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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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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Thailand abolishes public school uniform hairstyle rules
The Ministry of Education in Thailand has officially abolished the uniform hairstyle regulation for students in public schools. This change allows individual schools to determine their guidelines for student hairstyles as they see fit. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, speaking on behalf of the ministry, stated that the revocation was announced in the Royal Gazette last year. Schools across the country have since…
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Four Thai fishermen still held in Myanmar after mass prisoner release
Four Thai fishing vessel crew members remain detained in Myanmar, despite the release of 151 Thai prisoners. These individuals were apprehended in late November by Myanmar soldiers, accused of trespassing into Myanmar waters. The group of 151 Thai nationals, repatriated yesterday, January 4, via the second Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge in Chiang Rai, were part of a larger amnesty granted by…
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Bangkok intensifies efforts to combat severe dust pollution
Bangkok‘s ongoing struggle with dust pollution has prompted the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to intensify its efforts to tackle the issue. The capital is set to endure high dust levels, with relief not expected until next month. Chadchart Sittipunt, Bangkok’s governor, revealed that discussions took place at the Hua Hin Royal Rainmaking Centre earlier this week, focusing on strategies to…
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Thai police officers reassigned over Chinese volunteer training probe
Two high-ranking Thai police officers have been reassigned to inactive roles following their involvement in a contentious volunteer police training programme aimed at Chinese nationals. The programme, which charged each participant 38,000 baht (US$1,100), has come under scrutiny, prompting the transfer of the officers to the operations centre of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) as investigations continue. The officers involved…
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Elderly driver crashes into oil tanker in Lampang, 2 dead
An elderly driver lost control of a pickup truck, crashing into the rear of an oil tanker, resulting in significant damage and the death of two individuals, with two more sustaining injuries. The incident occurred yesterday, January 3 on Phaholyothin Road, in the Mae Kua area, Sop Prap district, Lampang province. Police, as well as the Lampang Rescue Association, the…
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Mistaken identity: Teens attacked outside Udon Thani police station
A tragic incident unfolded outside Ban Dung Police Station in Udon Thani province as a group of teenagers allegedly attacked an 18 year old and his 16 year old friend, leaving them with severe injuries. The altercation, which occurred at 3.13am yesterday, January 3, resulted in the older teenager suffering a brain haemorrhage. The motive behind the assault remains unclear,…
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Tourists get intimate on tuk tuk despite driver’s warnings (video)
A video involving tourists engaging in intimate behaviour on a tuk tuk has sparked widespread online criticism. Despite being cautioned by the driver to stop, the tourists continued, leading the driver to let the incident unfold. The incident was shared on social media yesterday, January 3, by a Facebook user named Somnuck Chanagune who posted a 34-second clip with the caption,…
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Meth-high man attacks cleaner at Khon Kaen tutoring centre
A 27 year old man attacked a cleaner with a knife at a tutoring centre in Nong Phai, Khon Kaen, driven by a paranoid belief that she had photographed his secrets. The victim, 43 year old Panicha, suffered a deep wound on the left side of her neck and was given first aid before being rushed to Srinakarin Hospital for…
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Ayutthaya: Hotel worker killed in crash riding bike in wrong direction
A 50 year old hotel employee riding a motorcycle in the wrong direction was fatally struck by a pickup truck. The incident took place yesterday, January 3, on the outbound Asian Highway near kilometre marker 33 in Bang Pahan district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. Piyapong Sirijanyatham, a police officer from Bang Pahan Police Station, received the report of the…
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Officer down: Cop shot dead outside Bangkok barbershop
A tragic event unfolded when a police officer was fatally shot outside a barbershop in Saimai, Bangkok, following a heated altercation with another individual. The incident occurred yesterday, January 3 at around 8pm on Chalerm Phong Road in the Saimai district. The victim, Burang Kasapon, a Deputy Inspector at Saimai Police Station, was shot multiple times and was in critical…
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Heart-stopping error: Patient sent to the wrong hospital by volunteer
The National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM) is investigating a recent incident involving a red uniform volunteer who allegedly delayed critical heart treatment by transporting a patient to the wrong hospital. The issue arose after the patient’s relatives reported an emergency on December 28 through the 1669 hotline, expecting advanced ambulance care due to the severity of the situation. However,…
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Grim discovery: Tourist found dead off Patong Beach
Holidaymakers were left in shock yesterday, January 3, as police launched an investigation into the death of a foreign tourist found floating lifelessly off Patong Beach in the morning. The grim discovery was made near the iconic Dolphin Circle at approximately 10am yesterday. Traiphop Buakhai, a local parasail speedboat operator, was the first to notice the tragic scene—a body face…
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Toppled tree: 9 tourists injured in Kanchanaburi bus accident
A group of European tourists encountered an unexpected incident in Kanchanaburi province when a tree, believed to have been illegally cut, toppled onto their bus. This incident unfolded yesterday morning, January 3, on Highway 3199 in Tha Manao Village, Mueang district. Police have since apprehended a suspect believed to be involved in illegal logging, seizing a chainsaw and pruning saw…
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Drunk motorcyclist crashes into Honda bike in Pattaya, 2 injured
A collision involving two motorcycles in the early hours of the morning in Pattaya resulted in injuries to two individuals. The Nong Prue Police Station was alerted to the incident at 1am yesterday, January 3, which took place on Soi Khao Talo 10 in Bang Lamung district. The police, in collaboration with the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation, promptly responded to…
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Same-sex marriage to gain legal status in Thailand
Thailand’s Interior Ministry is set to enforce the Marriage Equality Bill, expected to become law later this month, according to a statement from ministry spokesperson Traisulee Taisaranakul. The Department of Provincial Administration (DoPA) has aligned its regulations with the new law and established guidelines to streamline the registration process. The department has also upgraded its computer systems and marriage registration…
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Bitterly cold weather persists in Thailand with heavy monsoons
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather alert for 10 provinces, warning of heavy monsoons affecting 30% of the area. Northern Thailand is experiencing another cold front, leading to further temperature drops. A high-pressure system or cold air mass from China has descended over upper Thailand and the South China Sea, causing temperatures to fall. The northern and…
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Burmese man stabs Thai colleague to death in wage dispute
A Burmese man stabbed a Thai colleague to death and fled the scene in the central province of Nakhon Pathom allegedly over a wage dispute. On New Year’s Day, January 1, an owner of a rented property in the Sam Khwai Phuak district of Nakhon Pathom alerted rescue services to assist a 43 year old Thai tenant, Ekkaluck. The man sustained…
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Lucky day: Man celebrates 6 million baht lottery win in Nong Khai
A wave of excitement swept through a household in Nong Khai province when a young woman shared the news of her uncle’s lottery win. The Thai government announced the results of the national lottery yesterday, January 2, revealing the winning number 730209 for the first prize. A resident of Nong Khai province, identified only through her Facebook account Mod Modtanoi,…
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Phuket boosts marine safety with smart pier inspection
Phuket Vice Governor Ronnarong Tipsiri spearheaded an inspection at Ao Por Pier in Pa Khlok yesterday, January 2, as part of efforts to enhance marine safety and instil confidence among tourists during the busy new year season. Joining him were officials from both government and private sectors, who evaluated the safety protocols and the ongoing transformation of the pier into…
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Mor Lam dancer sexually assaulted and pulled off stage in Isaan
A Thai man sexually assaulted a female dancer and pulled her off the stage during a performance in the Isaan province of Nong Khai, resulting in her sustaining an injury. The Mor Lam performance band, Kwanjai Phet Udon, shared a video of the incident on its official Facebook page to seek justice for the dancer and raise awareness among audiences…
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Good fortune: PM Paetongtarn’s assets exceed 13 billion baht
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has disclosed a detailed account of the assets and liabilities of Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, marking her ascension into office. The report reveals that the 38 year old PM holds assets worth over 13 billion baht, alongside liabilities amounting to more than 4 billion baht. The asset declaration includes a wide array of personal…
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Foreign men attack Phuket taxi driver over fare dispute (video)
A viral video showed two foreign men attacking a Thai taxi driver outside a supermarket in Phuket, allegedly over a fare dispute. Several Facebook news pages in Phuket shared the video of the physical assault today, December 3. In the video, one of the two foreign men, both wearing white T-shirts, is seen kicking the taxi driver, who was standing…
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Hunting game: Fake cop at large in Sisaket province
Officers are on the hunt for an imposter posing as a police officer who has been searching through citizens’ bags. The police chief of Khun Han district, Sisaket province, has confirmed that the suspect is not affiliated with the local police force and efforts are underway to apprehend the fake cop and bring him to justice. The incident came to…
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Thai woman seeks justice after lantern sets her car ablaze
A lantern released on New Year’s Day landed on a parked car at a house in the northern province of Phayao and set the vehicle ablaze. The car owner is now struggling to find those responsible for her loss. A witness, Sophon Panyod, rushed to alert his neighbour, 35 year old Saowaluck Jainak, after spotting a fire on the roof…
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Chon Buri man found dead in rental room after herbal booze binge
A rental room owner found a tenant dead in his room, suspected to have died from excessive alcohol consumption. Police investigation revealed that the 40 year old man had been consuming herbal alcoholic drinks with friends in the days leading up to his death. Police officer Boonchuen Sarasook from Phan Thong Police Station in Chon Buri received a report of…
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Lottery luck: Surat Thani woman nets 30 million baht windfall
A lucky individual has ushered in the new year with a significant windfall, winning 30 million baht from the government lottery. The Government Lottery Office announced the results of the draw yesterday afternoon, January 2, revealing the winning numbers for the first prize as 730209. It was a moment of astonishment and joy for one fortunate winner who secured five…
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Thai man prevents disaster after dog mistakes bomb for toy
A pet dog mistook a bomb for a toy, brought it back to her family home in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, and gave it to a four year old boy. Fortunately, the boy showed it to his father before it could explode and cause a tragedy. Officers from Non Sung Police Station were called to investigate the bomb at…
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Freezing cold: TMD warns as temperatures dip across Thailand
Cold weather is set to sweep across Thailand, with the Meteorological Department (TMD) warning of another wave of chilly air descending from China. Temperatures are predicted to drop by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius (°C), with Bangkok experiencing lows of 20°C and frost expected in mountainous areas. The TMD forecasts that the high-pressure system or moderate cool air mass from…
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Pattaya: 3 injured as blanket gets caught in motorbike wheel
A Thai family’s late-night motorbike journey near Pattaya turned perilous when a blanket became entangled in the wheel, leading to an accident that injured a young girl and her parents. Shortly after midnight yesterday, January 2, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre was alerted to a motorcycle crash on the road adjacent to Pattaya Country Club Golf Course. Upon arrival, the…
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Couple caught engaging in public sex near Pattaya Police Station
A witness protested after a couple engaged in sexual activity on Pattaya Beach, near Mueang Pattaya Police Station, in front of a crowd of beachgoers in December last year. The witness shared a video of the incident, showing the couple, whose nationality was not disclosed, having sex on the beach. The footage was provided to Channel 7 today, December 3.…
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