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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Landowner battles coach company over unpaid rent in Bangkok (video)
A landowner is embroiled in a dispute with a coach company that has not paid its rent for years and refused to vacate the premises. Despite a court order to leave, the company’s owners remain defiant, citing legal technicalities. The conflict began when a TikTok user, @yokeie, posted about a coach company failing to pay rent for its parking and…
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Truck crashes into canal after driver struck by unidentified object
Thai police are on the hunt to find out what mysterious object struck a lorry driver on the head as he sped along the Chon Buri bypass. The driver was knocked out cold, sending his truck careering into a crash, and leaving him with serious injuries. Officers from Mueang Chon Buri Police Station rushed to the scene of the six-wheel…
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Thai teen kidnapped for 500,000 baht ransom
A young Thai man has allegedly been taken hostage by a call centre scam gang, demanding a ransom of 500,000 baht from his family. If the ransom is not paid within one to two days, the teenager’s life may be in danger. The incident was brought to light on social media yesterday, September 26, when Jenny Jenjura posted a plea…
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Thai officials seize 1.6 million meth pills near Phamee border
Thai police recently arrested six hill tribe individuals for transporting 1.6 million methamphetamine pills along the Phamee border. This crackdown followed the restoration of roads previously disrupted by a landslide earlier in the month. Yesterday, September 26, Major General Praphat Pobsuwan, commander of the Phamueang Task Force, assigned Colonel Maitri Srisantia, the task force’s chief of staff, and Colonel Natee…
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Clinic con: Unlicensed medics in Chon Buri busted with fake docs
Police raided a prominent clinic in Bang Sare, Chon Buri, arresting three individuals for operating without a license and using a fake medical certificate. The suspects have confessed to various charges. Yesterday, September 26, police and public health officials conducted a raid at 5.30pm at a medical clinic in Bang Sare, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. Reports had been received…
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Thailand trains diverted due to severe flooding in northern region
The Northern train route in Thailand is undergoing temporary changes due to severe flooding in the region. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, announced yesterday, September 26, that the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has adjusted the starting and ending stations from Chiang Mai to Lampang until the situation improves. Heavy rain and rising water levels in…
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Vietnamese gang arrested in 1.7m baht Bangkok extortion racket
Officers from the Investigation Division of the Immigration Bureau arrested nine Vietnamese nationals at a house in Bangkok for brutally assaulting and extorting 1.7 million baht from a Thai-Taiwanese couple. The two victims were rescued safely. The brutal assault and extortion came to light after a Taiwanese man filed a complaint with Zhongping Police Station in New Taipei City, Taiwan,…
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Lightning strike kills one, injures another in Chon Buri cassava field
A lightning strike at a cassava plantation in Huai Yai, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province yesterday claimed one life and left another individual seriously injured. The incident, occurring around 1pm yesterday, September 26, took place near the Huai Yai Municipality Fire Station. Ruangsak Siribut, Deputy Chief of Investigation at Huai Yai Police Station, received the emergency call and arrived…
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Mortgage growth in Thailand hits 23-year low at 1.2%
Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research) projects a mere 1.2% growth in mortgages within the commercial banking sector this year, marking the lowest expansion rate in 23 years. This subdued growth is largely due to the weakened purchasing power of potential homebuyers. According to Kanjana Chockpisansin, head of banking and financial sector research at K-Research, the second quarter of 2024 saw commercial…
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Elderly man drowns while crossing broken bridge in Udon Thani
Two elderly men attempting to cross a broken bridge to reach their rice fields faced a tragic incident when they fell into the fast-flowing stream, resulting in one drowning while the other managed to survive. Yesterday, September 26, local news from Udon Thani reported that the head of the Udon Thani Highway Police Rescue Centre, Witaya Phanla, received an urgent…
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NHRC urges Thailand to rethink Southern Land Bridge project
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is urging Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to reconsider the Southern Land Bridge megaproject, highlighting concerns about its environmental impact and implications for local communities. The NHRC supports its call with findings from various studies conducted by state agencies. Council member Sayamol Kaiyoorawongs stated that the prime minister should direct the Office of Transport and…
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Heavy rain and flash floods expected across Bangkok and regions
Heavy rain is expected in Bangkok and several other regions warns the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). Residents are advised to prepare for potential flash floods, especially in hilly and low-lying areas, due to intense rainfall and accumulated precipitation. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that an easterly wind wave will cover the lower northern region, lower northeastern…
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Flight fright: Polish woman grounded after bomb threat in Bangkok
Police arrested a Polish woman at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok yesterday after sparking chaos mid-flight by making a bomb threat aboard a Thai Vietjet flight from Vietnam. The Suvarnabhumi Airport Security Centre received a notification at 2.18pm, yesterday, September 26, from the Air Traffic Control Centre that the Polish woman, later identified as Myrcik Malgoezata Ewelina, claimed she was carrying…
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400-baht minimum wage confirmed for October 1 despite delay
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed that the 400-baht daily minimum wage will take effect on October 1 as planned, despite the national wage committee’s failure to endorse it yet. Opposition People’s Party MP Sia Champhathong questioned the minister in the House yesterday, asking if the adjournments of two recent committee meetings were a governmental tactic to avoid addressing the issue.…
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Roadside bomb injures eight soldiers in Narathiwat
Eight soldiers sustained injuries in a roadside explosion in Rangae district, Narathiwat, believed to be orchestrated by insurgents. The incident took place when an improvised bomb, tied to a power pole along a local road in Ban Hulu Pare, tambon Tanyongmat, was detonated as a military pickup truck carrying the soldiers drove past. The blast’s impact toppled the power pole…
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Thailand aims to eradicate poverty in two years
Thailand aims to eradicate poverty and build a prosperous economy within the remainder of its term, an adviser to PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra revealed. With just over two years left in office, the 38 year old prime minister is determined to ensure that Thais can rise above poverty, stated Surapong Suebwonglee, deputy chairman of the five-member advisory panel appointed by PM Paetongtarn.…
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Ex-mayor of Kathu embroiled in corruption scandal
The former Mayor of Kathu Subdistrict Municipality has been indicted on corruption charges, with accusations of paying a road contractor before work was completed. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Region 8 dropped the bombshell at a press conference yesterday, September 25 in Krabi, revealing widespread corruption across southern Thailand. Suchart Kruaykittanon, Assistant Secretary-General of the NACC, confirmed the charges. “The…
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Laem Chabang: Thai customs seize 1.4 tonnes of cannabis
Laem Chabang customs officials have dealt a massive blow to an international drug smuggling operation, seizing over 1.4 tonnes of cannabis valued at a staggering 25 million baht before it could be illegally shipped to the UK. The bust comes as part of Thailand’s heightened crackdown on smuggling to safeguard its global trade reputation. Direk Kacharak, Director of Laem Chabang…
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Residents demand mayor fix Pattaya’s crumbling dirt road
Fed-up locals in East Pattaya are demanding action as a deteriorating dirt road behind Maryvit School left them stranded in the rainy season. The road, which serves as the main access route for 20 households in Moo 8, Nong Pla Lai, turns into a mudslide during heavy rains, prompting residents to call for an upgrade to a concrete road with…
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Sticky situation: Glue-sniffing drifter wreaks havoc in Pattaya
A glue-sniffing drifter caused a chaotic scene for stunned residents of Soi Nern Plub Wan in Pattaya on Tuesday, September 24. The man, identified as 44 year old Prasit, was detained by locals after his erratic behaviour spiralled into what witnesses described as a full-blown hallucination. “He was talking nonsense, claiming ghosts were ordering him around,” said one resident. “He…
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Thailand’s top hotels get the Michelin treatment
The Michelin Guide has just upped the ante in Thailand’s luxury hotel game, unveiling the first-ever “Key” ratings for 58 of the country’s most outstanding hotels. If you thought Michelin was all about fine dining, think again. Now, the world-renowned guide is here to tell you where to stay too. After four years of revamping its hotel selection process, Michelin…
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Chinese man calls Thai women prostitutes sparking online outrage
Two Thai women shared their experience of being insulted by a Chinese national who called them prostitutes on TikTok. A well-known American teacher and many netizens condemned the incident. One of the victims, Pinyada Nantakhamee, posted a video on her TikTok account, @made_moji, on Monday, September 23, in which she tearfully recounted the unpleasant experience during her trip to China. In the…
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Chiang Mai woman’s flood photo goes viral after 19 years
A photo of a young woman from Chiang Mai pushing her motorcycle through floodwaters 19 years ago has resurfaced and gone viral, as the province experiences severe flooding once again. The image, originally posted on the Facebook page เชียงใหม่ที่คุณไม่เคยเห็น (Chiang Mai unseen), dates back to 2005. It shows a woman in a white top and red shorts wading through waist-deep…
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Japan urged to boost Thai investments, focus on semiconductors
Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan called on Japanese businesses to boost their investments in Thailand, particularly in the semiconductor and high-tech sectors. This appeal comes as the Thai government aims to recover from a significant drop in Japanese investments following the 2014 coup. Investment from Japan plummeted by up to 90% after the coup and has yet to return to previous…
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Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS to dazzle the night sky next month
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is set to make its closest approach to Earth next month, visible to the naked eye, before its return in 80,660 years. Suphareuk Karuehanon, the manager of the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), revealed that comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is currently a celestial body of significant interest. Discovered in early 2023 by astronomers from the Tsuchinshan…
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Thai man confesses prank to teacher after 30 years (video)
A Thai man recently confessed to a prank he played on his teacher 30 years ago, revealing that he still feels guilty about it. The confession took place when the man, who posted under the TikTok handle @tor_1855, visited his old science teacher’s shop. Yesterday, September 25, TikTok user @tor_1855 posted a video after encountering his former science teacher, who…
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Adventure trip turns perilous as ATV overturns in fast stream
A group of employees narrowly escaped a life-threatening incident when their ATV overturned in a fast-flowing stream, leading to a rescue operation with no help from staff. The event has raised questions about the safety and licensing of adventure activity providers. On Tuesday, September 24, at a vehicle rental company in Sai Noi, Nonthaburi, Athiwat Sirikarnwanwong, the founder of the…
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Bangkok police catch man with handmade gun at bus terminal
Police swiftly apprehended a young man carrying a handmade gun and .38 calibre bullets at a Bangkok bus terminal. The suspect, who admitted purchasing the weapon from a friend, was immediately taken into custody. At around 4pm yesterday, September 25, Phuwadol Unphon, the Superintendent of Bang Sue Police Station, along with Deputy Superintendent Woraphat Sukthai and Inspector Wuttidet Phokha, led…
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Thai gold prices poised to break past record amid global surge
Gold prices in Thailand are poised to break past the previous high of 42,150 baht per baht-weight (15.2 grams) as international gold prices hover near record levels, nearing US$2,700 per ounce, according to local traders. Yesterday, September 25, domestic gold prices rose by 200 baht, reaching 41,100 baht for gold bars, as the price of bullion increased by 0.3% to…
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PM Paetongtarn tops the polls whilst Thaksin falls to 7th
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has surged to the top of the charts in a LINE Today poll, placed first among Thailand’s political elite. The poll, conducted from September 10 to 20, revealed that the country’s 31st Prime Minister and second female leader outpaced her rivals by a wide margin. Leading the pack with an impressive 4,764 points, PM Paetongtarn…
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