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 Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Croc and awe: Rare Siamese crocodiles spark conservation hope
The recent discovery of two Thai freshwater crocodiles, each measuring between 2 and 3 metres, in Pang Sida National Park has reignited hope for the conservation of this critically endangered species. Officials confirmed sightings across six protected forest areas in Thailand, marking a significant milestone in efforts to save these majestic reptiles. Yosawat Thiansawat, Director of the Conservation Area Management…
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Gold rush hour: Steady prices spark buyer frenzy in Thailand
Today’s gold prices in Thailand hold steady, sparking a sense of urgency among potential buyers. According to the Gold Traders Association (GTA), gold jewellery is priced at 43,650 baht per baht weight, mirroring closing figures yesterday, January 5. As announced at 9am today, 96.5% pure gold bullion is being bought at 43,050 baht per baht weight and sold at 43,150…
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Ruble trouble: Russian tourist robbed and roughed up in Phuket
A Russian man is seeking justice after a fellow countryman physically assaulted him and stole approximately US$5,000 (nearly 200,000 baht) from him at a hotel in Phuket. The theft reportedly had ties to the victim’s rival. The Russian victim, 31 year old Zelimkhan Iusupov, filed a complaint at Karon Police Station today, January 6, following the theft, which occurred at a…
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Thailand commits to carbon neutrality despite COP29 setbacks
Thailand remains firmly committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions despite a lacklustre conclusion to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) held recently in Baku, Azerbaijan. The country is determined to accelerate its progress towards carbon neutrality despite limited new financial agreements at the conference aimed at supporting developing nations in their climate change efforts. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai…
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Most Thais expect Paetongtarn to remain PM all year, poll shows
A recent poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) indicates that a majority of Thais foresee Paetongtarn Shinawatra holding the position of prime minister throughout the year. The survey, carried out over three days, involved 1,310 participants, offering insights into public opinion on the current political landscape. The results, released yesterday, January 5, reveal that 51.22% of…
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Thailand’s household debt set to decline faster than expected
The Bank of Thailand is optimistic as the nation’s household debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to fall more swiftly than previously anticipated. This promising outlook is driven by ongoing debt reduction strategies and the introduction of a new debt relief programme. According to the central bank’s latest financial stability report for 2024, there’s a noticeable drop in the household debt-to-GDP ratio,…
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Sole offender: Thai man nabbed for Bangkok temple shoe theft spree
Police arrested a Thai man for stealing shoes, some valued as high as 50,000 baht, from multiple temples in Bangkok. The man reportedly committed the thefts not for resale but to satisfy personal urges linked to his mental illness. Officers from Samran Rat Police Station investigated the incidents after receiving repeated complaints about shoe thefts from temples across Bangkok. Security…
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Over 436 deaths reported over the new year danger period
Over the ten-day new year danger period, over 436 road fatalities were reported, primarily due to speeding, with Bangkok recording the highest death toll. In contrast, three provinces noted zero deaths, reflecting varying regional impacts of road safety measures. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) held a press conference led by Interior Deputy Minister Songsak Thongsri, outlining the…
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250 Thai workers defrauded in Australian job scam
The Department of Employment in Thailand is urgently intervening to aid workers who have been defrauded while attempting to secure employment in Australia. The department identified the culprit and highlighted five legal methods for Thai workers seeking overseas employment. Yesterday, January 5, Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director General of the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour, addressed a recent incident involving 250…
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11 foreign tourists injured in Kanchanaburi bus accident caused by tree cutting
Police in the central province of Kanchanaburi arrested a Thai man on January 3 for a tree cutting that caused a bus accident that injured 11 foreign tourists. The accident involved a public bus on the Kanchanaburi-Erawan route in the Wang Dong sub-district, Mueang district of Kanchanaburi. Rescue teams provided first aid to 11 injured foreigners, four men and seven women,…
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Thaksin denies Cabinet reshuffle, supports energy cost cuts
Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand’s former prime minister and the alleged de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party, has put to rest rumours suggesting the potential dismissal of Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga in the next Cabinet reshuffle. Yesterday, January 5, Thaksin clarified that no such reshuffle is currently planned. Pirapan, for his part, denied any discord with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra…
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Young woman seeks justice after assault at Bang Yai venue
A 22 year old woman has sought assistance from the Nonthaburi governor after being assaulted by a security guard at a well-known entertainment venue in Bang Yai. Pawina, known as Mew, along with three friends, visited the Nonthaburi provincial office to meet Governor Kiattisak Trongsiri, seeking justice and expressing distrust in the police investigation. This follows an assault on New…
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Border mystery: Chinese actor vanishes in Thai film project drama
In a mysterious twist worthy of a script itself, a Chinese actor has vanished without a trace on the Thai-Myanmar border amid people trafficking worries. The actor, Xingxing, real name Wang Xing, renowned for his role as innkeeper Mu Tong in Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact, and The Tale of Rose and Under the Skin 2. The actor boarded a flight from…
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Man arrested in Bangkok for selling illegal firearms online
Police in Bangkok arrested a 23 year old man for allegedly selling illegal firearms online. The suspect from Nakhon Sawan reportedly concealed the weapons in snack tins for delivery. This arrest is part of a broader crackdown by the police on illegal arms trafficking. Yesterday, January 5, officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau, led by senior police officials, apprehended Naphatsakorn…
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Child narrowly escapes being trampled by elephant in Sa Kaeo (video)
A dramatic incident unfolded when a child was carried under an elephant’s belly, only to be kicked and nearly trampled. This event, captured by a security camera, sparked significant concern online, with many warning of the inherent dangers involved. The video footage was shared on social media by a user named Amonrat Naaudom. The incident occurred yesterday, January 5, in…
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Kind foreign man praised for assisting Thai rescue team in traffic jam
A Thai rescue team expressed their gratitude towards a kind foreign man who assisted their operation by clearing a path for their emergency van on Phahurat Road in Bangkok on Saturday, January 4. A member of the rescue team, Chaiyapon Chanchua, shared a video of the foreigner on social media to commend his support. In the footage, the foreigner, dressed…
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Liberian duo arrested in Bangkok for US$90,000 gold scam
Two Liberian nationals have been detained in connection with a gold-selling scam in Bangkok that resulted in the theft of US$90,000, equivalent to around 3 million baht, from a Thai businessman. The scam involved swapping counterfeit banknotes for genuine ones. Police Colonel Pansa Amarapitak, the chief of Thong Lor Police Station, announced the arrest of 32 year old Solomon Varney…
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University dean dives back into Tangmo mystery with re-enactment
Rangsit University’s College of Oriental Medicine dean reignited interest in the renowned case of late actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong with plans for a groundbreaking re-enactment. Despite numerous media simulations and government efforts, doubts persist about the accuracy of previous attempts to mimic the actress’s tragic fall from a speedboat. To unlock the truth, the dean, Panthep Puapongpan, is calling for…
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Kayak accidents near Koh Chang highlight tourist safety concerns
Two separate kayak accidents occurred near Koh Chang yesterday rompting swift action from the Koh Chang Marine Safety Centre. The incidents unfolded near the picturesque islands of Koh Yuak and Koh Suwan, leaving tourists in perilous situations due to challenging sea conditions. At 12.30pm, yesterday, January 5, four Czech tourists faced a harrowing experience when their kayak capsized near Koh…
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Hygiene concerns after foreigner films dishwashing in Thai canal (video)
Restaurants at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in the central province of Ratchaburi have come under criticism after a foreigner filmed staff washing dishes in a canal filled with murky, greyish water. Esor News reposted the video on January 3, showing the foreign woman, whose nationality was not disclosed. The page administrator wrote in the caption: “A foreigner visited a floating…
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Thailand to develop cyber fraud insurance framework
Efforts to bolster Thailand’s cybersecurity are underway as the Office of the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) is working on developing a cyber fraud insurance framework. This initiative aims to aid organisations in mitigating the risk associated with cyber-attacks and data breaches, a growing concern in the digital age. NCSA Secretary General Amorn Chomchoey explained that the framework could reinforce…
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Thai police arrest woman in Facebook job scam
Police in Thailand successfully apprehended a woman involved in a Facebook job scam, enticing victims to pay fees for a non-existent soap-packing job. The 23 year old suspect was arrested yesterday, January 5, in Nakhon Ratchasima after being implicated in fraudulent activities under a warrant issued in October of the previous year. The arrest was orchestrated by high-ranking officials, including…
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Thailand video news | Russian tourist stabbed in Pattaya over misunderstood joke, British woman and South African man found dead at Vietnam villa
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay delve into a range of impactful stories from Thailand and across Asia. From a tragic elephant attack in Koh Yao to violent altercations involving tourists in Pattaya and Phuket, these incidents highlight ongoing challenges in tourism and cultural respect. Other headlines include a shocking bus accident in Kanchanaburi caused by illegal logging, the…
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Drunk tourist clashes with Phuket bikers over massage ride
A drunken tourist attacked three Thai app-based motorcycle taxi riders in Phuket, allegedly because he wanted a lift to a massage parlour. However, the riders declined to serve him, citing that they were fully booked. Several news agencies shared a video of the foreign man attacking three Thai men on a footpath yesterday, 5 January. In the video, the foreigner, wearing…
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Shell shock: Coconut factory fire sparks highway pileup
Smoke billowing from a fire at a coconut fibre factory led to a series of rear-end collisions on a major highway, causing a traffic jam stretching several kilometres. Firefighters took over four hours to control the blaze. Yesterday, January 5, police in Prachuap Khiri Khan received reports of a fire at a coconut fibre production facility located along the southbound…
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Bitcoin soars as ETFs and halving spark a crypto frenzy
Bitcoin soared to dizzying heights last year, propelled by a swarm of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) introduced in January and April’s dramatic supply-halving event. These triggers, combined with a surge of interest from institutional investors, catapulted Bitcoin into the limelight, transforming it into a mainstream asset category. The crypto kingpin shattered records, peaking at an astounding US$100,000 in early…
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Thai university student crashes car, damages 12 electricity poles
A 20 year old university student crashed his car into electricity poles along Kanchanaphisek Road, damaging 12 poles and three cars, due to drowsiness caused by antihistamines, a medicine used to treat allergy symptoms. Officers from Phetchakasem Police Station were alerted to the accident at a curve on Kanchanaphisek Road yesterday, January 5. Upon arrival, officers found a damaged blue…
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Cold front, hot topic: Thailand braces for a temperature tumble
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning about a significant drop in temperature across Thailand due to a cold air mass, leading to cooler weather across various regions. Affected areas include the northern, northeastern, and central parts of the country, with particularly frigid conditions on mountaintops. The TMD reported a northeast monsoon sweeping across the Gulf of Thailand,…
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Thaksin sparks outrage with racist remarks in Chiang Rai
The former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, delivered a controversial speech containing racist remarks about international models from Africa while supporting his daughter and Pheu Thai Party members in the Provincial Administrative Organisation chief election campaign in the northern province of Chiang Rai. Thaksin has taken a prominent role in the local election campaign in Chiang Rai as his…
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Bangkok fire leaves elderly man injured, son suspected of arson
A devastating fire engulfed a community in the heart of Bangkok, leaving a 73 year old man trapped and injured. Eyewitnesses suspect the homeowner’s son, who was seen watching the blaze, of starting the fire. Police later detained him. The blaze broke out yesterday, January 5, at 8.20pm in a residential area within Soi Bang Khae 14, on Bang Khae-Bang…
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