Thailand News
Discover the most recent and relevant news from across Thailand on The Thaiger’s National News page. Covering a wide range of topics, including politics, business, crime, and lifestyle, our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
Stay informed about the latest developments in Thai society, economy, and culture, as well as updates on travel, tourism, and expat life. With The Thaiger, you’ll never miss out on the essential news that matters to you.
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Legacy hunt: Heirs sought for lineage of luminaries
A search has begun for the rightful heirs to the estate of five prominent individuals from a distinguished family line, including a former minister in the government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram and a former judge. The quest to identify these heirs comes ahead of the inheritance distribution scheduled for May 2, this year. In a recent edition of the…
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Exim Bank of Thailand grows 7.05%, focusing on green lending
Exim Bank of Thailand reported substantial growth in its first-quarter operations for 2023, with significant strides in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) lending. The bank, led by Rak Vorrakitpokatorn, approved new loans amounting to 5,853 million baht, with outstanding loans and obligations increasing by 11,474 million baht, representing a 7.05% growth compared to the same period last year. Remarkably, ESG-related…
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Hot under the collar: Lampang’s stray dogs face sizzling struggle
As temperatures in Lampang soared beyond 40 degrees Celsius, the plight of over 400 stray dogs at Wat Weluwanaram has become a serious concern. The intense heatwave, persisting for nearly a month has prompted the temple’s abbot to take immediate action to alleviate the dogs’ suffering. Vichai Akkadecho, the abbot of Wat Weluwanaram, located at 389 Moo 8, Lampang-Denchai Road,…
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Southern simmer: Betong noodle vendor stays grounded as prices boil over
In the southern Thai town of Betong, Yala Province, consumers and food vendors are feeling the pinch as the prices of essential goods and ingredients creep upward. Amidst this economic squeeze, one noodle vendor remains resolute in her commitment to her customers, refusing to increase prices despite soaring operational costs. The 45 year old woman, Lampai Langprakhon, who runs Nuch…
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Thailand’s MRTA tests smart parking system for free
Bangkok motorists have the opportunity to utilise the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand’s (MRTA) innovative smart parking system free of charge during its testing phase. Starting yesterday, May 1, the Orange Line’s 10-storey Park’n’Ride facility on Ramkhamhaeng Road and a parking ground at the MRTA station on Rama IX Road are open for the public to test out. The…
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Bangkok Police Hospital initiates comprehensive care program
The Police General Hospital announced a proactive healthcare initiative dubbed Police Care for the People, aimed at providing comprehensive medical services to police officers, their families, and the general public. This project, revealed on May 2, this year, is in line with the policies set forth by the acting national police chief and encompasses a broad range of medical specialities.…
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Bangkok man arrested for luring underage teen (video)
The five month ordeal for a family came to a head when police arrested a 24 year old man, infamously known as “Frame Wave125,” for allegedly luring a teenage girl to live with him at a construction site. This arrest followed a dramatic chase, with police finding an improvised firearm during the search of the suspect’s room today. The case…
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Fatal motorbike crash in Phuket raises road safety concerns
A fatal accident occurred in Phuket early today when a Honda Wave 110 motorbike crashed into a roadside concrete table, claiming the life of a 45 year old passenger. The 44 year old motorbike driver, Nikorn Srirod, reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, leading to the unfortunate event. Emergency responders arrived on the scene, in front of Mueang Mai City…
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Thai authorities seize over 1000 endangered tortoises
In the latest crackdown on the illegal wildlife trade, six individuals were apprehended in the southern province of Chumphon, Thailand, for possession and transportation of a significant number of endangered species. The suspects were found with over 1,000 radiated tortoises and dozens of lemurs in their possession, intended for sale in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan, according to the…
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TikTokers praise American’s helmet donation in Pattaya (video)
Thai TikTok users applauded the generosity of an American man in Pattaya for handing out motorcycle helmets to children. He made known plans to give away a million helmets to children across Thailand. The 57 year old American man, Rick Brown, shared videos of himself distributing free motorcycle helmets to children on his TikTok account, @savvyrickbrown. The children appeared to…
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Car accident in Chachoengsao kills father and daughter
In a tragic turn of events, a father and his 3 year old daughter were killed in a road accident today near Chachoengsao when their car lost control and struck an electric pole. Both were found lifeless, the father holding his daughter tightly in a final embrace. At the scene, emergency responders discovered a black Toyota Camry with Bangkok license…
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AstraZeneca vaccine linked to blood clots in 7 Thai recipients
The Department of Disease Control announced that out of the 20 million Thai citizens who received the AstraZeneca vaccine, seven developed blood clots, with two resulting in fatalities. These adverse effects were confirmed to occur within 42 days post-inoculation. Today the Director-General of the Disease Control Department, Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, spoke about the vaccine’s side effects, emphasising that the incidences of…
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Massive meth lab busted in Suphan Buri with 4 million pills seized
A clandestine methamphetamine production operation was dismantled in Suphan Buri, Thailand, after a joint police raid, resulting in the seizure of over four million methamphetamine pills and the arrest of two key suspects. Late yesterday, under the management of high-ranking officers including the Region 7 Chief of Police and his deputies, along with the Suphan Buri Provincial Police, a covert…
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Chon Buri eatery owner hires man overcharged for rice & eggs dish
A Chon Buri eatery owner offered a job to an unemployed man and his young son, who were the focus of a viral story involving an overpriced two-egg rice dish. The compassionate gesture won the hearts of netizens who came across the owner’s social media post searching for the struggling pair. Following a widely criticized incident where a jobless father…
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Star-struck: Lottery hopefuls seek guidance from astrologer
Astrological forecasts hold a special allure for many, and today’s predictions by the renowned astrologer Dr Chang Thotsaporn are a hot topic as lottery results are eagerly awaited. Dr Chang highlighted that individuals born under five zodiac signs are poised for a financial boost, with good news and a stroke of luck in the fortune department. This comes just as…
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Gold ornament prices leap to 41,200 baht in surprise surge
Gold prices soared unexpectedly, prompting swift action from interested buyers, as the latest figures from the Gold Traders Association (GTA) showed a significant jump. Today, gold ornaments’ selling price broke through to 41,200 baht per baht-weight, an increase of 350 baht from the previous day’s closing price. The surge in gold prices is not just an isolated economic event but…
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Health concerns rise with high mitragynine kratom drinks
Public health officials issued a stern warning regarding the rising trend of kratom-infused drinks, highlighting that these beverages may contain dangerously high levels of mitragynine, a compound found in the kratom plant. The Department of Medical Sciences, after conducting safety tests across various regions in March, revealed that all 52 samples of kratom-mixed beverages contained mitragynine levels ranging from 22…
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Severe drought hits Uthai Thani, farms and buffalos at risk
Thailand’s Uthai Thani province is grappling with its most severe drought in decades, with temperatures soaring between 40 and 43 degrees Celsius and a prolonged absence of rain. The drought has reached a critical point, affecting several districts and causing a widespread scarcity of water for both consumption and agricultural use. The situation has escalated to the point where it…
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Thai govt cancels VAT exemption for low-priced imported goods
The digital economy’s growth in Thailand led to a surge in trade on foreign online platforms, which has caused considerable disruption for local businesses. The local market has been flooded with cheap Chinese products, putting domestic entrepreneurs at a disadvantage and unable to compete on price. This situation has prompted many to fade away, compelling the government to take action.…
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Thai-tanic surge: Thailand investment pledges make waves
According to data released by the Board of Investment (BOI) today, Thailand’s investment pledges surged 31% in the first quarter of 2024. This promising growth was recorded in comparison to the corresponding period of last year. The information revealed that the aggregate value of all investment applications in the first three months, leading up to March, soared to 228 billion baht…
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Thai banks reduce loan rates to alleviate customer debt
The four biggest banks in the country have all declared a drop in their loan interest rates. This decision by Bangkok Bank (BBL), Krungthai Bank (KTB), Kasikornbank (KBank), and Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is a response to the prime minister’s call to lessen loan rates to help ease the debt pressure on susceptible customers. An anonymous banking sector analyst opines…
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Pattani shootout ends with two suspects dead, one officer injured
A deadly confrontation unfolded in Thung Yang Daeng district, Pattani, southern Thailand, where a four-hour gunfight resulted in the deaths of two suspects and left one officer injured. This violent exchange occurred yesterday, May 1, at a rented house under surveillance for harbouring individuals wanted by the law. The incident concluded with the discovery of two deceased, identified as Masobree…
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Boom boom: Thailand ranked in top 10 for sex workers globally
The International Union of Sex Workers (IUSW) reports that Thailand is one of the countries with the highest number of sex workers, at 250,000. Despite the number, sex workers in the country remain illegal and continue to struggle for basic labour rights. The IUSW released global sex industry statistics under the topic, Sex Worker Statistics by Country, Gender. The report,…
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Thai renewable energy industry urges govt to revise trade system
The Federation of Thai Industries’ Renewable Energy Industry Club urged the government to revise the country’s electricity trade system from the longstanding enhanced single buyer (ESB) model, arguing it hampers the growth of renewable energy. The ESB structure, which designates the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) as the sole entity that sells electricity to the public, is seen as…
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Businesswoman gifts 100 million baht estate to Thai cleaner
A businesswoman in Thailand tragically ended her life using a firearm next to the pool of her luxurious villa on Koh Samui. Before her death, the 59 year old woman named Catherine, astonishingly bequeathed her entire estate, valued at 100 million baht, to her devoted housekeeper, following a cancer diagnosis. The circumstances surrounding her suicide remain a mystery, as CCTV…
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Jorakay to invest 300 million baht in Vietnam factory
Jorakay Corporation, a renowned producer of tile adhesive, grouting products, and various construction chemicals under the Crocodile brand, announced intentions to invest 300 million baht in a Vietnam factory in 2028. The investment is earmarked for the establishment of a factory in Vietnam, driven by robust demand and the company’s aspiration to expand its export reach to the Philippines and…
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Unidentified foreign woman’s body found on Phuket beach
In Phuket, a foreign woman’s body was discovered floating in the waters off Freedom Beach yesterday. Karon police received word of the grim find around 2.45pm. A subsequent recovery mission was swiftly assembled, with Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers utilising a rubber dinghy to retrieve the body and transport it ashore near Nong Harn Lake in Karon. The deceased is thought…
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Russian man found dead in Bangkok canal with multiple cuts
Locals discovered the dead body of a Russian man in the Hua Lamphong Canal in Bangkok yesterday. He bore more than 10 cut wounds on his wrists. Officers from the Bangrak Police Station investigated the body of the Russian man at around 8am yesterday. Locals in the area spotted the body in the Hua Lamphong Canal near Soi Santiphap in…
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American YouTuber swings from fame to shame in Thailand
Police arrested an American YouTuber at his home in Pattaya yesterday after he physically assaulted his Thai girlfriend by hitting her with a golf club. The man claimed the attack was staged for a video on his YouTube channel. The Thai woman, 20 year old Kanittha, and her younger sister sought assistance from a 55 year old maid named Anchulee…
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South Africa and Thailand boosts agricultural ties
The agricultural sector has become a significant beneficiary of the thriving bilateral relationship between Thailand and South Africa, revealed South Africa’s Ambassador to Thailand, Darkey Africa in a recent interview. This conversation was held to commemorate three decades of South African democracy and the bilateral relationship between the two nations including a strengthening of agricultural ties. Africa underscored the positive…
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