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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Ex-con Brit arrested for fatal punch to Russian in Thailand
The British man who punched a Russian businessman, resulting in his death, over sexual advances on his teenage daughter had been previously imprisoned for drug offences. He has recently been arrested for the fatal assault. The businessman allegedly propositioned the Welshman’s 15 year old daughter during a pool party in Pattaya. The 34 year old Welshman, known locally as Flash…
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DSI shifts gears, catches Thai man for swerving luxury car taxes
Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers arrested a Thai man yesterday for evading 42 million baht in taxes on the import of nine luxury cars. The DSI arrested the suspect, Chettha, at his accommodation, Uthong Mansion, in the Wang Thonglang district of Bangkok yesterday, May 29. Chettha is charged under Section 243 of the Customs Act for importing goods to…
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Thailand Video News | Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra faces lese majeste charges, Bangla Boxing Stadium Brawl
In this Thailand video news, Alex covers the stories from across Thailand. Begining with former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra faces lese majeste charges for allegedly insulting the monarchy in a 2015 interview, amid his politically charged return in August 2023. A viral video of a brawl at Bangla Boxing Stadium in Phuket sparked criticism after an Irish boxer taunted his…
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Thailand’s smartphone market set to grow 3% to 5% in 2024
Thailand’s smartphone market contracted by 2% in the first quarter due to slow economic recovery, a research paper revealed. However, the government’s digital wallet scheme is projected to stimulate industry growth by 3% to 5% in 2024, according to Counterpoint Technology Market Research’s Thailand Smartphone Tracker report. 5G smartphone shipments accounted for 52% of total smartphone sales in the first…
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Chiang Mai lottery predictions spark excitement ahead of draw
Chiang Mai‘s latest lottery predictions are out, with Kraisorn offering his insights ahead of an important date. Fans of the late singer Phumphuang Duangchan are eagerly hoping for a big win. Several significant numbers have been revealed by the lottery expert, promising hopefuls a chance at substantial financial gains. Yesterday at 8.40am, reports emerged about the bustling atmosphere in Chiang…
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Drunk driver crashes into streetlight and overturns in Pattaya
A drunk driver lost control of his pickup truck, causing it to veer off the road and crash into a streetlight before overturning into a median ditch. Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene to assist. At approximately 2.20am today, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Radio Centre in Pattaya received a report of an overturned pickup truck near a wood…
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Spooky spectacle: Haunted house in Surin sparks lottery frenzy
A deserted house in Surin Province, northeastern Thailand, has become the centre of local attention after reports of ghost sightings and supernatural occurrences. Relatives and villagers have been flocking to the house to seek lucky lottery numbers ahead of the upcoming draw. The house, located at 27, Moo 6, Ban Bueng, Ban Rae Subdistrict, Khwao Sinarin District, has been abandoned…
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Bullying brother stabbed 11 times in Chon Buri family altercation
A violent altercation between siblings in Chon Buri erupted when a brother stabbed his older sibling 11 times, leaving the latter severely injured. The younger brother claims his brother, in an intoxicated state had instigated the incident, bearing his own weapons. Police Colonel Komsan Kamtunkaew received a report of a stabbing in Sattahip. Upon arrival at the scene, authorities found…
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Manhunt for fugitive Brit suspected to have fled to Thailand
British Police have launched an international manhunt for a fugitive Brit from Warrington, UK, believed to be hiding out in Thailand. The Brit, 36 year old Luke Atkin from Lower Walton, is on the run after failing to appear in court on serious drug charges. Atkin, previously of York, was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine but failed to attend…
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Fugitive passport kingpin captured in Bangkok hideout
A fugitive passport forgery mastermind who had been on the run from Chinese authorities has been apprehended in Bangkok’s upscale Sathorn district. Police revealed the arrest of the suspect, known only as Chun, in a late-night raid at a condominium on Suan Phlu Road. Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, Police Major General Phanthana Nutchanart, disclosed the details yesterday, confirming…
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Minister proposes shorter blacklist period for bad debtors
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira proposed reducing the time period for which bad debtors remain on the National Credit Bureau’s blacklist, aiming to facilitate quicker access to new borrowing opportunities. While speaking at a signing ceremony for the establishment of ARI-AMC, a joint venture between the Government Savings Bank (GSB) and Bangkok Commercial Asset Management Plc (BAM), Pichai noted that the…
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Murder suspect spends victim’s valuables and flees to Pattaya
A Thai man suspected of killing his boyfriend in a condominium in the central province of Nonthaburi hid himself in Pattaya and narrowly escaped arrest yesterday, May 29. The murder of the 54 year old man, Paisarn Thong-on, came to light on May 26 after residents reported an unpleasant smell coming from his room, leading to the discovery of his…
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Student assaulted at Sisaket school sparks outrage
A disturbing incident involving a young student being assaulted at a school in Sisaket has come to light. A post by a popular social media page featured images of a 12 year old boy, identified as A, covered in blood after being attacked by older students. The incident, which took place on Tuesday, May 28, saw teachers bringing the injured…
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La Niña to bring heavy rains but overall 26% below average
The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) issued a warning about heavy rainfall from August to September due to the impact of the La Niña phenomenon, while also noting that this year’s total rainfall is expected to be 26% below average. ONWR Deputy Secretary-General Paitoon Kengkarnchang confirmed that the weather pattern will shift to a typical La Niña form starting in…
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Foreign affairs minister sails to settle seas of dispute in Koh Kood
Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa is set to visit Cambodia to negotiate an overlapping claims area (OCA) in Koh Kood, situated in Trat, a border province. This visit aims to bolster bilateral relations and address pressing issues, including the controversial Cambodian construction of a breakwater near the 73rd border demarcation post adjacent to the Klong Yai border checkpoint. The breakwater,…
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Malaysia offers gene-ius solution for displaced Thais in Kota Bharu
The Foreign Affairs Ministry and Justice Ministry in Malaysia have collaborated to provide genetic testing for displaced Thai nationals in Kota Bharu. Supported by the Royal Thai Consulate-General of Kota Bharu, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), and Thailand’s Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS), the project aims to confirm Thai nationality for those whose citizenship status was previously…
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Supporters urge Thai PM to prevent Cannabis reclassification
Wisarat Phanprasat, head of the Western Herbal Community Business Network in Kanchanaburi, led a significant demonstration alongside over 1,000 cannabis supporters, submitting a draft of the People’s Cannabis Act and a petition to the prime minister. This event took place in front of the United Nations in Bangkok. The primary demand was to oppose the classification of cannabis as a…
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British man found dead in Sattahip condo, suspected suicide
A 58 year old British man was found dead in his condo bathroom in Sattahip, Chon Buri on May 27. Sattahip police responded to a report of a suspected suicide at a luxury condominium behind Bang Saray Market. Upon entering the third-floor room, police discovered the man, identified by police as Michael Devalle, dead in the bathroom. He appeared to…
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How to make money as a freelancer in Thailand
Thailand, charactersed by its dynamic culture and picturesque natural landscapes, is not solely a tourist hotspot but also a country of considerable potential. If you aspire to a lifestyle that marries remote work with the opportunity to engage in local traditions, as well as the possibility to accrue savings, Thailand may well be your ideal destination. In this country, the…
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Land and building tax revenue to hit 43 billion baht this year
The Finance Ministry anticipates the land and building tax collection to reach 43 billion baht this year, marking an increase of 8 billion from the previous year due to the discontinuation of the tax discount. Finance Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit, speaking at a property seminar on the fifth anniversary of the tax’s implementation, revealed that the ministry is currently reviewing…
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Myanmar couple makes history at Thai Pride parade
Denied the chance to celebrate their union in their homeland, where LGBTQ individuals face persecution and imprisonment, a Burmese same-sex couple sought peace and happiness in the more tolerant kingdom next door. The couple, Nyan and Mae, tied the knot in front of thousands at the annual Pride parade in Chiang Mai. The late-night ceremony on Sunday was only symbolic…
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Outrage as Chinese tourists let child urinate near sacred Thai site
A photograph of two Chinese tourists allowing their child to urinate on a path near Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall in Bangkok has ignited a heated online debate. The Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall, nestled within the Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok, is a symbol of national pride and a key venue for state ceremonies. Formerly a royal residence, it…
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Thai mother accuses son’s girlfriend of swindling 891,000 baht
A Thai mother in Pattaya accused the mother of her son’s ex-girlfriend of tricking her 17 year old boy into giving them 891,000 baht. The half-Irish, half-Thai teenager was reportedly in a romantic relationship with his ex-girlfriend’s 33 year old mother. The teenager’s mother, 44 year old Kung, explained that she was married to a 74 year old Irish man,…
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Thai authorities seize one million meth pills near Chiang Rai Airport
Authorities intercepted a major drug bust involving one million methamphetamine pills in the parking lot of a well-known shopping mall near Chiang Rai Airport. The suspects, a man and a woman, were caught preparing to transport the drugs into the interior of the country. Colonel Kidakorn Chantra, Deputy Commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, examined the seized drugs and…
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Woman arrested for 2.8 million baht fraud and nude clip scheme
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) arrested a woman for her alleged involvement in a nude clip scheme and a 2.8 million baht investment scam impersonating a well-known platform where she reportedly coerced victims into sending nude clips in exchange for withdrawing their investment money. Police Major General Teeradech Thammasuthee, today, alongside an investigative team, apprehended 29 year old Arisa under…
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Thai halal boom targets 84 trillion baht market
In a move to capture a share of the burgeoning US$2.3 trillion (approximately 84 trillion baht) global halal market, the Ministry of Industry has launched the Thai Halal Industry Centre. This strategic initiative aims to position Thailand as the regional hub for halal products and services, with the market value expected to soar to US$2.8 trillion by 2025, driven by…
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Duck vendor found dead in pickup truck at Samut Prakan shrine
A tragic discovery took place in front of a Buddha shrine in Samut Prakan today, where a vendor was found dead inside a pickup truck. The deceased had left a note but the cause of his death remains unknown. The Deputy Inspector of Samrong Nuea Police Station in Samut Prakan, Asanee Kongkerd, received a report of a man’s death inside…
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Thaksin’s shadow over Pheu Thai and election scandal rejected
The Constitutional Court unanimously rejected a high-profile petition accusing the Pheu Thai Party of being dominated by paroled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The petition alleged that Thaksin’s influence and the controversial digital wallet scheme used in their election campaign violated section 49 of the Constitution. Decha Chairat, the petitioner, didn’t stop there. He also accused Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin…
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Online durian purchase sparks consumer outrage over quality
A customer raised concerns over the quality of durian purchased online, claiming the fruit was mushy and bitter despite being advertised as ready to eat. The total cost, including delivery, was 720 baht. The incident, which occurred yesterday, sparked heated discussions on social media. The customer shared their experience in an online consumer group, explaining they ordered durian from a…
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Thailand to issue US$1.1 billion sustainability-linked bonds
Thailand will issue up to US$1.1 billion (40 billion baht) in baht-denominated sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) in the coming months, marking the first such offering by an Asian government. This initiative aims to address both the nation’s budget deficit and its environmental commitments. According to the public debt advisor at the Ministry of Finance, Jindarat Viriyataveekul, the proceeds from the bond…
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