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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German and French firms eye Thailand’s booming electric vehicle sector
A surge of interest in Thailand’s budding electric vehicle (EV) industry has been noted among businesses from France and Germany. The Thailand Board of Investment (BoI) revealed this interest following an investment promotion roadshow in these European nations. The BoI’s Deputy Secretary-General, Wirat Tatsaringkansakul, suggested a particularly keen receptiveness from French and German investors. These potential investors are reportedly looking…
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Thai-m to cluck about: 2 chicken dishes from Thailand soar in global rankings
A recent ranking of global chicken dishes by the esteemed food mapping site TasteAtlas has positioned two Thai food plates among the top 50. Thai meals “Khao mok kai (a Muslim-style platter of chicken with saffron-flavoured rice)” and “Kai yang (simple grilled chicken dish)” were No. 38 and No. 46, respectively. “Khao mok kai” notched up a commendable 4.3-star rating…
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RTP to erase 10 million innocent individuals from criminal database
A sweeping initiative is currently underway at the Royal Thai Police (RTP) headquarters, set to clear nearly 10 million innocent individuals from its criminal database. Deputy National Police Chief, Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, yesterday revealed at a press conference that RTP seeks to integrate enhanced human rights principles into its processes. The initiative, grounded in the new fingerprint regulation announced…
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Teen enlists friend for fatal shooting of ex-girlfriend in southern Thailand
In an unsettling incident, a 16 year old lured his friend into fatally shooting his 17 year old ex-girlfriend, who had moved on several months after their breakup in Phatthalung province, southern Thailand. The police station in Phatthalung received reports from the local hospital about the unfortunate incident last night at 9pm. The victim, Thanapimol Kaewrat, from Cha Uat district…
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Ubon Ratchathani crackdown nets 3 illegal Chinese immigrants in border raids
In a significant operation in the Ubon Ratchathani province, three illegal Chinese immigrants were detained whilst they were in hiding in a border village. The three men were reportedly waiting to be transported to work for telecommunication fraud and online gambling organisations. In the course of the same operation, police also apprehended a Thai national who had been sheltering the…
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Woman cleared of 12 million baht lottery ticket theft accusation, plans defamation case
In a tale of family dynamics gone awry, a 93 year old woman accused her 53 year old granddaughter of stealing two winning government-issued lottery scratch cards worth a total of 12 million baht (US$340,000). The case arose after an investigation by the Lottery Department, which included examining the original stubs of three books of tickets. However, the department confirmed…
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Customs officers accused of stealing durians worth 1.8 million baht
A Thai durian middleman accused the Aranyaprathet Customs House in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo of stealing durians worth 1.8 million baht. The story of the durian middleman caught fire on Thai social media on Sunday, June 25. According to several posts on Facebook, the middleman complained that the customs wrongly blamed him for illegally importing durians from Cambodia.…
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Nakhon Ratchasima highway police nab 3 with counterfeit licences
Nakhon Ratchasima‘s Highway Police apprehended three individuals accused of using counterfeit driving licences. The police warned the public of the serious repercussions of using such forged documents, reaffirming that genuine licences can only be obtained through the Department of Land Transport. Pol. Capt. Pichrut Kulwimonprateeb, commander of the 6th Provincial Police Station, along with Pol. Lt. Col. Jiraphan Rujirakul, deputy…
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TD-IWTA Awards 2023 celebrates exceptional women in the Asian travel industry
It’s not every day that you witness trailblazing women being praised for their incredible accomplishments in the travel sector. Well, the first-ever Travel Daily Media – Inspiring Women in Travel (Asia) Awards 2023 did just that! The prestigious event garnered rave reviews, uniting travel industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries from across Asia. Its purpose was to recognise and laud the…
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US Ambassador celebrates first shipment of Thai pomelos to America
US Ambassador to Thailand Robert Godec had an opportunity to engage with Thai and foreign media today, where he expressed his delight at the first-ever shipment of Thai pomelos reaching the United States. This is a milestone that comes 190 years into the diplomatic ties between the two countries. The first export lot of the popular citrus fruits was dispatched…
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Cameraman caper: Former journalist nabbed for stealing from fellow hacks
Parliamentary Police officers arrested a former Thai journalist as he posed as a news cameraman for stealing valuables from other hacks. Police believe the suspect attempted to blackmail new Members of Parliament. Journalists from several news outlets gathered at Parliament House yesterday to interview new MPs who reported for work at Parliament. Amid the chaos, one reporter noticed the former light-fingered…
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Drug awareness in focus as Phuket initiates anti-drug events
In commemoration of World Drug Day, a series of events unfolded yesterday in Phuket, supervised by government authorities to fortify global standing against drug abuse. World Drug Day, also known as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, is a global observance brought to light by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, held every year on June…
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Whale of a collection: Thai masseur wows beachgoers with intriguing 50 million baht puke treasure
A Thai masseur captivated the public’s attention by showcasing his intriguing collection of whale puke while plying his trade on beaches in the southern province of Phang Nga. If proven to be authentic, it could be worth 50 million baht. The owner of a local furniture store in Phang Nga, Wirat Ratso, invited reporters from ThaiRath to explore the whale…
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Firefighters mourn student: A heartfelt tribute to a life cut short by extinguisher explosion
A poignant ceremony was held at 7.30am today at the Sunthornthammathan Temple or Kaenangleung Temple in Bangkok. Four firefighters paid their respects to a student in Year 12 who tragically died when a fire extinguisher exploded on school premises. The firefighters came to the temple to ignite the funeral pyre, dedicating their merits to him. The men visibly displaying their sadness…
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Body reportedly spotted off Krabi island, search hindered by waves
A body was reportedly spotted floating off an island in Thailand’s southern Krabi province. Despite efforts by officials, the deceased has not yet been recovered due to strong waves hindering the search. A fishing boat captain near Koh Lanta island alerted the Royal Thai Navy Third Command of the body yesterday morning, The Phuket Express reported. In an attempt to retrieve…
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Police nab 2 more members of notorious loan shark and abduction gang
Two more gangsters associated with notorious loan sharking and drugged abduction practices across three Thai provinces have been apprehended. The suspects, both denying the charges so far, were apprehended at a regional court and reputable hotel. One individual confessed at around 9am today. Police led by Lieutenant Colonel Montri Thedkhan ordered the apprehension of the individuals. With assistance from regional…
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2 Thai women seek help after being lured into prostitution in India
Two Thai women sought help from a lawyer after a Thai woman and her Indian husband lured them into prostitution in India. The lawyer, Nopphon Auamson, revealed to the media yesterday, June 26, that 32 year old May and her friend 30 year old Da, who are trapped in India, called and requested he facilitate their return to Thailand. ThaiRath…
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LGBTQ+ rights: US and UK envoys strengthen support in Thailand
In a reaffirmation of their commitment towards promoting LGBTQ+ rights across the globe, the United States and the United Kingdom have taken a significant initiative to support Thailand in its valorous efforts. This came as a collective resolve showcased at the US-UK Annual Pride Event that took place on June 23 with the theme, ‘United in Love 2023.’ The event…
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Highway horror claims young scholar’s life: Car crash sends tragic message to Chanthaburi
A university student tragically lost his life this morning when his car veered off the road, colliding with a barrier on a highway in Chanthaburi, East Thailand. The unfortunate incident also left the manager of the local Social Security Office injured and the victim’s family grieving. A routine trip turned disastrous for the 20 year old university student, when his…
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Lightning tragedy: Son’s search for mother ends in a tragic bolt from the blue
In a heartbreaking incident in Khon Kaen, a son seeking his absent mother discovered her lifeless body alongside a friend in a neighbouring hut near their cattle pen after they were struck by lightning. To add poignancy to the tale, a dog was found by the bodies faithfully guarding them. The shocking event occurred in the vicinity of a Banyan…
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Speeding drunk driver triggers horrific road accident: 1 dead, 1 injured
A terrible accident took place around 3am today, where a speeding car collided at high speed with a motorbike and a bicycle, leading to a fatality. The car driver, found with a high blood alcohol concentration, was arrested by the local police. An alarming sequence of collisions occurred in the heart of Mak Khasan district, Bangkok, at an intersection on…
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BMW driver arrested for using fake registration plate to waive toll fees
Police swooped on a Thai woman who used a fake registration plate on her BMW sedan to illegally waive toll fees more than 260 times. The arrest was made at Thanyaburi and Thab Chang Tollgate yesterday, June 26. The Highway Police had installed an automatic license reading system at these toll gates specifically to identify vehicles suspected of dodging toll…
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Desperate son’s 700km search for missing father who disappeared during durian harvest
A distressed 26 year old Thai man and his wife embarked on a journey of over 700 kilometres in a search for his missing father. The disappearance occurred after the father accompanied a friend to collect durian fruits in Chumphon province, where he displayed strange behaviour. The father, who supposedly spoke of three women while standing alone talking to himself…
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Thai Police arrest woman for million-baht cyber scam
A 44 year old woman was arrested by the cybercrime division of the Thai Police today for her alleged involvement in a fraud operation that lost victims over 1 million baht. The operation comprised a gang operating call centres, which conned their victims into revealing sensitive banking information. The call centres duped victims by pretending to be bank employees or…
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Fatal lorry collision on Asia Highway: Pickup driver loses control during storm
A shocking lorry collision resulting in a fatality occurred on the Asia Highway, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, when a pickup driver lost control of his steering wheel due to a sudden jolt. The impact was captured on the lorry’s dash-cam. At approximately 1.30am today authorities in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya received a report of a fatal car accident on…
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Monsoon surge raises flood risk across Thailand: 47 provinces on high alert
Swelling rainfall across Thailand, spurred by the increasing strength of a monsoon coupled with an area of low atmospheric pressure, has compelled the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) to warn that 47 provinces could face potentially hazardous situations. Over the next 24 hours, it predicts 60% of their areas will face heavy rain, with the severity being the most significant in…
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Elderly Thai woman dies in van-lorry collision: Baby escapes unhurt
An unfortunate collision incident involving a van and a lorry full of rice cost an elderly Thai woman’s life and left three others hospitalised. Fortunately, the youngest passenger, a one year old girl, was spared any injuries, benefitting from her car seat. The collision incident which occurred on Highway No. 340, near kilometre marker 94 in Sri Prachan District of Suphan Buri…
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Fire drill tragedy sparks aid: Bangkok education ministry offers financial support to grieving family
Following the tragic death of an 18-year-old student at a school in Bangkok last Friday, the Education Ministry revealed it will provide financial assistance to the victim’s family. The boy died during a fire drill activity intended to ensure school safety when a fire extinguisher exploded. Atthapol Sangkhawasi, the permanent secretary for education, along with Niyom Phaisopha, director-general of Bangkok…
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ChatGPT security: Asia-Pacific tops list in account breaches, Group-IB reveals
In a comprehensive study conducted by the international cybersecurity corporation Group-IB, over 100,000 infiltrated ChatGPT accounts have been detected in concealed Internet marketplaces. In the last year, the majority of these ChatGPT credentials were discovered within the Asia-Pacific region, threatening ChatGPT security. Through the close survey of stealer-riddled devices, Group-IB identified upwards of 101,134 technological instruments storing saved ChatGPT credentials.…
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Bangkok traffic: New automatic system launched to ease city congestion
As a strategic initiative aimed at improving vehicle movement, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) recently initiated an automatic traffic-management system. This pilot project focuses on optimising traffic across four significant roads within the capital city. Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, divulged that the modern system is to be installed at 13 intersections on key city routes, counting Rama VI Road,…
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