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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Sponsored Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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New 100 baht note marks Finance Ministry’s 150th anniversary
The Ministry of Finance announced the release of a commemorative 100 baht banknote to mark its 150th anniversary. The note, which can legally be used for transactions, will be issued on April 14. The announcement was published on the Royal Gazette’s website, detailing the characteristics, colour, and size of the commemorative note. Signed by Pichai Chunhavajira, the finance minister, the…
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Mother bravely defies gun threat by drug addict son in Udon Thani
A mother faced a terrifying moment when her drug-addict son threatened her with a gun after she refused to give him money. Yesterday, March 5, police intervened and arrested the son in Udon Thani province, bringing the situation under control. The incident took place in Ban Huai Nong Yang, Mueang district, Udon Thani, on March 4. Police Colonel Ratapolchai Pensongkram, head…
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Phuket court jails foreigners for passport forgery
A group of Afghan and Kazakh nationals caught using forged passports in Phuket have been sentenced to prison after a court found them guilty of attempting to deceive Thai immigration officers. The Phuket Provincial Court delivered its verdict yesterday, March 5 at 11am, ruling on six criminal cases, numbered Tor 144/2568 to Tor 149/2568. The Phuket Provincial Public Prosecutor led…
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Tragic end for British backpacker in Thailand waters (video)
A British backpacker met a heartbreaking fate after a kayaking mishap in Thailand, an inquest heard in Swansea. Shanghaman Gowribalan went missing on February 11, 2024, while kayaking in a canal near the Rajjaprabha Dam, also known as the Cheow Lan Dam, in the southern province of Surat Thani. The 24 year old drowned after his kayak overflowed, leading him to…
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Road rage: Motorcyclist damages car mirrors in Bangkok
A motorcyclist was reported to have kicked and damaged a car’s side mirror outside a well-known Huai Khwang shopping centre in Bangkok following a traffic dispute. The incident, which escalated from an argument over a lane change, led to the motorcyclist fleeing the scene. The victim, who shared the event on Facebook under the name Mouy Worarat, explained that the…
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Contractor found dead in Thai police cell after truck theft arrest
A 32 year old contractor was found dead today in a holding cell at Phra Samut Chedi Police Station. The victim, identified as Donrathee, was reportedly distressed after facing charges for stealing a pickup truck, leading to his tragic death. His 51 year old mother, Saravee, was seen grieving at the scene. The incident occurred within the male detention area,…
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Bangkok man caught with meth pills during traffic stop
A Bangkok man’s suspicious behaviour at a traffic checkpoint led to his arrest after police found 60 methamphetamine (meth) pills hidden inside a cigarette pack. The operation took place yesterday, March 5 along the inbound Vibhavadi Road in Chatuchak district, where officers from the Vibhavadi Rangsit Traffic Control Centre were enforcing traffic rules, particularly targeting motorcyclists using the main lanes.…
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Thai man caught on CCTV footage raping daughter of close friend
A Thai mother installed a security camera in her 11 year old daughter’s bedroom and caught her husband’s close friend raping her daughter while she and her husband were away from home at work. The mother, 30 year old Noi, yesterday filed a sexual assault complaint with the Uthai Police Station and subsequently submitted the matter to the Be One…
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Thai-Chinese railway project gets 350-day extension due to delays
The long-awaited Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project has hit yet another roadblock, with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board approving a 350-day extension due to rental buildings obstructing construction. The new completion deadline has been set for March 10, 2026. SRT chief Veerith Amrapal announced the decision following a board meeting. The extension affects contract sections 3 to 5 of…
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Karaoke crackdown: Illegal workers caught off-key in Bangkok raid
The Department of Employment, under the Ministry of Labour, conducted a raid on seven karaoke venues in Khlong San district, uncovering 28 illegal workers. The operation, yesterday, March 5, followed a tip-off about foreign workers lacking proper permits. The investigation identified 52 migrant workers, with 24 possessing valid documents, while 28 were found working illegally. Legal proceedings have been initiated…
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Mother and son confess to murder for inheritance in Chon Buri
A 46 year old woman in Chon Buri has confessed to collaborating with her 30 year old biological son in the murder of her husband, with the intent of seizing his assets. The victim’s body was found in a fertiliser sack in a forested area. The development comes after the body of 52 year old Wachara, a security guard from…
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Man sets family home ablaze after drug-fuelled threat
A man under the influence of drugs allegedly set his house on fire with his wife and grandchild still inside before fleeing the scene. The wife, in tears, expressed disbelief, revealed he threatened to do it but added that she never thought he would go through with it. At 9pm yesterday, March 5, Police Lieutenant Piyanat Akkaraphumphol, Deputy Inspector of…
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Lufthansa sets sights on Thailand as expansion takes off
The Lufthansa Group is focusing on expanding its operations in Asia and Thailand, while also diversifying into non-airline businesses. Carsten Spohr, chief executive of the group, highlighted that Thailand is not just a tourism hub but also a lucrative business destination. The demand for cargo from Thailand is rising, and the Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market for maintenance, repair,…
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Jealous boyfriend murders partner in central Thailand
A jealous boyfriend murdered his 28 year old girlfriend for smiling at a male colleague. The young couple had been living together for six months while working at the same factory before the tragic incident unfolded. Police Lieutenant Phasith Chultakarn from Ban Pong Police Station in Ratchaburi province, yesterday, March 5, at 6pm, received a report of a woman fatally…
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Old wall collapses, kills grandmother and grandson in Isaan
A tragic incident occurred in the Mueang district of Nong Bua Lam Phu province, where a concrete wall from a 30 year old house collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 63 year old Duangjai Sriphalan and her 6 year old grandson. The accident happened in the laundry area of their single-storey home. Prasert Sriphalan recounted returning from errands at approximately…
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Failed enhancement: Pattaya rescuers remove steel ring from man’s penis
A Pattaya rescue team was called into action to remove a stainless steel ring from a Thai man’s penis. The man had hoped the ring would boost his sexual performance but he ended up in hospital instead. The 45 year old Thai man, whose identity remains undisclosed, visited a private hospital in Pattaya for treatment. His genital area was swollen…
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Thai court annuls 50-year-old student hairstyle regulation
The Supreme Administrative Court has annulled a long-standing Education Ministry regulation, originally established 50 years ago, which restricted students’ hairstyles. This final decision, delivered yesterday, March 5, resolves a contentious issue that has involved educators, students, and parents. The regulation, implemented in 1975, was immediately nullified by the court for infringing upon individual freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and being…
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Teacher arrested for posting indecent images of boys in Thailand
Technology Crime Suppression Division officers have detained a male teacher for posting indecent images of boys under 13, with five victims identified, some abused for over a decade. The arrest took place yesterday, March 5, at Kui Buri Police Station in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The Technology Crime Suppression Division, also known as cyber police, summoned A (a pseudonym) for…
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Home for Thais registration ends soon, housing lottery set for April
Registration for the Home for Thais initiative will end this month, with a property owner lottery scheduled for next month, according to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote. Since the project started on January 17, around 350,000 people have registered. However, fewer than half, approximately 140,000 applicants, have passed the initial qualification screening, making them eligible for housing loans from the…
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Bangkok residents raise alarm over illegal condo rentals, prostitution
Furious residents in Bangkok’s Nana district say their once-tranquil homes have been turned into a noisy nightmare, thanks to illegal condo rentals and prostitution. They claim foreigners are not only flouting the rules but also running a seedy prostitution racket, sparking serious safety concerns. People’s Party MP Bhuntin Noumjerm brought the issue to public attention, highlighting the ongoing distress faced by…
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Thai interest rate cuts to ease loan load amid economic slowdown
In a move that promises relief for borrowers across Thailand, six leading commercial banks and a clutch of state-owned counterparts have slashed lending rates following the Bank of Thailand’s recent policy rate cut. This adjustment is designed to alleviate the financial strain as the economy slows down. Domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) are joining forces to trim loan interest rates…
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Israel boosts Thai worker quota to 21,000 amid labour shortages
Israel has decided to increase the number of Thai workers in its agriculture and construction sectors to 21,000 positions this year, as announced by Labour Minister Rabbi Yoav Ben Tzur. During an official visit to Thailand concluding today, Ben Tzur addressed the press at the Israeli Embassy. He, along with Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, signed a memorandum of understanding…
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Zebra crossing accident in Sa Kaeo leads to11 year old boy’s death
A black sedan struck a Thai man and his 11 year old nephew on a zebra crossing outside Sa Kaeo Crown Prince Hospital in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo yesterday, resulting in the boy’s death. The Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Sa Kaeo reported the fatal accident to the public after it occurred at 10.45am, yesterday, March…
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Body of foreign tourist found on Kata Beach, Phuket
A grim discovery cast a shadow over Kata Beach in Phuket yesterday, as the lifeless body of a female foreign tourist, believed to be in her 50s, was found face down in the sand. The solo traveller’s body was unearthed near the Karon subdistrict municipal office yesterday, March 5, leaving officials stumped and scrambling for answers. With the cause of…
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Bang Bon Market shooting leaves fish vendor seriously injured
A shooting incident at Bang Bon Market resulted in a fish vendor being seriously injured due to a dispute between the wives of two vendors. The altercation led to chaos as shoppers fled. Police Lieutenant Sarayut Santhat, Deputy Inspector from Bang Khun Thian Police Station, yesterday, March 5, responded to reports of a shooting at Bang Bon-Ekachai Fresh Market in…
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Thailand to discuss Tri Muk Pavilion fire with Cambodia
Thai government officials are gearing up for urgent talks with Cambodia following a fire that tore through the Tri Muk Pavilion in the Emerald Triangle, a symbolic structure of unity between Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the discussions will take place at the 17th Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) tomorrow,…
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Thai family of 3 escape safely after roof collapse due to termites
A family of three fled their home in the eastern province of Rayong this week after their roof collapsed due to termite damage. Rescuers from the Sawang Phonkusol Rayong Foundation rushed to the scene at a house in Soi Koh Kloy 5, in Rayong’s Mueang district, on Tuesday, March 4, to investigate the collapse. The homeowner, along with her husband…
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Bet and busted: Poker faces flop in 51 million baht Bangkok bust
Thai police made a full house of arrests on Tuesday, swooping down on a clandestine poker den tucked away in a Bangkok warehouse. The audacious raid on March 4, led by officers from Ladprao Police Station, captured 52 gamblers, both locals and foreigners, caught red-handed amidst a sea of chips worth a staggering 51.4 million baht. Tipped off about the…
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Phuket officials probe ‘extra-large’ condo scandal
A major investigation is underway in Phuket as officials probe two controversial condominium developments in Cherng Talay. The projects, described as “extra-large,” have raised legal and environmental concerns, prompting high-level scrutiny from the Ministry of Interior. Leading the charge is Supoj Rotruang Na Nongkhai, Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Interior, who is conducting a two-day inspection on the island.…
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Thai dancer shocked after drink spiked with sexual stimulant
A Thai dancer had a terrifying brush with death after suffering a severe shock mid-performance at a temple in Kamphaeng Phet. The culprit? A mystery drink laced with a sexual stimulant, handed to him by a member of the audience. The official Facebook page of the Mor Lam performance band, หมอลำใจเกินร้อย (Mor Lam Jai Kern Roi, meaning over 100% spirit…
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