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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Thai customer complains about buffet restaurant staff service
A heated social media argument erupted between a buffet restaurant and a dissatisfied customer, leading to a legal dispute. The incident began when a Facebook user posted a critical review of a conveyor belt hotpot buffet restaurant in the New Students MSU 68 group, citing poor service, especially in terms of the staff’s communication. The restaurant owner responded with a…
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Drunk, jealous Thai man stabs innocent neighbour to death
A Thai man yesterday stabbed his neighbour to death in a drunken, jealous rage before calmly waiting for police near the victim’s home in the Isaan province of Surin. The suspect allegedly showed no remorse over the murder. Officers from the Sawai Police Station investigated the death of the 54 year old Thai man, Tui Kaensuwan, at his home in…
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Two tourists drown in Phuket beach tragedies
Two tragic incidents unfolded on Phuket’s beaches yesterday resulting in the drowning deaths of a Hong Kong father at Patong Beach and a Kazakh tourist at Karon Beach. At Patong Beach, yesterday, July 31, Che Ka Fai aka Andy, a 52 year old Chinese national from Hong Kong, was pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phongpipat…
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Officials tee up hunt for wayward crocodile at Phuket golf course
Officials in Phuket are stepping up efforts to capture a crocodile spotted at Mission Hills Golf Course. The sighting on July 31 prompted an urgent response from local authorities and specialist crocodile capture teams. It seems the croc is making a real ‘swing’ at disrupting the course, and officials are keen to ‘par’ the situation before it escalates. Nikhom Suksawat,…
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Lottery fever grips Chai Nat as car numbers spark frenzy
A wave of lottery enthusiasts has swept through Chai Nat, excited by what they believe to be the latest winning numbers tied to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s car. The bustling scene at Phasi Sung Market ahead of today’s lottery draw is filled with hopeful buyers. Wandee Khaosanit, a local lottery vendor, revealed that the current buzz surrounds the registration numbers…
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Thailand’s digital wallet scheme registration starts today
Registration for the digital wallet scheme started today, August 1 at 8am and will be available 24 hours a day until September 15. The Thai government arranged for a call centre at 1111 to answer any questions around the clock. The digital wallet initiative, offering a digital currency worth 10,000 baht, has eight conditions and restrictions that citizens must meet…
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Thai woman caught stealing lottery tickets worth 90 million baht
A lottery seller in the Isaan province of Loei demanded a Thai woman return his lottery tickets after security camera footage showed her colluding with a young girl to steal the tickets for her. The lottery vendor, Aungkul Phaichantuek, told Channel 7 that he lost a set of 15 tickets with the same number, 754727, on Saturday, July 27. He…
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Thai man denies role in alleged 700,000 baht extortion case
A Thai man has surrendered to Pattaya Police amid allegations of involvement in an extortion case where two police officers allegedly demanded 700,000 baht from a group of Chinese tourists. Despite turning himself in, he denies all charges. The suspect, identified as Worapon, arrived at Nongprue Police Station on Tuesday, July 30. He was questioned by Deputy Superintendent Police Lieutenant…
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Pattaya City launches nature restoration to enhance ecotourism
Pattaya City has embarked on a significant nature restoration project aimed at enhancing ecotourism and revitalising the ecosystem in the Na Kluea area. The initiative kicked off with a ceremony at Khlong Nok Yang in Na Kluea, attended by local officials, including Pattaya City Mayor Poramese Ngampiches, Pattaya City Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai, and the mayor’s secretary, Phumipat Kamolnat. The…
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Thailand emerges as Southeast Asia’s leader in tiger conservation
Thailand is now recognised as a leader in Southeast Asia’s efforts to protect wild tigers, a development that the government has warmly welcomed. This recognition follows Thailand’s significant success in conserving royal tigers (Panthera tigris), which has led to a noteworthy increase in their population. According to government spokesman Chai Wacharonke, the estimated number of adult royal tigers in Thailand…
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Pattaya City buys crabs to boost marine life, supports fishermen
Pattaya City has launched an innovative project to support local fishermen and conserve marine life by purchasing low-grade blue swimming crabs and releasing them into the mangrove forest in Na Kluea. The initiative involves paying 250 baht per kilogramme to fishermen, aiming to balance ecological preservation with community income generation. The Natural Resources Division, Environmental Quality Promotion Division, and the…
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Thai thieves caught stealing cannabis plants to start business
Police arrested four Thai thieves after they stole cannabis plants from a farm in the Isaan province of Nakhon Phanom to fulfil dreams of being cannabis farm and business owners. The cannabis farm owner filed a complaint with Mueang Nakhon Phanom Police Station after thefts occurred at the farm. The thieves stole high-value cannabis plants worth about 30,000 to 40,000…
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Bhumjaithai eyes deputy House speaker role amid MFP uncertainty
Bhumjaithai Party is reportedly eyeing the position of first deputy House speaker if the Move Forward Party (MFP) faces dissolution next week. Currently, the role is held by Fair Party MP Padipat Suntiphada, who was originally a MFP MP for Phitsanulok province at the time of his nomination and selection. The law prohibits the main opposition party from having one…
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Bangkok and five provinces face flood threat from high tides
Bangkok and five other provinces are on alert for potential floods due to high tides and continuous rainfall expected to persist tomorrow. The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) forecasted that elevated sea levels and ongoing downpours from August 2 to 8 will cause rivers to swell, posing a threat to low-lying areas along the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong,…
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South Korean man arrested in Pattaya for transnational drug trafficking
Police yesterday arrested a South Korean man in Pattaya for transnational drug trafficking after finding him smuggling drugs from Thailand to South Korea. The South Korean drug control division recently arrested Thai and South Korean drug smugglers at Incheon International Airport in Seoul, seizing 600 grammes of ketamine during the process. The suspects confessed that they had smuggled drugs into…
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Thai defence minister demands US offset details for F-16 jets
Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang urged the United States to provide comprehensive details on the offset policy related to acquiring F-16 fighter jets by today. The Thai government remains undecided on whether to opt for the Swedish-made Gripen by Saab AB or the US-made F-16 Block 70/72 by Lockheed Martin for its air force. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) aims…
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Heavy rain warning for 46 provinces, North hit hardest
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for heavy rain in 46 provinces today, with the northern region expected to be hit the hardest, affecting 80% of the area. Residents are advised to be cautious of potential floods and flash floods. The TMD forecasts weather conditions for the next 24 hours, predicting a moderate monsoon trough passing over the…
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Lottery fans hunt for lucky numbers ahead of August 1 draw
Lottery enthusiasts eagerly search for lucky numbers ahead of the upcoming draw on August 1. The Government Lottery Office will announce the results, and hopeful gamblers are buzzing with excitement over various popular numbers. Lucky numbers have been flying off shelves, with combinations such as 28, 82, 72, 27, 10, 73, 12, 91, 92, 106, 728, 904, 672, 495, 812,…
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Thai workers in Israel urged to shelter amid Hezbollah threat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) alerted approximately 2,000 Thai nationals working in northern Israel to the potential threat of an attack from Hezbollah, a group allied with the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas. These individuals have been urged to seek shelter in bunkers for their safety. Nikorndej Balankura, the MFA spokesperson, issued this warning yesterday in response to rising tensions…
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Motorcyclist dies in crash on way to see newborn daughter
A tragic accident occurred yesterday when a 23 year old man, on his way to visit his wife, who had just given birth to their daughter, lost control of his motorcycle and collided with a pavement, hitting a power pole. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene, leaving his father in tears. The incident took place at 5.45pm yesterday,…
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Boat crash in Bang Khonthi claims life of pier owner’s son
Strong waves caused a boat crash in Bang Khonthi, Samut Songkhram, leading to the tragic death of a 34 year old man who was the son of a famous pier owner in Damnoen Saduak. The incident occurred yesterday, July 31, at a riverside pavilion, shocking his father, who fainted upon hearing the news. At 5pm yesterday, Chaiyachet Duangrat, Deputy Inspector…
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Car wash cover-up: DSI finds football feed behind suds and soap
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) stormed a seemingly innocent car wash shop in Bangkok’s Khlong Sam Wa district. The shop turned out to be a front for a sophisticated network broadcasting overseas football matches illegally. This was just one of 21 locations nationwide linked to the syndicate, which is accused of running a staggering 100 mule accounts with over…
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Thai lottery enthusiasts eye PM’s Lexus plate for luck
The upcoming lottery draw tomorrow, August 1, has enthusiasts eagerly searching for their lucky numbers. Many are turning to various sources for inspiration, including social media, popular figures, and well-known lottery tipsters. One particularly notable set of numbers this time comes from the licence plate of a new Lexus van recently purchased by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The 62 year…
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Tang Rat app crashes amid rush for 10,000 baht digital wallet
The Tang Rat application crashed as numerous people rushed to download and verify their identities ahead of the registration for the 10,000 baht digital wallet set to begin tomorrow, August 1. It was reported today that the government, through the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) and the Ministry of Finance, will open the registration for the 10,000 baht…
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Urgent call for O-negative blood donations in Phuket
A call for urgent blood donations has been issued by the RH-Emergency Donation group to aid a Frenchman in dire need of O-negative blood. The plea highlights the scarcity of this blood type among the Thai population, underscoring the importance of donations from Westerners. This urgent request was made through a Facebook post, emphasising the critical need for O-negative blood…
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Ex-PM Thaksin’s Dubai dreams dashed: Medical treatment declined
The Criminal Court dashed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s hopes of jetting off to Dubai for medical treatment. The embattled ex-leader requested to travel to the UAE from August 1 to 16, citing a slew of health issues, including chronic pneumonia, respiratory and coronary symptoms, a torn right rotator cuff, and spinal disc herniation. Thaksin, who celebrated his 75th birthday last…
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Phuket police seize nearly 3 kilogrammes of crystal meth in Rawai
Phuket police apprehended two men in possession of nearly 3 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine at a residence on Saiyuan Road in Rawai. The arrests, executed by the Crime Suppression Division of the Phuket Provincial Police, were led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phichit Thongto yesterday. A 47 year old man, Tribut Samaktalay, aka Tor, who is registered as living in Moo 4,…
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BTSC demands 40 billion baht Green Line overdue debt payment
The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) declared itself ready to negotiate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Krungthep Thanakom (KT) over the staggering debt tied to the BTS Green Line extensions. This comes hot on the heels of a Supreme Administrative Court ruling on July 26, giving both parties a 180-day deadline to cough up nearly 12 billion baht…
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Khon Kaen residents find bag of 134,000 meth pills by roadside
Residents in Khon Kaen stumbled upon a black bag containing 134,000 methamphetamine pills (meth) discarded by a roadside. Police are investigating fingerprints left behind to track down the drug trafficking network involved. Police Colonel Pichai Nakhundi, head of the Manchakhiri Police Station, explained that the drugs were found on the route between Ban Burana and Ban Nong Hai in Phon…
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Crackdown reveals 2,000 fake vehicle registrations in Thailand
Royal Thai Police launched an operation titled Crackdown on Illegal Vehicles Flooding the City, leading to the search of four locations and the discovery of over 2,000 fake registrations, including a single registration number used on 26 vehicles. The operation, conducted yesterday, involved the Crime Suppression Division and the Department of Land Transport (DLT). Senior officers including Sopon Saraphat, Montri…
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