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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.
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Zoos in Thailand and Vietnam collaborate to protect endangered cranes
The Zoological Park Organization (ZPO) is joining forces with the Vietnam Zoos Association to increase the Eastern Sarus Crane population in Vietnam. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the collaboration will also involve the People’s Committee of Dong Thap Province in Vietnam and the International Crane Foundation. Since 2009, ZPO has been reintroducing Eastern Sarus Cranes to Thailand by breeding…
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12,000 refugees from Myanmar depart Tak
Around 12,000 Myanmar refugees returned to their homeland in Myawaddy this week after seeking temporary refuge on Thai territory over the past week, according to the Royal Thai Army (RTA). Maj. Gen. Sirichan Ngathong, the RTA deputy spokesperson, confirmed yesterday that the last 89 Myanmar refugees who were sheltering in tambon Mae Kasa of Mae Sot district departed on Wednesday.…
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Air pollution increases in upper northeastern regions of Thailand
According to the Pollution Control Department, 23 locations, primarily in the northern region of Thailand, have been found to contain high levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or smaller in diameter (PM2.5). The most severe levels were identified in Chiang Mai. These concentrations are considered detrimental to human health. As of 11am yesterday, PM2.5 dust levels in the north ranged…
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Songkran to generate billions in revenue for Thailand
After a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Thailand‘s famous Songkran Festival, or Thai New Year, officially kicked off yesterday. Locals and visitors from all around the world gathered at popular spots across the country to partake in the renowned water-splashing festivities. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) anticipates that both Thai and foreign tourists will contribute up to…
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Beware of passport scam targetting British nationals in Thailand warns UK Foreign Office
The British Foreign Office issued a warning to both UK residents and expats in Thailand about a passport scam that is currently targetting British nationals in the kingdom. Fraudsters are attempting to capitalize on the recent strikes by government workers in the UK, which have caused delays in passport renewals, by promising to bypass the three-month waiting period for a…
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From Songkran splashes to handcuffs: Two Hong Kong men arrested for shooting humourless cops with water (video)
Millions of people all over Thailand today are celebrating Songkran with water fights but spare a thought for two men in Hong Kong unfortunate enough to encounter some humourless cops while celebrating the Thai New Year. The pair were arrested by the party-pooping officers for disorderly conduct after they fired water guns at them at a Songkran event on Sunday…
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Notorious Aussie drug lord sentenced to 20 years in jail
The notorious head of a South Australian drug-trafficking network has been sentenced to almost 20 years in jail. Robert Gordon Pollybank Gee, the alleged drug lord, was sentenced yesterday in the District Court for drug charges dating back to 2006, ABC News reported. The court heard how the 64 year old was a pivotal figure in the operation of a…
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Speed demon down: Former world motorcycle champ crashes near Phuket
A former world motorcycle racing champion, who holds multiple speed records, has been involved in an accident near Phuket. Eric Teboul, better known in the motorcycle community as “Rocketman” after breaking the world quarter mile record on a bike just months ago, collided with another Honda ridden by Oleg Afanasenko, a Russian holidaymaker, on a bend near the scenic viewpoint…
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Airstrike massacre: Myanmar junta turns up the heat
The situation in Myanmar just escalated. Northwest Myanmar’s Sagaing area felt the full force of a junta airstrike on Tuesday, which reportedly wiped out up to 100 people – children included. Myanmar’s been a mess since the 2021 coup decided to ruin everyone’s lives and snuffed out a decade of shaky progress. The coup put an end to the civilian…
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New plant species discovered in Thailand named after Blackpink’s Lisa
The discovery of a never seen before plant in Thailand has been named after Blackpink star Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban. A previously unknown flowering plant, belonging to the Annonaceae family, has been discovered by a team of researchers at Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Science and dedicated to the Thai-born K-pop singer Lisa. In recognition of the Thai-born K-pop star, the…
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K-pop dance by Thai soldiers sparks controversy and admiration among netizens
Thai soldiers came under fire from Thai netizens after they danced to K-pop music in the Siam neighbourhood of Bangkok last weekend. The soldiers also had a few admirers and many praised the soldier group for their talent. A Smile Army Facebook page posted a video of the soldiers dancing to K-pop music on Sunday, April 9. In the video,…
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Thai woman arrested for surrogacy fraud, identity theft, and human trafficking (video)
Police arrested a Thai woman for her involvement in illegal surrogacy, identity theft, and colluding with Chinese citizens in human trafficking. The Thai woman, Nawaporn Pakiatsakun, who was originally Chinese, married a Thai man to gain Thai citizenship and facilitate her crimes. It was later revealed that several government officials from Thailand were also involved in the corrupt scheme. The…
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Thai govt warns drivers to keep a brake on road mishaps during ‘Seven Deadly Days’ of Songkran Festival
The Thai government has issued a warning to drivers who are travelling during the Songkran Festival, urging them to be careful on the road. This warning comes after the Thailand Road Accidents Data Centre for Road Safety Culture (ThaiRSC) reported 74 fatalities and 2,322 injuries on the first day of the “Seven Deadly Days” of the Songkran Festival. As of…
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Speedboat explosion in southern Thailand kills 1, injures 1
An explosion on a tourist speedboat docked at a pier in Phang Nga province in southern Thailand injured two people yesterday, one of whom later passed away in the hospital. At around 8pm, the Phang Nga Harbour Office was informed of a loud noise similar to an explosion on a speedboat at Ban Thap Lamu Pier in Lam Kaen subdistrict,…
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Thai man goes on rampage: Attacks 6 people after married woman rejected his advances (video)
A Thai man went on the rampage, attacking six victims, including a couple after a married woman rejected his advances in the central province of Kanchanaburi. The wife’s husband, 24 year old Adisak Wiatesing, filed a complaint with the police after the couple were attacked by a man named Pae on April 10. Adisak told police that he went to…
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Latest Thai social media craze, sweet soy sauce soda, poses serious health risk, says health dept
The Department of Health issued a warning to the public regarding the consumption of a trendy Thai social media beverage called sweet soy sauce soda. According to the department, the drink has unhealthy quantities of sodium and sugar, which surpass the recommended daily intake and can pose a health hazard. The drink is trending after a famous Thai sauce company,…
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Sergeant major-turned-cyberpunk surrenders after allegedly hacking 55 million Thais’ data
UPDATE: The sergeant major turned cyberpunk accused of hacking the personal data of 55 million Thais surrendered to police this morning. The alleged hacker, Sgt. Maj. Khemarat Boonchuay, arrived at the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) this morning with his wife for questioning. Police said the suspect remained silent and did not respond to any questions. Sgt. Maj. Khemarat was suspended…
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TAT expects Phuket to generate at least 4.5 billion baht during Songkran
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects Phuket to generate at least 4.5 billion baht during the Songkran Festival, with over 200,000 tourists expected to visit the island province. The director of TAT’s Phuket Office, Lertchai Wangtrakundee, stated that 84% of hotel rooms have already been booked from April 13 to April 16. Additionally, 258 international flights with 48,302 passengers…
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Pepsi Thailand introduces bottles made from 100% recycled plastic
Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand) will switch to 100% recycled plastic for its 550ml Pepsi bottles, expected to enter the market later this month, under the campaign “Appreciate Fizz: Dare to Change the World.” PepsiCo joined forces with Chulalongkorn University and ENVICCO Co., Ltd. to launch the project, “Pepsi Recycled PET Bottle Campaign.” Pepsi will be the first carbonated drink brand to…
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Phuket Island: A Destination for Fitness, Health, and Wellness
Phuket island in southern Thailand is quickly becoming one of the world’s top destinations for fitness, health, and wellness. Athletes from around the globe are flocking to this tropical paradise to take advantage of its world-class training facilities, stunning natural landscapes, and warm climate. The Thaiger team recently had the opportunity to explore some of the top fitness, health, and…
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Fruitless: Tourists they face jail time for bringing fruits to Thailand, govt warns
The Thai government issued a warning to tourists that it would be fruitless to bring fruits into Thailand unless they wanted to go to jail. The Department of Agriculture specifically stated that transporting fresh fruit into Thailand without a phytosanitary certificate could result in a fine of 20,000 baht or a jail sentence of one year. The director-general of the…
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Porsche driver caught using fake registration plate to avoid tollway fees
A 69 year old Porsche driver who has a history of repeated traffic offences was charged by the police. The driver had been using a fake license plate to evade tollway fees on 22 separate occasions. The police took action after receiving a complaint from the legitimate owner of the license plate. Last year, Thailand introduced a new payment system…
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Thai woman fined 5,000 baht for getting boobs out at erotic pre-Songkran party
Police fined a nightclub owner 20,000 baht and a sexy Thai woman 5,000 baht after she got her boobs out and danced erotically at a Songkran party in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok last week. Several entertainment venues in Bangkok have warmed up for the Thai New Year by hosting pre-Songkran events and parties before the official festival gets underway.…
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Bangkok rescue volunteers brawl over territory
It turns out, turf battles happen even among rescue volunteers. Rescue volunteer teams from Ruamkatanyu and Petchkasem foundations brawled over territory on Monday night following a motorcycle accident on Bamrung Road, TV Channel 7 reported. The teams initially attempted to negotiate but the talks turned into an argument, leading to members of both groups attacking each other. More rescuers from both…
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Sex traffickers held Southeast Asian women captive in South Korea
Sex traffickers held four Southeast Asian women captive on South Korea‘s Jeju Island. Jeju provincial police said they arrested four subjects who allegedly held the women, The Korean Herald and Asia News Network reported yesterday. The suspects included a Korean bar owner in his 40s, his Chinese wife, and two other accomplices. The suspects were sent to the prosecutor’s office. The victims…
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RTP warns public to be vigilant ahead of Songkran after 312 million baht stolen in online scams
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) cautioned the public to be extra vigilant ahead of the Songkran Festival after scammers last week fraudulently stole over 310 million baht in online extortion. The RTP reported over 5,300 fraud cases were reported by victims last week, with most complaints related to online shopping and bank transfer scams. Yesterday, Pol. Lt. Gen. Sompong Chingduang,…
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Police bust Chinese loan shark gang at luxury house in Pattaya
Police busted a gang of Chinese loan sharks yesterday who set up an illegal call centre from a luxury rented house in Pattaya, eastern Thailand, to chase debt from informal loans handed out to customers in China. At 7pm, Chon Buri provincial police raided a two-storey luxury house in Moo 10, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, after an investigation…
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Tourists or illegal workers? Police raid Pattaya host club and arrest six
Police raided a host club in Pattaya in the early hours of yesterday morning and arrested the manager and five Lao men following a complaint about the employment of illegal workers. Four of the accused Lao men denied they were working at the bar and insisted that they were tourists. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station raided the host club,…
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Bangkok backpacker haven Khao San Road to close from noon to 8pm for Songkran
Khao San Business Association today announced that the Bangkok backpacker haven will be closed for business between noon and 8pm every day so revellers can enjoy the Songkran celebrations. Businesses, bars and restaurants will reopen as usual straight after the 8pm cut off. Khao San Business Association President Sanga Ruangwattanakul revealed that the closure of Khao San Road, for the…
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Thai man’s Emerald Buddha Songkran office party outfit is ‘inappropriate,’ monk says
A Thai man won 5000 baht for ‘best outfit’ at his office’s Songkran party in Udon Thani province yesterday, but a senior Buddhist monk says that dressing like the Emerald Buddha is “inappropriate.” The Emerald Buddha is a statue of the historical Buddha in a meditative pose, made out of the semi-precious stone jasper and considered the “sacred palladium of…
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