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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Heavy rainfall forecast across Thailand with thunderstorms in 70% of regions
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, forecasting heavy rainfall across the northern, northeastern, central, and eastern regions, as well as Bangkok, with a likelihood of up to 70% in some areas. These conditions are due to the convergence of a monsoon trough over northern and northeastern Thailand towards a low-pressure area along the central…
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TikTok mobile shop owner praised for aiding elderly man with utility bills
A TikTok user who runs a mobile phone repair and purchase store made headlines this week for his kindness towards an elderly man that pawns his mobile phone every month to pay his utility bills. The shop owner not only refrains from charging interest but also provides the elderly man with food to take home. The account @5parinyaaek888 posted a…
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Chiang Rai police seize nearly two million meth pills in major drug bust
In a massive crackdown on drug trafficking, Chiang Rai Police Force seized nearly two million meth pills in two major cases. From October 1, 2022, to July 19, 2023, the Region 5 Provincial Police intercepted more than 90 million meth pills and confiscated property worth 453 million baht. The announcement was made today, by a team comprising senior officers from…
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23 year old graduate reports train harassment incident to police
A recent graduate has reported harassment from an alleged rail official aboard a train to Bang Mun Nak Police Station. The woman, 23 year old Punyanuch is seeking justice for an incident that took place on August 15. While travelling on train number 202 from Phitsanulok to Nakhon Sawan, she was molested by a man claiming to be a train…
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Lightning bolt strikes during trio’s rain-soaked football match
Three young men, overcome by daring, braved adverse weather to play football, only to face an unexpected lightning strike. The incident took place amidst harsh rains yesterday. A TikTok user shared a post featuring the reckless behaviour of the trio, casually playing amidst a severe rainstorm. Despite the intense rainfall, they continued to enjoy their game. The individual filming the…
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Fare play: Bangkok taxi driver bucks trend, returns 400,000 baht to passenger
A Bangkok taxi driver put the breaks on the capital’s bad boy cabbie reputation after he returned nearly 400,000 baht to a Bangladeshi passenger. There’s not a day that goes by without a story breaking of one of Bangkok’s bad boy taxi drivers ripping off customers, refusing to service or turn on meters, brawling with passengers or even masturbating. One…
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Rice prices spike threatens farmers in Thailand
An increase in rice prices is causing concern for local farmers and rice millers in Uttradit, Thailand. The Agricultural Cooperative of Uttradit City Limited, known for producing and selling the “Good Udom” brand of bagged rice, is currently facing a shortage of husked rice. This crisis is due to large-scale rice millers purchasing at high rates, causing the price of…
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Karmic curiosity: Korat’s Non Sa-at Forest Temple unveils captivating Hell Tour
Located in Korat, the notable Non Sa-at Forest Temple, also known as Karma Base Forest Temple, launched an intriguing Hell Tour. The initiative aims to educate visitors about the concept of karma and encourage them to fear wrongdoings, prompting a shift towards good deeds. Situated in the Chok Chai district of Nakhon Ratchasima, the temple serves as a care centre…
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Scam buster: Taiwanese mastermind nabbed in Bangkok condo for global web of crime, money laundering
Thai police arrested a Taiwanese man behind a money laundering operation, a scam call centre and organising online gambling gangs across Asia and Europe. The 39 year old man was apprehended in a luxury condominium in Bangkok. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand alerted the Royal Thai Police (RTP) about the wanted suspect, Guo She Min, due to…
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Yaba ordeal: Mother seeks aid as son’s dark turn targets family cat
A Thai mother reached out to a non-profit organisation for help after her 10 year old son was exposed to methamphetamine, commonly known as Yaba, and attempted to kill the family’s pet cat. The woman told the Paveena Foundation for Women and Children that her son’s personality had changed for the worse during the past month. The boy is out…
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Climate change: Thai businesses warned of ‘global boiling,’ rising power costs
The United Nations has warned of the global boiling – the intense rise in temperatures and associated power costs we are seeing now, which are predicted to only worsen in the future. Thailand witnessed an unprecedented rise in electricity bills and an all-time high average temperature in July. This salient shift in weather patterns is leading businesses and governments to consider…
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Roadside shock: Man stumbles upon wife’s dead body, suspicion lingers in Chon Buri
The suspicious death of a woman rocked the local community in Chon Buri province after a man found his wife’s dead body by a roadside. The 49 year old husband, Prachuap went out searching for his wife, Khamao, when she did not return home from a trip. Upon discovering his wife’s dead body, he tried to help her up, intending…
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Splash clash: Food delivery rider’s water incident leads to physical assault in Chaing Rai (video)
A food delivery rider physically assaulted a Thai woman on a road in the northern province of Chaing Rai after she reportedly complained he splashed her with water. A video of when the Grab food delivery rider physically attacked the 40 year old Thai woman, Chanadda Sae-ue, went viral after being shared on Facebook on Friday, August 18. The rider…
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NIDA survey says: Pheu Thai Party’s unique political partnership faces public disapproval
A recent telephone survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed significant disapproval of the Pheu Thai Party‘s plan to form a special government in collaboration with its political adversaries, Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation (UTN) parties. This survey, also known as the NIDA poll, was conducted from August 15 through August 17 and involved a detailed…
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Thailand sees 17% boost in foreign investment, hitting 58.9 billion baht in 7 months
Thailand saw a 17% increase in foreign investment, reaching 58.9 billion baht in the first seven months of this year. The announcement was made yesterday by Rachada Dhnadirek, the deputy government spokeswoman. Investors from Japan played a major role, with 94 groups contributing 19.89 billion baht. The United States followed with 67 entities investing 3 billion baht. Singapore had 61…
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PTTEP plans Middle East expansion for greater petroleum output and renewable energy
PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) announced its strategic plans to centre business operations in the Middle East to expand petroleum output and explore opportunities for innovative energy enterprises, revealed Montri Rawanchaikul, PTTEP’s Chief Executive and President. On the domestic front, the company aims to escalate gas production at the Erawan gas field to 800 million standard cubic feet…
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Smokin’ apology: American recreates Ghostbusters scene with cannabis fogging on Bangla Road, Phuket (video)
An American man issued an apology after he committed a legal violation by using ganja in a public place on Bangla Road in Phuket, reminiscent of a scene from Ghostbusters. The man was captured on video releasing cannabis smoke from a fogging machine. In a viral video, a man wearing a black balaclava to conceal his face and his group of friends…
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Rainfall reign: 46 provinces under threat as TMD predicts deluge and Bangkok braces for flash floods
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns that increased rainfall poses a threat to 46 provinces today, forecasting heavy rainfall in 70% of the areas while Bangkok is also at risk, with an abrupt flash floods warning issued due to tormenting forest runoffs. The TMD claims that a tropical storm flowing over the northern and upper northeastern regions of the country,…
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Thai woman murdered on street outside restaurant in Germany
Local police officers are hunting for a suspect who murdered a 61 year old Thai restaurant owner on Kantstrasse Road in the city of Berlin in Germany. German police officers reported on Friday, August 18, that they discovered the dead body of a Thai woman, 61 year old Siliya Saiwongpanya on a footpath near Fuggerstrasse Road in the Schoeneberg neighbourhood…
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Teenage gang violence: Perpetrators accused of fatal schoolboy killing in Nakhon Phanom road chase
A gang of six teenagers have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in the death of a 14 year old boy, who was attacked with weapons on August 19. The teenage gang violence incident took place by the roadside of a dual carriageway in Nakhon Phanom province of northeast Thailand. News reports advancing the teenage gang violence case details reveal…
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Family dispute sparks deadly manhunt in Chachoengsao over dog conflict
In an escalating family dispute, a man stormed into his relatives’ residence shooting dead one and injuring another yesterday, before fleeing the scene. Police have since launched an investigation to find the suspect, who had left with his partner and child. In the quiet suburbs of Chachoengsao, a family dispute yesterday took a tragic turn when 43 year old Kamol…
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EV sales in Thailand to hit 50,000 despite auto loan regulations
The Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI) anticipates a surge in electric vehicle (EV) sales to 50,000 units this year. This comes despite challenges such as diminishing purchasing power, rampant household debt, and the implementation of stricter auto loan regulations by banks. Last year, local EV sales in Thailand saw approximately 20,000 units sold. The popularity of EVs in the country can…
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Awaiting arrest, ex-Prime Minister Thaksin returns to Thailand amidst political unrest
As Thailand anticipates the arrival of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, fresh from a self-imposed exile, arrest warrants are ready for viewing and inevitable jail time awaits him. His expected return is scheduled for tomorrow, incidentally, coinciding with parliamentary proceedings to elect the country’s 30th leader. His daughter, Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra, a former prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu…
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Influenza infection cases triple in a year, topping 970,000 with one fatality reported
In an alarming public health update, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) noted that the annual influenza infection figures have exceeded 970,000 this year. A stark increase from last year’s number at this point, this figure is triple the magnitude, conveying the highly contagious nature of seasonal flu. A fatality has been reported among the infected individuals. The unfortunate case…
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Taxi accident: Fatal crash as vehicle plunges into Samut Prakan canal
A tragic taxi accident incident unfolded today where an ill-fated taxi plunged into a canal and burst into flames in Samut Prakan province, resulting in the death of the driver. The unidentified individual crashed the vehicle, firmly igniting a mournful atmosphere at the Bang Bo Police Station. The devastating taxi accident was reported to have occurred at the bridge over…
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Exat toll hike on key expressways pauses by Ministry of Transport
The Progressive Ministry of Transport has issued a directive to the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) to maintain the current toll charges for Chalong Rat and Bang Na expressways for another six months, running through February of next year. This development will stave off the proposal by Exat to implement a 10% increase in tolls on both routes. The toll…
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Thailand Consumer Council appeals for higher elderly pension
In a recent online forum, the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) voiced a call to the new government the reconsideration a policy that restricts certain elderly individuals from obtaining monthly grants, advocating instead for the reinstatement and enhancement of the universal pension scheme to pay 3,000 baht each month. Nimit Tienudom, the vice-chair of TCC and the representative of the People’s…
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Thailand aims to be top Muslim tourism destination within 5 years
Thailand is projected to emerge as a principal destination for international Muslim tourists within the next half-decade. The Deputy Government Spokesperson, Rachada Dhnadirek, put forth this intent to lure more Muslim travellers, citing their rising numbers and increased spending capacity. She noted, during her Friday announcement, that Muslim tourists comprised a major segment of Thailand’s tourism industry. An impressive surge…
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Khai Huang international drug trafficking gang busted in Bangkok
A sophisticated cross-border drug trafficking gang named Khai Huang led by four prominent figures was busted in a luxurious house in the heart of Bangkok. The gang had been smuggling crystal methamphetamine concealed within the axle rods of trucks for international shipment. The head operatives, 34 year old Chen Yu Ning and 26year old Li Ming Zhen, were arrested today at…
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Easyrice transforms Thai rice industry with AI-powered inspection solutions
Emerging from academic research projects, Easyrice Digital Technology Co Ltd has grown into a cutting-edge tech startup focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) within the agricultural sector, specifically tailored towards bettering the rice industry in Thailand. Easyrice provides AI-powered solutions designed to simplify and enhance the systems of rice quality inspections and data management, offering faster, more precise processes. As a…
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