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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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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South Pattaya canal plagued by environmental catastrophe
In a recent session of the Pattaya City Council, member Metakrit Sunthornrot ignited concern over the persistent challenges besieging the South Pattaya Canal. Despite assurances of advancement, the situation continues to spiral, prompting intensified calls for immediate intervention. Metakrit underscored the city’s dedication to tackling environmental adversities, particularly in the crucial management of the South Pattaya Canal. Plans were detailed…
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Karma: Thai man killed by Buddha statue during temple rampage
A Thai man, who attacked a monk at a temple in Chon Buri province, later died after the sharp head of a Buddha statue pierced his chest during a rampage in the temple’s main hall. Locals suggested that his death appeared to be the swift result of karma. Residents in the Banbung district of Chon Buri province sought assistance from…
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Seafood surprise: Storm tosses diner 3 metres from Loei restaurant
A violent storm recently wreaked havoc in the province of Loei, with fierce winds throwing a person more than 3 metres away from a seafood restaurant owned by Kalayanee Chapitu. The intense weather event occurred yesterday, February 27, causing extensive damage to multiple areas in the Phu Ruea district. Security camera footage captured the moment the restaurant’s steel doors buckled…
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Street vendor’s phone stolen in Thailand, thwarting debt freedom dreams
A street vendor’s hopes of eradicating debt through her ice cream sales were dashed when a cunning thief took advantage of her momentary distraction to steal her mobile phone and escape on a motorcycle. Tevi Chaihongsa, a 60 year old vendor known for her Pai Thong Ice Cream, reported to the Pratunam Chulalongkorn Police Station in Pathum Thani Province to…
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Chinese man arrested at Bangkok airport with 3,000 grammes of heroin
Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) officers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok arrested a Chinese man who attempted to smuggle 3,000 grammes of heroin into Australia. The drugs were concealed in books and powder bottles. The Thai Narcotics Control Board Office (ONCB), stationed in China, reported the drug trafficking plan involving a suspicious Chinese man to the AITF. Further investigation…
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Pickup truck rampage leaves three injured and spills hot oil
A pickup truck, a motorcycle, and a sidecar motorbike were involved in a collision on Pattaya-Na Kluea Road, Chon Buri in the early hours of yesterday. Rescue workers rushed to the scene just past midnight on February 27, following reports of a chaotic traffic incident at Soi Naklua 14. Upon arrival, emergency responders were met with a tangled mess of…
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Tenant finds unexplained stains in condo sparking online debate in Thailand
A recent social media post spurred widespread online discussion after a condo resident in Thailand shared images of mysterious stains found while cleaning a sofa. The post, uploaded by a popular Facebook page known for sharing curious and intriguing stories, depicted large blotches resembling bloodstains, prompting the tenant to question the origin of the marks and express concern over the…
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Fender bender escalates into Pattaya Police showdown (video)
A minor traffic mishap in Pattaya spiralled into a full-blown confrontation outside a local police station yesterday, with tempers flaring and fists flying. A BMW driver, 36 year old Watcharaphon Phonpakdee allegedly collided with the back of Theerapong Manisri’s Toyota Yaris near a gas station on Soi Phothisan in Pattaya. As the two parties failed to reach an agreement at…
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Young couple dies in Chon Buri motorcycle crash after eerie omen
A tragic motorcycle accident claimed the lives of a young man and woman in Chon Buri province today at 5am. A couple encountered a grim omen in the form of a barn owl feasting on a dead dog by the roadside shortly before crashing into a garbage truck and succumbing to their injuries at the scene. Police Deputy Inspector Jaruek…
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Over 147,000 sign up for debt relief programme worth billions
Some 147,714 individuals have registered for the Interior Ministry’s debt relief programme within the past three months, an initiative aimed at combating a staggering debt value of 10.74 billion baht, confirmed Permanent Secretary Suttipong Juljarern on Monday. With the registration window, which started on December 1, set to close tomorrow, Suttipong urged those grappling with debt woes to expedite their…
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South Korean YouTuber sparks tuk tuk fare controversy in Thailand
South Korean rapper and YouTuber, Il Hong Min, commonly known as Phi Hong, recently aired his dissatisfaction with a tuk tuk service encountered during his visit to Ayutthaya, Thailand. In a video shared on his Oppa Hong channel, he revealed that he was charged 1,200 baht for a four-hour tour, a service he claimed was forcefully sold to him and…
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Thai minister orders demolition of illicit resorts on Khao Yai farmland
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow mandated the demolition of illicit resorts and hotels erected on Sor Por Kor land around Khao Yai National Park, designated for agricultural use and granted to landless farmers. The minister’s mandate came as he pledged to rid the land of any illicit occupations. Thamanat Prompow announced yesterday that he has commissioned a fresh inspection…
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Black panther spotted in Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park
A black panther sighting near Phanoen Thung in Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park has been reported by the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The department disseminated photographs of the elusive animal on its Facebook page, sparking interest among wildlife enthusiasts. The images, captured by a tourist named Sith Naowanirut on February 25, were confirmed by park…
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Chiang Mai tops world’s most polluted cities
Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand has been blanketed by worsening haze, catapulting it to the top of the list of the world’s ten most polluted cities. The thick smog is a direct consequence of forest fires that have been burning unabated for approximately two weeks. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) detected 1,420 hotspots on Monday alone.…
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Bangkok’s eastern and central bus terminals set for relocation
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced plans yesterday to move the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) and the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) to the Krung Thep Abhiwat Central Terminal. The intention behind the move is to offer more convenience to travellers as the Central Terminal can be easily reached using the MRT electronic rail system. In the proposed new location,…
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Heatwave alert in Thailand with temperatures hitting 39 degrees Celsius
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning forecasting sweltering conditions across the country today, with peak temperatures expected to soar between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius. Despite the heat, there is a possibility of isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon, with some regions experiencing light rainfall. The TMD’s 24-hour forecast indicates that a low-pressure area resulting from intense heat is…
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Thai comedian’s lottery predictions stir excitement
The entertainment scene in Thailand is buzzing with excitement as a well-known comedian, Ball, recently struck a chord with the public by claiming a series of successful lottery predictions, earning him the title of a lottery master. His colleague, Ped, is also riding high on a wave of similar acclaim. This has all unfolded in the lead-up to a grand…
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Steamy side of Internet in Thailand: Adult sites climb charts
The latest report from We Are Social reveals the top 20 most-visited websites by Thais, showing a notable presence of adult content sites in the rankings. Despite the wide range of content available online, it appears that websites with adult material continue to garner significant traffic in Thailand. The recent findings by We Are Social, covering the period from December…
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Chiang Mai charm reigns: Panida crowned Miss Thailand 2024
The latest holder of the illustrious Miss Thailand title is Panida Khueanjinda, a proud native of Chiang Mai. She outshone 34 other participants in the contest that took place at The Mall Ngamwongwan’s MCC Hall. Panida is not a stranger to such accolades, having previously won the Miss Grand Nakhon Phanom 2022 title. A graduate of the Faculty of Fine…
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Former MP professes innocence in Thai extortion case
Yoswarit Chuklom, affectionately known as Jeng Dokjik, met with the authorities from the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) of the police force today, asserting his innocence in a high-profile extortion case. He was accompanied by Pimnatta Jiraputthiphak, a former parliamentary candidate from the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, and their lawyer, Traisak Thongswai. Jeng arrived with a cheerful demeanour, showing no signs…
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Extended homage hours for Buddha relics in Bangkok
Thailand’s Ministry of Culture extended visiting hours for the public to pay homage to sacred Buddha relics, Phra Borom Saririkatat and the Phra Arahanthata, at a ceremonial ground at Sanam Luang. The relics, temporarily brought from India, can now be venerated from 8am to 9pm daily, until March 3, as part of the grand celebration in honour of His Majesty…
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Finnish national found self-harming in Pattaya, Thailand
A disturbing incident unfolded in the early hours of this morning in Pattaya, when a Finnish national was discovered in a state of severe agitation, inflicting knife wounds on himself. The man, identified as Eeuoskari Kontiainen, from Finland, was eventually subdued and rushed to the hospital. The event took place in an apartment building located in Soi Bua Khao, within…
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Family rep collects remains of woman in Bangkok property feud
A family dispatched representatives to retrieve the body of a young woman entangled in a heated property dispute concerning a residence in Agu, a Bangkok home contested by multiple parties. Today, at 12.55pm, at the Forensic Medicine Institute of the Police General Hospital, Panumas’s family, one of five individuals sued over the intrusion into the Agu house, authorised a non-family…
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Former RTP boss and 7 others sued for reducing Red Bull heir’s sentences
The Office of the Attorney General (AGO) filed a lawsuit against former Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP) Somyot Poompanmoung, and seven other relevant political or judicial figures for allegedly reducing the sentences of hit-and-run suspect Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, better known as the Red Bull heir. This year marks the 12th anniversary since the Red Bull heir, Boss, successfully evaded…
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Family land dispute ends in uncle’s tragic death
A tragic family dispute over a 10-acre land inheritance turned deadly when a 19 year old man shot and killed his 57 year old uncle at their home yesterday evening. The conflict, simmering for six years and previously brought before the courts, culminated in a fatal confrontation prompted by a parking issue. Yesterday, at approximately 11.30pm, police and rescue services…
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Burned skeleton: Thai woman arrested for death of girlfriend (video)
Police arrested a Thai woman for the death of her girlfriend after her burned skeleton was discovered at a landfill in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The suspect admitted to setting her girlfriend on fire but denied the murder, claiming that her girlfriend died of a congenital illness. The burned skeleton of a woman was discovered at a dump site…
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Ex-politician cleared of murder plot in Thai political feud
The Criminal Court acquitted a former local politician of orchestrating a murder plot on a current local political figure due to insufficient evidence, sparking intentions to appeal the verdict. The case stems from local political rivalries and allegations of corruption. Yesterday at 9.45am, the Criminal Court in Ratchadapisek Road, Bangkok, delivered its verdict on the high-profile case of attempted murder…
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Thailand gold prices stable at 35,050 baht with steady market
Gold prices in Thailand remained stable, with no increase or decrease compared to the previous closing figures yesterday The Gold Traders Association (GTA) listed the selling price for gold ornaments surpassing the 35,000 baht mark today in the Western calendar. The latest figures from the association’s website, recorded at 9.02am, indicated that the selling price for gold ornaments was 35,050…
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Thai man murders relatives in Nong Bua Lamphu
A frenzied son-in-law, identified as Watanyu, also known as Ball, from Buriram province, brutally murdered his mother-in-law and aunt in a shocking spree that ended in their deaths. The horrific incident occurred on February 25, in the district of Sri Bun Rueang, Nong Bua Lamphu province. After the killings, the 26 year old assailant fled the scene on a stolen…
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Bangkok’s air quality improves as PM2.5 levels drop
Bangkok’s populace can anticipate a breath of fresh air in the forthcoming week as the levels of PM2.5 pollutants are projected to undergo a downswing. AirBKK, the Air Quality Monitoring Centre of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), confirmed on a Sunday morning that the PM2.5 concentrations in the capital city were well below the 24-hour safe exposure threshold, which is…
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