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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Phuket monkey steals French tourist’s phone, takes selfie (video)
A French tourist shared a hilarious TikTok video of a monkey in Phuket snatching her mobile phone and taking a selfie video. Fortunately, some Thai locals successfully helped them retrieve the phone. The French TikTok user @justinefortemps shared the video on Friday, February 28, with the caption “Monkey Hill Attack.” The footage showed a monkey, believed to be a young…
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Thailand sees record 1.13 trillion baht foreign investment boost
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed optimism about Thailand’s economic prospects, highlighting significant foreign investment, which reached over 1.13 trillion baht last year, the highest in a decade. In a monthly Empowering Thais TV segment aired by the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, the premier shares her optimism in regards to economic trajectory, despite last year’s 2.5% growth. “We will work…
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Teen injured in Phatthalung pickup truck shooting incident
A 16 year old was injured when a pickup truck pulled alongside his sedan and opened fire, with a bullet piercing his cheek. Police were alerted to this incident today, March 3, at 2.20am and rushed to the scene in Mueang district, Phatthalung province, along with the investigative team. Upon arrival, officers found an MG sedan parked along the roadside,…
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Bangkok buses now accepts QR code and e-wallet payments
Thai Smile Bus, operating primarily in Bangkok, has expanded its payment options, now allowing passengers to pay using QR codes via PromptPay across all routes. Additionally, the service will also support Digital E-Wallet payments, such as True Money Wallet, which came into effect on March 1. Kulpornphat Wongmacharapinya, Chief Executive Officer of Thai Smile Bus Company Limited, announced the expansion…
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2 foreign couples exposed for dine and dash at Phuket restaurants
Two Thai restaurant owners took to social media to expose two foreign couples for committing dine and dash offences at their establishments in Phuket last week. A female Thai restaurant owner, Narissara O OOp, shared a post on her Facebook account on February 28 condemning two foreigners for their fraudulent act and warning other restaurants to be cautious of the…
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China defends Uyghur deportation amid international criticism
The Chinese embassy in Thailand stated that the recent deportation of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand is a standard procedure of Sino-Thai cooperation on addressing illegal immigration. The move has been met with criticism from certain countries, which the embassy accuses of applying a double standard. In response to international criticism regarding the treatment of this ethnic minority, the embassy clarified…
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Nigerian dealer arrested on Koh Pha Ngan with 240,000 baht of cocaine
Police arrested a Nigerian drug dealer on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, at the weekend, and seized 240,000 baht worth of cocaine. Pha Ngan Tourist Police officers received a tip-off that a Nigerian man on the island was offering drugs to other foreign tourists in the area. He personally delivered the drugs to…
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Baht-ing the bullet: Thailand to cash in on tourists with fee
Thailand is gearing up to introduce a 300 baht tourism fee for all foreign visitors starting in 2025, just in time for the bustling peak travel season. The news comes courtesy of Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong, who shared that the levy is designed to ease the financial burden currently shouldered by the government to assist tourists in emergencies…
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Khao Kheow Zoo calls on public to name newest zebra star
Pattaya’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo is creating quite the buzz by inviting the public to name its latest black-and-white bundle of joy: a newborn zebra foal. Khao Kheow Open Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi proudly announced the debut of a charming female zebra foal, born on November 6 last year to her 6 year old mum and 8 year old dad.…
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Muay Thai-tanic World Championship to make waves in Pattaya
Pattaya City is gearing up for a mega showdown as it hosts the 6th World Muay Thai Championship from March 9 to 17. The prestigious event is backed by the Thai and Traditional Boxing Sports Association and the spirited Father Ray Foundation, promising a knockout experience for all involved. Kicking off the fierce festivities will be the weigh-in on March…
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Japanese man arrested with ecstasy in Bangkok shopping centre
A 31 year old Japanese national was apprehended by Thonglor police yesterday while allegedly preparing to use ecstasy in a Bangkok shopping centre. Officers discovered four ecstasy tablets in his possession during the arrest. The arrest occurred around 2am, yesterday, March 1, near the fourth-floor restroom of a building in Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana district. The Thonglor police received a…
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Swedish man in tears after girlfriend’s tragic suicide in Pattaya
A Swedish man was found in tears beside his dead girlfriend in a South Pattaya condominium, Chon Buri, on March 2. Police Major Suthiraphan Tapasri from Mueang Pattaya Police Station was alerted at 4.06am about a suicide incident. The 26 year old woman, Sureetip, reportedly took her life using a pair of trousers. Her boyfriend discovered her body and brought…
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Villager killed by wild elephant in Chanthaburi forest tragedy
A villager gathering forest products in Mueang Phaya Kamphut, Chanthaburi province, was tragically killed by a wild elephant yesterday, March 1. Rescue volunteers from the Sawang Katanyu Association in Pong Nam Ron were informed of the incident, which occurred within a military area in the subdistrict of Pong Nam Ron, district of Pong Nam Ron. Following the report, local administrative…
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Thailand cracks down on illegal foreign makeup teachers
The Department of Employment intensified its crackdown on employers and foreign workers found engaging in reserved professions, specifically targeting unauthorised makeup teacher roles. Recently, two people have been prosecuted, reinforcing the protection of Thai citizens’ right to work. Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director General of the Department of Employment, stated that labour minister Pipat Ratkitprakarn has instructed officials to rigorously inspect, prevent,…
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North Thailand resident wins 18 million baht in Lottery Plus
A new millionaire from north Thailand has emerged after winning 18 million baht through Lottery Plus. The fortunate person bought three tickets, all of which turned out to be winners. They are now awaiting Not Phanthawat to personally deliver the prize money to their home. Yesterday, March 1, the Government Lottery Office announced the results for the draw dated March…
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Angler’s shocking catch in Pathum Thani: a body, not a fish
A 36 year old man fishing in Pathum Thani’s Rangsit Phra Yurasak Canal was surprised to discover a body, mistaking it for a fish initially. Yesterday, March 1, at 10pm, Police Lieutenant Pornchet Prommool from Pratunam Chulalongkorn Police Station was informed about a body found floating in the canal near Pier 2, close to Kaew Bridge, on the way to…
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Korean driver dies in Nong Prue truck collision
A Korean national tragically lost his life in a car accident involving a truck in Nong Prue during the early hours of yesterday, March 1. Emergency responders were alerted to the incident at 3.06am on Motorway 7 Section 5, which connects Bangkok to Chon Buri. Upon arrival, they discovered a damaged small car on the road. The driver, identified as…
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Bangkok police seize illegal e-cigarettes worth 30 million baht
Bangkok Metropolitan police, in collaboration with officers from Phetkasem Police Station, yesterday conducted a raid on an illegal e-cigarette warehouse in Bang Khae district, Bangkok, confiscating contraband valued at over 30 million baht. Acting on a search warrant issued by the Thonburi Criminal Court, the police targeted a four-story commercial building after receiving information indicating the storage of illegal items…
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Danish tourist stabbed in Pattaya, refuses hospital treatment
A 22 year old Danish national sustained multiple stab wounds in Pattaya on the night of February 28. The incident, which occurred at 10.36pm on Chalerm Phrakiet Road in Nongprue, Bang Lamung, remains shrouded in mystery as the victim refused to provide details, press charges, or seek hospital treatment. Emergency responders discovered the injured man, identified only as Daniel, with…
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Police raid in Pattaya nets eight arrests in drug den bust
Anti-narcotics officers conducted a significant raid on an alleged drug den in Soi Jomtien 3, Pattaya, at 2.06pm on February 28. The operation resulted in the arrest of eight people, including one dealer and seven users, following complaints from locals about ongoing drug activities despite continuous efforts to eliminate them. The raid was carefully planned through a sting operation involving…
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Foreign worker healthcare costs soar to 92 billion baht in 2024
The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) recently stood by its figures regarding healthcare costs for foreign workers, stating that the data was sourced from the Ministry of Public Health. According to NESDC’s report, there has been a notable rise in healthcare demand from foreign patients, particularly in border areas, reaching a record 3.8 million healthcare visits in the fiscal…
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119 Thai nationals deported from Cambodia over scam centre involvement
Some 119 Thai nationals were among 230 foreigners released from a scam call centre in Poipet, Cambodia, as law enforcement continues its battle against cybercrime. Yesterday, March 1, Cambodia’s immigration department reported the deportation of 119 Thais, comprising 61 men and 58 women, who had unlawfully entered and resided in the country. The deportation took place via the Poipet border…
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Chiang Rai police arrest 9 in crypto scam targeting US, Canada
Police in Chiang Rai have arrested nine Chinese nationals involved in a significant hybrid scam operation, impersonating individuals with appealing profiles to target victims in the United States and Canada, persuading them to invest in cryptocurrency. The operation was carried out yesterday, February 28, with oversight from Police Lieutenant General Kritthaphon Yeesakorn and several other senior officers from region 5…
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Chanthaburi school sues ex-employee over missing 3m baht milk
A former marketing employee of the Chanthaburi Dairy Cooperative is facing a lawsuit demanding nearly 3 million baht in damages. The case involves the disappearance of approximately 270,000 cartons of school milk, worth almost the same amount. Yananan, who previously worked as a housekeeper for the cooperative from October to November 2018 before being promoted to a marketing position in June…
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Phuket to host Thailand Biennale 2025, showcasing global art
Phuket is set to become a global art hotspot as the Thailand Biennale 2025 gears up to showcase a fusion of contemporary creativity and natural beauty. The Ministry of Culture officially launched the event’s first group of participating artists during a press conference at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on Thursday, February 27. With the theme Eternity, the international…
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Police seize 2.3 million meth pills on Mittraphap Road
Police in Region 3 seized 2.3 million methamphetamine tablets (meth pills) on Mittraphap Road, intended for distribution to a central investor group. The suspects confessed to being paid between 30,000 and 50,000 baht per vehicle. The operation was conducted yesterday, February 28 at the Region 3 Investigation Bureau. Police Major General Rutthaphon Naowarat, Deputy Commander of Region 3, Pol. Maj.…
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Tourists flock to Kham Chanod Island for lottery blessings
Hundreds of hopeful tourists swarmed Kham Chanod Island in Udon Thani yesterday, February 28, seeking divine blessings and lucky lottery numbers ahead of the draw today, March 1. The sacred site, believed to be the mythical home of the Naga King, continues to attract fortune-seekers eager to honour deities Sri Sutho and Sri Pathumma in hopes of securing a windfall.…
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Tiktok to invest 300bn baht in Thai tech hub development
TikTok plans to invest approximately 300 billion baht in Thailand over the next five years to transform the country into an ASEAN technology hub. The decision emerged from discussions yesterday, February 28, between Helena Lersch, TikTok’s vice-president of public policy, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Bangkok, as reported by Government Spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub. Lersch expressed appreciation for the Thai…
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Potential lucky numbers predicted for March 1 lottery draw
The lottery draw today, March 1, is generating significant interest, with several numbers being highlighted as potentially lucky. The draw, organised by the Government Lottery Office, is set to take place in Phang Nga province at the Le Erawan Hotel in Mueang Phang Nga district. The excitement is further fuelled by recent noteworthy events that have inspired popular number predictions.…
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Fire in Pattaya hotel causes alarm, no injuries reported
A minor fire at a hotel on Soi Buakhao, Pattaya, sent Thai and foreign guests into a panic on Thursday evening, February 27. Thick smoke billowed through the building, spreading from a third-floor room to the lower levels, raising alarms among residents. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the damage was minimal. Emergency services were alerted at around 10pm, prompting…
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