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 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Chulalongkorn University introduces 3D miracle cure for dog eyes
Does your dog struggle with cloudy eyes, frequent squinting, or unusual tears? If so, it might be suffering from a corneal ulcer, a condition that could lead to blindness if left untreated. But fret not, because scientists at Chulalongkorn University have developed a groundbreaking solution: a three-dimensional (3D) artificial cornea made from stem cells. Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science…
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Friends assault teenager, anger over harmless message to Thai ex
A teenager became the victim of an assault by three friends, who forced her to kneel and apologise, before trapping her in a home. The altercation stemmed from a seemingly harmless message exchange between her and an ex-boyfriend of one of her friends. At 5pm yesterday, July 12, the 18 year old, referred to as A, filed a complaint with…
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Former Justice Minister leads probe into Stark share scandal
Former Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana has been appointed as the new head of the government’s working group investigating the multi-billion-baht Stark share scandal. Pongthep replaces Pichai Nilthongkham, who resigned, according to the Ministry of Justice. Pongthep’s appointment is accompanied by the inclusion of the Secretary-General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), the President of the Thailand Federation of Accounting…
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FTI disappointed by the underutilisation of biomass and biogas
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) expressed discontent with the state’s plan to reduce biomass and biogas fuels in the upcoming power development plan (PDP). The FTI advocates for maintaining or increasing the proportion of these fuels to better utilise agricultural waste. Scheduled for enforcement from 2024 to 2037, the PDP promotes a substantial increase in renewable power, with a…
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13 year old Thai boy dies after ketamine injection by his friends
The family of a 13 year old Thai boy suspected his friends of killing him with a poisonous kratom drink. The teenager’s friends later confessed to giving the victim an injection of ketamine, which led to his death. The teenager, Akkarawat “Tigger” Phonlasen, was found lying lifeless on the sofa in his home in Bangkok on the morning of July…
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Udon Thani residents offer reward to stop nightly disturbances
Residents in Ban Dung, Udon Thani have reached their limit with local teenagers causing nightly disturbances by ringing doorbells. They are offering a 5,000 baht reward for information leading to their capture. Weeraphon Rak Samerwong, administrator of the Ban Dung Update Facebook page, reported receiving numerous complaints from residents in the municipal area of Ban Dung. The complaints involve three teenagers,…
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Fire destroys 13 rental rooms in Bangkok, residents relocated
A devastating fire engulfed a two-storey wooden house divided into rental rooms in Bangkok, destroying 13 rooms. Investigators suspect an electrical short circuit as the cause and have temporarily relocated the affected residents to Wat Don temple for shelter. The incident occurred at 12.20am today, July 12, when the Deputy Inspector at Yannawa Police Station, Phuriwat Jirakratathat, received a report…
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Three women injured after motorcycle runs red light in Udon Thani
Four young women riding a single motorcycle ran a red light and collided with a car in Udon Thani, resulting in three of them suffering broken legs and requiring immediate hospitalisation. The accident occurred while they were on their way to get food. Ekaphan Laiking, head of the Udon Thani Songserm Dharma Rescue Foundation, received a report of the accident…
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Pattaya residents sin-sitively slam ‘Sin City’ slur
Pattaya residents hit out to defend their city’s image after a major Thai news outlet referred to Pattaya as “Sin City” and a “Paradise of Prostitutes” in a recent headline. One of the biggest Thai news agencies, ThaiRath, recently published an article with the alleged offensive headline this week. It sparked criticism from Thai netizens, particularly those living in Pattaya.…
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Pickup crashes through Nakhon Phanom merit-making event
A high-speed pickup truck rammed into a group of villagers attending a merit-making event, resulting in one fatality and four serious injuries. The incident occurred late yesterday in Nakhon Phanom province, sparking anger among the attendees. Police Lieutenant Satchanan Bangsai received a report of the collision at 11.40pm yesterday, July 11. Emergency services were dispatched to Kam That village in…
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Boy’s temple plate prediction stirs lottery hopes in Thailand (video)
A young boy captured public interest by pointing out a car registration plate at a temple, leading many netizens to believe he could bring them luck. Previously, he had successfully predicted lottery numbers, gaining a following on TikTok. TikTok user sakon1876 shared a video featuring his son, Inter, who has a knack for pointing out vehicle registration plates that often…
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Digital wallet woes: PM Srettha quizzed in Parliament by MFP
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin faced intense scrutiny in Parliament yesterday over the government’s digital wallet handout scheme, marking his first significant confrontation with the opposition since taking office. Deputy leader of the main opposition Move Forward Party, Sirikanya Tansakul, challenged the 62 year old PM on the digital wallet programme and the government’s economic strategy. She acknowledged the PM’s presence…
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Pink Line monorail to boost traffic to Mueang Thong Thani
Bangkok Land, a publicly traded company, anticipates that the Pink Line monorail will boost traffic and increase the occupancy rate of its exhibitions to 70% within five years. Chief Executive of Bangkok Land and operator of Impact Exhibition Management, Paul Kanjanapas reported that in the first half of the year, the company’s food, retail, and exhibition sectors met their growth…
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Nation Group: Salary cuts apply to management team only
Nation Group has clarified that its recent salary suspension affects a mere 10% of its staff, primarily targeting the management team. This revelation comes amid swirling rumours and public outcry, which the company attributes to distorted messages presenting partial truths, causing widespread public misunderstanding and online criticism, damaging the organisation’s reputation. Dismissing any notions of being in crisis, Nation Group…
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Heavy rainfall to impact 41 provinces across Thailand today
Heavy rainfall is set to impact 41 provinces across Thailand today, July 12, with the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) predicting significant precipitation in regions including the northeast, central, and eastern parts of the country. The Bangkok metropolitan area is expected to see rain over 60% of its expanse. Over the next 24 hours, a southwest monsoon will cover the…
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New fossil book honours king on 72nd birthday
Seventy-two samples from 56 species on the National Registered Fossils list will be featured in a new book honouring His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn on his 72nd birthday on July 28. The Department of Mineral Resources curated this selection to showcase Thailand’s diverse and significant paleontological heritage. The book will showcase reptiles, mammals, and fish, with 23 species of reptiles…
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Fearless Thai child makes a splash with ‘crocs’ of a different kind
A fearless child was seen playing and swimming with several baby reptiles that looked remarkably like crocodiles. The video clip, which took social media by storm earlier this week, shows the girl fearlessly chasing the tiny reptiles around a tub, picking them up with ease. Reporters, eager to uncover the story behind the viral sensation, traced the video to a crocodile…
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Woman alleges assault by district officer boyfriend, fractured ribs
A woman today filed a police report against her boyfriend, a district officer, accusing him of physical assault, leaving her with two fractured ribs. The Surin province district chief today, July 11, ordered an investigation and apologised to the victim. The 41 year old victim, a woman referred to as A, provided CCTV footage showing her boyfriend, a district officer,…
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Public health vice minister’s sudden exit from Pheu Thai Party
Wan Yubamrung, the vice minister attached to the public health minister, announced his resignation today. He is set to leave the Pheu Thai Party next week. Wan, the son of outspoken veteran Pheu Thai Party member Chalerm Yubamrung, revealed his decision in an emotional Facebook Live post. “I had never thought about leaving the Pheu Thai Party, as long as…
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Thai-British couple ‘paws’ to save puppy from restaurant abuse
A Thai woman and her British husband rescued a puppy after a mentally ill Thai man abused the animal outside his restaurant in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. Officers from Mueang Udon Thani Police Station were alerted to the animal abuse at 11.20am today, July 11. They were called to the incident scene, a restaurant in Soi Adunlayadet 5…
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Power outage to hit Kathu, Phuket for maintenance tomorrow
Phuket will experience a significant power outage affecting a large section of Kathu tomorrow to allow for essential maintenance work on the high-voltage network. The Provincial Electricity Authority for Phuket (PEA Phuket) announced that the outage would occur from 9am to 4.30pm. A map provided by PEA Phuket highlights the affected area, stretching from in front of Sam Burger shop…
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China leads renewable energy efforts with wind and solar power
China is leading the global surge in renewable energy construction, with nearly two-thirds of the world’s large-scale wind and solar projects currently being built within its borders, as indicated by a recent report from Global Energy Monitor (GEM). China is constructing 339 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale wind and solar power, representing 64% of the global total, according to the US-based…
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Elderly Nonthaburi man alleges repairman stole 40,000 baht
A 95 year old man filed a complaint at the Nonthaburi Provincial Police Station today against a long-trusted repairman who allegedly withdrew large sums of money using his ATM card without permission. Pramote Siwamok, who has been relying on 33 year old electrician Jedsada for over seven years, reported the incident to Police Lieutenant Thitipakorn Khumparnin at the Nonthaburi City…
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Bangkok launches major drug prevention initiative with urine tests
Bangkok is set to launch a significant drug prevention and control initiative tomorrow, July 12, with the capitol’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, directing district offices to coordinate with local police stations for urine testing in 88 communities identified as high-risk for drug abuse, aiming to bring users into treatment programs. During an online Zoom meeting at the Bangkok City Hall, Chadchart…
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Thai man denies rape despite presence of semen at crime scene
A Thai man denied raping a 17 year old girl despite the presence of semen in the victim’s home in the Isaan province of Buriram. He admitted to using drugs and claimed that he only intended to steal from the victim’s home. The 17 year old victim arrived at the house of a deputy community leader on her bicycle at…
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Thailand tightens ‘feathered’ measures to curb avian flu outbreak
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is tightening measures to prevent the spread of avian flu. Hospitals near the Cambodian border are on high alert following Cambodia’s report of its seventh H5N1 case this year. The Ministry of Public Health, led by Opas Karnkawinpong, received an epidemiological report from the Sa Kaeo Provincial Health Office. The latest case involves a five…
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Thai woman alleges relatives stole 1.5 million baht inheritance
A woman claims her relatives defrauded her of her father’s inheritance, valued at 1.5 million baht, despite a court order appointing her as the estate manager. The inheritance includes 3 baht of gold, a gold ring, a gold-encased amulet, and insurance money. Around 11am today, July 11, at Bang Sri Mueang Police Station in Nonthaburi, Athiwat Sirikangwalwong, founder of the…
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Fan tattoos ‘Lisa Rockstar’ on head after music video shoot
A man expressed admiration for the treasured K-pop star Lisa Manoban, a member of the world-famous music group, BLACKPINK, unconventionally, by tattooing ‘Lisa Rockstar’ on the side of his head. He cited his immense pride after participating in the music video shoot for Lisa’s hit release, Rockstar. Ratchakarn Nakphian explained that he joined the music video shoot without initially knowing…
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6 year old Thai girl rescued after being forced to deliver drugs
A Thai man in the central province of Suphan Buri organised the rescue of a six year old girl after witnessing her family members using drugs and forcing her to deliver narcotics throughout the community. Her home is only 500 metres from a police station but officers appeared to be unaware of the problem. The Thai man, identified only as…
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Yala ramps up security amid insurgent threat
Security measures have been intensified in Yala as police respond to intelligence reports about insurgent movements, prompting an increase in patrols and checkpoints to ensure safety, particularly in urban areas, to reassure both residents and tourists. The district chief of Betong, Amorn Chumchuay, directed relevant agencies to integrate their forces and enhance security protocols throughout the district. Rapid response teams…
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