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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Thai farmers demand rise in rice price to 10,000 baht per tonne
Farmers congregated at Government House in Bangkok, yesterday, February 19, urging the government to increase rice prices from the current 6,000 baht to 10,000 baht per tonne. Farmers from various provinces, including Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, and Suphan Buri, sought meetings with the prime minister, the agriculture minister, or the commerce minister to discuss solutions to declining rice prices. Deputy Commerce Minister…
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Police track down gunman who fatally shot pet dog in Koh Samui
Police are searching for a gunman who fatally shot a four year old dog in a community in Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, on Monday, February 17. A 35 year old Thai woman, Wiramaya, is seeking justice for her mixed Thai Bangkaew-Labrador dog, Lucky, who was shot dead on Monday. The lifeless dog was…
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Immigration Bureau arrests two foreigners for sexual offences
The Immigration Bureau 3 apprehended two foreign nationals involved in sexual offences. The first suspect, 68 year old Rudolf, was arrested for indecent acts with a minor, while the second suspect, 41 year old Oliver, was charged with abducting and sexually abusing a minor. Police Lieutenant General Phanumart Boonyaluck, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, ordered a crackdown on crimes related…
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Scam horror: Ethiopian men reveal abuse in Myanmar compounds
In Thailand’s Fort Wachiraprakan military camp, four Ethiopian men revealed bruises and scars they acquired during their detention in Myanmar’s infamous scam compounds. Yotor, a 19 year old, spoke about daily electric shocks. These men are among 260 individuals, primarily human trafficking victims, transferred from Myanmar to Thailand as part of an ongoing international effort to dismantle scam centres along…
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Bangkok’s Pink Line monorail to offer free test rides in June
The Pink Line monorail branch to Muang Thong Thani will offer free rides during its test run in June before starting full services in July. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that the 3-kilometre extension from Si Rat Station to Mueang Thong Thani will begin test operations in late June. During this period, rides will be free, leading up to the official…
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Phayao abbot leaves monkhood after photos with partner emerge
A well-known abbot and subdistrict head monk in Mueang district, Phayao province, has left the monkhood following the circulation of photos showing him dining with his male partner. The incident, which took place in Phetchabun province, led to significant public attention. Yesterday morning, February 19, the abbot completed the formal process of leaving the monkhood and departed from the temple,…
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Police arrest 32 in Kanchanaburi smuggling operation
Police in Kanchanaburi pursued a gang smuggling illegal workers, resulting in the arrest of 32 people. The driver managed to escape, abandoning the vehicle. Workers were found with a string tied to their wrists, indicating their intended work locations in various provinces. Police Major General Khongkrit Lertsitthikul, commander of the Highway Police Division, and Police Colonel Pakhapol Suchon, commander of…
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Pattaya police allegedly ignore theft case of Japanese tourist
A Japanese tourist accused Pattaya Police Station officers of inaction after losing cash and belongings on his first day in Pattaya. The officers reportedly asked him to investigate the theft case himself. The victim, 78 year old Yoshiki Matsuura, reached out to Thai news agencies to expose the inaction of the Thai police to the public. He expressed his disappointment and urged…
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Gunmen ambush police in Pattani, killing two officers
Gunfire erupted late last night when a group of assailants ambushed police officers in Yarang district, resulting in the immediate deaths of two officers at the scene. The incident occurred yesterday, February 19, at approximately 11.25pm, prompting an urgent investigation to track down the perpetrators. Residents alerted the police upon hearing gunshots in the middle of the night. The unidentified…
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Thaksin Shinawatra to visit Narathiwat for security talks
Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, is set to visit Narathiwat on Sunday, February 23 as an informal adviser to the ASEAN chair, where he will discuss security matters with officials in Thailand’s Deep South. The visit, confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai yesterday, marks Thaksin’s first return to the region since his tenure…
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Burmese man kills Thai woman for refusing sex for second time
Police yesterday, February 19, arrested a Burmese man for killing a Thai woman and abandoning her body in a roadside forest in the central province of Samut Sakhon, allegedly because she refused to have sex with him a second time. A motorcycle taxi rider came across an overturned motorcycle on Ban Phaeo-Pratone Road and stopped to investigate. He then spotted…
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Pattaya fights a shore thing: War declared on stinky seaweed
In a bid to rescue their once-pristine shorelines, Pattaya City officials have declared war on the stinking seaweed invasion that’s left Krating Rai Beach in turmoil. Under Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai, a massive clean-up operation was launched yesterday, February 19, as officers from the Cleaning Control Division, Pollution Control Division, and Natural Resources and Environment Department rolled up their sleeves…
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Bangkok braces for a thunderstorm as heavy rains roll in
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecast thunderstorms in 39 provinces tomorrow, with Bangkok expected to experience the heaviest rainfall. Strong gusts of wind and high waves in the Gulf of Thailand are anticipated, prompting cautious navigation advice for sailors. Yesterday, February 19, the TMD issued a 24-hour weather forecast. Thunderstorms are expected in parts of northern Thailand, the western…
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Thailand launches new luxury bus service to Pattaya and Hua Hin
Thailand is about to rescue those arriving in the Land of Smiles lost in a sea of taxis with a new first-class bus service that’s set to redefine airport transfers from Bangkok, to Pattaya and Hua Hin. Thailand’s state-run Transport Co., is ready to roll out a swanky first-class bus service starting on March 8, promising to make the dreary…
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Woman forgets cat in car, feline locked-in overnight (video)
A woman faced criticism after discovering her beloved cat was locked in a car overnight, despite the feline sneaking in on its own. Fortunately, a window had been left slightly open. Meanwhile, the woman’s mother searched tirelessly throughout the night for the missing pet. Social media users jokingly commented on who might inherit the family fortune. Yesterday, TikTok user @su_fk1992…
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Bangkok to adopt Beijing’s air pollution solutions in landmark deal
Bangkok is set to benefit from Beijing’s expertise in tackling air pollution, as the two capitals signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Air Quality Monitoring and Management Cooperation. The agreement, signed via video between the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Environment Department, marks a major step in the fight against toxic smog.…
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Industry Ministry seizes 49 million baht substandard steel
Industry Ministry officials have seized substandard steel and electrical accessories worth 49.2 million baht in Bangkok and Chon Buri, ordering a factory suspension and launching further investigations into non-compliant products. Industry Minister Akanat Promphan announced that a special committee, led by Thitipat Chotedechachai, conducted inspections in collaboration with the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) and provincial industrial offices. The operation…
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Phuket urges waste separation as incinerator shuts down
Phuket’s waste crisis is escalating as the island’s only public incinerator shuts down for a month-long renovation, forcing local government operatives to dump hundreds of tonnes of excess waste into overflowing landfills. Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet visited the Phuket Solid Waste Disposal Centre at Saphan Hin on Monday, February 17 to discuss emergency waste management measures with municipal engineers and…
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Fatal collision claims young man’s life in Chachoengsao province
A tragic accident occurred when a young man, on his way home after work, collided with a parked truck and was subsequently run over by a pickup truck, leading to his death. The incident took place at 6pm yesterday, February 18, on Suwinthawong Road, heading towards Mueang Chachoengsao, in Sala Daeng subdistrict, Bang Nam Priao district, Chachoengsao province. Police Lieutenant…
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Thai Union hosts PM in Songkhla to boost seafood industry
Executives from the Thai Union Group Public Company Limited, a global leader in the seafood industry, hosted Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her Cabinet yesterday, February 18. The visit took place at the Thai Union Seafood Company’s frozen seafood processing plant in Songkhla province. The aim was to understand challenges and explore strategies to enhance the competitiveness of Thailand’s fisheries…
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Fire destroys Phatthalung home, residents escape unscathed
A fire engulfed the home of an 83 year old former forestry official late at night in the Phatthalung area. The blaze destroyed the wooden house, though fortunately, all five residents escaped unharmed. The fire is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit. Police Captain Sorawit Rakjui, duty officer at Mueang Phatthalung Police Station, received a report…
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Sisaket woman takes child hostage after mental health meltdown
A 28 year old woman with a history of psychiatric issues held her three year old daughter hostage and attacked her mother in Sisaket’s Mueang district. Emergency services responded promptly, securing the woman and taking her to a hospital for treatment. Upon arriving at the residence in Ban Chan, Sam subdistrict, police from Mueang Sisaket Provincial Police Station, along with…
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Intoxicated man jumps into temple pond to cool off, drowns
A 36 year old man drowned in a temple pond in Chachoengsao after reportedly jumping into the water to cool off while intoxicated. The incident occurred at Ban Noen Sawang temple’s pond in the Sanam Chai Khet district today, February 18, when residents had warned him of the dangers but were unable to prevent the tragedy. Village headman Thanachok Prakongsuk…
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Mother and daughter arrested in Buriram for online prostitution
Police in Buriram province arrested a mother and her 17 year old daughter for allegedly engaging in online prostitution. The police set up a sting operation to apprehend the pair, despite the daughter claiming her actions were consensual. Yesterday, February 18, the investigative team from Buriram Provincial Police was alerted to online posts advertising sexual services via an application. Reports…
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Thai transwoman nabbed after Indian gold heist goes off-chain
Police arrested a Thai transwoman and her friend for physically assaulting an Indian man and stealing his gold necklace, valued at 120,000 baht, at a hotel in the southern province of Songkhla. The incident occurred after the victim refused her sexual services, claiming she looked different from her online profile. The 41 year old Indian victim filed a complaint at…
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Time’s up: Stallholders at Chatuchak weekend market told to leave
A double dose of drama and upheaval is brewing at Bangkok’s Chatuchak weekend market, as City Hall rings the alarm for 529 stallholders near the iconic clock tower. They’ve been ordered to vacate by April 30 to make way for a swanky redevelopment plan, sending a shockwave through one of the city’s most cherished shopping havens. In a press conference…
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Thailand prisoner rights debate scrapped amid backlash
A heated debate over equal healthcare rights for prisoners was abruptly shut down in Thailand’s Senate yesterday after Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit withdrew her motion, sparking backlash from fellow lawmakers. The motion aimed to highlight discrepancies in medical treatment between prisoners and high-profile figures like former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who spent six months in a VIP hospital ward instead of…
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Border patrol seizes 700kg of crystal meth after smugglers flee
Border patrol officers seized over 700 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine following a clash with a smuggling gang, who abandoned their vehicle and fled. The increased drug flow has prompted heightened police vigilance as the price of crystal meth dropped significantly to 10,000 baht per kilogramme. At 4.30pm, yesterday, February 18, Police Colonel Worapat Boonma, commander of the Border Patrol Police…
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Hiss-teria: Family of pythons slithers into Kamphaeng Phet home
Residents of a Kamphaeng Phet house were startled when a family of pythons was discovered in their home. Yesterday, February 18, rescue workers from the Sawang Kamphaeng Phet Unit in Khlong Lan were called to assist 62 year old Tui Suwanbang. He reported numerous snakes at his residence, located at house number 20, Moo 6, Ban Pang Nuea, Pang Tawai…
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Thai hospital maid suffers brain bleed after brutal assault by colleague
A Thai maid working at a hospital in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok is seeking justice after a male colleague, who brutally assaulted her, remains at large and continues working as usual, while she suffers from bleeding on the brain. The younger sister of the victim, Weelyn Issarangkul Na Ayuttaya, took to social media to seek assistance for the 54 year…
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