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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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 man prevents disaster after dog mistakes bomb for toy
A pet dog mistook a bomb for a toy, brought it back to her family home in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, and gave it to a four year old boy. Fortunately, the boy showed it to his father before it could explode and cause a tragedy. Officers from Non Sung Police Station were called to investigate the bomb at…
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Freezing cold: TMD warns as temperatures dip across Thailand
Cold weather is set to sweep across Thailand, with the Meteorological Department (TMD) warning of another wave of chilly air descending from China. Temperatures are predicted to drop by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius (°C), with Bangkok experiencing lows of 20°C and frost expected in mountainous areas. The TMD forecasts that the high-pressure system or moderate cool air mass from…
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7 killed in Surat Thani pickup accident including 2 year old twins
A family of seven, including two year old twins, lost their lives when their pickup crashed into a tree on the side of Asian Highway 41 in the southern province of Surat Thani yesterday, December 2. The crash site was just 4 kilometres from the location of a fatal bus accident the previous day. Rescuers from the Kusol Sattha Surat Thani…
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Pattaya: 3 injured as blanket gets caught in motorbike wheel
A Thai family’s late-night motorbike journey near Pattaya turned perilous when a blanket became entangled in the wheel, leading to an accident that injured a young girl and her parents. Shortly after midnight yesterday, January 2, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre was alerted to a motorcycle crash on the road adjacent to Pattaya Country Club Golf Course. Upon arrival, the…
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Bangkok drug party raid sparks debate over privacy and policy
A recent police raid on an exclusive gay party in Bangkok’s Watthana district has sparked significant debate over privacy concerns and the effectiveness of drug policies. During the raid, which took place on December 8, officers discovered that more than half of the 124 attendees tested positive for drugs, leading to their mandatory rehabilitation. The incident has drawn criticism from…
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Thailand video news | American base jumpers in face legal backlash, Phnom Penh draws record new year tourists
In today’s Good Morning Thailand, Alex and Jay delve into compelling stories from Thailand and Asia, capturing the headlines that matter. From daredevil stunts by American base jumpers in Bangkok to a heated parking dispute escalating into vehicular violence in Pattaya, the drama unfolds across the Kingdom. They also cover international news, including Cambodia’s record-breaking New Year tourism and Vietnam’s…
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Thailand launches UAVs to protect endangered dugongs
Efforts to preserve the dugong population have intensified following the recent discovery of several deceased specimens. Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Chalermchai Sri-on, announced a series of new measures aimed at safeguarding these unique marine mammals, whose survival is threatened by the disappearance of seagrass meadows—an essential food source for the world’s only herbivorous marine mammal. The decline of seagrass…
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Korat researchers turn agricultural waste into ceramic gemstones
Researchers at Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) have made a groundbreaking discovery by transforming agricultural waste into highly valuable ceramic gemstones. This innovative research, conducted by senior students at the Institute of Engineering’s School of Ceramic Engineering, has resulted in a product priced 6,000 times higher than the original waste material. The team, consisting of Parnpailin Jaichuei, Chatcha Chuma, and…
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American tourist crashes dirt bike in Chiang Mai, kills local woman
An American tourist riding a dirt bike collided with a Thai woman, tragically resulting in her death while she was crossing a road in Chiang Mai. Overwhelmed with remorse, the tourist knelt and apologised to the deceased’s family. Officers from Mae On Police Station in Chiang Mai were alerted to an accident involving a dirt bike and a middle-aged Thai…
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High ambitions: Air India Express introduces new Phuket flights
Air India Express is making waves with its latest announcement: direct flights from Hyderabad to the tropical paradise of Phuket. Launching on January 31, these flights will initially operate thrice weekly—on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays—before ramping up to six times a week from February 15, skipping only Tuesdays. This move comes hot on the heels of the airline’s new Bangkok route,…
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MP demands answers on income and legality of Chinese police training
A Member of Parliament (MP) from the People’s Party raised questions to the Royal Thai Police (RTP) regarding the income generated from a special training programme for Chinese volunteer police, as well as the legality and effectiveness of the training, which took only three days to complete. The MP, Sasinan Thamnithinan, shared her concerns on her Twitter account yesterday, January…
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Travel deals galore: 30th International Travel Fair boosts tourism
The Thai International Travel Fair (TITF) is back with a bang, promising to be bigger and better than ever. From January 16 to 19, the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok will transform into a bustling hub of global tourism as the 30th edition of this iconic event unfolds. Organised by the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), TITF#30 is…
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Family disputes suicide claim in security guard’s mysterious death
The family of a missing Thai security guard is seeking justice following his mysterious death at an abandoned house in the central province of Kanchanaburi, which police officers ruled as suicide. The family of the 57 year old security guard, Daeng, reached out to Channel 8, urging a further investigation into his death. Daeng had reportedly been missing for seven…
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Bangkok taxi driver allegedly overcharges for vomit cleaning fee
A taxi driver found himself at the centre of an online controversy when a passenger claimed to have been overcharged after vomiting in his cab. The discussion erupted on social media when a Facebook user alleged that the driver demanded 5,000 baht for cleaning fees after the incident, while the passenger was only willing to pay 500 baht. The story…
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New year tragedy: Burmese man falls to his death at Songkhla waterfall
A Burmese tourist fell to his death from a cliff at a waterfall in the southern province of Songkhla yesterday, January 1. Rescue efforts spanned over three hours. Rangers overseeing the waterfall at the Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary in Songkhla sought assistance from Mittaphap Samakki Foundation rescuers to retrieve the body of the Burmese man, 31 year old Aung…
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Skydiving stunt lands 3 Americans in hot water at Bangkok mall (video)
A brazen late-night stunt by three American daredevils has left Bangkok police fuming after a viral video showed them parachuting off the roof of the Emsphere shopping mall. The outrageous clip, posted on TikTok by user @armankremer with hashtags like #basejump and #urbex, ignited a storm of online criticism and has prompted the mall to press trespassing charges. The video,…
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Woman searches for Cambodian worker’s daughter in Rayong
A 51 year old woman from the Nongtapang community in Ban Khai district, Rayong, expressed deep concern after discovering that a Cambodian worker, whom she had employed for two years, had taken her (the worker’s) four and a half year old daughter and disappeared. The Cambodian worker, who lived with her husband and young daughter in a rented room 600…
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Tour bus rage: Driver slams into SUV over parking row in Pattaya
A jaw-dropping video from Pattaya has gone viral, showing a tour bus intentionally smashing into an orange SUV during a heated parking dispute. The dramatic incident unfolded on Monday, December 30 near a hotel on North Pattaya Road, Naklua, leaving onlookers stunned. The chaos began when 35 year old O, a ride-hailing driver for Bolt and Grab, briefly parked his…
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Tattoo shop owner arrested for shotgun standoff on Koh Phangan
A tattoo shop owner turned new year celebrations into a nightmare on Koh Phangan, as shocking footage reveals him brandishing a shotgun and terrorising tourists in the early hours of New Year’s Day. The perpetrator, 49 year old Denchai from Phatthalung province, was caught on security cameras at 2.56am yesterday, January 1, outside a massage shop in Krung Thai Soi,…
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Out of luck: Lottery scammer busted at Phuket fair
A brazen fraudster tried her luck at scamming thousands of revellers at Phuket’s new year fair—only to find herself caught red-handed by police in the early hours of the morning today, January 2. Phuket City Police swooped in on 45 year old Kritporn Butlo near the central stage of the Saphan Hin Good Things fair around 12.30am. The suspect was…
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Thailand expands 30-baht healthcare scheme nationwide
Thailand has extended its Treatment Anywhere 30-baht universal healthcare scheme to cover the entire nation, with the initiative now active in the remaining 31 provinces. This marks the completion of the scheme’s fourth and final phase since being introduced by the National Health Security Office (NHSO). According to Athaporn Limpanylers, deputy secretary-general of the NHSO, the initiative now encompasses all…
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Move over, Alpha: Generation Beta is here to shake things up
A seismic generational shift has just unfolded, ringing in 2025 with the farewell of Generation Alpha and the arrival of the highly anticipated Generation Beta. Generation Alpha, comprising those born between 2010 and 2024, grew up in a whirlwind of technological innovation and societal upheaval. From the global Covid-19 pandemic to the rise of artificial intelligence, this mini-millennial cohort has…
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5 dead and 33 injured in Surat Thani coach bus accident
A coach bus driver crashed into a tree along the Asian Highway 41 in the southern province of Surat Thani, resulting in the deaths of five passengers and injuries to 33 others. Three of the injured are reported to be in critical condition. The accident occurred in Chaiya district at approximately 7.30pm yesterday, January 1. The severely damaged green coach…
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Bullet fired in celebration narrowly misses woman in Sri Banphot
A shocking incident unfolded when a bullet fired into the sky during new year celebrations came crashing through the roof, narrowly missing a woman’s head in Sri Banphot, Phatthalung. A 36 year old woman reported the incident to the Sri Banphot Police Station, presenting the bullet as evidence. The event occurred just minutes after midnight, during the new year countdown,…
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Phuket ushers in new year with traditional almsgiving ceremony
Phuket officials marked the new year with a traditional almsgiving ceremony, drawing prominent figures and residents from across the province. The event took place yesterday morning outside the Government Savings Bank on Phang Nga Road in Phuket Town, setting the tone for a year filled with aspirations for unity and prosperity. The ceremony began at 6am, featuring offerings of food…
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Thailand contains cholera outbreak, minimal new cases reported
A recent cholera outbreak in Thailand has been effectively managed, with a minimal number of patients from both Myanmar and Thailand diagnosed and subsequently cured. Public health and security officials confirmed this progress yesterday, January 1. In Myanmar’s town of Shwe Kokko, the number of cholera patients is also on the decline. Despite Mae Sot and four other districts in…
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Toddler injured by firecracker during new year celebrations in Trang
A one year old toddler named Sky suffered severe injuries after being struck by a firecracker thrown by teenagers during New Year’s Eve celebrations at Pak Meng Beach, Sikao district, Trang province. The incident, which left the child with serious wounds requiring seven stitches and a bruised lung, led to his transfer to Trang Hospital for further treatment. His 25…
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Disturbed man allegedly butchers dog for sale in Udon Thani
A shocking incident unfolded yesterday in Udon Thani’s Ban Dung district when a disturbed individual allegedly killed a dog and displayed its butchered remains for sale. The dog, believed to have fled in panic due to new year fireworks, fell victim to the man’s disturbed behaviour. Upon receiving reports from concerned residents, Werapol, the administrator of the Bandung Update Facebook page,…
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Thai-foreign couple lose 3 million baht in Phuket home robbery
A Thai woman and her foreign husband in Phuket sought help from the police after losing 3 million baht in cash and gold during a home robbery on New Year’s Eve, December 31. The local news Facebook page Phuket Hotnews reported the robbery yesterday, January 1. The theft reportedly occurred in a village on Soi Nayai in the Chalong sub-district,…
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Phuket horror: Tourist bludgeoned by rider over route dispute (video)
A Norwegian tourist’s dream holiday turned into a nightmare when he was viciously attacked by a ride-hailing driver in Phuket. The shocking incident, which occurred in the early hours of December 30, left the tourist battered and bruised, sparking a heated debate about passenger safety. A Thai woman, 44 year old Thanatphon Khongcharoen, accompanied her friend, 57 year old…
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