News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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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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Bangkok gang member arrested for fatal shooting
Police apprehended a gang member for his involvement in a vehicle chase, opening fire and killing a rival gang member in Samut Prakan, citing a social media taunt by a rival gang as the instigation. Police coordinated efforts across multiple agencies to capture 35 year old Chana Phan following an arrest warrant issued by the Phra Khanong Criminal Court on…
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Vietnamese trawler detained for illegal fishing in Thai waters
A Vietnamese trawler with four crewmen was detained yesterday for illegally fishing in Thai territorial waters, according to the Thai navy. The incident took place south of Koh Kra, yesterday, July 4, where the Second Naval Area Command, led by deputy commander Phichit Srirungruang, ordered the HTMS Sattahip to conduct a patrol following intelligence reports of unauthorised fishing activities. The…
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Noise annoys: Miscarriage blamed on neighbour’s Buddhist music
A Thai woman and her husband blamed a neighbour for her miscarriage, claiming she was stressed by the Buddhist music the neighbour played all day and night over several years in the central province of Ayutthaya. The 37 year old man, Chok, asked Channel 7 to share their story in order to reach an agreement with their neighbour. Chok stated…
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Meet the young Thai trailblazers featured on Forbes list
Seven young Thais have earned their spot on the prestigious Forbes Under 30 Asia 2024 list. These trailblazers join the ranks of 300 influential under-30s from 21 countries, making waves across categories like entertainment, sports, technology, finance, healthcare, and social impact. Among the standout achievers, India leads with 86 honourees, followed by 32 each from China and Japan. Singapore boasts…
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Ex-husband fires shots at ex-wife’s house in Hat Yai
A woman’s ex-husband fired shots at her house, forcing her to flee and hide. Enraged by her refusal to provide school fees for their children and jealousy over her new husband, he resorted to violence. Police Lieutenant Wallaop Supachaiyakit, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) at Koh Hong Police Station, Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, received a report yesterday, July 4, of a…
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Dutch sperm donor splashes out, fathering 550 children
A notorious Dutch sperm donor has fathered more than 550 children in the past 15 years, surpassing legal limits. His actions came to light in a recent documentary, which revealed how he frequently hid his donation history. Netflix’s latest documentary, Father of a Thousand Sons, uncovers the story of 42 year old Jonathan Jacob Meijer, who has made numerous sperm…
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Prachuap Khiri Khan holds water ceremony for king’s birthday
The governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan led a sacred water collection ceremony at Wat Khao Tham Ma Rong, Bang Saphan, in honour of King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s upcoming 72nd birthday celebration. Somkid Chantamorn, the Governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan, presided over a sacred water collection ceremony yesterday, July 4, at Wat Khao Tham Ma Rong in Pong Prasat subdistrict, Bang Saphan…
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Thai man arrested for theft on Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon
A man caught stealing a transformer along Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon has been arrested. The suspect, 44 year old Sirichai (surname withheld), claimed unemployment drove him to commit the crime. Police Colonel Phakphon Suchon and Police Captain Kla Sombatpiboon, from the Highway Police Division 2, arrested the suspect while he was using tools to dismantle the transformer on…
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High spirits: Thai airports toast Buddhist holidays with alcohol sales
The National Alcohol Beverage Policy Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, yesterday convened its third meeting of 2024 at the Parliament Building, to discuss the recent decision to allow alcohol sales in Thailand’s six major airports on Buddhist holidays. The meeting saw the attendance of many key officials, including Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, Dr…
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Two year old boy drowns in Chon Buri water well tragedy
A two year old boy fell into a water well and drowned while playing near his home, leaving his parents heartbroken. The accident occurred yesterday, July 4 at 10pm in Chon Buri province. Police and a rescue team were dispatched to the scene. A water well, approximately 4 metres deep, was the site of the tragedy. The boy’s lifeless body…
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Foundation chairperson implicated in council position sales scandal
A leaked chat revealed that the chairperson of a foundation has been involved in buying and selling positions in the Bangkok Metropolitan Council since 2020. The content includes job details and the amount of money required for the position. Journalists reported today that a chat was shared with a group of reporters, showing a conversation between an unnamed female foundation…
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Engine revving dispute triggers shooting and stabbing in Bangkok
An argument between three Thai men over the sound of a revving motorcycle engine escalated into a shooting and stabbing at Kheha Nakhorn 2, Soi Lat Krabang 36 in Bangkok on July 4. Lat Krabang Police Station officers were alerted to the physical altercation in Soi Lat Krabang 36 at 6pm. Upon arrival at the scene with the Ruamkatanyu Rescue…
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Revving up! Royal Gazette adds character to Bangkok plates
The Royal Gazette announced the approval of special characters for vehicle registration plates. Seventy new categories, including auspicious and familiar words, will be added for personal cars registered in Bangkok. The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has introduced new regulations concerning the use of special characters on vehicle registration plates for personal cars with a capacity of up to seven…
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Thai man in BMW causes multiple crashes in Bangkok, 9 injured
A hapless Thai man crashed his BMW into seven vehicles on Sukhaphiban 5 in the Saimai district of Bangkok on the night of June 4, injuring nine people. Two of the victims are in hospital in a critical condition. The wretched BMW driver, That, aged between 40 and 45 years old, crashed his white saloon into a motorcycle on Sukhaphiban…
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Chanthaburi man arrested for granny robbing spree to buy drugs
A Thai man today was arrested in Chanthaburi for heartlessly robbing an elderly curry shop owner, stripping her golden bracelet to fund his drug abuse habits. CCTV footage captured the incident clearly, leading to the suspect’s capture, who had a prior history of deceiving and robbing elderly shop owners. The Deputy Commander of Chanthaburi Provincial Police, Arkhaphong Suntornwipat, reported the…
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DP World to transform Thailand into regional transport hub
DP World, the global supply chain and logistics powerhouse based in Dubai is set to propose a plan to the Thai government aimed at transforming Thailand into a regional transport hub, according to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. The announcement came yesterday following a meeting between Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP…
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Thammasat medical centre offers premium care at affordable prices
Thammasat Advanced Medical Centre (THAMC) in Pathum Thani province opened its doors to premium-quality yet affordable medical services. Located in a 53,965 square metre, 10-storey building in Khlong Luang district, the centre aims to provide a patient-centric approach with a team of experienced specialists and staff. The soft opening of THAMC took place last week, coinciding with the 90th anniversary…
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RTP drug bust bonanza: Meth and millions seized!
Royal Thai Police (RTP) announced a significant increase in drug seizures over the past nine months, capturing nearly 800 million methamphetamine pills and seizing assets worth 9.3 billion baht. This marks a 120.63% rise from the previous year. Deputy Police Chief Samran Nualma, Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) Chief Kirisak Tantinwachai, and other senior officials, shared details during a press briefing…
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South Korean woman wanted on Interpol notice hides in Thailand
Immigration Bureau officers are searching for a South Korean woman hiding in Thailand following an Interpol blue notice for her alleged involvement in a drug case. The woman is reportedly the ex-fiancée of a former member of the K-pop boy band TVXQ. The South Korean woman, 31 year old Hwang Hana, is a well-known socialite in her home country as…
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Ex-army general open to Senate Speaker role amid security focus
General Kriangkrai Srirak, who received the highest votes in the public administration and security professional group in last week’s Senate election, responded positively to speculation that he might become the Senate Speaker. Kriangkrai expressed yesterday that if the majority of the Senate members trusted him with the position of Senate Speaker, he would not hesitate to accept the role. However,…
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Foreign Affairs Minister Maris to visit China for pivotal talks
Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa is set to visit China next week at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The visit, scheduled from Monday, July 8 to Wednesday, July 10, will see Maris and Wang co-chair the second Thailand-China Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting, aiming to strengthen cooperation and support between the two nations. Nikorndej Balankura, a spokesperson for…
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Heavy rain and flash floods in 55 provinces of Thailand
The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a severe weather warning, predicting heavy rain and potential flash floods across 55 provinces, including Bangkok, where 80% of the area is expected to experience significant rainfall. Thailand is bracing for continuous monsoon activity, as a monsoon trough stretches across the northern and upper northeastern regions, merging with a low-pressure area over Laos and…
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Mid-air mayhem: Turbulence terror hits global flights
Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 faced severe turbulence over Thai airspace, forcing an emergency landing in Bangkok. This incident, which occurred in late May, reignited concerns over the escalating problem of in-flight turbulence, especially following several other alarming episodes. Recent months have seen a spate of turbulence-related injuries on major airlines. Flights operated by Singapore Airlines Ltd., Qatar Airways, and Air…
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Pattaya plunged! Streets submerged after heavy rain havoc
Heavy rainfall early today in Pattaya City led to severe flooding, submerging streets and stranding numerous vehicles. The sudden downpour created chaos in various key locations, significantly impacting daily life. Many cars and motorcycles were unexpectedly caught as water levels rose swiftly, particularly affecting sedans parked along roadsides. Notable areas such as Third Road, the Mum Aroi Restaurant intersection in…
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Top cop controversy: PM Srettha denies misconduct
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin vehemently denied allegations of misconduct in the appointment of Police General Torsak Sukvimol as national police chief. The Thai premier stood firm against accusations that he had breached the Royal Thai Police (RTP) Act when appointing Torsak Sukvimol last year. The complaint was brought against him by Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn aka Big Joke, Torsak’s former…
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Road rage: Bangkok taxi driver drags motorcyclist for a kilometre
A minor altercation between two road users culminated in a road rage incident, where a taxi driver collided with a motorcyclist, running him over multiple times and dragging his bike along the road for over a kilometre before crashing into a utility pole. The event transpired at 7.40am this morning, July 4, on Chaeng Watthana Road, beneath Rama IV Bridge,…
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Taking off: Really Cool Airlines CEO ready to revolutionise air travel
After 14 years as the mastermind behind Nok Air, Really Cool Airlines CEO Patee Sarasin is back with a daring new venture promising to shake up the airline industry. At 62, Patee believes that the winds of change are about to sweep through the world of air travel. Having witnessed the tumultuous impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation…
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Phuket officials inspect Chamcha Market for hygiene
Officials conducted a thorough inspection of Chamcha Market in Phuket Town yesterday, July 3, to ensure vendors adhere to food hygiene guidelines and display accurate prices. The inspection, led by Phuket Provincial Commercial Office Chief Woranit Apirat Jirawong, was a collaborative effort with the Sanitation and Environmental Health Department of Phuket City Municipality. Chamcha Market, also known as Lor Rong…
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Love bug: Rare blue beetle blooms in Phayao village
A rare blue love flower beetle was discovered in Mae Sai Village, Phayao province, feeding on the leaves of a climbing plant. This small, shiny insect with distinctive features is increasingly hard to find. Phan Yudee from Mae Sai Village, Phayao Province, recently encountered a blue love flower beetle, a rare insect, feeding on the leaves of a climbing plant.…
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Singapore’s food for thought: Official keen on Thai collaboration
In a significant step towards ensuring food security, a high-ranking Singapore official expressed a keen interest in collaboration with Thailand. This landmark meeting promises to reshape the agricultural landscape for both nations. Permanent Secretary of Singapore’s Ministry of Sustainability and Environment Stanley Loh held talks with Prayoon Insakul, Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Agriculture Ministry, on Tuesday, July 2. The meeting…
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