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 Moving with family? Here’s how to cut health costs in Thailand
Relocating to Thailand with your family brings exciting new opportunities, but it also comes with the challenge of managing healthcare costs in a new system. Thailand has both public and private healthcare options, each offering different prices and quality of...
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Thai police enlist Interpol in hunt for Moroccan murder suspect
Thai police are enlisting Interpol’s assistance to apprehend a Moroccan man suspected of murdering his girlfriend in Chiang Mai before fleeing the country. The tragic incident involves Thitikarn Dulikanon, a transgender woman and owner of a beauty clinic near the Mae Hia Market intersection in Mueang district, whose body was found on December 6. Police and forensic experts from Maharaj…
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Police seize 6.4 million meth pills in Pathum Thani drug raid
Five individuals were apprehended by police in Pathum Thani‘s Lam Luk Ka district, where a significant cache of 6.4 million methamphetamine pills was discovered, poised for distribution to southern regions. The arrest, which took place at approximately 4pm yesterday, December 7, involved four men and one woman. The operation was conducted by narcotics suppression officers at a residence within the…
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Parked car explosion in Chon Buri nearly ignites house on fire
A parked car’s unexpected explosion after sitting idle for over a week nearly set an entire house ablaze. The incident occurred yesterday, December 6 at 6.30pm in Ban Suan, Mueang Chon Buri district. The intense fire destroyed the vehicle and cracked the house’s glass windows due to the explosion’s force. Police, led by Siwakorn Chanthamenchai from the Chon Buri Police…
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Teen killed in crash, 400 meth pills found in car
A collision between a car and a motorcycle resulted in the tragic death of a teenage girl, with police discovering 400 meth pills in the car involved. The car driver, 71 year old Chanyut, denies ownership of the drugs, questioning why would he wait for the police if they were his. Police Captain Prem Tiamtua of Udon Thani City Police…
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Man found with 18 stab wounds in rice field, CCTV footage released
A chilling discovery has been made after the body of an elderly man was found with 18 stab wounds in a paddy field. CCTV footage revealed two suspects accompanying him on a motorcycle before his tragic death. The deceased, identified as 60 year old Udom, was found in a field in Khlong Khlung, Kamphaeng Phet province. He had been drinking…
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Fatal shooting at Udon Thani concert leaves community in shock
A tragic altercation at a Pu Pongsit concert in Udon Thani yesterday led to a shooting which ultimately led to the death of one attendee and severe injuries to another. The incident unfolded yesterday, December 6, at 1.30am, when 22 year old Suphawit and 18 year old Theeraphat attended the annual Thung Si Muang festival concert and encountered a rival…
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Pattaya’s ongoing struggle of managing railway road traffic
Traffic congestion along railway roads has become a persistent headache for Pattaya’s commuters, with years of attempted solutions failing to provide meaningful relief. The city’s struggle to manage vehicular flow has highlighted significant infrastructure challenges. Seeking to address the issue, Pattaya City administration took an innovative approach by leasing a 19-kilometre stretch of the road from the State Railway of…
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Chon Buri police officer dismissed for extortion of elderly woman
A police officer in Chon Buri has been dismissed following allegations of extorting 250,000 baht from a 70 year old woman in exchange for handling her online fraud case. The officer is now in custody, with bail opposed. The officer, a sergeant major, is affiliated with the Saensuk Police Station in Chon Buri. Following an investigation led by the provincial…
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Thai pilots oppose foreign pilots on domestic routes amid tourism surge
The Thai Pilots Association has taken a definitive stance against the recent Cabinet decision allowing foreign pilots to operate domestic routes through wet lease agreements. Yesterday, December 6, they formally petitioned the Labour and Transport ministries to reconsider the move, which was introduced to address a perceived shortage of commercial pilots amid a surge in tourism activity. The Cabinet’s decision,…
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Justice Ministry denies parole rule tailored for Yingluck Shinawatra
The Ministry of Justice firmly dismissed claims that a regulation permitting prisoners to be released on parole and confined to house arrest was crafted to benefit any specific individual, including former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. This denial emerged during an interview yesterday, December 6, with Somboon Muangklam, an adviser to Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, alongside officials from the Department of…
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Fire destroys five cars in Nonthaburi garage blaze
A devastating fire engulfed a car repair garage, reducing five vehicles to ashes after a series of loud explosions rocked the neighbourhood. The incident occurred in the early hours yesterday, December 6, prompting a swift response from local fire services and police in Nonthaburi. The blaze erupted at approximately 12.20am at a garage known as Chang Tao Garage, located within…
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Pheu Thai Party proposes bill to limit Thai military’s power
Pheu Thai Party has introduced a legislative proposal to curb the military’s influence in Thailand by amending the Defence Ministry Administration Act. This proposed amendment seeks to transfer the authority of appointing generals from the armed forces commanders to a committee appointed by the Cabinet, thereby promoting transparency and meritocracy in military promotions. The proposed change is designed to prevent the…
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Thai woman finds rare Moonrat in southern Thailand canal (video)
A local angler in the southern province of Yala discovered a rare and endangered species known as the moonrat while fishing in a canal. She plans to return it to its natural habitat. The President of the Betong Animal Lover Club, Phatcharin Prathummek, contacted several news agencies to report her rare find. She later guided journalists to her house, where…
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Taxing times: Thai PM backtracks on VAT hike after public outcry
In a dramatic U-turn, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pulled the plug on a proposal to crank up the value-added tax (VAT) following a storm of public outrage. The PM took to X (formerly Twitter) today, December 6, decisively posting: “No VAT adjustment to 15%.” This swift decision emerged from a huddle at Government House with Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira and…
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2 Thai women arrested for tricking young virgins into prostitution
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested two Thai women for operating a child prostitution ring, tricking young virgin women into offering sex services to illegal Chinese nationals. CIB officers arrested the 21 year old Thai woman named Panida and a 22 year old woman named Nalatporn for their involvement in child prostitution. Panida was arrested at her condominium in the…
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Mile high sex: Swissair faces blowback over viral in-flight video
Swiss International Air Lines is in hot water after a woman performing oral sex on a passenger, filmed by airline staff, went viral, sparking a public uproar over privacy rights. The scandal unfolded when footage captured by Swissair CCTV emerged, showing a couple getting frisky in the first-class galley of a Bangkok to Zurich flight. Now, the airline is scrambling to…
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Thailand seeks US direct flights amid airline hesitance
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is actively working to initiate direct flights from the United States to Thailand, as local Thai airlines remain hesitant to establish these routes. This move follows the anticipated lifting of restrictions by aviation regulators next year. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently provided a positive assessment of Thailand’s aviation safety standards. The Transport…
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Gold rush goes bust: Prices nosedive as market loses glitter
A shockwave hit the gold market today as the Gold Traders Association (GTA) announced a startling drop in prices, sending buyers and sellers into a flurry. Gold jewellery is now going for a cool 42,950 baht per baht weight, marking a notable plunge of 350 baht from the closing figures yesterday, December 5. The early birds were the first to…
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2 year old Thai boy crashes motorcycle into glass door, injuring mum
A two year old Thai boy crashed his mother’s motorcycle into the glass door of a house in the Isaan province of Buriram on Wednesday. The boy was unharmed but his mother sustained injuries from broken glass. The Siam Ruamjai Pu-in Rescue Foundation responded to the incident at a house on Nang Rong-Lam Plai Mart Road in the Nang Rong district of…
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Bank loan growth to shrink despite Q4 rise in retail lending
Bank loan growth is anticipated to shrink this year despite a slight rise in the fourth quarter, as banks maintain their cautious lending practices into 2025 to 2026 due to sluggish GDP growth, analysts report. Analyst Weerapat Wonk-Urai from CGS International Securities (Thailand) highlighted a rising ratio of underperforming loans in retail lending, prompting banks to enforce stricter credit standards…
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Thai man kills neighbour’s dog for alleged chicken attack (video)
The owner of a light brown Siberian Husky in the southern province of Songkhla is seeking justice after the dog was beaten to death by a neighbour, who claimed it attacked his chickens. Rachan, the owner of the female Siberian Husky named Lucky shared the tragic story on social media, along with a video of the violent attack captured on…
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Chinese man blamed for fatal crash in Pattaya glued to phone
Police revealed the Chinese man at the centre of a tragic collision that killed one and injured several others was not under the influence of alcohol. Investigation officers, however, believe he was playing with his mobile phone prior to the horror smash. The accused, 39 year old Zhang Yigong, was at the wheel of a luxurious Toyota Alphard van when…
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Fishing for freedom: Thai crew released from Myanmar custody
Four Thai crew members are expected to be released today after being detained in Myanmar. The crew members belong to the Thai fishing vessel S. Charoenchai 8, which was intercepted by Myanmar’s navy. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) confirmed that all crew members, including the four Thai nationals, are safe and that diplomatic efforts are underway to secure their release.…
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Blowing smoke: House panel’s vape verdict sparks fiery debate
In a twist that’s left health experts fuming, the House special committee on e-cigarettes has rolled out a controversial trio of recommendations that some claim cater to the pro-smoking lobby. The options on the table: uphold the complete ban on e-cigarettes, legalise heated tobacco products (HTPs), or give the all-clear to all forms of e-cigarettes. Cue a storm of backlash…
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Mistaken identity: Thai man bruised by police’s sobering blunder
A 33 year old Thai man and his family are taking legal action against seven police officers for mistaking him for a drink driving suspect and brutally assaulting him in the early hours of Wednesday, December 4, on Prasert-Manukitch Road in Bangkok. The victim’s sister, 29 year old Thanatcha Kirdsri, yesterday, December 5, visited the office of the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD)…
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Construction halted on Rama II Road for new year travel ease
The Transport Ministry has announced the suspension of all construction activities along Rama II Road from December 26 to January 2 next year. This decision aims to ease travel for those heading south during the new year holiday period. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit highlighted that the focus of the suspension is to aid travellers using this major route. “We also…
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Phuket hospital gets cancer care cash to kickstart cure (video)
Phuket’s medical scene is on the brink of a major transformation, thanks to two hefty contributions that have been earmarked for the region’s first government-run cancer treatment facility at Vachira Phuket Hospital. The Vachira Phuket Hospital is set to welcome a brand-new Radiation Therapy Building, funded by donations ringing in at a staggering 1.5 million baht. In a formal affair…
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State officials probed over Saraburi land encroachment allegations
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) embarked on an investigation to determine the involvement of state officials in alleged land encroachment activities in Saraburi. The primary focus is on the Phu Nub Dao Cafe & Farm, accused of constructing buildings illegally on a Sor Por Kor land reform area in Muak Lek district. Witthaya Arkhompitak, the acting chairman of the NACC,…
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Warning issued on eve of White Lotus series in Thailand (video)
As legions of White Lotus fans eagerly await the much-anticipated third series of the smash hit HBO drama, a gripping warning emerges from the exotic shores of Thailand. White Lotus mastermind Mike White’s quest across Thailand in search of the ultimate location to capture the magic for the show’s upcoming season has been well documented. His journey led him to…
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Twitter personality arrested for 50,000 baht scam impersonation
A popular Twitter personality with over 30,000 followers was recently apprehended for impersonating a relative to swindle 50,000 baht. She was caught after returning from Malaysia and claimed she only provided OTP codes for small payments. The arrest took place yesterday, December 5, as Pramote Chanbungkaew, head of Phetkasem Police Station, and his team apprehended 27 year old Mathurin, from…
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