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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Moving with family? Here’s how to cut health costs in Thailand
Relocating to Thailand with your family brings exciting new opportunities, but it also comes with the challenge of managing healthcare costs in a new system. Thailand has both public and private healthcare options, each offering different prices and quality of...
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Thai Vietjet halts Phuket-Chiang Rai flights
Thai Vietjet has abruptly cancelled its direct flights between Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, and Phuket, a favourite destination on the Andaman Sea coast. The budget airline remained tight-lipped about the sudden suspension. However, the timetable for May 1 to 31, filed with Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport and posted on its Facebook page, indicates that the final…
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Nong Khai battered by fierce storm, homes and temple ravaged
An unprecedented storm struck Nong Khai province last night, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure, including a widespread power outage due to fallen electricity poles. A lifelong local, 55 year old Boorachai expressed he had never witnessed such severe weather in his lifetime. As the storm raged through the region, residents of the Ban Fang district of Sakhrai scrambled…
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Doctor Climax: Netflix’s bold new series explores taboo Thai culture
Netflix is no stranger to controversy, and their latest series, Doctor Climax, is poised to push boundaries once again. Following the exploration of Thai Buddhism’s commercialisation in The Believers, Netflix is diving into the secretive world of Thailand in the 1970s with a show that promises to reveal what was once unspoken. Directed by the dynamic duo Kongdej Jaturanrasmee, known…
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Thai cult leader claims to cure all illnesses with pot ritual (video)
A cult leader in the Isaan province of Buriram claims he can cure all illnesses by placing an aluminium cooking pot over patients’ heads. Despite the seemingly absurd nature of the treatment, both Thai and foreign followers have shared testimonials of successful outcomes on social media. The cult‘s Facebook page features videos of the Thai man, known as Ajarn Pu…
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Motocross group slammed for racing through protected forest
A local motocross group has come under fire for allegedly organising an off-road motorbike event in a protected forest area in Phetchabun province, Thailand. The event, titled ENDURO MEETING reportedly saw around 300 riders entering the Khao Phlok Lhon National Forest Reserve and the community forest of Ban Sok Duea on May 12. Community forest committee members claimed the event…
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Reeling in profits: Nakhon Ratchasima villagers cash in on low water levels
Villagers in Nakhon Ratchasima flocked to buy fishing permits, taking advantage of the reduced water levels in a natural canal to catch fish for both consumption and sale, thereby boosting their income. The funds raised from selling the permits are earmarked for village development. Reporters noted that hundreds of residents from the Phimai district, in Nakhon Ratchasima province, gathered at…
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Mind the gap: Criticism mounts as authorities fail to rein in cult
The National Office of Buddhism and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (M-Society) are facing criticism for not taking action against a mind connection cult led by an eight year old Thai boy and his parents. The Thai couple and their son, known as the Nice Mind Connection, are facing criticism for establishing a religious cult centred on…
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Japanese tourist’s 6,000 baht tuk tuk ripoff shocker in Bangkok
A Japanese tourist shared a truly shocking experience on social media yesterday, detailing how they were ripped off by an unscrupulous Bangkok tuk tuk driver. The tourist was charged an extortionate 6,000 baht (US$162) for a trip from Asoke to the Sala Daeng area, a journey that would normally cost around 32 baht on the BTS Skytrain. Travelling in a…
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Nakhon Ratchasima hotel workers nabbed for underage trafficking
Two employees of a certain curtain hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima have been arrested for allegedly operating as pimps and trafficking underage girls for sexual services. The suspects, 46 year old Jansunun and 47 year old Tongta were apprehended in a sting operation by the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) of the Royal Thai Police. The police operation, led by Police Major…
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Chinese woman’s 14-year sister act scam nets 2 million baht pension
An astonishing case of identity fraud came to light when a Chinese woman in the city of Wuhan, China, impersonated her dead sister for 14 years, including through her retirement to claim a pension of 2 million baht. The deception came to an end when the authorities uncovered the ruse and sentenced her to imprisonment. The woman surnamed Zan, managed…
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Phuket’s Sarasin Bridge to remain amid new construction plans
Phuket’s iconic Sarasin Bridge is set to remain untouched amid plans to construct a new bridge connecting the island to the mainland, according to Yutthana Phitak, the Chief of Phuket Highways Office. The announcement was made at a meeting held yesterday to address concerns over the Sarasin Bridge’s future, sparked by social media rumours of its potential demolition. The Sarasin…
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Amphetamine possession review by health minister sparks debate
The maximum number of amphetamine pills one can possess without facing criminal prosecution is under review, as revealed by Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. A meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 16, aims to reassess this limit, currently set at five pills. The existing regulation, enacted under previous Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew on February 9, designates individuals found with five…
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Mangoes are beneficial for pregnant women and older individuals
Known as “Mamuang” in Thai, the mango, revered as the king of fruits, is a staple in both sweet and savoury dishes in Thailand. Tourists flock to the streets of Bangkok or Phuket, eager to indulge in local delights like mango with sticky rice or crispy catfish with mango salad. This subtropical fruit, with its unique flavour, is not only…
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2 Thai women swindle life savings from old man in Isaan
An 85 year old Thai man is pleading for help after two Thai women allegedly stole life savings worth 150,000 baht from his home in the Isaan province of Chaiyaphum. The 85 year old basketwork vendor, Phaen, told Channel 8 that the theft occurred at around 10.30am on Friday, May 10. He told the news channel that he had not…
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Political activist detainee passes away after cardiac arrest
Political activist Nethiporn, also known as Bung, of the Thaluwang Group, passed away at 11.52pm today following her hospitalisation this morning due to a cardiac arrest. After several life-saving efforts by the medical team at Ratchadon Hospital, attempts were made to transfer her to Thammasart University Hospital, where her treatment would continue. But as medical officials instead transferred her from…
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Trillion-baht gamble: Deputy minister defends Land Bridge project
In a heated defence yesterday, Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri championed the government’s ambitious 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge project, which she claims has sparked considerable interest from foreign investors. Her statement came in response to sharp criticisms from former Democrat leader Samart Ratchapolsitte, who cast doubt on the project’s cost-effectiveness and feasibility. Despite his scepticism, Manaporn insists the initiative is attracting…
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Drug-addicted monk arrested after petrol theft and car crash chaos
A drug-addicted Thai monk joined the illustrious list of monastic figures behaving disgracefully in Thailand when he was arrested yesterday for avoiding a 1,300 petrol station bill and crashing his car into a police motorcycle and a baht bus in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham. A petrol station manager in Kantara Wichai district reported the petrol theft to Mueang…
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Inferno erupts at Pattaya luxury clubhouse
A luxury clubhouse in the prestigious Nusa Chivani Pattaya Village of Na Jomtien was devastated by a ferocious fire yesterday. The blaze, which ignited on the second floor, rapidly consumed the entire two-story building, fuelled by a stash of documents and bed sets. Thick plumes of smoke filled the sky, visible for miles around, as the inferno raged. Local firefighters from surrounding…
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PM Srettha’s plan to rename Hua Hin Airport
During a visit to Hua Hin yesterday, Prime Minister Srettha revealed his support for renaming the airport to Phetch-Hua Hin. This strategic move aims to highlight the adjoining province of Phetchaburi and tap into its potential as a tourist hotspot. Currently situated in the Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Hua Hin Airport is positioned right on the…
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Barking mad: Residents howl over stray dog treatment in Chon Buri
A local teacher and a resident in the Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri province yesterday raised concerns over the handling of stray dogs by municipal officers, alleging inhumane treatment after the animals were sedated and left in a forest, leading to the death of one dog. The incident sparked a plea for more compassionate and responsible animal control practices.…
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86 year old Thai man stabs friend to death for lack of respect
An 86 year old Thai man yesterday stabbed a 49 year old friend to death for a lack of respect after drinking alcohol together in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. Nong Han Police Station officers were alerted to the death of the 49 year old man, Anan Kongchang, at around 12.30pm yesterday, May 13. The incident occurred at a…
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House committee to strategise on industrial accident prevention
The House Committee on Industry is set to convene tomorrow to deliberate on strategies for preventing industrial accidents. This move follows a series of recent warehouse and factory fires, with the most recent one occurring last week at Map Ta Phut Tank Terminal (MTT) in Rayong. Kamonthas Kittisoonthornsakul, a Move Forward Party (MFP) MP for Rayong and deputy chair of…
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Thailand Video News | Murder suspect arrested in Korea, Government eyes Beijing inspired AI systems for airports
In this Thailand video news, Jay and Alex covers the diverse stories from across the country. Beginning with a news from Ubon Ratchathani, a 32-year-old Thai man turned to local media for justice, accusing his 34-year-old wife of infidelity, swindling him out of over 100,000 baht, and orchestrating an assault that left him with severe injuries. The man, who wishes…
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Chiang Mai’s rot daeng under threat from ride-hailing apps
Chiang Mai’s iconic rot daeng, or red cars, transport service is under threat as tourists are opting for alternative modes of transport, causing local operators to urge the government for assistance. The issue was highlighted in an online debate where a Facebook user expressed concerns over the survival of the rot daeng services, which are now facing stiff competition from…
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Thai govt plans to ‘rice’ to the occasion with decade-old grain auction
The Thai government expressed a strong intent to auction off the last remaining stocks of decade-old rice. This move is in line to replenish the state coffers, as made clear by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, in a recent Facebook post. The aged rice in question is part of the controversial rice-pledging scheme initiated during the administration…
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Thai woman arrested for acid and knife attack on cheating husband
Special Service Division (SSD), also known as the Commando Police, yesterday arrested a Thai woman in the central province of Kanchanaburi for a life-threatening acid and knife attack on her cheating husband. ThaiRath reported that the 45 year old suspect, Somjit Subsiri, committed the crime on August 13 at a house in Bangkok. She and her husband engaged in a…
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Political activist detainee suffers cardiac arrest in custody
A critical medical emergency unfolded this morning as political detainee Nethiporn, known as Bung from the Thaluwang Group, suffered a cardiac arrest. Medical personnel at Ratchadon Hospital confirmed that they are currently engaged in life-saving efforts, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the patient. Associated with the Thaluwang Group, she has been in police custody for her involvement in political activities.…
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Thai widow criticises government’s lack of aid after Hamas attack
A Thai widow, lamenting the loss of her husband in the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, voiced concerns over the lack of financial aid from the Thai government. The Thai woman, 30 year old Narisara Malee, is mourning the loss of her 34 year old husband, Tianchai Yotthongdee, who was among the Thai agricultural workers who lost their…
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Myopia is increasing among children in Thailand and also globally
In recent years, the world has witnessed a concerning surge in myopia among children, with Thailand particularly affected, reporting between 11 to 12% of school-going children affected by the condition. Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a refractive error that causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects remain clear. This condition not only impacts a child’s academic success…
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Trans cashier nabbed for 40 million baht grand heist
The Thai authorities apprehended a former massage parlour cashier at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in connection to grand theft, with the heist totalling over 40 million baht. The 22 year old transgender woman was wanted for the alleged theft of valuables from a wealthy Phetcha Buri businesswoman’s home. On the evening of May 4, a daring heist took place in the…
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