together” will offer 1 million room nights, after phase 4 ends next month.…
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Airlines raise concerns over Thailand’s 300-baht tourism fee, coming in Q3
Thailand continues to be a troublesome destination for airlines keen on resuming flights into the Kingdom. Firstly with the lingering Thailand Pass digital gateway, and now a new tourism tax (which will include compulsory insurance). Thailand’s tourism ministry has confirmed the proposed 300 baht tourism fee looks set to be implemented from the third quarter of 2022. Ministry official Mongkon…
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Crowds of Thais travel to Pattaya’s Koh Larn before new school semester
Officials on Koh Larn, an island off Pattaya, suspect that large crowds of Thais have recently swarmed there to get a bit of R & R before the new school semester begins. Thai schools are set to open on May 17. The Pattaya News reported yesterday that even though it was a week day, large groups of mostly Thai tourists came to…
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Sri Lanka’s political crisis continues with huge walkout
After Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency earlier this month, the world has seen massive political unrest in the country as protestors call on the president and his powerful family to step down. Last week, Sri Lankan police shot and killed a protestor in an incident that quickly spread across social media. Today (Thursday), Sri Lankan workers participated in mass…
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31 land border checkpoints in 17 provinces to reopen on May 1
Land border checkpoints in 17 border provinces will reopen on May 1, according to the Department of Disease Control. Vaccinated Thai citizens and travellers from neighbouring countries can enter Thailand via the checkpoints. Foreigners will still need to register for Thailand Pass prior to entering via land border. Today, Assistant Spokesperson of the Covid-19 Situation Administration Centre Sumanee Watcharasin revealed…
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BTS urges passengers not to cross their legs while sitting
Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain is asking for cooperation from the passengers to avoid crossing their legs while sitting on the train during a rush hour to avoid annoying people… Yesterday, the official Facebook page รถไฟฟ้าบีทีเอส (BTS Skytrain) published a post saying… “We ask for your cooperation, please do not cross your legs while sitting on the skytrain. Admin would like to…
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80 year old noodle shop in Bangkok temporarily closed due to expensive ingredients
A well-known noodle shop named Look Chin Pla Ban Tad Thong in Bangkok has temporarily closed after 80 years in service. “We have to close all branches temporarily. We have never seen ingredients this expensive before,” said the shop’s owner. Since the pandemic hit, many businesses have closed down. Areas that were previously bustling have become quiet. Businesses hoped that…
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Woman drowns in Chao Phraya River
A 42 year old woman has drowned in Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River this afternoon. The woman was washing her clothes on the riverbank in the Phra Pradaeng District in Samut Prakan province, between Bangkok and the mouth of the river, when she fell into the water. At 12:30 today, officers from Phra Pradaeng Police Station received a report of a…
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Officials inspect Phuket airport ahead of entry restriction ease
Ahead of Thailand’s plan to ease entry restrictions starting May 1, officials have inspected a Phuket airport yesterday to inspect how ready it was for an expected rise in tourist numbers. The secretary-general of Thailand’s National Security Council went to make sure Phuket International Airport was ready to welcome tourists back to the island province. Among the officials joining the…
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Suicide among young people in Thailand has increased ‘alarmingly’
Suicide rates among Thai teenagers and young adults in Thailand have increased ‘alarmingly’ over the past five years, according to Thailand’s Department of Mental Health. The department’s director-general blames the high rates of suicide on increased stress caused by impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thailand, the Land of Smiles, has the highest suicide rate in Southeast Asia. In 2021, there…
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China reports world’s first H3N8 bird flu case in human
China confirmed the world’s first H3N8 bird flu case in humans was found in the country. China’s National Health Commission insisted the disease was unlikely to spread to others. The patient was reported to be a four year old child in Henan province who had touched pet chickens and ravens at home. The child had a fever on April 5…
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Famous Thai YouTuber under fire for collecting hermit crabs
A famous YouTuber ‘OauJun Hi-End‘ with 4.5 million subscribers, posted a video of himself collecting a bunch of hermit crabs and bringing them home. He posted a video yesterday apologising for catching them, as he didn’t know he would attract so much attention. Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, says he will investigate him for his actions.…
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Robber arrested after attacking, stealing from disabled man in Pattaya
Police arrested a man in Pattaya yesterday who allegedly violently attacked and stole from a disabled man on Monday. The robber, 26 year old Tanaphon ‘Beer’ Janthamol, admitted to robbing the man, a lottery ticket seller who is in a wheelchair, while under the influence of methamphetamine. The ticket seller, 39 year old Surachet Sithong, said he was rolling down…
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