News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Woman cleared of 12 million baht lottery ticket theft accusation, plans defamation case
In a tale of family dynamics gone awry, a 93 year old woman accused her 53 year old granddaughter of stealing two winning government-issued lottery scratch cards worth a total of 12 million baht (US$340,000). The case arose after an investigation by the Lottery Department, which included examining the original stubs of three books of tickets. However, the department confirmed…
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Customs officers accused of stealing durians worth 1.8 million baht
A Thai durian middleman accused the Aranyaprathet Customs House in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo of stealing durians worth 1.8 million baht. The story of the durian middleman caught fire on Thai social media on Sunday, June 25. According to several posts on Facebook, the middleman complained that the customs wrongly blamed him for illegally importing durians from Cambodia.…
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Nakhon Ratchasima highway police nab 3 with counterfeit licences
Nakhon Ratchasima‘s Highway Police apprehended three individuals accused of using counterfeit driving licences. The police warned the public of the serious repercussions of using such forged documents, reaffirming that genuine licences can only be obtained through the Department of Land Transport. Pol. Capt. Pichrut Kulwimonprateeb, commander of the 6th Provincial Police Station, along with Pol. Lt. Col. Jiraphan Rujirakul, deputy…
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Online debate erupts after woman recounts unsettling experience with app-ordered taxi
In an incident that sparked an online debate, a young Thai woman reported a harrowing experience involving a taxi service ordered via a mobile application. Throughout the journey, the driver allegedly behaved inappropriately, including asking to visit her home, requesting contact information, and proposing an outing together. Following the incident, which took place yesterday, the woman shared a video recounting…
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TD-IWTA Awards 2023 celebrates exceptional women in the Asian travel industry
It’s not every day that you witness trailblazing women being praised for their incredible accomplishments in the travel sector. Well, the first-ever Travel Daily Media – Inspiring Women in Travel (Asia) Awards 2023 did just that! The prestigious event garnered rave reviews, uniting travel industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries from across Asia. Its purpose was to recognise and laud the…
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US Ambassador celebrates first shipment of Thai pomelos to America
US Ambassador to Thailand Robert Godec had an opportunity to engage with Thai and foreign media today, where he expressed his delight at the first-ever shipment of Thai pomelos reaching the United States. This is a milestone that comes 190 years into the diplomatic ties between the two countries. The first export lot of the popular citrus fruits was dispatched…
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Cameraman caper: Former journalist nabbed for stealing from fellow hacks
Parliamentary Police officers arrested a former Thai journalist as he posed as a news cameraman for stealing valuables from other hacks. Police believe the suspect attempted to blackmail new Members of Parliament. Journalists from several news outlets gathered at Parliament House yesterday to interview new MPs who reported for work at Parliament. Amid the chaos, one reporter noticed the former light-fingered…
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Drug awareness in focus as Phuket initiates anti-drug events
In commemoration of World Drug Day, a series of events unfolded yesterday in Phuket, supervised by government authorities to fortify global standing against drug abuse. World Drug Day, also known as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, is a global observance brought to light by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, held every year on June…
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Whale of a collection: Thai masseur wows beachgoers with intriguing 50 million baht puke treasure
A Thai masseur captivated the public’s attention by showcasing his intriguing collection of whale puke while plying his trade on beaches in the southern province of Phang Nga. If proven to be authentic, it could be worth 50 million baht. The owner of a local furniture store in Phang Nga, Wirat Ratso, invited reporters from ThaiRath to explore the whale…
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Firefighters mourn student: A heartfelt tribute to a life cut short by extinguisher explosion
A poignant ceremony was held at 7.30am today at the Sunthornthammathan Temple or Kaenangleung Temple in Bangkok. Four firefighters paid their respects to a student in Year 12 who tragically died when a fire extinguisher exploded on school premises. The firefighters came to the temple to ignite the funeral pyre, dedicating their merits to him. The men visibly displaying their sadness…
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Body reportedly spotted off Krabi island, search hindered by waves
A body was reportedly spotted floating off an island in Thailand’s southern Krabi province. Despite efforts by officials, the deceased has not yet been recovered due to strong waves hindering the search. A fishing boat captain near Koh Lanta island alerted the Royal Thai Navy Third Command of the body yesterday morning, The Phuket Express reported. In an attempt to retrieve…
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Unexpected trigger: Pregnant Ohio mother shot by 2 year old son
A 31 year old pregnant mother from Ohio, USA, called the police, informing them that her two year old son had accidentally shot her. The police swiftly responded to the call on Friday, June 16 and transported the injured woman to the hospital. Tragically, her unborn child died and the mother succumbed to her injuries within a few hours of…
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Covid cases nosedive in Thailand: Unvaccinated elderly hit hardest
The Public Health Ministry of Thailand yesterday announced there has been a dramatic reduction in Covid-19 infections in the kingdom adding that deaths related to the virus are largely those unvaccinated and over 70 years old. Public Health Secretary Dr Opas Karnkawinpong yesterday revealed there has been a steady decline in worldwide Covid cases and related mortalities. Parallel to this…
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Nonthaburi police shut down major underground gambling den, arrest 49
In an extensive operation, police raided and dismantled a substantial gambling den in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The sting saw almost 50 people apprehended in the act of illicitly betting on games of snooker. The operation, led by senior police officials, resulted in a successful seizure of 49 people participating in gambling activities. Law enforcement authorities including Police General Paisan Wongwatcharamongkol, the…
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US hit repeatedly by lethal tornadoes and thunderstorms, leaving death and destruction
The devastating impact of tornadoes and thunderstorms in the US continued, with fatal incidents occurring in the Midwestern and Southern regions in recent days. There have been at least three casualties reported in Indiana and Arkansas, while dozens of homes sustained significant damage. According to Cameron Wolf, who manages emergencies in Martin County, located in Indiana, one fatality was confirmed…
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2 Thai women seek help after being lured into prostitution in India
Two Thai women sought help from a lawyer after a Thai woman and her Indian husband lured them into prostitution in India. The lawyer, Nopphon Auamson, revealed to the media yesterday, June 26, that 32 year old May and her friend 30 year old Da, who are trapped in India, called and requested he facilitate their return to Thailand. ThaiRath…
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Highway horror claims young scholar’s life: Car crash sends tragic message to Chanthaburi
A university student tragically lost his life this morning when his car veered off the road, colliding with a barrier on a highway in Chanthaburi, East Thailand. The unfortunate incident also left the manager of the local Social Security Office injured and the victim’s family grieving. A routine trip turned disastrous for the 20 year old university student, when his…
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Lightning tragedy: Son’s search for mother ends in a tragic bolt from the blue
In a heartbreaking incident in Khon Kaen, a son seeking his absent mother discovered her lifeless body alongside a friend in a neighbouring hut near their cattle pen after they were struck by lightning. To add poignancy to the tale, a dog was found by the bodies faithfully guarding them. The shocking event occurred in the vicinity of a Banyan…
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Thai cyanide serial killer loses baby in prison, lawyer plans legal action
The Thai cyanide serial killer lost her baby last week during imprisonment in the Central Women’s Correction Institution. The killer, Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, reportedly displayed no signs of emotion or disappointment. Sararat’s lawyer is preparing to take legal action against the Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, and his team for putting too much…
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Bangkok’s luxury properties raided in expansive search for cryptocurrency fraudsters
In an international operation named ‘Trust No One,’ the Thai Cyber Police launched an extensive quest for cryptocurrency fraudsters involved in a worldwide scam worth billions. The second phase of the operation led to a dramatic search in upmarket properties across Bangkok today, revealing stunning details about a Chinese couple’s involvement in the fraud. The Cyber Police, led by Damrongsak…
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Lottery luck turns sour: Australian man’s jackpot leads to jailhouse jackpot
Winning the lottery is a prospect that most people dream about but for one Australian man, it caused his life to spiral out of control to such an extent that he ended up in prison after scooping a lottery windfall. In 2017, Joshua John Winslet, then a 20 year old man, won approximately 350 million baht (US$9,950,000) after buying a…
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BMW driver arrested for using fake registration plate to waive toll fees
Police swooped on a Thai woman who used a fake registration plate on her BMW sedan to illegally waive toll fees more than 260 times. The arrest was made at Thanyaburi and Thab Chang Tollgate yesterday, June 26. The Highway Police had installed an automatic license reading system at these toll gates specifically to identify vehicles suspected of dodging toll…
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Desperate son’s 700km search for missing father who disappeared during durian harvest
A distressed 26 year old Thai man and his wife embarked on a journey of over 700 kilometres in a search for his missing father. The disappearance occurred after the father accompanied a friend to collect durian fruits in Chumphon province, where he displayed strange behaviour. The father, who supposedly spoke of three women while standing alone talking to himself…
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Thai Police arrest woman for million-baht cyber scam
A 44 year old woman was arrested by the cybercrime division of the Thai Police today for her alleged involvement in a fraud operation that lost victims over 1 million baht. The operation comprised a gang operating call centres, which conned their victims into revealing sensitive banking information. The call centres duped victims by pretending to be bank employees or…
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Fatal lorry collision on Asia Highway: Pickup driver loses control during storm
A shocking lorry collision resulting in a fatality occurred on the Asia Highway, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, when a pickup driver lost control of his steering wheel due to a sudden jolt. The impact was captured on the lorry’s dash-cam. At approximately 1.30am today authorities in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya received a report of a fatal car accident on…
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Monsoon surge raises flood risk across Thailand: 47 provinces on high alert
Swelling rainfall across Thailand, spurred by the increasing strength of a monsoon coupled with an area of low atmospheric pressure, has compelled the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) to warn that 47 provinces could face potentially hazardous situations. Over the next 24 hours, it predicts 60% of their areas will face heavy rain, with the severity being the most significant in…
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Elderly Thai woman dies in van-lorry collision: Baby escapes unhurt
An unfortunate collision incident involving a van and a lorry full of rice cost an elderly Thai woman’s life and left three others hospitalised. Fortunately, the youngest passenger, a one year old girl, was spared any injuries, benefitting from her car seat. The collision incident which occurred on Highway No. 340, near kilometre marker 94 in Sri Prachan District of Suphan Buri…
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Fire drill tragedy sparks aid: Bangkok education ministry offers financial support to grieving family
Following the tragic death of an 18-year-old student at a school in Bangkok last Friday, the Education Ministry revealed it will provide financial assistance to the victim’s family. The boy died during a fire drill activity intended to ensure school safety when a fire extinguisher exploded. Atthapol Sangkhawasi, the permanent secretary for education, along with Niyom Phaisopha, director-general of Bangkok…
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ChatGPT security: Asia-Pacific tops list in account breaches, Group-IB reveals
In a comprehensive study conducted by the international cybersecurity corporation Group-IB, over 100,000 infiltrated ChatGPT accounts have been detected in concealed Internet marketplaces. In the last year, the majority of these ChatGPT credentials were discovered within the Asia-Pacific region, threatening ChatGPT security. Through the close survey of stealer-riddled devices, Group-IB identified upwards of 101,134 technological instruments storing saved ChatGPT credentials.…
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Buying a franchise Vs buying a business: The benefits and drawbacks of each option
Are you considering starting your own business? Do you have the motivation and desire to be an entrepreneur but are unsure of which route to take? Buying a franchise or buying a business are two popular options for aspiring entrepreneurs. Both have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of each…
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