Was Russian President Vladimir Putin ordained as a Buddhist monk "to pay respect to Rama IX," the late Thai King? No, that's not true. An image shared in a clip circulating on TikTok, portraying Putin in a yellow monk robe, has been generated using AI, as confirmed to Lead Stories by his creator. The claim appeared in a video published…
Did the black cat that was anesthetized in a scene of a Thai show, "The Empress of Ayodhaya," die? No, that's not true. A video from the director shows that it's still alive. Authorities have also summoned those involved to investigate possible animal abuse. The claim appeared in a video posted on TikTok on November 12, 2024, no longer available…
Did Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's cabinet approve a proposal to grant citizenship to people from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam? No, that's not true: It's a different target group. The target for a new measure is minority ethnic groups and stateless people. The claim appeared in a video posted on TikTok on October 30, 2024 (archived here), and had the…
Did the Thai government change the monthly state allowance for senior citizens from a sliding scale by age to 1,000 baht for all? No, that's not true: It was just a proposal from February 2024 that had no legal effect yet. Also, there hasn't been much progress on the proposal since its initial green light. The claim appeared in a…
Did Thailand pass a new law to grant birthright citizenship to children of migrants from Myanmar born in Thailand? No, that's not true: The country withdrew its reservation to an article of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Officials said this move would enhance protections for young non-citizens. The claim appeared in a video posted on…
Did the now-dissolved Move Forward Party cause floods in Thailand by voting to cut the budget for weir construction projects? No, that's not true: Floods in August 2024 were caused by excessive rainfall from two monsoons passing through the country. Additionally, the cut for the weir construction project was a broader parliamentary decision, not an act of the MFP alone.…
Does a map predict how much damage each district in Bangkok will face from floods in September 2024? No, that's not true: It's an old map, likely from the 2011 Thailand floods. Bangkok officials also announced five measures the city is taking to prevent floods this year. The claim appeared in a video posted on TikTok on August 24, 2024…
Is the Thai government's application for distributing 10,000 baht to eligible citizens unsafe to use and could it lead to information leaks? No, that's not true: Officials have repeatedly ensured its safety. Government agencies confirmed the application is as safe as other banking applications used in Thailand. The claim appeared in a video on TikTok posted on August 2, 2024…
Did the now-shuttered Move Forward Party appeal the Thai court's ruling to dissolve it with the International Court of Justice? No, that's not true: The court doesn't have jurisdiction over Thailand's judiciary system and has no power to overturn its ruling. Former party members formed a new party called The People's Party. The claim appeared in a video posted on…
Does bitter melon help lower blood sugar levels for pre-diabetic and diabetic people? No, that's not true: The evidence supporting this claim circulating on social media remains inconclusive. Most studies on bitter melon and its benefits in lowering blood sugar levels concluded that further research is needed. The claim appeared in a video on TikTok posted on July 5, 2024…
Did the 2024 Paris Olympic Games provide anti-sex beds for athletes? No, that's not true: The cardboard beds used at the Paris Games are intended to be environmentally sustainable and recyclable, to cut CO2 emissions. They are not meant to prevent sex. A similar claim circulated also in 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics, and at that time a post on…
Is rice that has been stored for 10 years, that the Thai government still intends to sell to the public, edible? No, that's not true: The rice that the government proposes to sell has been stored in inappropriate conditions and has been found to contain many carcinogens, possibly including aflatoxin, according to experts. The World Health Organization (WHO) (archived here)…
Does sodamint have anti-aging properties? No, that's not true: Sodamint tabs, consisting of sodium bicarbonate, if recommended by a doctor, are primarily used to treat conditions such as indigestion, heartburn, sour stomach, and, in general, an upset stomach. Their effect is well-documented for these medicinal purposes. However, there is no research evidence to support the claim that sodamint has anti-aging…
Does phone use during pregnancy affect the fetus' brain development and other behaviors? No, that's not true: There are no confirmed effects in human pregnancy. Several studies have shown the lack of association between phone use and the development of a fetus or a child's skills after birth. The claim appeared in a video on TikTok posted on May 6,…
Did the Thai Ministry of Education order a delay to the start of the new academic year for public schools due to extreme heat? No, that's not true: schools started on May 16, 2024, without delay. The ministry only issued a guideline on how schools should navigate extreme heat, which included halting in-person instruction depending on each school's decision. The…
Did PM2.5 - fine particulates that are usually a key indicator of air quality - in Chiang Mai exceed the WHO standard by 20 times in March 2024? No, that's not true: According to the Climate change data center of Chiang Mai University, PM2.5 levels exceeded the WHO standards by 9.8 times on March 9, 2024, when the claim started…
Did an ammonia leak at an ice factory in Chonburi, Thailand, pose a life threat for the people in the area? No, that's not true: Officials have said it was not dangerous. The Thai Department of Disease Control confirmed the odor detection level of leaked ammonia was under the level that would pose health risks. The claim appeared in a…
Does consuming a mixed drink of lime, ginger, honey, and kombucha effectively cleanse blood vessels and potentially address various diseases? No, that's not true: according to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicines, this assertion originates from the belief that lime and kombucha can cleanse fat and cholesterol from blood vessels, which are factors contributing to high cholesterol, stroke,…
Is a dietary supplement called Itcha XS a weight loss pill, as extensively advertised on social media? No, that's not true. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Thailand says the pill is not registered as weight loss medication and advertising it as having weight loss effects violates FDA regulation. The regulatory agency is preparing to issue consumer warnings regarding…
Is Cambodia reinforcing its military near Thailand's border following tension around a disputed island called Koh Kood? No, that's not true: There is no substantive evidence supporting this claim. Videos circulating on TikTok claiming to show military activity in the area appear to be old footage of past military exercises and military parade preparation. A video on TikTok posted by…
