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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Unidentified man found dead, neck bound with wire and wrists handcuffed in southern Thailand
A Thai farmer stumbled upon the dead body of an unidentified man in a roadside forest in the southern province of Chumphon. The man’s neck was bound with an electric wire and his two wrists were handcuffed. The farmer, 58 year old Sunan, told Channel 3 that he took his cows to the spot every day in the morning and…
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Thai man linked to major fraud case arrested in Bangkok
Bangkok police apprehended a 57 year old Thai man linked to a sizeable fraud case going back almost ten years. Raveeroj Rithchoteanan, had been previously incarcerated in Angola for his involvement in a significant fraud scheme. The arrest took place on Sunday at a hotel in Wang Thonglang district, with Raveeroj accused of swindling a businessman out of 22 million…
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Thai girls aged 5 and 6 allegedly raped by 4 boys aged 8 to 13
A Thai mother sought justice for her five and six year old daughters, who were allegedly raped by four boys aged between eight and 13 in an abandoned house in the Mae Ai district in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The mother of the two young victims filed a complaint at Mae Ai Police Station stating that the sexual…
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GSB plans debt moratorium for 630,000 debtors amid Covid-19 pandemic
The Government Savings Bank (GSB) is setting up a plan to provide a debt moratorium for 630,000 debtors, totalling 6.3 billion baht. This plan is in response to the economic hardship experienced by individuals and businesses due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an anonymous source. During the pandemic, between 2020 and 2021, GSB, a state-owned entity, issued loans totalling…
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American wanted for sharing explicit videos and abusing Thai women
Three Thai women reached out to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women after a perverted American man with anger issues they connected with on a dating app shared explicit pornographic videos, blackmailed, physically assaulted them and stole their valuables. Foundation founder Paveena Hongsakul accompanied one of the three victims to the Royal Thai Police (RTP) Sports Club to file…
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Man with methamphetamine detained by Thai charity team
In a recent operation by the special operations team from the Thung Yai Charity Faith Samakkhi Foundation, a man was apprehended in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province after his substance abuse led to destructive and delusional behaviour. The individual, who had been consuming methamphetamine daily, was reported to have caused substantial damage to his home and was suffering from severe hallucinations.…
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Tesla crash causes 12-car pileup, driver faces drink driving charges
A Tesla driver, who holds an advisory council position in the Traffic Police of Mueang Phitsanulok, yesterday caused a 12-car pileup on Mitrphap Road, in front of a hotpot restaurant. The initial alcohol test showed a high percentage reading of 194 milligrams. The suspect was initially charged with damaging other people’s property. The accident involved a silver Tesla careening into…
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Thai PM challenges central bank over interest rate hikes
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who also holds the position of Minister of Finance, openly expressed his discontent with the Bank of Thailand’s decision to increase interest rates amidst a period of prolonged negative inflation. This move, according to the Thai prime minister, is detrimental to the nation’s economic well-being and disproportionately affects those on lower incomes and small to…
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Record PM 2.5 dust levels hit Thailand with Bangkok and Samut Songkhram worst affected
Today saw the highest PM 2.5 dust levels this year in Thailand, with Samut Songkhram and Bangkok exceeding all other areas. The Geoinformatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), in collaboration with the National Research Office, the Pollution Control Department, Kasetsart University, and Chiang Mai University, revealed that 38 provinces exceeded standard PM 2.5 dust levels, impacting health. The PM…
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Thai actress slams Russian police and airline inaction after luggage theft
Thai actress Pimprapa “Pim” Tangprabhaporn condemned Russian police and an airline carrier for their inaction after belongings worth over 200,000 baht were stolen from her luggage at Moscow Airport. Pim took to social media yesterday, January 7, to share a video of herself checking her luggage to find her lost valuables in the middle of the airport. She revealed to…
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Thai village in panic as deranged man with fake gun goes berserk
A man, seemingly deranged and carrying a fake gun, caused panic in the Sirikarnjan village in Bang Samak, Bang Pakong, Chachoengsao province when he was seen shaking the fences of every home and shouting. The incident, captured on CCTV, took place around 4am today, January 8. Aged between 30 and 35 years old, the man was eventually taken into custody…
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Weather update: Northern Thailand braces for chill as storms threaten the south
TheMeteorological Department of Thailand (TMD)forecasted another drop in temperatures across northern Thailand, with the weather ranging from cool to cold, particularly in the mountainous areas. Meanwhile, cloud cover has been observed in Bangkok. In contrast, the southern region has been issued a warning for storm conditions affecting nine provinces. A mass of cold air or high-pressure area continues to cover…
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Mentally ill novice forced to quit monkhood after masturbating in bus and police station
Police yesterday forced a mentally ill Thai novice to leave the monkhood and continue treatment after he was caught masturbating on a bus and at a police station in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. A security guard at Udon Thani Bus Terminal 1 reported the indecent act by a 23 year old novice named Sakda to Mueang Udon Thani…
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Thai man arrested for rape and murder of 75 year old woman in Isaan
Police arrested a local man yesterday for the brutal rape and murder of a 75 year old Thai woman in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo. The victim’s grandson, 27 year old Sittichai, discovered the dead body of his grandmother, 75 year old Boonnam Cherngkhao, in a sugar cane field near an abandoned car showroom in the Sa Kaeo province…
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Fatal high-speed motorcycle crash in Bang Khen district
A fatal accident occurred in the Bang Khen district when a high-speed motorcyclist lost control and crashed into a steel barrier. The 28 year old motorcyclist, identified as Subhasin, an army officer, was found dead at the scene. The accident took place on Thepharak Road, heading towards the Big C intersection, in the early hours of the day. At the…
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Stabbing to death in Phra Khanong convenience store shocks local community
A fatal stabbing occurred in a convenience store in the Phra Khanong area, following a heated argument between two homeless men. The incident, which took place at around 1am yesterday, was swiftly responded to by local police, accompanied by forensic doctors from Chulalongkorn Hospital and volunteers from the Pu Teak Tueng Foundation. The 60 year old deceased, Somchai, was found…
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Elderly Thai duo’s homemade kaffir lime shampoo gains online attention (video)
Social media users are intrigued by a pair of elderly women who are handcrafting and selling their kaffir lime shampoo. The duo’s distinctive labelling of their product has caught the attention of netizens, suggesting a counterfeit if the sticker is aligned properly. On January 7, TikTok user @kanthikanuch shared a clip of the two old ladies making the herbal shampoo…
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Thai national parks report record revenues and visitors in 2023
The Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation disclosed on January 4, the rankings of the top 10 highest-earning and most-visited national parks from the pool of 133 parks for the previous year. Based on revenue from January to December 2023, the top 10 Thai national parks accumulated a whopping total income of 1,651,868,101 baht (US$47 million). Hat…
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Activists challenge Thaksin’s hospital treatment, demand transparency
A recent post by former Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn on January 3 questioned the alleged preferential treatment for Thaksin Shinawatra, former Thai PM, a high-profile prisoner receiving medical care at the Police General Hospital. In response, the Thai Department of Corrections addressed the matter on January 6, clarifying their stance and procedures concerning long-term treatments exceeding 120 days for inmates…
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Body of Thai toddler found in fridge: Choked on sticky rice, reveals autopsy
The lifeless body of a two year old boy, Theerapong Duangngam, also known as Nong Nai, was discovered inside a refrigerator in the bedroom of his adoptive parents, Hannarong, also known as Bank Praiphnom, and Marisa, also known as Koi, yesterday. Theerapong ‘s autopsy report was released today. The report, disclosed to the media by Police Lieutenant Phruet Jamroonsart, head…
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Pedestrian bridge collapses onto dump truck on Northbound Highway 32
A pedestrian bridge in Ang Thong‘s Mueang district came crashing down onto a dump truck, causing a significant obstruction on the main northbound highway, Highway 32. The incident unfolded around 7am today when the dump truck, with its body unintentionally raised, collided with the footbridge. The Department of Highways reported that the truck was en route north on Highway 32,…
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Volunteer soldier arrested on Bangkok Skytrain with Commando brand shotgun
A 40 year old volunteer soldier was arrested at a BTS Skytrain station in Phra Khanong, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok. The suspect was found carrying an 8.6-inch shotgun of the Commando brand. The police also seized one shotgun shell of the Royal Thai Army brand, 10 of 12 red shells, 9 of 12 white shells, and 50 9mm bullets, all packed…
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German President Steinmeier’s visit to Thailand to boost bilateral ties
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of Germany, is set to embark on a three-day visit to Thailand, starting on January 24. The visit is at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin. This announcement marks the first international state leader visit since PM Srettha’s government came into power and the first by a German President since Johannes Rau’s visit in…
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Online scams surge in Thailand warns Central Investigation Bureau
A surge in online scams, driven by the significant increase in internet-based activities, is anticipated to continue throughout this year, warned Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Jirabhop Bhuridej. The CIB’s analysis of cybercrime, as reported by the Royal Thai Police (RTP), indicated that over 400,000 cases were logged between March 1 and November 30 of last year. Misleading operations involving…
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Illegal teen hotspot Heaven Rangsit raided, hundreds of underage patrons found
Authorities have raided the notorious teen hotspot, Heaven Rangsit, for operating without a permit and allowing almost 500 underage individuals to patronise the establishment. The bust occurred at around 12.30am today. Officials, including Ronnarong Tipsiri, Inspector General of the Department of Local Administration and Wilun Sitthiwong, Director of the Investigation and Legal Affairs of the Department of Local Administration, led…
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Chilly air mass blankets northern Thailand with heavy rainfall warnings for the south
Today’s weather forecast in Thailand saw a chilly air mass sprawling across the upper part of the country, with temperatures dipping to a frigid 7 degrees Celsius at the peak of the mountain ranges. The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning for heavy rainfall in some areas of the southern region. A high-pressure system or cold air mass…
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Thai army chief refutes claims of cultural persecution in southern provinces
The Chief of the Fourth Army Region, Santi Sakuntanak, refuted accusations that the Thai army has been legally pursuing youths from the provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat for merely donning traditional Malay attire at a fair celebrating Malay culture. The 54 year old clarified that those summoned to court were implicated in separatist activities and prominently exhibited the emblem…
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Chiang Rai drug traffickers clash with officials: Two fatalities reported
A violent confrontation erupted in Chiang Rai when a drug trafficking caravan refused to halt at the command of officials. The traffickers, armed and dangerous, fired shots at the officers. The clash ended with two traffickers dead, following the officials’ retaliatory gunfire. The incident occurred around 8.30pm yesterday. Manop Senakul, the Police Lieutenant Colonel and head of Chiang Rai Provincial…
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Hong Kong actor’s extravagant French-inspired penthouse in Bangkok
In the heart of Bangkok, an anonymous Hong Kong actor has unveiled his secret sanctuary — a lavish 5,000-square foot penthouse offering a jaw-dropping 270-degree panoramic view of the city. This celeb hideaway, designed by the renowned Soil Studios, combines sleek modernity with the warm allure of a French holiday home, creating an opulent retreat fit for a star. The…
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Body of two year old found in fridge in Nonthaburi province
The body of a two year old boy was found concealed and stuffed into a refrigerator in Nonthaburi province today, January 6. Police initially arrested a 25 year old woman who was the caretaker and friend of the child’s mother for questioning after seeing the child for the last time. Officers from Bang Bua Thong Police Station, Ruamkatanyu Foundation officials,…
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