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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Paetongtarn Shinawatra: Thailand’s political sector’s rising star
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the dynamic youngest daughter of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is making waves in the nation’s political sector. As the current leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, she brings a combination of academic prowess and political lineage to the table. Holding degrees in Sociology and Anthropology from Chulalongkorn University and in International Hotel Management from the…
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Phang Nga’s lithium deposits eyed for Thailand’s EV ambitions
Phang Nga’s rich lithium deposits were the focal point of a House Committee on Industry visit yesterday, as the government looks to establish the area as a global lithium source. The move aligns with the government’s strategy to make Thailand an electronic vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub. Akkaradech Wongpitakroj, chairman of the House Committee and United Thai Nations MP for Ratchaburi,…
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Bangkok’s Klong Ong Ang Canal neglected despite tourism appeal
The controversy around the neglected state of the Klong Ong Ang Canal area, once touted as a tourist hotspot by the previous government, has prompted officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to come forward in defence. Images revealing the dilapidated condition of the area, including parked vehicles on a freshly paved footpath, abandoned artistic graffiti installations, and homeless individuals…
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Thai navy’s frigate procurement plan gets House Committee’s nod
The Royal Thai Navy‘s (RTN) plans for procuring a new frigate received an endorsement from the House of Representatives Committee on the Armed Forces. This move is expected to pave the way for more job opportunities for local labour. The RTN’s frigate procurement strategy recently encountered a setback when its budget request of 17 billion baht (US$480 million) for the…
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Thailand’s Kantharalak district to reopen Preah Vihear temple
The district of Kantharalak in Sisaket, Thailand, is buzzing with anticipation as it prepares to reopen access to the Preah Vihear temple after 16 years. The decision to establish a temporary checkpoint for entry into the Cambodian temple followed Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s recent visit to the province. The move has sparked excitement among the locals, who view it as…
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Mysterious hand discovered in Samut Prakan canal sparks comedy
A suspected human hand floating in a canal caused quite a stir in Samut Prakan province but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be just a discarded rubber glove, much to the amusement and relief of the onlookers and authorities involved. Yesterday, at 5.30pm, the local police of Samut Prakan province were alerted to a suspicious object resembling a…
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Water assault over 200,000 baht debt injures elderly in Nonthaburi
A high-pressure water assault on a wheelchair-bound woman and her 82 year old mother has led to a heated dispute over unpaid debt in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Yesterday, a 41 year old woman, Jittrathiwat, reported being attacked by Jeab, the sister of debtor Duangkamol, during a confrontation at a beauty salon the previous evening. Jittrathiwat recounted that she had been pushing…
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Bangkok bans parking under BTS stations to ease traffic
Bangkok’s traffic management authorities have implemented a new regulation prohibiting parking in the indented areas of central road islands beneath BTS Skytrain stations. The regulation, which took effect immediately, aims to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce accidents caused by illegal parking. The Royal Gazette announced a traffic regulation for Bangkok, effective today, which forbids parking in the indents of central…
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Buriram shooting: Teenagers injured in revenge attack
A violent encounter last night left two high school students injured after being shot by a younger peer. The incident, which took place near a petrol station in Buriram province, was reportedly an act of revenge on behalf of a friend. The two victims, both Grade 9 students, were attacked as they rode their motorcycle in the vicinity of Nong…
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Bangkok cops bust plus-size women’s sex trade party organiser
Bangkok’s bustling city centre became the scene of a significant police raid when police apprehended a 49 year old woman, the alleged organiser of plus-size women’s parties involving illicit activities. The police operation, led by high-ranking officers from the Metropolitan Police, resulted in the seizure of condoms, sex toys, and other items related to the sex trade. The crackdown took…
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Chulalongkorn Uni pressured to reveal fraudulent thesis results
Chulalongkorn University is currently under pressure from an alumni group, Network of Universities Reform, to reveal the findings of an investigation into an alleged fraudulent doctoral research paper. The contentious thesis, penned by Nattapon Jaijin, has been under scrutiny for three years, a fact that has sparked frustration within the group. The group’s leader, Wirangrong Dabbaransi, has taken to Facebook…
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Severe summer storms to lash Thailand’s upper regions
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its final advisory warning of severe summer storms striking the upper regions of Thailand. The alert, issued today, March 10, highlights the danger of thunderstorms, and strong winds, and cautions the public of the risks posed by these weather conditions. A high-pressure system from the east is dominating the northeastern part of Thailand and…
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Anthrax outbreak in Laos prompts raw meat warning in Thailand
Kenika Ounjit, a deputy government spokesperson, yesterday revealed a public health warning from the Department of Livestock Development. The warning urged the public to refrain from consuming raw meat. This follows a report of an anthrax outbreak in Laos, published on the World Forum Facebook page on Wednesday. According to the report, three cases of anthrax were identified on March…
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PM Srettha may meet paroled Thaksin during Chiang Mai visit
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has suggested a potential meeting with the recently paroled former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra. This event could take place during PM Srettha’s upcoming visit to Chiang Mai, which coincides with Thaksin’s planned trip to his hometown. The Thai prime minister is scheduled to inspect haze pollution, drug-related issues, and the progress of royally initiated development projects in…
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Thai Health Ministry under scrutiny for drug user-dealer regulation
The Public Health Ministry faces a 30-day deadline to substantiate its regulation that categorises individuals holding five methamphetamine pills or 10mg of crystal meth or less as mere drug users, not dealers. This demand comes from the Office of the Ombudsman, which is considering cancelling the ministry regulation. The secretary-general of the Office of the Ombudsman, Police Lieutenant Colonel Keirov…
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AI-driven project launched to tackle Bangkok’s traffic congestion
An artificial intelligence (AI) technology-driven project, the Ratchaprasong Model, has been launched by the government to combat excessive traffic congestion in the bustling business district of Ratchaprasong. This area is also recognised as a tourist hotspot in the capital. The inauguration of the project was presided over by the Prime Minister’s Office Minister, Puangpet Chunlaiad, and vice minister Warawut Yanjareon,…
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Desperate Thai fruit seller offers eye for sale to clear debt
A poignant image of a 57 year old Thai fruit seller in Bangkok has stirred waves across the Internet after he pledged to donate one of his eyes to resolve his financial woes. The heartrending scene, initially shared by the Facebook Page Panda Lab Doctor, depicts the man selling fruits with a placard bearing the urgent message: “Eye for Sale.”…
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British couple in Pattaya tell tales of Britain’s luxurious pet hotel
In Pattaya, a British couple from Newport, Shropshire tells the remarkable story of pets in the UK, with a published book available on Amazon. Geoffrey and Kathy Doody’s latest venture sees them as authors, regaling readers with their three-part saga, Thank Goodness They Can’t Talk. These rib-tickling memoirs unveil the secrets of their illustrious career as proprietors of one of…
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Baby bodies found in glass bottles in Hong Kong flat
In a grim and chilling revelation, Hong Kong police apprehended two individuals believed to be the parents of two infants whose bodies were uncovered in separate glass bottles within a rented flat. Chief Inspector Au Yeung Tak, heading the New Territories North unit, disclosed today that the distressing find was made around 10am yesterday by a cleaner commissioned by the…
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BMTA set to go green with 3,390 electric buses
Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) embarks on an initiative to replace its ageing fleet with 3,390 electric buses, announced Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri. During a recent board meeting, it was revealed that the BMTA has prioritised the urgent acquisition of new electric buses, aligning with its commitment to mitigate environmental impact across the metropolitan area. Manaporn, overseeing the BMTA,…
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Revolutionary ‘Air Swipe Bag’ holds single item
In a groundbreaking fusion of fashion and aerospace technology, the designer brand Coperni has stunned the world with its latest creation: the Air Swipe Bag. Dubbed the “Air Swipe Bag,” this avant-garde accessory unveiled during the 2024 Paris Fashion Week has sent shockwaves through the fashion industry. Crafted from an astonishing 99% air and 1% glass, this bag is as…
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Bank guard confesses to murder of durian farm owner in Rayong
A brutal murder case has been resolved with the confession of a bank security guard, who admitted to killing a 60 year old durian farm owner in a cold and calculated manner. The body of Chaweevan Jaichuea, also known as Aunt Eiad, was discovered in a water pool within her durian farm in Rayong Province, with her hands tied behind…
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Pattaya: Large sea turtle found dead
The tranquillity of Jomtien Beach in Pattaya was disrupted early yesterday morning when a lifeless large sea turtle was found washed ashore. The unusual sight was reported to the special operations officers of Pattaya municipal and sea rescue personnel by tourists around 12.46am. The unfortunate discovery occurred near Soi Jomtien 10, within the Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon…
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Indian national accused of theft in Pattaya
An Indian national found himself in the grip of Pattaya Immigration on Thursday following an accusation of theft from his employer. The theft amounted to 100,000 baht and a tablet. The Indian man confessed that he had exhausted all the stolen funds on self-gratification. The accused Indian national, known by the family name Palliparambil (first name withheld), faced charges from…
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Northeast Thailand: Former boxer’s son kills father over farming dispute
A former boxer’s son murdered his father yesterday in a fit of dissatisfaction over a farming dispute. The son, after finding only two plots ploughed instead of the expected complete field for vegetable farming, locked his father’s neck and used a steel rod, typically carried by oxen, to stab him multiple times in the neck and abdomen, leading to the…
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Man on rampage in Sisaket injures cop and residents with crowbar
A 50 year old Thai man’s violent rampage in Sisaket Province ended with a police officer seriously injured and the assailant subdued by an electric gun. The incident unfolded in the small community of Ban Kradaw, where the man, identified as Boonyiam, attacked an elderly man on a motorcycle with a metal crowbar, breaking his arm. A female village head…
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Myanmar exchange student falls to death from Thailand dormitory
A tragic incident unfolded when a 26 year old Myanmar exchange student fatally fell from the sixth floor of a dormitory building in Pathum Thani province. The incident, which took place around 12.30am today, has left authorities and acquaintances searching for answers. Officials from Pak Klong Rangsit Police Station, led by investigation officer Suwat Phothiree, were notified of the fatal…
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Thai agency may include monkeys in wildlife compensation scheme
The Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) is contemplating the inclusion of monkeys in its wildlife compensation programme. This consideration arises following an incident where a woman suffered injuries from a macaque attack, leading her to file a police complaint to secure compensation for her medical expenses. The victim, Arikanta Kanchanasinmetha, reported the incident at Tha…
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Southern Thailand protests against newly proposed national park
Protests have sparked among the residents of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani over the proposed creation of Hat Khanom-Mu Koh Thale Tai National Park. Approximately 500 locals from these regions argue that the establishment of the park would directly impede their livelihoods, utilising the land they rely on for subsistence. The public outcry was voiced during a meeting held…
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Women soar past barriers in Indian airline industry
In a groundbreaking triumph, Indian women have defied the odds and scaled the heights of the airline industry, emerging as leaders in key airports across Karnataka, India. Their stories of perseverance and determination showcase the limitless possibilities for career growth. From humble beginnings to commanding pivotal roles, these Indian women exemplify resilience and ambition. Risona Maria, the IndiGo Airport Manager…
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