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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E-cigarette use linked to lung disease, concerns over misdiagnosis in Thailand
Concerns are rising among medical professionals in Thailand as e-cigarette-related pneumonia and bronchitis cases increase, particularly among those who use cannabis oil. Difficulties in diagnosis and a lack of awareness among doctors have contributed to under-reporting cases. Thai medical professionals have expressed their concerns over the increasing number of pneumonia and bronchitis cases connected to e-cigarette usage. Specifically, those using…
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TikTok sensation: Daring orange tabby cat stuns with pool diving skills
A clip of an orange tabby cat named Fuji secretly diving into a swimming pool has gone viral online after being shared on TikTok. The feline’s antics left the owner baffled, initially thinking the pet had accidentally fallen into the water. The video was posted on TikTok by the @jaratpongouytrak4 account. It quickly garnered attention from cat lovers as it…
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Hit-and-run chaos in Pattaya: Thai man left stranded as white sedan driver escapes justice
A Thai man involved in a hit-and-run accident near a Big C department store in Central Pattaya with the driver of the white sedan responsible is still at large. Thanachot Aranyapragorn shared his story with local media, expressing frustration that the driver has not been apprehended despite filing a report with Pattaya Police nine days ago. The accident occurred on…
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Ex-national parks chief’s complaint rejected in bribery scandal case
A bribery scandal involving a former director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in Thailand took a new turn as the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases dismissed the complaint filed by the accused against the arresting police officers. Rutchada Suriyakul Na Ayutya accused members of the police Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) of malfeasance, fabricating…
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Thai exports decline for seventh month as global demand slows
The Thai Ministry of Commerce has reported a decline in the nation’s export value for the seventh consecutive month. In April, the value dropped by 7.6% compared to the previous year, a significantly larger decrease than the 2% fall anticipated by economists. April’s exports were valued at US$21.72 billion, a notable decrease from March’s 12-month high of US$27.65 billion. Despite…
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Woman rescued after lying naked in roadside forest
A 36 year old woman sought police help after she discovered herself lying naked in a roadside forest along Sri Waree Noi Road in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. The police suspect she was violated by a couple of friends who she spent time with the previous night. At about 9am today, a member of the Bang Plee Rescue Team accompanied…
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A bug’s life: Century-old temple overrun by termites attracts lottery enthusiasts in search of lucky signs
A century-old temple in Phetchabun province, Thailand, has termites almost completely covering its ancient Buddha statues. News of this brought lottery enthusiasts dashing to the temple in search of lucky signs. Locals and temple committee members opened the ancient chapel at Noen MaKha Noi Temple in preparation for its renovation, yesterday, May 29. Upon entering, they witnessed large termites covering…
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11 year old girl left distraught after hair raising buzz cut drama
An 11 year old girl was left distressed after a hairdresser mistakenly cut her hair into a short buzz style meant for boys in Pangmakha, Kamphaengphet province. Despite her grandmother’s explicit request for a “student’s haircut,” the stylist ignored their objections and continued cutting her hair. The girl’s mother turned to a Facebook group, “Free Legal Advice Forum” to seek…
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Teacher slaps student for chatting in class, unable to solve problem
A Thai secondary school teacher has come under criticism after slapping a 7th grade student for talking to a classmate during a lesson and failing to solve a problem on the board. A video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting the school and teacher to apologise. The incident took place at a school in Ubon Ratchathani province,…
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Man arrested for shooting transwoman girlfriend at Bangkok condo
Police arrested a Thai man at a condominium in Bangkok after he shot his transwoman girlfriend in the neck. The victim survived the attack, although she remains in critical condition. Officers from Din Deang Police Station rushed to the condominium on Pracha Songkhro Road in the Din Daeng district of Bangkok after being notified about the shooting in the early…
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Three students flee school, report older pupil abuse, spark local police search
Three primary school students in Udon Thani province fled their school premises after being physically abused by older students. They were found on the outskirts of a nearby village and later returned to the school, accompanied by their guardians and teachers. Yesterday, Veeraphol Raksameuwong, admin of the page “Ban Dung Update,” reported that officers from the Fao Rai Patrol Police…
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Chinese driver injures three in Pattaya road accident, faces charges
A road accident in Pattaya resulted in injuries to three Thai nationals, including a 74 year old woman, after a Chinese woman’s car collided with their vehicles. The incident occurred yesterday, May 30, on Sukhumvit Road, inbound to Sattahip in Chonburi province. Na Jomtien Police and rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation were promptly dispatched to the scene…
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Jackpot winner strikes gold with 19 lottery tickets after visit to Tiger Shrine
A lucky Thai man scooped a 114 million baht jackpot after buying 19 digital lottery tickets, following a visit to the renowned Tiger Shrine on the shrine’s opening day. He later returned to perform a ritual with his family, seeking blessings and good fortune. The Thanakhan Phoem Bun Foundation, a major philanthropic organisation managing the Tiger Shrine, shared photographs and…
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Tragic discovery: Father finds son’s body in septic tank
In a heartbreaking turn of events, a father discovered the lifeless body of his nine year old in the septic tank of a house in Nong Bua Lamphu province, in the northeastern region of Thailand. The boy’s uncle confessed to the murder, saying the boy annoyed him. Thaworn, the grieving father, disclosed to Channel 8 that his son, Jay, had…
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Student denied college interview over methamphetamine vindicated by second test
The 19 year old student from Khon Kaen who was initially deemed ineligible for a college interview test due to a positive methamphetamine test has now been cleared after a second test came back negative. The family plans to submit the blood test results to Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Pharmacy to confirm her eligibility for the interview test. Last week, Anama…
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Bangkok bids to host World Pride 2023, promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance
Bangkok is preparing to host the highly anticipated World Pride event in 2028, with Move Forward Party (MFP) leader and deputy prime minister Pita Limjaroenrat unveiling the ‘Road to Bangkok Pride 2023’ campaign. This landmark event aims to celebrate diversity, foster equality, and establish Thailand as a premier LGBTQ+ tourism destination. After Sydney, Washington D.C., and Amsterdam, MFP leader Pita…
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Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network warns parties against reinstating plant as narcotic
The Cannabis Future Network in Thailand has called upon three alliance parties not to reinstate cannabis as a narcotic drug, referring to the decision as “getting the first shirt button wrong” and potentially leading to further issues. The network leader, Prasitchai Nunual, expressed his concerns on their Facebook fan page, stating that the ad-hoc committee responsible for discussing the removal…
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Surat Thani sees 155% increase in international visitors, boosting revenue
Surat Thani sees a significant increase in international tourists, with over 1.5 million visitors arriving in the province so far this year, a 155% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the provincial governor. Governor Witchawut Jinto announced that since January, the province has welcomed a total of 2.05 million visitors, with 1.5 million being international tourists.…
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Thai man high on Yaba mistakenly fears Burmese army invasion, kidnaps son
A Thai man reportedly under the influence of Yaba (methamphetamine) confessed to police that he had rushed to pick up his son from a school in the southern province of Chumphon due to a false belief that a Burmese army had invaded Thailand. The man, identified as 29 year old Jirapong Janthong, had taken a rifle with him into Phubodin…
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Unemployed man found dead in vehicle amid struggle with depression
A 42 year old unemployed man was found dead in his pickup truck near Rama III Road, Soi 41, Yan Nawa district, Bangkok, reportedly suffering from depression. The initial investigation reveals he has been unemployed for almost a year and had a history of depression. At around 10pm yesterday, local authorities in the Bang Phongpang, Yannawa district received reports of…
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Bangkok deluge: Heavy rain floods city, prepares for monsoon season
Bangkok yesterday was hit by heavy rainfall, with Bang Khun Thian district receiving the most with 124 millimetres, causing flooding in seven locations. As the rainy season is imminent in Thailand, officials revealed they are prepared to support residents affected by the flooding. In the past 24 hours, several areas in Bangkok experienced moderate to heavy rain, with the Bang…
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Tragic school knife fight claims life and leaves three injured in northeast Thailand
A devastating incident unfolded at a renowned school in Sisaket province, northeast Thailand, as a confrontation between seventh and eighth-grade students escalated into a fatal knife fight, resulting in one fatality and three injuries. The school promptly informed the police, who started an investigation to pursue legal measures. Yesterday, May 29, amidst the sombre atmosphere of grieving teenage students, a…
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Prominent Chiang Mai abbot’s shocking crash leaves trail of carnage
A revered Chiang Mai temple abbot crashed into eight vehicles, including six cars and two motorcycles, causing carnage and prompting netizens to question why he was wearing shorts. The abbot, known as Kru Ba, was travelling to visit his younger brother but ended up in a multi-vehicle pile-up. A witness at the scene, Sakul, reported that the accident occurred around…
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Canadian boxer accuses Thai restaurant of poisoning him
A Canadian boxer accused a Thai restaurant of poisoning him because of a previous insult to Muay Thai. The boxer, Dave Leduc, took to Facebook on Sunday, May 28, to share selfies with captions written in Burmese and Cambodian languages. Apologising for not responding to all the messages, Leduc stated that he had been in the hospital for two days.…
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Pattaya bar owner faces loan shark threats forcing staff to undress for debt money
A bar owner in Pattaya reported a violent debt-collecting gang to the local police after facing harassment and threats from 14 different loan providers. The 31 year old woman was forced to borrow money from various lenders for financial troubles, accumulating around 800,000 baht (US$23,100) in debt, with a daily interest payment of 30,000 baht (US$870). The bar owner, Daranee…
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Thai man set on fire by cousin in drug-related dispute
A Thai man suffered serious injuries after his cousin intentionally set him on fire at his home in the northern province of Chaing Rai at night on May 28. The perpetrator’s girlfriend revealed that the violent act was motivated by a drug-related dispute. The incident took place in a residential area belonging to the Akha ethnic community, situated in the…
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Exploring South Asia’s virtual gambling revolution
Like the rest of the world, South Asia has experienced massive growth in the online gambling industry. Understanding why virtual gambling is popular is quite easy and straightforward. The online gambling industry gives those gambling junkies the ultimate entertainment and it’s just a click away. People from all over the world can enjoy the excitement that comes with casino games…
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Child abuse scandal uncovered at Saraburi welfare facility, police investigate
Following a shocking Facebook post revealing the abuse of over 280 children at a welfare institution in Saraburi, central Thailand, a multi-disciplinary team, including social development and human security officials, psychologists, and police, swiftly moved to investigate the claims on-site. The horrific mistreatment and physical abuse of more than 280 young lives at a welfare institution in Saraburi province were…
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Snake slithers through Bangkok bus, leaves lotto lovers hissss-terical over missing digits
A snake found on the 501 Bangkok bus route has caused a stir on social media for superstitious lottery fanatics who were left slithering to find out the bus’ registration number. The driver safely returned the snake to its natural habitat after the bus arrived at its destination. A TikTok user, @fatimapun posted a video of the snake slithering on…
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Thai couple credits 24m baht lottery win to mythical figure and daily prayers
Udom Kanmuang, a restaurant owner, and his wife Noi celebrated their recent lottery win of 24 million baht with a grand ceremony honouring ‘Por Pu Sian Anan Nakarat’, a respected figure in Thai folklore. The couple believes their good fortune resulted from their daily prayers to this mythical figure before the lottery draw on May 29, 2023. Following their successful…
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