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 Thailand vs. the West: What expats save on healthcare each year
Healthcare in Thailand is much cheaper than in Western countries, making it a great choice for expatriates looking for affordable medical care. Both public and private healthcare options offer high-quality services, with savings of up to 80% on procedures like...
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Bangkok’s trash talk: Police crackdown reveals illegal rubbish dumps, locals left in a stinky situation
The Thai Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has cracked down on 11 points across Bangkok, unearthing five illegal rubbish dumps causing a stench and distress to locals. One rubbish dump caretaker revealed that they charge 60 to 100 baht per vehicle. The operation today was led by Police Lieutenant General Watcharawin Pusit, MPB commissioner, who ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Watchirasrisukanya,…
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Tragedy strikes famous dragon troupe pickup truck: Explosive tyre leaves 3 dead and 15 injured
The pickup truck of a renowned dragon troupe who were on their way to a Khon Kaen performance suffered a tyre blowout, resulting in a devastating accident. The calamity occurred 70 kilometres before the troupe’s destination, turning Mittraphap Road into a scene of chaos. Police Colonel Peerachat, Superintendent’s Branch, Phon Police Station, and his team rushed to the area, responding…
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14 year old girl raped by two men in hotel in northern Thailand
A Thai man and his 14 year old daughter sought help from a Move Forward Party (MFP) member of Parliament after police failed to arrest and charge two men who allegedly raped the girl at a hotel in July in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani. The 40 year old father, Phanu, told MFP MP Wisarut Sawatworn that the sexual assault…
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GCNT chairman urges Thailand to boost human resources for Society 5.0
The chairman of Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT) called on the government to increase its investment in human resources development in preparation for Society 5.0. This new era will be marked by the prominent role of innovative technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in driving the global economy. Suphachai Chearavanont made these remarks while addressing the GCNT Forum 2023 on the…
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Footwear frenzy: More than 300 shoes stolen from tourist resorts in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Accommodation and hotel resort owners in the northern province of Chiang Mai appealed to the police to take action after more than 300 pairs of guests’ shoes were stolen in the past two months. A Thai man who owns a hostel on Soi Saha Si Phum Place on Manee Nopparat Road in Chiang Mai shared CCTV footage on social media…
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Cyber police arrest two for purchasing guns online in Thai sting
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers arrested two customers who bought guns online from a factory in Phichit province. The arrest followed an undercover operation where police pretended to buy through a popular YouTube channel after allegations of threats to a family were made today. Colonel Worawat Watnakorbuncha, Commander of the Special Operations Division (SOD), ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Nipon Boonkeut,…
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Heroic Thai teacher thwarts armed intruder: Calls for improved school safety measures in Thailand
A heroic teacher, who defended students and faculty from an armed intruder, has drawn praise from the government. Thawatchai Duangtham, a teaching assistant at Ban Nam Phu Hin Lat School in Chaiyaphum in northeast Thailand, bravely fought off an armed intruder, sustaining injuries to his hand and arm in the process. Deputy government spokesperson, Kaenika Unjit, commended his courage and…
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Bangkok ranked 9th in 2023 best cities for expats, down from 6th last year
One of the globe’s leading expat networking and guide websites ranked the Big Mango, Bangkok, as the 9th best city to live and visit for expats in 2023. The ranking is down from last year when Bangkok was ranked 6th. InterNations said it conducted an online survey from February 1 to 28 this year, with 12,065 expats from 172 countries…
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Disturbed Thai police officer’s shocking family drama: Father shot, mother and wife taken hostage
A tragic incident unfolded in Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom, when a disturbed police corporal shot his 71 year old father while he slept, before taking his mother and wife hostage. As the situation escalated, local law enforcement officials and negotiation teams rushed to the scene to intervene. At 4am today, police received a distress call about a 31 year…
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BLACKPINK receives MBE honour from British monarchy in historic first for K-pop
The British monarchy has recognised the influential K-pop group BLACKPINK, awarding members Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo, and Rosé with the prestigious Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) honour. The ceremony, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace, was in honour of South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in and First Lady Kim Jung-sook, marking…
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Teenage love rivalry ends in brutal murder in southern Thailand
The brutal murder of a 16 year old boy has been traced back to a love rivalry over a 14 year old girl. The victim was reportedly beaten by a gang of youths around his age in a shocking incident that took place in the Thung Song district of Nakhon Si Thammarat. On November 19, Police Lieutenant Colonel Jittinan Suwanchatree…
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74 year old Thai man kills his brother-in-law over 35 year long dispute
A 74 year old Thai man shot and killed his 74 year old brother-in-law in a community in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok after a long dispute over a house payment 35 years ago. Officers at Rattanatibeth Police Station were notified of the 74 year old man’s death at 3.30pm yesterday, November 22. The victim, Uthai Wanlarat, was found lifeless in front…
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Thai Interior Ministry to launch nationwide crackdown on influential figures
The nationwide crackdown on influential figures, orchestrated by Thailand’s Interior Ministry, is set to kick off on December 1, confirmed Deputy Interior Minister, Chada Thaiseth. The operation, a collaborative effort between numerous authorities, including provincial administrative organisations, subdistrict administrative organisations, law enforcement and armed forces, is aimed at scrutinising and disbanding networks of these influential figures. A comprehensive list of…
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Phuket officials accused of extorting Thai women and their foreign husbands
Multiple Thai women accused officials at district offices in Phuket of extorting money from them and their foreign husbands. The alleged malpractice involves overcharging them between 3,000 to 8,000 baht for marriage certificates, a substantial increase from the standard 200 baht fee. These complaints were brought to the attention of a Facebook news page called Phuket Info Centre, whose administrator…
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Thailand and Sri Lanka set to finalise free trade agreement by year’s end
Thailand and Sri Lanka are on track to finalise a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) by the close of this year. The chief of trade negotiations has indicated that the signing of the agreement is expected by early February next year. Chotima Iemsawasdikul, the director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department, disclosed that Thai and Sri Lankan officials are set to…
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Thailand’s visa exemption policy for Chinese unaffected despite low flight demand
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday announced that the government’s visa exemption policy for Chinese citizens remains unaffected amidst the cancellation of flight slots by several Chinese airlines due to low passenger demand. These airlines had previously secured slots for flights to Thailand, inclusive of ground handling services for their aircraft, only to relinquish their landing and take-off rights due to…
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Shocking family tragedy in Songkhla: husband kills wife and child, then himself
A man, driven by obsession, took his own life after fatally shooting his wife and one of their daughters in Songkhla Province. This tragic event occurred yesterday at 5.09pm at house number 57, Moo 12, Kao Rak Kiart village, Kamphaeng Phet Subdistrict, Rattaphum District. The report was received by Police Captain Surachet Suwannoppamat, the station chief of Rattaphum Police Station, who…
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Thailand’s interior minister halts gun license issuance for a year
A halt on issuing gun licenses for a year has been authorised by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul as part of an effort to reduce gun violence, announced Traisuree Taisaranakul, secretary to the interior minister. The directive, referred to as Por 12, adheres to the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosive, Fireworks, and Imitation Firearms Act, she added. The instruction is now on its…
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Local gambling operator in Don Mueang sentenced to four months detention
Don Mueang District Court sentenced a local gambling operator to four months in prison, converting the sentence to detention instead. The gamblers involved received individual penalties of 15-day imprisonment and a 2,000 baht fine but were granted bail awaiting the court’s final judgement. This verdict was delivered yesterday at Don Mueang District Court. The court considered the case where the…
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Thailand braces for temperature rise of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius
Temperatures across Thailand are set to rise by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius, as the nation experiences a fade in cold weather. Despite this, the mornings in the north and northeast will continue to be cool, with some areas in the south experiencing rainfall. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasted the weather conditions for the next 24 hours, attributing this…
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Wat Suan Kaew’s head monk offers ‘face down’ charms for 10 baht
The head monk of Wat Suan Kaew, Bang Len subdistrict, Bang Yai District, Nonthaburi, is distributing face down charms to remind Buddhists to use morality, concentration, and wisdom in their battle against greed, anger, and delusion. The charms are available to the public participating in merit-making at the temple or for a donation of 10 baht each to share with…
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Unveiling the true story of the first Thanksgiving
The annual American holiday of Thanksgiving falls on November 23 (tomorrow) this year, marking the day when early settlers in America celebrated their survival almost 400 years ago with the assistance of divine intervention. Historians continue to investigate the events of the first Thanksgiving, which took place in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The location is now home to a thriving historical museum,…
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Central Thailand: Former officer arrested for 700,000 baht embezzlement from disability fund
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) today arrested a former financial and accounting officer for embezzling over 700,000 baht from a fund dedicated to improving and developing the lives of disabled people. The individual in question, identified as Wilaiporn (surname withheld), has been accused of corruption and misconduct under section 1 of the Criminal…
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Intense manhunt for Thai fugitive Chaowalit persists despite lack of leads
The hunt for the fugitive Chaowalit Thongduang continues unabated, albeit without any solid leads to his whereabouts. It has been 15 days since law enforcement agencies initiated the intensive manhunt for Chaowalit, also known as Sia Paeng, in the Bantud mountain range, following a heated confrontation. Despite the relentless efforts of special operations units from Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and the…
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BMW super-bike and local motorcyclist’s high-speed collision results in 400,000 baht repair bill
A high-speed collision between a BMW super-bike and a local motorcyclist resulted in a massive repair bill. The accident, which was captured and shared on TikTok by the user @aof_823, occurred yesterday. The super-bike rider, who was held responsible for the crash by the police, was given a repair estimate of 400,000 baht by the BMW service centre. The video…
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Northeast Thailand: Teenager fatally shot after Carabao concert at Surin Elephant Festival
A 17 year old teenager was fatally shot during a violent confrontation at the Surin Elephant Festival today, following Thai rock band Carabao’s last concert at the festival. The annual event, which attracted over 20,000 spectators, took place at the Srinagarind Stadium in Surin, Thailand. Tensions escalated after midnight as groups of teenagers began to leave the venue. A heated…
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Thai woman mysteriously disappears for week in southern Thailand
The family of a Thai woman who mysteriously disappeared over a week ago turned to a news agency to help find her. The family lost contact with her after she got into a car with two women outside Suratthani Rajabhat University in the southern province of Surat Thani on November 13. Channel 3 reported that the family urged the news…
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Southern Thailand: Police warn of online refill machine scams in Thepha district
Con artists are exploiting online refill machines to carry out fraud using money mule bank accounts, according to a warning issued by Thai police today. The alert today, November 22, was initially raised by the Sai Mai Must Survive (Sai Mai Tong Rot) Facebook page, which posted a video warning of the deceitful practice primarily occurring in Thepha district, Songkhla…
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Infant death shrouded in mystery shocks family in Chanthaburi
The sudden and mysterious death of a four month old infant has shaken a family and a neighbourhood in Chanthaburi, Thailand. The baby, found lifeless in the arms of his 32 year old mother, Ka-na, at their home, sparked an immediate police investigation due to its unnatural occurrence. The family’s single-storey concrete house, situated on the edge of Kong Kang…
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Chiang Mai: DSI arrests woman in high-profile online gambling case
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested a woman in connection with a high-profile online gambling case. The DSI today targeted a skincare clinic in the heart of Chiang Mai and apprehended Sasithon (surname withheld), who is linked with the bank account advertised on the online gambling website of the renowned AK47XXX network. The AK47XXX network is owned by the…
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