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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Salt of the laundry: Table salt sparks cleaning revolution
Table salt has emerged as a surprisingly effective aid in the laundry process, not only enhancing the cleanliness of the washing machine but also delivering dual benefits for the clothes themselves. This inexpensive, common condiment has proven to be a thrifty and straightforward solution for maintaining both machine and garment hygiene, offering much more than meets the eye. The use…
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Thai government increases 2025 budget deficit for economic boost
The Government of Thailand has sanctioned a rise in the 2025 budget deficit by an extra 153 billion baht, to instigate an economic boost. As a result, the budget will increase to 3.752 trillion baht, a significant hike from the previously planned 3.6 trillion, according to Chalermphol Pensoot, the Budget Bureau director at the Ministry of Finance. The budget deficit…
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Crystal meth found floating in Thailand’s eastern seaboard waters
The coastal waters of Thailand’s eastern seaboard were recently afloat with 20 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine. This shocking find adds to the growing tally of illegal narcotics discovered in the region, with approximately 400kg of crystal meth found floating in the same area during the past month. The news broke today, April 2, when Thawatchai Kaewkhao, the mayor of Bang…
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Songkran festival sees Rama II Road works delay till June 2025
Thailand’s transport minister announced that construction delays on Rama II Road will persist during the upcoming Songkran festival. Despite efforts to expedite the work, the completion date is now set for June 2025. The minister assured that compensation will be paid to the contractors to encourage faster progress. Government spokesperson Suriya Jungrungreangkit addressed the state of transportation during the Songkran…
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Car bursts into flames in Thailand from dry tissues and toothpicks
A car parked under the scorching Thai sun burst into flames, nearly burning the entire vehicle due to the presence of dry tissues and toothpicks. The incident, which serves as a stark warning about the dangers of leaving combustible materials in a car exposed to intense heat, occurred at noon today, April 2. The vehicle’s owner revealed the harrowing moments…
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Thailand waives tolls for Songkran festival to ease travel costs
The Thai Cabinet approved a toll exemption for vehicles on Motorway No. 7 and Motorway No. 9 during the seven-day Songkran festival period to alleviate traffic congestion and facilitate convenience for travellers. The exemption will be in effect from 12.01am on April 11 to midnight on April 17, in time for the country’s traditional new year celebrations. The decision was…
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Big Joke woes: Warrant issued for money laundering
The Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road was the scene of significant legal developments as investigators sought an arrest warrant for Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, Deputy National Police Chief of Thailand, following three previously issued summonses. The request for his capture was rooted in allegations of money laundering and conspiring to commit a crime, related to an investigation into gambling websites.…
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Pattaya restaurant owner criticised for beating her employees
A Thai customer and netizens condemned the owner of a BBQ restaurant in Pattaya for brutally punishing her employees with beatings. A customer at the restaurant witnessed the owner’s punishment on her staff and shared a video of the incident on social media. In the video, the female restaurant owner is seen beating a male staff member wearing a red…
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Thailand’s waste-fighting wave: InterceptorTM 019 makes a splash
The fight against marine waste has taken a monumental step in Thailand with the official launch of the InterceptorTM 019, a solar-powered and fully automated device dedicated to capturing waste. This milestone is the result of joint efforts by The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch non-profit environmental engineering organisation, and its first global implementation partner, The Coca-Cola Company, along with a…
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Govt bets big on Thai entertainment complex, stakes high
The stakes are high for each venue within the integrated Thai entertainment complex development project by the Government of Thailand, with investments expected to reach over a staggering 100 billion baht. The chairman of the ordinary committee of the House of Representatives and Deputy Finance Minister, Julapun Amornvivat, plans to present the results of a study on entertainment complexes and…
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Paws for alarm: Thai woman’s wrong turn ends in tragic mauling
A dog tragically mauled a 74 year old Thai woman to death after she entered the wrong house in the Thawi Watthana district of Bangkok due to her Alzheimer’s condition. The incident was reported to Saladaeng Police Station and Por Teck Tung Foundation by a homeowner around 8pm on March 31. Police investigated the scene and found Prapaipit lying in…
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Health Ministry warns against eating geckos for sexual benefits
The Department of Health of Thailand issued a warning against consuming live geckos in the belief that they can enhance sexual performance, stressing the lack of scientific evidence and potential health risks. Health authorities have raised alarms over a dangerous trend among middle-aged men in Thailand, involving the consumption of live geckos as a supposed sexual enhancement remedy. A 59…
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Shocking surge: Thailand market sparks rise in EV loans
The Thai market is seeing a rise in loans for electric vehicles (EVs), as they are projected to lead the expansion in auto lending this year. Krungsri Auto, a prominent auto loan provider and a Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri) unit, has projected new EV sales to climb to 100,000 units this year, a significant increase from 76,000 units the previous…
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Thai man murders granddaughter and commits suicide
A 78 year old Thai man in the central province of Phetchabun murdered his 12 year old granddaughter and committed suicide because he allegedly had romantic feelings for her. The dead body of the girl, Natticha, was found in a pond by a roadside forest in the Nong Phai district of Phetchabu province on Saturday, March 30, after she disappeared from her…
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Dust distress: Thailand choked by PM2.5 air pollution surge
Air pollution levels in parts of Thailand have surged into the red-coded category, indicating serious health risks. Particularly hard hit was Chiang Mai, where excessive PM2.5 dust levels were detected on today, April 4. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) revealed that 21 provinces were grappling with dangerous PM2.5 particulate levels – fine airborne particles measuring 2.5 micrometres…
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Foreign tourists flock to Thailand, boosting economy
Foreign tourists in Thailand reached 9.4 million in the initial quarter of this year, pouring an estimated 454.6 billion baht (US$12.4 billion) into the national economy through their expenditure, as disclosed by the Tourism and Sports Ministry. This year, the Southeast Asian nation is setting its sights on an ambitious goal of 40 million tourists, almost equal to the pre-Covid-19 pandemic…
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British backpacker murderers make fresh appeal against sentence (video)
The British backpacker murderers have made fresh appeals against their sentence claiming they are innocent of beating an English couple to death in Thailand ten years ago Two Burmese bar workers were accused of murdering British couple David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on Koh Tao Island in 2014. The bar workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, who have consistently maintained…
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Thaiger Video News | Russian couples dine and dash scam exposed in Phuket, Intense heatwave sees temperatures hit 40c
In the latest news from Thailand, a scandal involving Russian couples engaging in dine-and-dash schemes has been uncovered in Phuket. Meanwhile, an unusual phenomenon has occurred as millions of krill mysteriously washed ashore in Phuket, leaving locals baffled. In Bangkok, a dispute among teenage gangs escalated to the alarming discovery of grenades and guns. Additionally, Thailand is grappling with an…
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Surat Thani ex-engineer wins 30 million baht lottery
A former municipal engineering director from Surat Thani province hit the jackpot, winning a staggering 30 million baht in the national lottery. The 61 year old, who has been living and working in Nonthaburi province since 1978, walked into a local police station today, April 2, with his family to officially record their life-changing win. Polkrit, the lucky winner, alongside…
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Isuzu revs up green initiative with PTT union for clean fuel trials
Tri Petch Isuzu, Thailand’s Isuzu vehicle distributor, is joining forces with PTT Plc to test vehicles powered by a novel clean fuel. This initiative is aimed at supporting efforts to reduce the high carbon dioxide emissions from Thailand’s transport sector. The transport and power generation sectors are the main contributors to over 60% of Thailand’s greenhouse gas emissions, as per…
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Thailand seeks more flight routes from Laos and China
The Government of Thailand has its sights set on elevating the country’s aviation industry, with plans in the pipeline to request additional flight routes from Laos and China within the next two years. The move is part of a broader “Ignite Thailand” vision, articulated by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, aiming to position Thailand as a hub in eight key sectors,…
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Internal strife and political interference hinder Thai police reform
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) are in the throes of internal conflict and political interference, making police reform a distant goal, say observers. A recent high-profile disagreement between National Police Chief, Police General Torsak Sukvimol, and his deputy, Police General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, has fuelled this perception. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who presides over the Police Commission, allocated the…
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Thailand in talks with China to swap submarine for naval vessels
Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang is near finalising discussions with China to acquire alternative naval vessels instead of a submarine, aiming to conclude the talks by the end of this month. The negotiations began following Klungsang’s recent trip to China, where he introduced the proposal. China has shown openness to Thailand’s request to purchase two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) or a…
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Thai monk allegedly rapes woman, demands she divorces husband
A Thai man sought help from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after a monk demanded he end his relationship with his wife so he could have her. The monk had previously raped the woman making her pregnant. The 36 year old Thai man, Warut, revealed in the press conference yesterday, March 31, that he married his wife, 31 year old…
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Don Mueang Airport prepares for Songkran holiday travel spike
Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport gears up for an influx of approximately 625,000 passengers during the Songkran holiday period, which runs from April 11 to 17. It expects over 4,000 flights, marking a substantial 10.58% rise from the previous year’s data. Don Mueang Airport General Manager Wichit Kaewsaitiam attributed this surge to the government’s strategic policies aimed at bolstering domestic…
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Boy, 11, declines HIV test knowing partner’s positive status
An 11 year old boy stunned medical professionals with his response to a suggestion for an HIV test after a genital discharge complaint. The boy confidently declined the test, indicating that he was already aware of his status through his partner, an 18 year old girl. The alarming case emerged on the popular Facebook page ไม่ใช่หมà¸à¸šà¹ˆà¸™-aggressivenotdoctor, where it was revealed…
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Gold soars to unprecedented heights amid geopolitical tensions
As the second quarter of the year commences, gold has reached unprecedented heights, thanks to geopolitical tensions and the Federal Reserve’s impending rate cuts. The precious metal’s price soared to as high as US$2,259.69 per ounce, marking an increase of 1.3% from its value at the end of last week. The Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of core inflation, the core…
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Thai woman’s fake robbery covers ex-marital money matters
A Thai woman faked a robbery to hide from her new husband that she was previously married and was still sending money to her ex-husband and their child. The 30 year old woman, Walisa, filed a theft complaint at Pak Chong Police Station at 11.30pm yesterday, March 31. She reported that a thief stole 2,200 from her, the amount she…
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Northern Thailand grapples with severe global air contamination
The hazardous red-coded levels of PM2.5 shrouded most northern provinces of Thailand today, with Chiang Mai earning the unenviable title of the city with the most severe air contamination globally. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) disclosed today, April 4, at 8am that 14 provinces were grappling with red (highly detrimental) levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and…
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Thailand grapples with intense heatwave, temperatures hit 40°C
Thailand is grappling with an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring past 40 degrees Celsius. The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning for intense heat across the country, along with thunderstorms expected in ten provinces. As the high-pressure system caused by intense heat envelops the upper region of Thailand, the entire country faces generally hot weather, accompanied by scattered…
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