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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Claws for applause: Fearless tabby cat saves bedridden girl from venomous cobra
In a tale of courage and claws, a fearless tabby cat saved the life of a bedridden 12 year old girl from a venom-spitting cobra snake in her bedroom in Saraburi Province. The incident took place yesterday at the girl’s home in Kut Nok Plao Subdistrict. The cat, a female white and brown tabby, defended its young owner by standing…
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First detection of flualprazolam in Thailand raises concerns in southern provinces
The tranquilliser flualprazolam is seeing rampant use in Thailand’s southernmost provinces, according to officials. This follows the detection of the substance in nimetazepam pills by the Regional Medical Sciences Centre 12 in Songkhla. The discovery marks the first occurrence of flualprazolam in Thailand. The Department of Medical Sciences‘ director-general, Supakit Sirilak, made it known yesterday that the Centre was tasked…
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Premium privilege: Thailand Elite Card set to increase membership fee by 50%”
Thailand Privilege Card Co (TPC), operator of the Thailand Elite Card, announced plans to increase its base membership price by 50%, raising it from 600,000 baht to 900,000 baht. The move is part of the company’s strategy to boost its annual revenue to 8 billion baht. In addition, the company will be introducing four new types of cards, all of…
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As lottery draw nears, locals flock to ‘eel-lusive’ fish for fortunes
As the lottery draw looms, residents converged to seek fortune from an extraordinary eel–like fish stumbled upon by a 53 year old Mukdahan province resident. With a body of yellowish-white hue and piercing black eyes, this enigmatic creature has proven a charm for its possessor, paving the way for an astonishing four consecutive lottery victories. Somchai introduced the peculiar fish,…
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Currying favour: 5 Thai delights spice up top rankings in TasteAtlas List
Thai curry dishes stole the spotlight in this year’s “43 Curry Varieties Ranked from the Worst to the Best,” launched by the food guide website TasteAtlas. Five curry dishes from Thailand are listed in the top ten. Last year, TasteAtlas declared the northern Thai curry dish Khao Soi as the world’s best soup in the “50 Best Soups in the…
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Heavy rainfall alert: 55 provinces, Bangkok included, brace for soaking
The Thai Meteorological Department today issued a warning for heavy rainfall in 55 provinces, including Bangkok. The forecast predicts that 80% of the northeast region will experience heavy downpours today. Residents have been alerted to the potential dangers, especially in southern regions where high waves are expected at sea today. A combination of the monsoon trough passing through the northern…
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Thai store owner demands 102 million baht in trade mark dispute over #Pangcha
A recent trade mark dispute involving the trending hashtag #Pangcha has drawn nationwide attention. The dispute arose when a popular store sued smaller retailers for using the name Pangcha, claiming it violated their trade mark and demanding 102 million baht in damages. In response to the controversy, Kanchai disclosed during an afternoon talk show that Pangcha originated his establishment, Ice…
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Thailand Privilege Card targets luxury long-term residency market with rebranding
The Thailand Privilege Card (TPC) has adopted a fresh approach to attract high-end foreign residents who seek extended stays. Managed by the Thailand Elite Card Project under the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), TPC has undergone rebranding, introducing a new logo, redesigned uniforms, and innovative card formats across four tailored packages to suit various global lifestyles. Over two decades, TPC…
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Architect’s ‘dirty’ pledge: Faeces target as Pheu Thai Party’s political coalition stirs surprise
Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag has turned an unusual promise into a reality, offering himself as a target for faeces-throwing after the Pheu Thai Party forged an unexpected coalition with the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP). Duangrit is a member of Creative Action for Revival & People Empowerment (CARE), a group associated with the Pheu Thai Party led by Deputy Leader Phumtham…
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Royal defamation convict’s hunger-strike protest results in hospitalisation
A woman from Phitsanulok convicted of royal defamation is protesting against the decision to deny her bail by staging a hunger strike while she appeals. Exhaustion has driven the 30 year old woman, named Warunee, sentenced for royal defamation, to the Correctional Hospital. The cause of her condition is a hunger strike that she instigated ten days prior as a…
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TV host Kanchai Kamnerdploy sued by Kasetsart University professor for online defamation
Renowned TV host Kanchai Kamnerdploy has been accused of defamation by esteemed university professor Weerachai Phutthawong. The case, which came to light yesterday, centres around persistent online mockery and accusations of mafia-like behaviour. Weerachai, a faculty member of the Chemistry Department at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Kasetsart University, is determined to clear his name in court. The…
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Son of former soldier arrested for alleged murder of his friend
The son of a former soldier was arrested yesterday after he allegedly murdered his friend and hid the corpse in a forest near some soldier’s premises in the central province of Kanchanaburi. The suspect was previously arrested and jailed in 2016 for murdering a security guard at an entertainment venue. The victim, identified as 32 year old Ratchapon Chaincharn, had…
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Daylight theft of Honda Wave 125 in Phetchabun prompts public appeal
A brazen motorcycle theft took place in broad daylight near a coffee shop across from a police station in Phetchabun, yesterday. A man casually strolled up to a parked Honda Wave 125, black, with licence plate 1 กธ 968 Phetchabun, and drove off, leaving his bicycle behind. The owner, Thatchapol Rangsisakorn, reported the theft to the local authorities and called…
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Seaside secrets: Mysterious sea sightings stir speculations in Phuket and Phang Nga
Phuket and Phang Nga beaches were the scenes of intrigue yesterday as two unidentified objects emerged from the sea, sparking a wave of speculation and curiosity among locals and tourists alike. Karon Beach in Phuket was the first to experience this unusual occurrence. The local lifeguard on duty found an unfamiliar object and promptly alerted the mayor of Tambon Karon,…
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Thai government considers utility tokens to boost digital wallet initiative
The Pheu Thai-led government is anticipated to roll out utility tokens to bolster its digital wallet initiative, a move pending approval from the Bank of Thailand as the regulator currently bans using tokens as payment, according to Asia Plus Securities (ASPS). The financial services company projects that the government will issue Type 1 utility tokens, each valued at 10,000 baht,…
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Harmony lost: Young folk singer’s journey ends tragically
A tragedy struck the entertainment industry yesterday as rising folk singer, 18 years old Ann Naphaphon, lost her life in a car accident. Ann, who had just started following her dreams by joining a renowned folk music band, met with a fatal accident in the district of Chaloem Phra Kiat, Buri Ram Province. Back at her residence in Ko Samboon,…
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Poh Teck Tung Foundation aids impoverished families in northern Thailand
The Poh Teck Tung Foundation has actively taken steps towards creating sustainable livelihoods in Udon Thani province in northeastern Thailand. The foundation provided job-related equipment to impoverished households as part of an integrated poverty alleviation programme, in collaboration with the Community Development Department. In addition, a mobile medical unit was dispatched to offer free services to the public. The Poh…
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Barking debate: Viral video of pet dog in hot car ignites social media furor
A recent incident involving a pet dog left in a car by its owner has sparked a debate on social media. A video clip posted by a TikTok user @mycatsmycup showed a pet dog left in a car parked at a popular shopping mall in Bangkok. The owner had left a message on the car’s display screen assuring passers-by that…
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Thai fortune teller envisions political and economic upswing in Thailand
A shift in Thailand’s political and economic landscape is anticipated, with improvements expected from November to April, according to renowned fortune teller Navaracha Pinitlokakorn, also known as Mor Plai. Despite her failed prediction regarding the identity of Thailand’s new prime minister, she views this as a fortunate turn of events. She advised patience and granting the new PM the opportunity…
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Unexpected ambulance birth sparks lottery fever in Thai village
A pregnant woman gave birth in an ambulance while being transported to a hospital in Rayong, causing a stir among the local villagers who prepared to try their luck in the lottery with the vehicle’s registration number. The incident took place yesterday, when the 31 year old woman, Wanida, complained of severe abdominal pain. The Pluak Daeng rescue team was…
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Oil corporations slickly tap influencers, sparking eco-conscious uproar
Top oil corporations are increasingly utilising social media influencers to advertise their products, a move that has provoked criticism from environmentally conscious followers. The influencers, typically known for sharing lifestyle content, are now endorsing petrol stations, fuel rewards, and club cards. Instances of such promotions were identified by AFP across India, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States on platforms…
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Earthworm spa trend raises health concerns: Expert digs into risks
A health expert raised concerns regarding the growing popularity of an earthworm spa, citing potential risks of contamination within the body’s system. The earthworm spa went viral on a Thai social media platform recently. It was said that placing the earthworms on different parts of the skin provided several health benefits, such as making the body relax and increasing the…
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Deadly court sentence: Thai mother and partner convicted in tragic child death and assault case
The Nonthaburi Provincial Court sentenced a biological mother and her partner to death following the assaults that led to the death and severe injuries of a two year old boy and a three year old girl. The verdict was announced today at 9am today. The court proceedings began on August 1 last year, after police from Bang Bua Thong Police…
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Former Pattani officer attacks police vehicle with axe and knife before surrendering
A 33 year old former police officer, who had resigned three years ago, was found in a disturbed state, wielding an axe and a knife outside a house on the roadside in the Pattani province. The man had attacked a police patrol vehicle before surrendering around 4pm, yesterday. Phunot Rueangying, Deputy Investigation Officer at Lam Pam Police Station in Phatthalung…
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Teenage scam suspect arrested in Thailand after family tragedy unfolds
A 19 year old woman accused of being involved in a scam operation tied to a tragic family incident in Samut Prakan, was apprehended as she reentered Thailand from Cambodia via a Sa Kaeo province border checkpoint. Police, including immigration and local police, made the arrest in the arrivals area shortly after Suchada Chabutsri entered Poipet township in Cambodia. The…
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Thai transwoman nabbed for theft and blackmail of Danish businessman: Twist of valuables and vices
The Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMB) arrested a Thai transwoman for stealing goods valued at 40,000 baht from a Danish businessman and an attempt to extort a further 35,000 baht from the victim using blackmail. The 30 year old transwoman, Sit, also known as Alda, was arrested at her house in the Din Daeng district of Bangkok…
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Robbery turns deadly in Suphan Buri: Man shot as thieves demand gold
A tragic incident unfolded in central Thailand yesterday, as a 42 year old man was fatally shot during a home robbery. Two unidentified men, one slim and the other fat, burst into the victim’s bedroom demanding gold. The culprits, who were helmeted and unrecognisable, took the homeowner’s gold jewellery before fleeing the scene. The incident took place around 8.30pm in a…
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Chiang Mai’s lottery frenzy: High-profile numbers spark excitement
Chiang Mai lottery buffs are eagerly awaiting Friday’s highly anticipated lottery draw, with people rushing to buy numbers associated with high-profile figures such as Thaksin Shinawatra and Pita Limjaroenrat. Additionally, vehicle registration numbers have also become popular choices. Lottery sellers in Chiang Mai reported high sales, particularly for the numbers representing the ages of these political figures, with prices continuing…
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Narcotics board intensifies probe into illicit drug parties in Bangkok massage parlours
The Narcotics Control Board (NCB) expanded its investigation into illicit drug parties at massage parlours in the Makkasan area of Bangkok. Under the directive of Colonel Thiti Saengsawang, the NCB tracked and arrested four suspects, linked to the grey Chinese capital. The suspects were involved in drug trafficking and operating illicit drug parties for foreign tourists. The NCB, in a…
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Health experts caution against antibiotics misuse: Patient’s ordeal sends a message
A renowned medical professional page issued a warning against unnecessary consumption and prescription of antibiotics. The caution comes after a case where a patient diagnosed with influenza took antibiotics and subsequently suffered stomach pain and diarrhoea. The incident, reported today by the Hospital Tales page, revealed an X-ray of the patient’s abdomen full of gas, a side effect of unnecessary…
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