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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Gold prices hit record US$2,531 amid interest rate cut speculation
Gold prices continue their upward trajectory, reaching a new record high of US$2,531 per ounce yesterday. Investors are closely monitoring signals from the Federal Reserve regarding potential interest rate cuts at its September meeting. Gold brokers attribute the increase to the asset’s status as a safe haven amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Tanarat Pasawongse,…
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Thai man assaults escort over service time dispute
A Thai man assaulted an escort after she refused to extend her service time, leading to a heated argument and subsequent violence. The incident was reported yesterday by the Facebook page à¸à¸µà¸‹à¹‰à¸à¸‚ยี้ข่าว3 which posted details and photos of the assaulted woman. The altercation began when the man requested to extend the escort’s service time but the woman wanted to go home.…
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Doctor charged for assaulting, stripping teenage boy in Bangkok
Prosecutors have formally charged four individuals, including a doctor, for allegedly assaulting a 14 year old boy in Lak Si district, Bangkok and forcing him to strip. Evidence will be reviewed on December 9. The defendants have been granted temporary release. The Office of the Special Prosecutor for Criminal Cases 4 submitted a lawsuit against Doctor Weerayuth Naenna, Doctor Weerayut…
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Japanese man loses 310,000 baht to visa scam and corrupt police
A Japanese man filed a complaint with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) after losing 300,000 baht in a visa scam and an additional 10,000 baht to a corrupt Thai cyber cop. The victim, 51 year old Shinichi Maeda, who runs a clothing export business in Thailand, revealed to CIB police that he has been living in Thailand for 20 years…
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Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement expected by next year
A free trade agreement (FTA) between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is anticipated to be finalised by next year, according to officials from Canada and Thailand involved in the discussions. Surin Thanalertkul, the Canadian embassy trade commissioner, along with Martin Sullivan, senior market development officer of the Canada Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO), discussed the…
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Maha Sarakham abbot defrocked for meth use after drug test
Police in Maha Sarakham arrested the abbot of Wat Nong Sim Yai after a drug test revealed methamphetamine (meth) use. The abbot admitted to using the drug, claiming curiosity as his motive. Local officials from the Borabue district received complaints from residents about possible drug-related activities involving monks at Wat Nong Sim Yai. Responding to these concerns, they tested four…
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Thai police seize 110kg of drugs in major bust in Songkhla
Thai police intercepted a major drug trafficking operation yesterday, seizing 100 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and 10 kilogrammes of ketamine hidden in a vehicle bearing deceptive Attorney General’s Office stickers. The bust occurred in Songkhla province and involved both Thai and Malaysian nationals. The Region 9 Police Investigation Unit, led by Thanawat Saengsui, executed the operation on a bridge over…
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Floods displace 500 households in Nan, severe damage reported
Floods have caused significant damage in the northern province of Nan, affecting eight districts and displacing over 500 households. The heavy rain led to rapid rises in river levels, particularly impacting Thawngpha district where residents struggled to evacuate their belongings in time. The province of Nan is facing a severe flood crisis, with eight districts now affected. These districts include…
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Police seize nearly 2 million meth pills in Saraburi drug bust
Saraburi Highway police intercepted a drug trafficking operation, seizing nearly 2 million methamphetamine (meth) pills from a pickup truck in Nong Khae district, Saraburi province. Officers patrolling Highway 2044 near Raphiphat Canal noticed a suspicious grey pickup truck on Tuesday, August 20. When signalled to stop, the driver sped away, eventually abandoning the vehicle in Chonprathan Soi 1 and fleeing…
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Woman’s body found near pond in Khon Kaen, police investigating
A woman’s body with painted red nails was discovered near a pond, her neck showing signs of strangulation. The police are investigating whether it was a concealed murder. The body has been sent for an autopsy, and efforts are underway to locate her relatives. Police in Khon Kaen province are investigating the death of a woman found near a pond…
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Pattaya motorbike taxi driver arrested for selling kratom juice
Police in Pattaya detained a female motorbike taxi driver on Monday for selling unauthorised kratom juice, aiming to mitigate financial strains during Thailand’s economic difficulties. The arrest was made on Soi Phothisan 1/1 in the Naklua area, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Police officers yesterday, August 19, apprehended Sirikaset, a 60 year old motorcycle taxi driver, who was found…
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Aggressive driver terrorises women at Buriram training centre (video)
A man in his mid-forties drove a black Ford Everest aggressively into a university, verbally abusing a group of women aged around 50, claiming they had cut him off while driving. The police are now investigating the incident. Yesterday, August 21, a group of residents from Thai Charoen, Moo 4, Hu Thanop, Pakam district, Buriram province, filed a report at…
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Police seize over one million methamphetamine pills in Sakon Nakhon
Police in Sakon Nakhon Province seized over one million methamphetamine pills, thanks to a tip-off from locals. The seizure took place yesterday, August 21, at the Border Patrol Police Division 23 headquarters, where officials reported the details of the operation. On the previous day, Border Patrol Police Companies 235 and 236 received intelligence about a drug trafficking operation. The traffickers…
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Motorcycle accident on Phahonyothin Road leaves one dead
A tragic motorcycle collision claimed the life of a 66 year old mechanic and left two young men in critical condition. The accident occurred yesterday on Phahonyothin Road, near the Thoen bus terminal in Lom Raet, Thoen district, Lampang province. Police Captain Satean Phanthariyasatean, an investigator from Thoen Police Station, received the report of the accident involving two motorcycles, resulting…
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Thai Tourist Police arrest woman for fraudulent resort scam
Thai Tourist Police arrested a woman accused of opening a bank account for a fraudulent resort page scam in exchange for 500 baht. The incident involved victims losing money after booking a luxury resort in Khao Yai. Police led by Police Major General Thakoon Nimsombun and Police Colonel Wichian Wachirasangpairoj directed the operation. Deputy Inspector Vorodom Bairue and Lieutenant Colonel…
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Teen arrested in Bangkok with homemade gun for self-defence
Police in Saimai apprehended a 16 year old boy found carrying a firearm on the side of the road. He claimed he was carrying the weapon for self-defence. A background check revealed previous charges of assault and attempted murder. At 9pm, yesterday, August 21, Police Colonel Rangsan Sonsing, Superintendent of Saimai Police Station, along with Deputy Superintendent Sanchai Sirirat and…
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People’s Party goes all in: By-election showdown in Phitsanulok
In a high-stakes bid to hold onto their seat in Phitsanulok’s Constituency 1, the People’s Party (PP) is pulling out all the stops. PP leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut and former MP Padipat Suntiphada hit the campaign trail yesterday, August 20, introducing Natachanon Chanaburanasak as their candidate for the upcoming by-election. The by-election, set for September 15, was announced by the Election…
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Thai delivery rider’s ghostly order leaves taste of mystery
A Thai food delivery rider in Bangkok recounted his eerie experience to the public, claiming that he received an order from a dead police officer. The delivery rider, 30 year old Suttinai Khamchuen, shared with Channel 7 that he works two jobs as a volunteer rescuer and a Bolt delivery rider. The strange and spooky incident occurred at around 7.30pm…
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Slapgate scandal: Prawit faces ethics inquiry
Thailand’s political scene has been rocked by an incident involving Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader, General Prawit Wongsuwon. The former deputy prime minister is now facing calls for an ethics inquiry after being caught on video slapping a reporter during a tense exchange last Friday. The News Broadcasting Council of Thailand (NBCT) and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association have formally…
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Viral dugong sighting stuns Phuket
A video of a rare dugong swimming near the bustling Rawai Bridge in Phuket has taken social media by storm, sparking calls for immediate action from local officials. The 41-second clip, posted on the Phuket Info Centre’s Facebook page, shows the elusive sea creature gracefully navigating the waters of Rawai Beach, a popular tourist destination. Filmed yesterday morning, August 20,…
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Gun-toting schoolkids spark East Pattaya chaos
Violence erupted on the streets of East Pattaya as shocking footage emerged yesterday, showing school kids from a local public school and a rival private school engaging in brutal confrontations. The disturbing scenes, captured on Soi Nern Plub Wan in Nong Prue, reveal students clashing in a series of chaotic brawls. These violent altercations have reportedly occurred at least three times…
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Taxi to the danger zone: Driver stabbed in Phuket passenger showdown
An airport taxi driver stabbed a fellow driver outside a hotel in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket yesterday after a dispute over passengers. Officers from Patong Police Station investigated the stabbing outside Novotel Vintage Park Resort and arrested the attacker, 55 year old Raphiphan Saelor, at the scene. The injured victim, 40 year old Apinan Boonpha, was rushed to hospital…
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Toilet terror: Thai man’s shocking snake bite nightmare (video)
In a scene straight out of a horror film, a Thai man endured a nightmarish encounter when a snake, hiding in his toilet, sank its fangs into his testicles. The terrifying incident occurred on Monday, August 19 at 10am, when the unsuspecting man went to relieve himself, according to his now-viral Facebook post. Living in Thailand during the rainy season…
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Retiree’s paradise or visa maze? Thailand’s options but no land grabs
Thailand is a popular choice for foreign retirees, offering several visa types including annual extensions, a five to 20 year Elite visa, and a 10-year Long Term Residence (LTR) visa. However, none of these options allow direct land ownership, nor do they guarantee a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship. Foreigners can purchase condominiums but this typically doesn’t come with visa…
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Road rage: Polish man stabbed in Pattaya after fistfight
A Thai man turned a routine traffic dispute into a life-threatening attack, leaving a Polish man severely injured after a road rage incident spiralled out of control in Pattaya yesterday. The violent altercation erupted at 6.06pm, yesterday, August 20, on Soi Boonsamphan in the Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Local police, accompanied by rescue teams from…
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Thai PM Paetongtarn’s star-studded birthday bash
Pheu Thai’s 141 MPs gathered yesterday to honour their leader, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, on the eve of her 38th birthday. The event, which doubled as a heartfelt thank you to her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was held a day before Paetongtarn’s actual birthday at the party’s headquarters in the Shinawatra 3 Building. Paetongtarn, who officially turns 38 today, kicked off…
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Ancient Thai cat gets purr-fectly official international recognition
The ancient Thai Suphalak cat has been officially recognised as an international breed by the World Cat Federation (WCF). The announcement, which has delighted cat lovers around the world, was shared on the WCF Thailand by ARC Facebook page. The recognition was granted during the WCF General Assembly 2024 in Germany, following a proposal by the Trade Association of Registered…
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Sweet spot: Thai fruits ranked by sugar content for diabetics
ThaiHealth has released information on the sugar content of various Thai fruits, identifying which ones have the highest and lowest amounts. This information is particularly important for individuals with diabetes, who need to consider both the type and amount of sugar in their diet. The Thai fruit with the highest sugar content is tamarind, containing 58.28 grammes of sugar per…
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Thai Airways soars to new heights with RateGain partnership
Thai Airways (THAI) is set to revolutionise its pricing strategies with a multi-year partnership with RateGain Travel Technologies, leveraging its cutting-edge platform, AirGain. This collaboration marks a significant move for the national flag carrier of Thailand as it aims to maintain its competitive edge in the global aviation market. Operating out of its central hub at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok,…
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Old Thai man arrested after defending business partner against affair accusation
Police arrested an 80 year old Thai man after he defended his female business partner against accusations of an affair during an interview on a television news programme. Netizens criticised the police, claiming they treated the 80 year old unfairly. The accused Thai woman, Pimon Panwisai, sought help from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive and various news agencies after Suay accused…
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