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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Alarming rise in Thailand’s air pollution prompts call for dedicated committee
Air pollution in Thailand has escalated to an alarming level, prompting the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) to call for the formation of a dedicated national committee to tackle the PM2.5 problem and a separate agency to manage smog. These proposals were presented in an academic paper published on the TDRI’s website yesterday. This comprehensive study was conducted by esteemed…
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Junk food marketing – how it affects children
Today’s youth in Thailand face a startling reality. Their life expectancy may be shorter than their parents, largely due to health issues stemming from excessive junk food consumption. Over 39 million children under 5 are overweight, fueling a rapid obesity epidemic. A significant contributor is junk food marketing, targeting children who lack the cognitive skills to discern advertising intent. Marketers…
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Bangkok couple arrested for scamming delivery workers via app
Bangkok police have arrested a couple accused of orchestrating a delivery app scam that tricked delivery employees into topping up a digital wallet, causing significant financial losses. The operation, led by high-ranking police officials, culminated in the capture of the suspects at their home yesterday. The police were alerted to the criminal activity following complaints from delivery workers who had…
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Egyptian man damages Phuket taxi in violent outburst
An Egyptian traveller was taken into protective custody at a hospital following a violent outburst which caused significant damage to a taxi in Bang Tao, Phuket, yesterday. The taxi driver, 53 year old Suriya Plodmai reported to the police that he had picked up the 31 year old Egyptian national, Basem Aly Ismail, from the Patong area and was ferrying him…
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Chinese national’s lost gold Cartier bracelet found in Phuket
A valuable gold Cartier bracelet, worth approximately 750,000 baht, was reported missing by a Chinese national on Thalang Road in Phuket late on Thursday evening. The Chinese man, 45 year old Wang Lei, expressed his gratitude to the local police force for their quick action in locating and returning his lost property. Wang approached the Phuket City Police shortly after…
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Thai police arrest man for selling protected langurs on Facebook
Thai authorities apprehended a 31 year old man in Narathiwat for illegal wildlife trade involving two protected langurs. Basam Saleh, who was caught following an online sting operation, confessed to purchasing the animals from a local and attempting to sell them through a Facebook group. In a significant crackdown on wildlife trafficking, Thai police successfully nabbed Saleh for the possession…
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Chiang Mai summer storm topples gateway arch, damages car
The northern city of Chiang Mai witnessed the aftermath of a summer storm when a significant gateway arch collapsed at the intersection of Bo Sang traffic lights, causing damage to a red sedan and nearby structures. In the wake of the incident, local officials and emergency services worked through the night to clear the debris and restore normalcy to the…
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Man found dead in Greater Manchester home
British police took to social media to reach out to the Thai family of a Manchester man found dead in his own home in Denton, Greater Manchester, in the United Kingdom. The deceased, 48 year old Lee McDonough’s untimely demise has left authorities scrambling for answers as they seek to connect with his family, believed to be in Thailand. Tameside…
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UK: Princess Catherine’s cancer confession (video)
In a video statement, Princess Catherine of the United Kingdom disclosed her battle with cancer, describing it as a “huge shock” after enduring what she called “an incredibly tough couple of months.” Despite the adversity, she maintains a positive outlook. “I am well and getting stronger every day.” The details of her condition remain veiled in secrecy, with Kensington Palace…
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Deputy police chief Big Joke evades charges
A fresh summons notice is plastered on the door of Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn aka Big Joke’s residence. The embattled deputy finds himself at the centre of a money-laundering storm, with authorities hot on his trail. Big Joke’s former abode in a plush Bangkok neighbourhood became the scene of drama as officers from Thung Song Hong Police Station…
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Stabbing attack at Pattaya’s Soi Night Market sparks investigation
Two individuals fell victim to a stabbing attack at Pattaya’s bustling Soi Night Market yesterday. The first casualty, identified as 43 year old Janyawat Homchan, bore the brunt of the attack, sustaining a harrowing stab wound to his left arm inflicted by an unidentified sharp object. Meanwhile, Thongbai Nadee, also 43 years old and employed at a local hotel, suffered…
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Navy officer shoots burglar at Sattahip residence
A Royal Thai Navy (RTN) officer-turned-homeowner in Sattahip left a suspected burglar nursing wounds after a daring confrontation yesterday. Sattahip police raced to the scene following reports of a break-in at 6.30am yesterday. The scene unfolded at a serene single-family abode nestled along Sukhumvit Road in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri province. Officers arrived to find 44 year old…
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Songkran festival in Chiang Mai to draw in millions of tourists
Anticipation builds as the Songkran festival in Chiang Mai, set to span 10 days, is projected to pull in millions of tourists, raking in an estimated 20 billion baht in revenue. This year’s observance of the festival, scheduled from April 7 to 17, is particularly special as it not only seeks to uphold the local Lanna culture but also marks…
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Chao Phraya Princess enhances cruise services to boost tourism
Thailand’s tourism industry is witnessing a revival, with operators enhancing their services to attract the global inflow of tourists. A sought-after experience for many first-time visitors in Bangkok is a scenic cruise along the Chao Phraya River, the country’s main thoroughfare. Chao Phraya Princess, among the largest river cruise operators, has weathered several crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic. To survive…
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Malaysian Airlines unveils new routes including to Chiang Mai
Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) announced three new routes to the Maldives, Chiang Mai, and Da Nang. As part of its ambitious expansion strategy aimed at capturing the leisure market, MAB, a key player in the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), is primed to whisk travellers away to exotic destinations with unparalleled ease. From its bustling hub in Kuala Lumpur, MAB is…
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Thai man shoots wife dead in attempted attack on sister-in-law
A Thai man accidentally shot his wife dead in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima while trying to shoot his sister-in-law. Officers from the Pakchong Police Station last night dashed to the shooting scene at a house in Soi Ban Song Thai on the Tetsaban 38 Road in the Pakchong district of Nakhon Ratchasima. Police found the dead body of…
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Thai woman escapes human trafficking ordeal in Cambodia
A harrowing account of survival has emerged from a 37 year old Thai woman who fell victim to a human trafficking scheme that led her into the clutches of a call centre scam gang in Poipet, Cambodia. Pai (pseudonym)’s ordeal began when an acquaintance lured her with the promise of a job that purportedly involved contacting Thais to assist with…
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Power down for the planet: Bangkok joins global Earth Hour
To combat climate change, Bangkokians are urged to power off their lights and unused appliances from 8.30pm to 9.30pm tomorrow, aligning with the annual Earth Hour tradition observed internationally on the penultimate Saturday of March. Spearheaded by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and other partners since 2008, this symbolic gesture…
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Thailand police arrest woman tied to 50 million baht fraud case
Royal Thai Police swooped to arrest a 55 year old woman implicated in a public fraud case involving over 50 million baht in damages, in Songkhla, a southern province in Thailand. Tawanna Tarawasant is implicated in a public fraud case involving over 50 million baht in damages. The arrest took place in the district of Rattaphum, specifically in the Khuan…
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Thai FDA warns against illegal beauty products
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned against six illegal beauty and dental care products, including popular toothpaste and facial masks, urging the public not to purchase or use these items. This alert comes after a raid conducted in partnership with the Consumer Protection Board and the Royal Thai Police on a company in the Bang Na district. The operation…
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Thai soldier seriously injured in suicide attempt at military camp
A Thai soldier suffered a serious injury after a suicide attempt at a military camp in the central province of Prachin Buri. His motive was alleged bullying and pressure from senior officers at the camp. A 22 year old Thai woman took to social media to seek justice for her older brother, Prakit, who is now being treated in an…
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Scorching heat and thunderstorms ahead for Thailand, warns TMD
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecasts a mix of scorching heat and thunderstorms over the next seven days, warning of potential heavy downpours affecting 30% of the area. The forecast, spanning from today until March 27, indicates that a westerly wind from Myanmar will pass through the northern and northeastern regions as well as upper Laos from today, March…
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Suspected insurgents ignite fires in southern Thailand
Suspected insurgents ignited fires overnight at various locations in Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat in southern Thailand, according to police reports. In Pattani, four separate convenience stores located in Mueang, Yaring, Yarang, and Khok Pho districts experienced arson. Additionally, car tyres were set on fire at three sites, two in Khok Pho and another in Panare. Pattani’s Mueang district police chief, Police…
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Ground pork contaminated with African swine fever uncovered
The Department of Health disclosed that samples of ground pork seized in a raid on three illicit factories in Nakhon Pathom province have tested positive for the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus. The unsettling announcement came hot on the heels of a meticulous investigation conducted by local police forces and health authorities in the Mueang district. Department of Health Director-General…
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14 year old pregnant girl rescued after stepfather’s sexual assault
A Thai woman working as a call centre scammer in Cambodia urged a Thai social media influencer to rescue her 14 year old daughter who is now pregnant after being sexually assaulted by her stepfather. The mother asked Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet to visit her house in the Ko Kha district in the northern province of Lampang to check on her…
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Kidnap ringleader caught after seven-year hunt in Khon Kaen
The Thai authorities have arrested the alleged ringleader of a drug gang in Khon Kaen, who is accused of kidnapping a 13 year old girl to extort 30,000 baht from her father to settle a methamphetamine debt. The 30 year old suspect, identified as Kamonchai, was apprehended after he reportedly went into hiding following media coverage of the incident on…
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Thai man swaps Viagra for lizards to boost sexual performance (video)
Hold the Viagra, Thailand, one Thai man has found an alternative to erectile dysfunction and improving one’s sexual performance – by eating live lizards! The horny Thai man reckons the reptile can improve sexual performance three hours after consumption. The family members of 59 year old Thai man Sommai, reported his shocking behaviour to the media. Sommai lives in the…
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Stink city: Residents hold noses as foul odour fills Bangkok streets
Residents in the capital city were left pinching their noses last night after an unpleasant smell permeated several districts of Bangkok. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) attributed the smell to a sudden weather shift and ensuing chemical reactions with airborne pollutants. The BMA issued the statement in response to numerous reports from citizens who were disturbed by a pungent, burning scent…
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Prayut’s 70th birthday sparks lottery number frenzy in Thailand
The 70th birthday of former Prime Minister and Privy Councillor Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday sparked a flurry of activity among lottery enthusiasts eager to jot down lucky numbers associated with Big Tu for the upcoming draw. Prayut, born on March 21, 1954, served as Thailand’s 29th Prime Minister from August 24, 2014, until his term ended on August 22, 2022, totalling…
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Thailand’s bid to join OECD gains momentum
Thailand’s quest for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) membership gains momentum as insiders reveal surprising support from top diplomats. Thailand’s aspiration to kick-start the accession process for OECD membership has garnered significant backing from the organisation’s members, reports a diplomatic insider. The revelation came to light during the inaugural OECD Council meeting held in Paris on Tuesday,…
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