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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Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Mercedes-Benz crashes on Ram Inthra Expressway, driver flees
A Mercedes-Benz C-350 E crashed into a steel road barrier on the sharp curve of Ram Inthra Expressway, causing extensive damage and deploying all eight airbags. The driver abandoned the vehicle and walked away, prompting police to investigate the incident further. At 3am today, September 15, Kireeaek Boonmongkol, the Deputy Inspector (Investigation) of Bang Khen Police Station, received a report…
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Cyber police dismantle illegal moneylending networks in Songkhla
Cyber police forces have successfully dismantled two major networks of illegal moneylenders charging exorbitant interest rates of 30 to 60% per month, seizing extensive customer lists. This operation took place yesterday, following confessions obtained on September 14. Police General Worawat Wattanakornbunchachai, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau Commissioner, directed Police Major General Phumipat Patrasrivongchai, the Commander of Cyber Crime Investigation Division…
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Thailand braces for heavy rainfall and potential flooding
Heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected to impact Thailand over the next few days, with the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issuing warnings for 65 provinces. Residents are advised to prepare for potential flooding and flash floods, particularly in vulnerable areas. TMD released its seventh warning, indicating that from today, September 15, until tomorrow, Thailand will experience increased rainfall, with…
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Teenager injured in Pattaya youth clash, mother demands police action
A 15 year old boy was attacked and injured after a confrontation with a rival group in Pattaya, resulting in his mother filing a police report after officers advised her to wait until he recovered. At 2.20am yesterday, September 14, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya Radio Centre received a report of a violent clash among teenagers at the Mitkamol intersection…
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Insurgents bomb ATM, set fire to Songkhla office, no injuries
Insurgents are believed to be behind the bombing of an ATM booth and a fire at a local government office in Saba Yoi district, Songkhla province, early yesterday. No injuries were reported. The ATM booth, located in front of the Ban Nod Tambon Administration Organisation (TAO) office, was targeted by a bomb around 1.50am, yesterday, September 14, according to Police…
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Bangkok couple arrested for exploiting Shan state minors
Police arrested a couple in Bangkok’s Pracha Chuen area on allegations of exploiting minors from Myanmar’s Shan state for forced labour. The arrests took place yesterday morning when officials from the Department of Provincial Administration, alongside Pracha Chuen police officers, raided a house on Ngamwongwan Road in the Lak Si district. The suspects, identified only as 35 year old Golf,…
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Locals seek lottery luck at Phrae temple ceremony
Locals flocked to Chai Mongkol Temple in the northern province of Phrae to seek lucky numbers from a grand ceremony honouring Thao Wessuwan, hoping for a big lottery win. A local vendor revealed that since offering to the temple, her life has significantly improved, with her business thriving. A group of residents, led by Sukanya, a fresh market vendor, gathered…
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New super vaccine for kids rolls out in East Pattaya
Parents in East Pattaya are racing to protect their children with the latest five-in-one vaccine that promises broader protection than ever before. The Nong Samor Health Promoting Hospital in Nong Prue saw a wave of activity on Thursday, September 12, as over 30 village health volunteers came together to support a critical vaccination drive aimed at young children. This event,…
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Elderly man killed by elephant in Kanchanaburi
An elderly man tragically died after being attacked by a wild elephant while riding his motorcycle in Kanchanaburi province in West Thailand. The incident occurred yesterday, September 13, when a local encountered the elephant on Highway 3199 in Dan Mae Chalaep, Si Sawat district. According to Phaitoon Intharabut, head of the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, the accident was reported early…
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Suphan Buri police arrest two for trafficking 12 year old girl
Police in Suphan Buri apprehended a woman and a local official on charges related to the trafficking and sexual exploitation of a 12 year old girl. The child, now under the care of social services, was allegedly prostituted by her own aunt. Local law enforcement, led by Police Major General Watcharin Prasobdee, apprehended the suspects yesterday, September 13, following an…
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Severe flooding hits Bueng Kan province after heavy downpour
A heavy overnight downpour in Bueng Kan province resulted in widespread flooding, particularly affecting the Seka district. The incessant rain caused an overflow of local streams, leading to significant disruptions and damage in the area. The continuous rain throughout the night caused water to accumulate and overflow from streams into the Seka district. This surge in water levels affected various…
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Passengers on IndiGo flight to Phuket stranded for hours
Passengers on an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Phuket endured a travel nightmare yesterday, September 13, as their journey turned into a chaotic ordeal. The flight was unexpectedly diverted to Penang International Airport in Malaysia due to bad weather, leaving travellers stranded for hours with clogged washrooms, no food or water, and stuck on the tarmac for over three hours.…
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Udon Thani child molester recaptured after escaping through vent
Police detained a suspect in a child molestation case for a DNA test in Udon Thani, but he escaped through a bathroom vent. Fortunately, officers quickly recaptured him. The suspect claims he was framed and missed his family. Pattanawong Chanphon, Superintendent of Muang Udon Thani Police Station, received a report from the Udon Thani Provincial Forensic Office yesterday, September 13,…
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Two-faced kitten in Phetchabun leaves locals feline lottery curious
A unique kitten with two faces, two mouths, and four eyes was discovered in Phetchabun province, sparking excitement and curiosity among locals. The kitten is alive and believed to bring good luck, leading many to seek out the owner’s house number for lottery purposes. A Facebook user posted about the unusual kitten born with two heads, four eyes, and two…
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Opposition calls for Pheu Thai’s pledged 600-baht minimum wage
The opposition urged the implementation of the Pheu Thai Party’s promised 600-baht minimum wage while criticising the government’s labour policy for a perceived lack of initiatives to enhance labour skills. Sia Jampathong, an MP from the People’s Party, highlighted these concerns during yesterday’s final day of a joint Parliament sitting. He noted that labour policy was conspicuously absent from the…
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Thai defence minister appoints ex-RTA expert as secretary
Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai appointed General Trisak Indararusmi, a former expert with the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and a former classmate of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as his secretary. This appointment precedes Phumtham’s official commencement at the ministry, set for Monday. Gen. Trisak, an alumnus of Class 10 from the armed forces preparatory school, is expected to bring significant experience…
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People’s Party urges urgent rewrite of 2017 constitution
The opposition People’s Party (PP) called on the government to prioritise the rewrite of the 2017 constitution as an urgent policy. The party, formerly known as the Move Forward Party, expressed doubts about the promised changes, citing the minimal mention and low priority given to the charter rewrite in the government’s recent policy statement. Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, PP leader, criticised the…
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Asia-Pacific to tackle Thailand’s ageing population crisis
Governments across the Asia-Pacific region are being urged to formulate strategies to address their ageing populations, with older people expected to make up nearly 20% of the region’s population by 2050. Around 500 delegates from 38 countries have gathered on the Indonesian island of Bali for the 2024 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) on Population Ageing. These delegates include experts, policymakers,…
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Déjà vu: Thai football coach stranded by floods again (video)
It was a case of deja vu for Eakapol Jantawong, known as Coach Ek, the football trainer who famously led his young team through the harrowing 2018 Thai cave rescue after he found himself trapped once more – this time on the roof of his house in Thailand’s flood-stricken Mae Sai district. Coach Ek recounted his harrowing experience of being trapped…
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Phuket on high alert as heavy rains and flash floods loom
Phuket is bracing for a weather onslaught as officials sound the alarm over impending flash floods, mudslides, and hazardous sea conditions. A stark warning has been issued by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, through the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Centre, urging all local officials to prepare for extreme weather set to batter the island this week. The Thai Meteorological Department…
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Helicopter rescues flood victims in Chiang Rai after days without food
A helicopter from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) rescued flood victims trapped in their homes in the Mai Lung Kon community, Chiang Rai, after being stranded without food and water for several days. Yesterday, September 12, reports surfaced about the ongoing rescue efforts for residents affected by flooding in Chiang Rai province, particularly in Mae Sai and…
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Thai toddler trapped in idling car in Chon Buri saved
In a heart-stopping incident on Wednesday, September 11, panic erupted at Rin Thong Kindergarten in Chon Buri when a two year old girl was accidentally locked inside her mother’s car, with the engine still running. The girl’s mother, 24 year old Pimlapas, was left in shock after her vehicle automatically locked itself, trapping her daughter Michel inside. Pimlapas had stepped out…
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Chiang Rai flood chaos: Flights resume partially
Passengers flying to and from Chiang Rai’s Mae Fah Luang Airport today are in for a nightmare journey as severe flooding threatens to derail travel plans. The airport confirmed four inbound and four outbound flights will operate but is urging travellers to allow up to five hours just to reach the terminal. Flights operated by Thai Airways International, Nok Air,…
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Arcade foul: Teens slam pervert caught filming skirts in Rayong mall
Two teenage girls issued a warning to others after a pervert filmed under their skirts while they played a basketball arcade game in a shopping mall in the eastern province of Rayong on September 9. The 17 year old schoolgirls, B and C, gave an interview with Kom Chad Luek on September 12 about the incident. They explained that they…
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Central Pattana invests 4.5 billion baht in Krabi development project
Central Pattana Public Company Limited (CPN) is gearing up to shake up Krabi with a dazzling new mixed-use development, part of a massive 15 billion baht investment to turbocharge Thailand’s economy and tourism sector. The Central Krabi project, valued at a staggering 4.5 billion baht, will cover a sprawling 114 rai of land and promises to be a game changer.…
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Thai Finance Ministry enhances data use for economic growth
The Ministry of Finance is advancing its data utilisation efforts to develop comprehensive profiles of Thai citizens’ liabilities and assets, aiming to bolster economic development. Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit revealed that creating a data lake will enable the government to craft improved national development policies and identify regional strengths and weaknesses. This system will consolidate diverse information about citizens, including…
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Thai student injured in playground scuffle, parents seek justice
A father reported that his son, a Year 8 student, suffered a severe knee injury after being thrown to the ground by a classmate, potentially resulting in uneven leg lengths. The family now faces increased medical expenses and loss of income due to the incident. At 6pm yesterday, September 12, reports emerged from Uthen, an 49 year old industrial machinery…
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Digital wallet delay: No green light before year-end
The highly anticipated second phase of Thailand’s digital wallet initiative is on ice, with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira revealing that it’s unlikely to roll out before the end of the year. In a brief meeting with the press today, Pichai highlighted the need for a cautious approach, stressing that factors like timing and continuity must be…
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