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 Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Gun-grab getaway: Daring Thai man captured after snatching police officer’s gun
Provincial Police Region 6 officers finally arrested a Thai man yesterday after he snatched a gun from a police officer in the northern province of Uttaradit and escaped on a stolen motorcycle. Traffic police officer Chitipun Kunnarmang was on duty Friday, August 25 on the Boroma-as Road when he spotted a Thai man, later identified as 40 year old Pitsanupanya…
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Plea for flight: Provincial governor urges reconsideration after Thai Smile route closure
Thai Smile’s decision to discontinue flights from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Surat Thani Airport, beginning October 1, has led provincial governor, Witchawut Jinto, to appeal for a reversal. Jinto submitted a formal letter to Thai Smile, an affiliate of Thai Airways, requesting the continuation of the Suvarnabhumi-Surat Thani route. The governor expressed public discontent over Thai Smile’s plans, which are…
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Thai Internet idol Mintan speaks out on unending stalker harassment despite court order
Internet idol Mintan, renowned for the page หนูมินตันทาสกระดาน continues to face relentless harassment from a persistent stalker. Mintan recently updated her followers that the same security guard who had previously been found guilty of harassing her is once again causing her distress. Mintan exposed her ordeal in a post, revealing that she has been tormented for almost three years by…
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Shoreline showdown: Pattaya beach brawl leaves teens injured, one ‘leg’-ally shot
A beachside brawl in Pattaya on Saturday night left multiple teenagers injured, one of whom was shot in the leg. The incident, which unnerved tourists, involved two rival groups. The authorities have since been pursuing both parties involved. Today, A 19 year old boy Thitipong, also known as Mag Baanchang, turned himself into Pattaya City Police Station. He brought with…
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Foul play: Noxious scent unveils grim discovery of dead Finnish man in Pattaya
An unpleasant odour seeping from a residence in the Bang Lamung district of Pattaya has led to the discovery of the dead body of a Finnish man inside. According to SiamRath, residents in Pattaya detected a foul smell from the house of a foreign man. In response, they enlisted the aid of a rescue team at the stroke of midnight…
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Family tragedy: Father’s triple murder-suicide linked to loan scam
A family tragedy occurred when a father, armed with a utility knife, killed his wife and two children in their three-storey townhouse in Bang Phli district of Bangkok Metropolitan Area province Samut Prakan. The horrific murder and attempted suicide were most likely prompted by a fraudulent loan scheme that landed the family in 7-figure debt. Police Captain Sathamon Prasertsuwan, an…
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Miraculous plunge: Singaporean man survives fifth-floor fall from Krabi hotel
A Singaporean man on Saturday survived a terrifying life-threatening fall from the fifth floor of the Krabi Seabass Hotel. Krabi Pitak Pracha rescuers were called to the hotel on Takuapa Road in the southern province of Karabi to help the 37 year old Singaporean man called Brian. Remarkably, Brian emerged from the fall with only minor injuries, a testament to his…
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Thai condo owner discovers shocking state after foreign tenants leave
A landlord issued a warning to others after some foreign tenants trashed a luxury condominium in Thailand. The discovery was made by the owner of the condo when she was contacted by the management of the building due to the tenants’ unpaid electricity bills. TikTok user @fang_pacara posted a cautionary tale for landlords after she found her property in a…
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Child drowning tragedy: 11 year old boy loses life in Khon Kaen Pond
An 11 year old boy tragically drowned while playing with friends in a local pond in Nong Hin village, Mueang, Khon Kaen. The group of four were rowing a plastic boat when it suddenly capsized, leading to the fatal child drowning incident. The three other children managed to escape unharmed. The victim, a Year 5 student from Ban Nong Hin…
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Jewellery store robbery: 65,000 baht worth of gold necklaces stolen in five minute heist
A jewellery store robbery occurred yesterday at approximately 5.20pm in Ratchaburi province. The Niyomsin Shop, situated on Pracha Niyom Road within the Ban Pong municipality, reported a loss of two gold necklaces, each weighing 1 baht, amounting to a total loss of 65,000 baht. The store is a long-established business of 50 years, owned by Wirat Charupunphon and his wife.…
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Indonesia unveils three month plan to boost trade and cultural ties with Thailand
Indonesia kickstarted a three month long series of activities in Thailand, aimed at bolstering trade, cultural ties, and tourism, and enhancing people-to-people diplomacy. Announced at the Indonesia Fair: Know Indonesia Better event, Ambassador Rachmat Budiman revealed the comprehensive plan, curated by the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok. The event which took place over the weekend at the Central Court in Central…
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Thai girl battles rhabdomyolysis after harsh school punishment in northern Thailand
A tale of a young girl in the eighth grade, known only as Lalida, sparked outrage in the small tambon Klang community of Selaphum district, Roi Et. Lalida is currently battling a severe case of rhabdomyolysis, a dangerous affliction that involves the breakdown of injured skeletal muscle. This condition has rendered her unable to walk and she remains confined to…
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Good Samaritans rescue distressed intern student from suicide attempt in Nonthaburi
An intern student, distressed to the point of attempting suicide by running into traffic and self-harming with a knife, was rescued by Good Samaritans. The alarming mental state of the young woman, identified only as Da, a 21 year old student undergoing an internship, was reported around 11pm yesterday near Bang Kruai-Sai Noi Road, opposite Praya Banlue Gate, in Nonthaburi…
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Acid attack on Thai teenager sparks manhunt in Buriram
A brutal acid attack on an 18 year old woman and two others at a roadside food stall resulted in serious injuries. The incident occurred yesterday, around 2pm, in the town of Nang Rong in Buriram province, approximately 500 metres from Nang Rong Police Station. The location of the assault was a food stall owned by 63 year old Ta,…
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Prayut reflects on PM term: Thailand’s journey to progress
Outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha concluded his nine-year term, taking to Facebook to share his reflections and achievements. He described the tenure as the most significant and memorable of his life. Prayut highlighted Thailand’s considerable progress, attributing its development to nine specific areas. Under Prayut’s leadership, Thailand initiated an unprecedented 20-year national strategy, directing the country’s trajectory and ensuring the…
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Thai opposition in disarray as Move Forward Party rejects leadership role
Chaos has engulfed the Democrat Party, as the top opposition role remains unclear. This comes after the Move Forward Party (MFP), the largest opposing party, expressed disinterest in the role, likely to keep their Deputy House Speaker seat. The Democrat Party spokesperson, Ramet Rattanachaweng, stated that technically, the right to assume the opposition leader role falls to Pita Limjaroenrat, the…
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Thunderstorm warnings across 32 provinces, high waves hit southern seas
The Thai Meteorological Department warned of thunderstorms across 32 provinces, including Bangkok, with approximately 30% of the areas expected to be affected. This comes as the southern seas experience high waves, prompting a cautionary notice to seafarers today. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates the presence of a southwesterly monsoon covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the…
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Calls for CCTV footage to verify Thaksin Shinawatra’s health claims
Political activist Jatuporn Prompan called on the Department of Corrections (DoC) and the Police General Hospital to disclose CCTV footage to address public concerns surrounding the health condition of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Jatuporn, who has been imprisoned five times, pointed out that all inmates’ actions, including their medical treatments and transfers, are documented through CCTV. He stated on…
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Thailand’s FDA ramps up seafood inspection following Fukushima wastewater discharge
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is holding back on any immediate action following the discharge of wastewater from Japan’s damaged Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean on August 24. This detail was shared by Lertchai Lertvut, the FDA’s deputy secretary-general. Lertchai stated that the FDA has been in conversation with the Department of Fisheries, the Office of Atoms…
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Thai network petitions for home-grown cannabis and 5-year import ban
The Cannabis Future Network in Thailand is gathering signatures for a petition, aiming to accumulate 10,000 names to urge parliament to continue its reading of the Cannabis-Hemp Act. This legislation, if passed, would permit citizens to cultivate marijuana at home and prohibit the importation of cannabis products for half a decade. Prasitchai Nunual, the head of the network, yesterday stated…
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UPDATE: Thai passengers ejected from flight over fight with cabin crew over luggage
An update to the original story about a woman from a group complaining on social media to criticise the air hostess and cabin crew for refusing to help her carry the luggage. Prominent YouTuber and influencer, Akaradej Yothajun, known as Benz Apache, recently recounted the same dramatic incident aboard a flight from Vietnam to Thailand. He reported that 16 Thai…
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Thai exports suffer 10th month of decline amid global economic challenges
In July, Thai exports decreased more than anticipated for the 10th successive month. The drop is primarily due to a decline in global commodity prices since their peak in the early months of the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year. High interest rates and stringent lending conditions, compounded by weak global demand, have led to a slowdown in consumer spending, explained Keerati…
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Thailand braces for heavy rainfall: Citizens and mariners urged to exercise caution
The Thai Meteorological Department has forecasted heavy rainfall across various regions of the country, brought about by low atmospheric pressure near the Vietnamese upper shore and the southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea and Thailand. Thailand continues to experience thunderstorms, with heavy rain in certain parts of the northeast, and central regions, including Bangkok and its vicinity. Citizens in the…
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Mercedes-Benz driver arrested after road rage leads to drug and firearm discovery
A group of six, including the driver of a Mercedes-Benz, were apprehended following a road rage dispute with motorbike taxi drivers, subsequently leading to the discovery of illegal substances and an unregistered firearm in their vehicle. The altercation took place as the group was returning from a party. Chaowin, the Mercedes-Benz driver, initiated the conflict by attempting to overtake three…
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Passenger criticises air hostess over luggage assistance refusal
[An UPDATE to this story paints a different perspective to the original confrontation with the air hostess over the passenger’s luggage.] An incident occurred yesterday when a woman took to social media to criticise an air hostess for refusing to assist her with her luggage. The woman, who was on a VietJet airline flight, lamented the poor service and asked…
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Air Japan direct flight aims high: Bangkok to Tokyo route to tempt Thai travellers
Air Japan today announced plans to target Thai passengers by offering a direct flight from Bangkok to Tokyo next year. The president of Air Japan, Hideki Mineguchi, revealed to the media that Air Japan is a new low-cost airline under ANA Holdings, which will provide the airline’s first flight from Narita International Airport in Tokyo to Suvarnabhumi International Airport in…
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Electric shock: Thai resident uncovers neighbour’s electricity theft causing spike in bills
A resident named Anon, also known as Kee, was surprised to receive an unusually high electricity bill. Concerned about this, they contacted the Thai Electricity Authority to investigate the matter. The investigation uncovered a shocking revelation – Anon’s neighbour had been stealing electricity by connecting their house directly to Anon’s electric meter. This unauthorized connection led to a spike in Anon’s…
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Drug trafficking: Woman caught with 5 million baht worth of drugs disguised as a tourist
A woman from Phetchaburi, known as Ae Rai Rhon Khon, was apprehended today, while disguised as a tourist and transporting drugs in a passenger van. Authorities seized nearly 50,000 methamphetamine pills as she prepared to enter Kanchanaburi. The arrest followed a tip-off about a drug trafficking operation from a neighbouring country into Thailand. Ae Rai Rhon Khon was seen acting…
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Lost and pound: Forgotten banknotes surface during house renovation revelation
A treasure trove of old banknotes, forgotten by their 90 year old owner, was discovered in a myriad of plastic bags during a house renovation. The elderly woman, Kang, had been living alone in her dilapidated home when her grandchildren began preparations to replace it with a sturdier three-storey structure, leading to this unprecedented banknote discovery. Kang’s 89 year old…
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Blogger Framsook Lek Lek wins online harassment case, receives 35,000 baht and public apology
A well-known blogger, known as Framsook Lek Lek, recently took legal action against an individual who used her images to bully her online. Framsook, who regularly shares posts on her blog page, was alerted by a follower of an instance where her beach photos had been shared in a group with derogatory comments. Initially, she contemplated responding but instead opted…
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