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 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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Thai banks deny funding Myanmar junta’s weapon purchases
Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa issued a strong rebuttal to accusations from Move Forward Party (MFP)-list MP Rangsiman Rome, categorically denying that Thai banks or the government are involved in supporting weapons procurement for the Myanmar junta. These remarks follow a report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in late June, which claimed Thai banks…
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Heavy rain warning issued for Bangkok and other regions
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning for heavy rain across Bangkok today, July 19. Residents are advised to carry umbrellas, and those in hillside areas should be cautious of flash floods. The TMD’s 24-hour weather forecast indicates a strong monsoon trough crossing the upper northern and upper northeastern regions, combined with a moderately strong southwest monsoon covering…
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Myanmar couple surrenders over murder of Iranian restaurateur
A Myanmar couple suspected of the brutal murder of an Iranian restaurateur and his Thai wife has surrendered to police in Nakhon Pathom, expressing their wish to be repatriated. Police Major General Thawatkiat Jindakhuansanong, commander of Chon Buri police, revealed that police were in the process of seeking arrest warrants for 23 year old Kyaw Myint Oo and 19 year…
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The White Lotus effect ignites travel frenzy on Koh Samui
Koh Samui, the idyllic paradise island in the Gulf of Thailand, is basking in a wave of tourism enthusiasm. Recent data from Agoda shows a remarkable spike in interest, with international searches for accommodation soaring by 26% and domestic searches rising by 8% in June compared to the same period last year. The surge in interest coincides with the buzz…
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Fatal crash on Lampang-Phrae road kills woman, injures two others
A tragic accident involving a car and a 10-wheel truck occurred on the Lampang-Phrae road, just before reaching the Wang Ngern shrine, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to two others, including a one year old child. Police from Mae Tha Police Station reported that the collision happened at 5pm yesterday, July 17. The police, including the…
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Man fatally stabs uncle, surrenders from hiding due to hunger
A man in Nakhon Ratchasima fatally stabbed his uncle and attacked two others following a heated family dispute. After a period of hiding in the forest, he arranged a surrender, citing head pains and hunger. District Chief Siwasek Sintharam and officers from the Phimai Police Station, along with local administrative officials, travelled to a rubber plantation in Rang Ga Yai subdistrict,…
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Suspect wanted for gold heist at Bangkok department store
A daring heist took place at a prominent department store in Min Buri district, Bangkok, where a lone rider made off with gold weighing 40 baht. The store’s CCTV captured the incident clearly, and the suspect was seen fleeing the scene on Ramkhamhaeng Road. Officers from the Min Buri Police Station responded to a report of a theft at the…
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Samui journalist threatened with violence over luxury villa report
A journalist from Channel 7 filed a complaint against the owner of some luxury villas in Koh Samui after the owner issued a violent threat against him for reporting a suspicious construction permit for the villas. Officers from the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Division 4 are investigating the construction permit for 53 luxury villas of the Samui Green Cottages…
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Shocking hike: Thai industries spark concern over electricity rates
Thailand’s plan to hike electricity rates later this year could deter foreign direct investment, warned the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The alert followed the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) announcement on Friday, indicating an imminent rise in power bills for both businesses and households. The ERC has proposed three new power tariff options, featuring increases from 11% to 44% above…
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Cyber police arrest woman for illegal loans in Trang
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers apprehended a woman for operating an illegal lending business with a loan interest rate of 20% per month, handling around 3 million baht in transactions. Police executed a search warrant in Trang province and arrested 43 year old Khwanchira, seizing evidence including 28,000 baht in cash and two ATM cards. The investigation began when officers…
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Thai athletes’ Olympic uniform looks like waiter’s outfit
The grand reveal of Thailand‘s Olympic uniform for the Paris Games has set social media ablaze, with critics slamming the design as outdated and unfit for the global stage. Unveiled yesterday, July 17, on Stadium TH’s Facebook page, the uniform, modelled by national badminton star Sapsiree Taerattanachai, sparked a storm of controversy. The design, inspired by the Phraratchathan (Royally Bestowed)…
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Police arrest Laos-linked drug trafficking couple, 13,000 meth pills
Police officers arrested a couple in Ubon Ratchathani involved in a drug trafficking network from Laos, seizing over 13,000 methamphetamine pills they were transporting across provinces on a motorcycle. Police from the Border Patrol Police 227 Ubon Ratchathani, in collaboration with the Highway Police and Khong Chiam Investigation Unit, today, July 18, received a tip-off about a drug delivery by…
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Thai grandmother arrested for selling meth to buy milk
Police in Nakhon Phanom apprehended a local woman today for distributing meth, caught while soothing her grandson to sleep, she claimed a desperate need for money to buy milk for her grandson. The border district of Nakhon Phanom continues to struggle with drug trafficking issues. The problem extends beyond smuggling and has infiltrated local communities, partly due to unemployment leading some…
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Phone fiend: Thai woman calls out thief in Nonthaburi (video)
A Thai woman is demanding police arrest a thief who repeatedly stole mobile phones in the Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. In her case, she admitted falling victim to the serial thief after leaving the front door of her home open while she slept. The victim, 30 year old Sunanta, took to social media to warn others about the theft, which…
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Samut Sakhon releases one million prawns for river conservation
Samut Sakhon released one million black tiger prawns into the Tha Chin River to bolster aquatic populations and maintain ecological balance. The event took place at 11am yesterday, July 17, led by Samut Sakhon Governor Phon Damthornom, alongside local officials, civil servants, and residents. The ceremony was held in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 72nd birthday, marking six…
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Former Thai MP faces charges over film fiasco
Former Thai Civilised Party MP Mongkolkit Suksintharanon faces charges for allegedly breaching the code of ethics by skipping a crucial House meeting to catch a film. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) voted 6:1 to charge Mongkolkit, now a Democrat Party member, for missing a House session on December 15, 2021. The NACC plans to take the case to the Supreme…
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MFP leader asserts party will not be dissolved
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Chaithawat Tulathon stands firm, confidently asserting that his party will not be dissolved by the Constitutional Court next month. However, not everyone shares his optimism. MP Rangsiman Rome has voiced serious doubts about their chances. Chaithawat appeared upbeat despite the looming court decision on August 7. In stark contrast, party-list MP Rangsiman Rome expressed deep…
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Missile attack on Naypyidaw Airport kills 16 soldiers
Armed groups launched a missile attack on Naypyidaw International Airport in Myanmar, resulting in significant damage to three aircraft and the deaths of 16 soldiers. This marks the fifth attack on this airport since the start of the year. High-ranking officials from the Karenni Army (KA) reported on July 16, at 9am, that armed groups MKCDF, MRF, and BWM reportedly…
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2 runaway horses killed in car accident on road near Bangkok
A car accident today on Borommaratchachonnani Road in Pathum Thani province, near Bangkok, resulted in the deaths of two horses and damage to three vehicles. The horses escaped from a nearby restaurant today, July 18. The accident occurred at approximately 7.20am on Borommaratchachonnani Road in the Sampran district of Pathum Thani province. Three vehicles were involved in the accident: a…
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Indian man glues passport pages to hide Thailand trips from wife
A 33 year old logistics operator from Satara, India, found himself in hot water at Mumbai International Airport. Immigration officials detained the Indian man just before he could board a flight to Thailand, uncovering his audacious attempt to conceal past trips from his wife. Tushar Pawar’s arrest followed the discovery that he had tampered with 12 pages of his passport, glueing…
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One missing during Maha Sarakham reservoir breach flooding
A significant breach at the Huay Chiang Kham Reservoir in Maha Sarakham led to the release of several million cubic metres of water on Tuesday, affecting vast agricultural areas and resulting in one person missing. Local officials reported that the incident impacted 10,000 rai of farmland across four subdistricts in the northeastern province. The breach, which occurred at 5pm, created…
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EXAT announces toll exemptions for three public holidays in July
Thailand’s Expressway Authority (EXAT) announced toll exemptions for three major expressways in Bangkok on three specific days in July, while two public holidays will not see toll exemptions. The EXAT, under the Ministry of Transport, stated that tolls on three expressways will be waived on July 20, July 21, and July 28. These dates coincide with public holidays as declared…
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Deputy PM Anutin opposes PM Srettha’s cannabis reclassification
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul, declared his opposition to Prime Minister (PM) Srettha Thavisin‘s policy to reclassify cannabis as a Narcotics Category 5 drug. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) agreed last week to reclassify cannabis, which has been permitted for health-related purposes for over two years. This new policy is expected…
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King’s College student researchers discuss brain health
King’s College International School students have collaborated with Bangkok Hospital to deliver a Health Awareness Talk about neurology and brain health. BioMedINN, a student-directed research group at King’s College, organised the session in an effort to inform the public about the importance of neurological health and wellbeing. This event followed on from their recent creation of a stroke testing kit,…
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Ministry of Justice reiterates repercussions for cyanide possession
The Ministry of Justice issued a stern warning to the public regarding the unauthorised possession of cyanide, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to two years and a fine not exceeding 200,000 baht, or both. The deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Kanika Unjit, today, July 18, addressed the shocking incident that led to six Vietnamese nationals…
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Stateless elderly in Chiang Rai die waiting for Thai citizenship
Numerous stateless elderly individuals in Chiang Rai have tragically passed away before receiving Thai citizenship due to prolonged bureaucratic processes. A Chiang Mai teacher, Daeng, called upon Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to visit the area and witness the situation firsthand. Teacher Daeng, whose full name is Tuenjai Deetes, along with Pienporn Deetes, Secretary-General of the Foundation for Community…
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Thailand faces growing heart and cardiovascular disease crisis
Thailand is grappling with a significant public health challenge as heart and cardiovascular diseases claim an alarming number of lives. According to data from the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), there were more than 23,667 deaths due to heart and cardiovascular issues, including strokes, in the first 198 days of 2024. This staggering figure translates to an average of 119…
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Teenager arrested in Bangkok sting for child prostitution
Police officers conducted a sting operation leading to the arrest of a 17 year old suspect involved in child prostitution at an apartment in Bangkok. The operation resulted in the confiscation of 5,000 baht in cash and the rescue of a minor. On July 16, police officers from Patrol Division 2, led by Warawit Yanchinda, Vasun Thawatchaiwirut, and Natdanai Bamrungsri,…
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Foreign man caught on viral video urinating on Phuket road (video)
A viral video shared on a news Facebook page showed a foreign man urinating in the middle of the Patong Beach Road in Phuket during a traffic jam, despite many motorists staring at him. The Facebook page, 1วันพันกว่าเรื่อง ภูเก็ต (meaning over 1,000 things happen in a day), shared a video of the foreign man, whose identity was not disclosed, yesterday,…
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Thai king honoured for vital contribution to Covid-19 fight
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua demonstrated his generosity through substantial support for medical personnel battling the Covid-19 pandemic. To celebrate his 69th birthday on July 28, the king is being honoured for his vital contributions to medical science and public health, which have become crucial amidst the pandemic. The king’s efforts in enhancing medical science and public health, especially during…
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