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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Heartbroken man travels 400km home after boss robs salary, wife runs off with friend
A Thai local was hailed for supporting a heartbroken man who travelled 400 kilometres back to his hometown with his two dogs on a motorcycle with a sidecar after he was cheated out of his wages by an employer and cheated by his wife and friend who ran off together. The 43 year old Thai man, Ekkaphan Buapaijit, revealed on…
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Vietnamese durian vendor in Thailand faces 7 years in jail for tipping the scales
A sneaky Vietnamese durian vendor is facing a hefty fine and jail term for using doctored weighing scales to trick customers in Thailand. The faulty scales upped the price of the stinky, valuable fruit by 75 baht per sale. Deputy director-general of the Department of Internal Trade Pol. Lt. Chakra Yodmanee reported that the department sent officials to inspect the…
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Ex-teacher charged over assault in Thai Constitution Association case
Don Mueang District Court ordered an investigation into a retired teacher‘s behaviour after he allegedly assaulted and defamed the secretary of the Thai Constitution Protection Organisation. A judgment is scheduled for 11 July The case involving Thotsaphol Thannonsophonkhun, a 67 year old retired teacher, is set to take a significant step forward. He has been accused by the Tung Song…
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Laotian refugee shot dead in Isaan province of Thailand
The dead body of a Laotian refugee with gunshot wounds was found on a road near the forest behind Sri Muang Mai village in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani. Tragically, he was killed prior to seeking asylum in Australia. The discovery was reported at Sri Mueng Mai Police Station on Wednesday, May 17. Officers and healthcare professionals from a…
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Mall Group resumes Gourmet Market expansion as consumer spending rebounds
The Mall Group Co, a leading retail operator in Thailand, is set to resume the expansion of its Gourmet Market branches this year, as consumer spending shows signs of recovery in the wake of the pandemic. The company has invested 100 million baht in opening a stand-alone Gourmet Market branch at Design Village Bangna on May 7, after a three-year…
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Father seeks missing suicidal daughter after leaving home with distressing note
A concerned father sought police assistance to locate his daughter, who left home with a handwritten note hinting at taking her own life. At 6pm yesterday, May 18, Phadoemchai Keram, a 57 year old father from Klong Si, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani province, approached Pol. Lt. Col. Siroj Naepnian at Klong Luang Police Station to ask for help in tracking down…
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Brooke shields celebrates daughter’s birthday in Thailand
Renowned American actress and model Brooke Shields celebrated her daughter’s birthday in Thailand. Shields has been savouring the picturesque beauty of Thailand following the recent promotional activities for her documentary, Pretty Baby, Daily Mail reported. After spending nearly a week in the Southeast Asian country, Shields shared on Instagram more photos of her idyllic family time. In a heartfelt post…
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True Axion, TV Tokyo join forces to boost Thai gaming industry globally
A strategic partnership between True Axion Interactive and TV Tokyo Corporation aims to propel the Thai gaming industry onto the international stage. True Axion Interactive, a joint venture between True Corporation and Canada’s Axion Ventures, will collaborate with the Japanese TV station renowned for its anime content to develop anime-style games, a genre gaining global popularity. The first project under…
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British man found dead on roadside in Bangkok, Thailand
An 80 year old British man with Alzheimer’s disease was found dead on the side of Ratchaphruek Road in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. At 4pm, Pol. Lt. Col. Chumphon Phurahong from Bang Khun Thian Police Station was informed that a foreign man’s body was discovered lying on the roadside near a small park by an island on Ratchaphruek Road in Pak…
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Vimut Hospital expands services targeting elderly as Q1 revenue surges 69%
Vimut Hospital witnessed a remarkable 69% year-on-year increase in revenue, reaching 412 million baht in this year’s first quarter. The revenue growth was driven by 186 million baht from hospital operations and an additional 226 million baht from their share in Theptarin Hospital. According to Somsak Akksilp, Vimut Hospital’s chief executive, revenue from non-Covid-19 treatments saw an increase of over 90%.…
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Police in southern Thailand accused of extorting 230,000 baht
A Thai man accused officers from La Mae Police Station in the southern province of Chumphon of extorting 230,000 baht from him. He said he was falsely charged during a random road checkpoint inspection. Suwit Khamjean met with his lawyer yesterday to address the issue and took the opportunity to share his story with the media. Urging news outlets to…
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Former transport minister crashes yet again in Thailand
Thailand‘s former transport minister Tawee Kraikupt – father of controversial politician Pareena Kraikupt – was involved in his fourth car accident in four years yesterday in Ratchaburi province, sparking concerns that the 85 year old should no longer be behind the wheel. He claims he cannot remember the collision. A Mercedes Benz driver reported that he was driving along the…
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Thai cannabis vendor stabs Indian tourist in Pattaya road rage clash
In Pattaya, a road rage incident escalated into violence when a Thai cannabis vendor clashed with an Indian tourist, resulting in the tourist being stabbed in the chest. The 25 year old vendor, Nonthawat Sritamart, was arrested by Pattaya Police after stabbing the Indian tourist, identified as Gulshan, also 25 years old, below his left chest. The incident occurred on…
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Woman and her motorcycle found badly burned in central Thailand
Locals discovered a woman and her motorcycle badly burned in a rice field in the Sam Chook district of Suphan Buri province in central Thailand. Her husband and relatives believe she was murdered. An officer from Nong Ya Sai Police Station investigated the scene at 10.30am yesterday after receiving notification from locals. The area where the tragic event occurred is a…
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Thai Airways – Thai Smile merger gets green light
Debt-ridden Thai Airways International (THAI) will merge its subsidiary Thai Smile into its main company as part of its overall restructuring plan. The merger is set to be completed this year. THAI reported that their creditor’s committee gave the merger the green light yesterday. Now, the plan will be put before Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob and the Civil Aviation Authority…
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A drunk driver crashes sedan into crowd of people, 4 injured
A drunk driver crashed his sedan into a group of pedestrians and motorcycles in front of Chanthaburi Technical College on Tuesday, May 16. The incident resulted in four injuries including three university students and one woman. One of the victims is in critical condition. The 65 year old drunk driver, Charoon, was captured on CCTV crashing his Honda City sedan…
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Thailand’s forest rangers push for higher salary
Thailand’s forest rangers are pushing for a higher salary. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in Thailand is calling for a pay raise for approximately 14,000 forest rangers, Thai PBS reported. The department is seeking an increase from the current monthly salary of 9,000 baht to 11,000 baht from the Comptroller Department of the Finance Ministry, effective…
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Mother robbed of 300,000 baht, suffers broken arm, misses son’s wedding
An opportunistic thief yesterday robbed a mother carrying her son’s wedding gift worth 300,000 baht in cash and precious gold jewellery. The incident occurred on the day of the ceremony, resulting in not only the loss of valuables but also a broken arm for the victim. As a consequence, she was unable to attend her son’s wedding. The unfortunate incident…
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Bangkok taxi driver returns 170,000 baht to Laotian tourist
A Bangkok taxi driver is being praised for his kindness after going the extra mile to return 170,000 baht to a Laotian tourist travelling in Thailand. Bangkok taxi drivers may have received a record amount of complaints last year over bad manners, rejection of passengers, doctored meters, dangerous driving and overcharging. But one tourist from Laos will assure you that…
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Thailand’s National Health Security System starts free condom initiative
Thailand announced a new initiative to provide free condoms to individuals holding universal healthcare cards as part of the National Health Security System, also known as the 30-baht health scheme. The initiative aims to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among people of reproductive ages, Pattaya Mail reported yesterday. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek highlighted the…
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Disturbed Buddhist monk in Thailand adopts, kills and burns at least 18 cats
A disturbed Buddhist monk in Thailand confessed to adopting cats via Facebook and beating them to death. Yesterday, the burned carcasses of 18 cats were dug up from behind his living quarters at a temple in Chachoengsao province. Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT), an animal rights charity, reported the horrific discovery of animal cruelty at the hands of an ordained Buddhist monk…
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Thailand detects FU.1 Covid sub-variant, 50% more transmissible than XBB.1.16
Thailand’s Centre for Medical Genomics has reported a single case of the Covid-19 sub-variant known as “FU.1” or XBB.1.16.1.1, which is said to be 50% more transmissible than XBB.1.16. The Omicron variant continues to mutate into new sub-variants, despite a decrease in global Covid cases. Currently, the dominant Omicron sub-variants are XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, and XBB.1.9.1. The Centre for Medical Genomics…
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Former RTN sailor seriously injured after accidentally shooting himself
A former Royal Thai Navy (RTN) sailor suffered a serious injury after accidentally shooting himself while playing with a gun in a rental room in the Isaan province of Burriam. The sailor, Phattarapong Kongkird, was found by his girlfriend last night. She arrived home to discover her 41 year old boyfriend lying unconscious in a pool of blood with a…
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Rural Doctors Society president faces probe over procurement irregularities
An investigation committee has been established by the Public Health Ministry to probe alleged procurement irregularities involving Dr Supat Hasuwannakit, the president of the Rural Doctors Society (RDS). The allegations date back to when Dr Supat was the director of Chana Hospital in Songkhla between 1999 and 2022. Dr Rungrueng Kitphati, a spokesperson for the ministry, announced yesterday that the…
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Bail denied for Polish murder suspect in Bangkok, Thailand
UPDATE #2 A court in Bangkok, Thailand, denied the bail request of the Polish tourist accused of murdering and dismembering his Ukrainian girlfriend at a high-rise condo last weekend. South Bangkok Criminal Court denied bail to 25 year old Jan Jerzy Lagoda-Filippow, citing that he is a flight risk since he already tried to flee the country for Cambodia once.…
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Speedboat crashes in Phuket, 37 injured
A speedboat crashed into a channel marker in Chalong Bay in Phuket, southern Thailand, yesterday injuring four Thais and 33 foreign tourists, mostly Russians. The driver is thought to have fallen asleep as he crashed into the huge concrete pillar in the sea about 100 metres away from the shore of Chalong Bay at 5.30pm. The boat, the Thanathip Marine…
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Man creates fake dating profile of RTP Deputy Commissioner to flirt with women
The Thai Cyber Police apprehended a Thai man who created a fake social media profile of the Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Torsak Sukvimol, and used it to flirt with more than 20 women. Despite having a mental health problem, the suspect did not cause any harm. During their investigation, the police came across a Facebook profile…
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Construction worker’s dream leads to staggering 12 million baht lottery win
A 61 year-old construction worker from a village in Subsomotod, Beung Sam Pan District, Phetchabun province, won a staggering 12 million baht in the lottery after following the advice of a dream. Samanee Plookjai purchased the winning tickets based on the dream’s suggestions. The Thai grandmother plans to use the money for her five grandchildren’s tuition fees, Sanook reported. Samanee…
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Royal Ploughing Ceremony predicts plentiful harvests and thriving economy
At 8.30am today, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen arrived at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony area within the Sanam Luang ceremonial grounds by royal car to preside over the auspicious Royal Ploughing Ceremony for the Buddhist year 2566. This year, 58 year old Prayoon Inskul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, served as the…
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Rare golden venom-spitting cobra discovered in Thai village
A rare golden spitting cobra recently caught the attention of locals in a village in Nakhon Nayok province, Thailand. The snake, measuring around 1.2 metres in length, generated significant interest among villagers, who gathered to view the mesmerising creature. The story behind the snake’s discovery started when Piyapan Bua-Phae, a Facebook user, posted photographs of the golden cobra. An assistant village…
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