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 man wanted for groping woman’s breasts on motorcycle
A Thai woman urged netizens to help her locate a man who groped her breasts while she was travelling on a motorcycle with her friend in Phuket on Tuesday. The victim took to social media to share the story, saying it happened around 9.30pm on Tuesday, July 9, near the SuperCheap grocery store in Soi Kok Makham, Rawai sub-district, Phuket.…
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Heavy rains and flash flood warnings issued for Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for heavy rains and potential flash floods across most regions of the country, with Bangkok expected to experience rain in 60% of its area. The TMD forecasts that the southwest monsoon will cover the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand, creating conditions ripe for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in certain…
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Fatal collision between motorcycle and pedestrian in Chon Buri
A fatal collision between a motorcycle and a pedestrian led to a fatality in Chon Buri, Thailand. The accident occurred yesterday at 9.40pm on the Phan Thong-Ban Kao Road in Ban Kao, Phan Thong District, Chon Buri Province. The local police, along with rescue teams from the Sawang Utthayan Phan Thong Foundation, promptly responded to the scene. The crash involved…
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Thai-Philippine MoUs for rice exports worth 2.8 billion baht signed
The Commerce Ministry recently facilitated a significant trade development, leading a team of rice exporters to the Philippines and securing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) valued at 2.8 billion baht (US$77 million). Ronnarong Phoolpipat, Director-General of the Foreign Trade Department, headed the delegation, which included Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, during a visit from July 3 to…
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Election Commission seals deal: Senatorial results get green light
The Election Commission (EC) finally endorsed the results of the senatorial election. Despite initial delays and mounting complaints, the EC confirmed the election’s integrity and backed all 200 winners. The EC convened today, July 10, meeting from 9am to 2.30pm, to resolve the matter. Initially slated for an announcement on July 3, the endorsement was repeatedly postponed due to a…
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Early retirement scheme slashes Thai Defence senior ranks
The Cabinet approved an early retirement scheme for senior Defence Ministry officials, effective this October. According to insider sources, the initiative is set to revolutionise the armed forces by offering retirement packages to over 700 top brass. The ambitious three-year campaign aims to retire 732 high-ranking officials, approximately 244 each year, slashing the defence budget by an impressive 4.47 billion…
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Motorcyclist crashes into taxi after road rage incident (video)
A motorcyclist, in a blind fit of road rage with a car, neglected to assess the surrounding traffic and rear-ended a taxi. The incident, captured on video and shared widely online, has sparked a flurry of comments from social media users. The heated dispute was posted on a Facebook page, with the clip showing a motorcyclist getting into an altercation…
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Thailand’s BOI opens first Saudi branch amid growing ties
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) will inaugurate its first branch in Saudi Arabia this week, signalling a new chapter in economic relations between the two nations. The new office in Riyadh, opening this Sunday, July 14, marks a significant step in fostering investment and business growth. This strategic expansion has drawn high-profile attendees, including Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and over…
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Checkpoint bust: Kanchanaburi police seize pills and heroin stash
Police in Kanchanaburi yesterday arrested a drug trafficker at a checkpoint for smuggling 20,000 methamphetamine pills and 17 kilogrammes of heroin. The man confessed to transporting the drugs for a friend’s nephew in exchange for motorcycle repair costs. Police set up a checkpoint on the Thong Pha Phum-Sangkhla Buri route after receiving a tip-off about a grey Chevrolet transporting drugs…
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GAC AION charges ahead in Thailand with new EV hub in Rayong
China’s 4th-largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, GAC AION New Energy Automobile, is gearing up to revolutionise Thailand’s automotive landscape with the inauguration of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Rayong’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) on July 17. Industry Minister Pimphattra Wichaikul announced that the cutting-edge plant, costing a staggering 2.3 billion baht, is poised to kick off operations by November. Boasting…
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Serpent’s kiss: 4 metre python found in company bathroom
A large python measuring over 4 metres was discovered slithering into the roof of a bathroom at a staff residence of a prominent company. The snake had previously bitten an employee, requiring nearly 40 stitches. The python was found again yesterday, July 9 at 10am. Rescue workers from Chachoengsao were alerted to the presence of a massive python inside the…
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Amata City factory in Rayong to close by January 2025
A long-standing company in Amata City Industrial Estate, Rayong, is set to close its doors after 20 years, gradually laying off employees to complete the process by the end of this year or at the latest by January 2025. This news, posted by the News Chon Buri-Rayong Online page, has sent shockwaves through the local workforce, as the company is…
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Ads for cosmetic procedures by medical professionals banned
The Medical Council of Thailand issued a new regulation prohibiting medical professionals from advertising their expertise in cosmetic procedures. This announcement aims to ensure ethical practices and provide accurate information to the public. Today, July 10, the Royal Gazette published Medical Council Announcement No. 39/2567 regarding the advertising of cosmetic procedures by medical practitioners. This regulation, effective immediately, aims to…
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Thailand govt defends Buriram graduates amid cheating claims
The Thai government fiercely defended 40 Buriram Rajabhat University graduates against allegations of cheating in their competitive exams for assistant teaching positions. Rumours have been swirling that the graduates were aided by leaked exam papers, a suspicion magnified by the fact that the Minister of Education, Permpoon Chidchob, is from Buriram province. Addressing the controversy, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime…
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Seoul-searching: South korea & Thailand kickstart trade pact talks
The Trade Ministry of South Korea yesterday announced the initiation of negotiations with Thailand to establish an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to enhance bilateral trade and investment. The South Korean delegation, headed by Deputy Minister for FTA Negotiations Roh Keon-ki, is set to engage in discussions with his Thai counterpart, Chotima Iemsawasdikul, in Bangkok through until tomorrow, as reported by…
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Oil smuggling fugitive escapes with politician’s help
Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers are seeking warrants for the arrests of six individuals allegedly involved in the brazen hijacking of three oil smuggling vessels from the Marine Police Division’s pier in Sattahip on June 11. Police Colonel Anek Taosuparb, CSD Deputy Commander, revealed to the media today, July 10, that two of the six suspects, including the ringleader known…
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Northern Thailand: Fire destroys home, injures elderly woman
A devastating fire destroyed a home in Phrae province, leaving an elderly, disabled woman injured. Police and local agencies swiftly moved to assist following the incident, which occurred at noon today. The tragedy unfolded when a fire broke out at a single-story wooden house in Village 6, Taopoon subdistrict, Song district. Police Lieutenant Colonel Krittipoom Thaboon received the alert and…
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Foreign man smashes car window and tries to assault Lao man
A Laotian businessman demanded that a foreigner in the Isaan province of Udon Thani take responsibility for smashing his car window and attempting to punch him in the face. Mueang Udon Thani Police Station was alerted to investigate a damaged car at Nong Bua Market Intersection at 4pm yesterday, July 9. Upon arrival, officers met the car’s owner, a 68…
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Police arrest Russian gang leader for sale of counterfeit passports
Thai immigration officials apprehended the leader of a Russian gang involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit passports. The operation, which caused damages exceeding 30 million baht, had its manufacturing hub in the Dominican Republic before smuggling the fake documents into Thailand. Today, July 10, the Immigration Bureau held a press conference to announce the arrest of 44 year…
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Park officials nab suspects for illegal forest clearing to plant durians
Park officials apprehended two suspects for illegally clearing forest land to plant durian trees on an area spanning 3 rai. Hearing the sound of forest clearing, officials moved in, capturing one individual while the other fled, later convincing him to surrender. Officials from the Phetchaburi branch of the Protected Areas Regional Office 3 received a report from Kittisak Somsri, head…
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New Thai Airways deal supercharges UK-Asia courier service
Heathrow Airport’s only on-site express courier handler, CFL, inked a three-year deal with Thai Airways (THAI), boosting courier capacity between the UK and the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. CFL Chief Executive Matthew Ware expressed his excitement. “We are delighted to formalise this important partnership with THAI. Exporting is vital for the UK economy, and this deal will give UK businesses…
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Ang Thong park still positive amid worst coral bleaching in decades
Ang Thong National Marine Park is experiencing its most severe coral bleaching event in a decade, with conditions expected to improve by August. The park anticipates earning over 40 million baht in revenue by the end of the fiscal year. Ang Thong National Marine Park is grappling with a significant coral bleaching crisis, its most severe case in the last…
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Thailand’s plan to turn food waste into lifesavers
Thailand unveiled a plan to tackle food waste and hunger. The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) has teamed up with the Scholars of Sustenance Foundation (SOS) to outline the creation of a national food bank. NSTDA’s vice president for strategy and budgeting, Nuanwan Sanguansak, spearheaded a public hearing on Sunday, July 7, aimed at gathering feedback on managing…
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Debate over gender-neutral toilets gains traction in Thailand
The debate over the concept of gender-neutral toilets in Thai society has sparked widespread discussion online. The issue arose after a proposal for exclusive LGBTQIA+ toilets was put forward, prompting questions about the feasibility of gender-neutral restrooms in Thailand. As many countries, including Thailand, become more inclusive of LGBTQIA+ communities, laws such as the Marriage Equality Act have been enacted…
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No plastics allowed: Koh Nang Yuan protects coral reefs
Visitors to the stunning island of Koh Nang Yuan in southern Thailand are facing a surprising restriction: no plastic items or styrofoam boxes are allowed. Koh Nang Yuan, renowned for its three interconnected islets with pristine white sands, has long upheld a strict no-plastic policy. This rule extends to the thousands of tourists who flock to its shores each day,…
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Thai police apprehend 16 Myanmar migrants and four smugglers
Sixteen illegal migrants from Myanmar and four Thai smugglers were apprehended early today after the migrants were found crammed into a pickup truck at a drug checkpoint in Phayuha Khiri district, Nakhon Sawan. Drug suppression police, stationed at the checkpoint, flagged down a black pickup with Bangkok licence plates around 1am. Acting on information that two suspected vehicles were travelling…
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Minor earthquake shakes Koh Samui, residents feel tremors
An earthquake with a magnitude of 2.0 shook Koh Samui in the middle of the night, causing residents in Bo Phut, Koh Samui in Surat Thani to feel the tremors. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reported that the earthquake occurred at 12.14am today, July 10, at a depth of 1 kilometre. Several residents reported feeling the tremors, including those in…
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Armed men disguised as soldiers raid Yala villages, steal firearms
Armed men disguised as soldiers and rangers executed a series of robberies targeting village headmen and defence volunteers in Yala‘s southern border province last night, making off with several firearms. Around 8.30pm, July 9, approximately 10 armed men with covered faces, dressed like soldiers, stormed a defence volunteer station in Ban Krong Pinang, Krong Pinang district. They seized a shotgun…
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Engineer found dead in car at Phetchaburi petrol station
A petrol station worker was shocked to find an engineer from a well-known company dead inside his car parked in front of the restroom. Police quickly arrived to investigate, suspecting a health condition as the cause of death. At around 9.27am today, July 10, Sunanta Rodpetch, an investigating officer from Phetchaburi City Police Station, received a report of an unconscious…
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Trang underwear bandit leaves a woman in ‘brief’ terror
A woman in Trang is living in fear after a thief stole all her underwear, valued at tens of thousands of baht, from her clothes line. Despite reporting the incident nearly four months ago, the case remains unsolved, leaving her anxious about her safety and property. A private company employee, 35 year old Khwan Siri Klangjui, referenced the clothes line…
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