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Thailand hot news, breaking stories, crime, politics, tourism, and business—stay updated with in-depth reports and exclusive interviews on the latest events across the country. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Thailand news source.
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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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Doubts over Thai target of 8.2 million Chinese visitors in 2024
Analysts have expressed doubts over the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) ambitious target of attracting 8.2 million Chinese visitors next year. This comes as predictions for overall foreign arrivals next year have been downscaled, amidst concerns over a sluggish global economy. Kasem Prunratanamala, who leads research at CGS-CIMB Securities in Thailand, stated that while the firm has kept its estimation…
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Thai Airways takes a smile: Reinstates nine cool-season routes for domestic delight
Thai Airways International reinstated nine domestic routes for the cool season, previously provided by its former affiliate, Thai Smile Airways. The services, which will run until March 30, utilise the Airbus A320 planes from the airline’s former subsidiary, Thai Smile. The re-established routes offer daily flights from Bangkok to nine destinations – Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen,…
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Thai nightlife gets a glow-up: Cabinet green-lights 4am extended hours for tourist hotspots
The Thai Cabinet has given the green light to a draft regulation set forth by the Interior Ministry, permitting extended hours until 4am at entertainment venues in prominent tourist hotspots. The affected areas include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Koh Samui, and Phuket. Aiming to stimulate the country’s tourism sector, the Interior Ministry is at the helm of this initiative.…
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Drunk police chief insults foreign man at restaurant in Isaan
A drunk police colonel from Maha Sarakham Provincial Police Station abused a foreign man at a restaurant in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham last night. Videos of a Thai man in a red T-shirt causing chaos in a restaurant were shared on social media platforms, yesterday, November 27. In the video, the Thai man was angry after the waiters asked him…
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Porked out: Ex-DSI chief gets the chop amid sizzling scandal
Police Colonel Suriya Singhakamol, the now former Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), finds himself ousted and reassigned amid the recent ongoing pork scandal. The Cabinet’s decision to remove Suriya from the DSI’s top post and appoint him as the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Justice has left the public clamouring for answers. No official explanation has been provided,…
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Thai government approves 10% increase for civil servants starting at 18,000 baht
The Thai government approved a 10% salary increase for civil servants over a two-year period, beginning with new recruits. According to Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), the first increment is expected to come into effect once the budget for 2024 is approved. Danucha explained that the salary adjustment will initially target newly inducted…
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Thai authorities demand registration for individuals holding over five SIM cards
Under the leadership of Prasert Chantraruangthong, the Committee for the Prevention and Suppression of Cybercrime has mandated the registration of individuals possessing more than five SIM card numbers. The numbers are staggering. A whopping 7,664 individuals possess over 100 SIM cards, with Thai nationals holding 3,580,571 of them, and foreigners not far behind with 2,591,365. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications…
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Violence against women and children in Thailand triples in 2022
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and Woman and Men Progressive Movement Foundation (WMP) reported that violence against women and children in Thailand tripled in 2022 compared to the previous year. ThaiHealth and WMP held a seminar to promote the campaign to end violence against women and children under the theme, Stop Violence as Signals Appear Before They Make Headlines.…
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Car crash with suspected alcohol influence in Tha Phra tunnel obstructs Bangkok traffic
A car accident involving a Honda Jazz car and a Mazda CX3 occurred inside the Tha Phra tunnel in Bangkok, leading to the Honda Jazz flipping over and obstructing the road. The Jazz was driven by 52 year old probation officer, Suwet (surname withheld), who was found in a dazed state and was suspected of being under the influence of…
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Rice and shine: Thai government dishes out financial aid to farmers through BAAC
The Thai government initiated a financial aid programme for rice farmers, channelling through the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). Rice farmers will receive 1,000 baht per rai, capped at 20 rai (32,000 squared metres) per household, or a maximum of 20,000 baht per household. This scheme, part of the Rice Farmer Management and Quality Improvement project for the…
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Begging to differ: Bangkok busts 23 Jordanian beggars in Nana crackdown after Soi Sukhumvit 4 complaints
Immigration Bureau officers arrested 23 Jordanian beggars at a hotel in the Nana neighbourhood of Bangkok yesterday following complaints from business owners on Soi Sukhumvit 4 near Nana Plaza. Business owners near Nana Plaza shared videos of foreign beggars from a Middle Eastern country causing a public nuisance in the area on several social media platforms last week. They urged…
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Thai official raises concern over Chinese film’s impact on tourism (video)
Puangpet Chunlaiad, Office Minister of the Prime Minister, raised concerns with Chinese Ambassador Han Zhiqiang about the potential impact of the Chinese film No More Bets on tourism in Thailand. The meeting took place at the Government House yesterday, November 27. Puangpet expressed her concerns about the movie’s portrayal of fraudulent activities, human trafficking, organ trading, call scams, and high-profile…
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Unprecedented tourist influx on full moon day at Wan Nakee Island’s shrine
Tourists flocked to Wat Kham Chanot Wang Nakee coinciding with the revered day of the full moon and the traditional Loy Krathong Festival on November 27. The shrine, located in Ban Muang, Ban Dung district, Udon Thani province, is dedicated to Nakee Island’s spiritual guardians, Grandfather Sri Sutho and Grandmother Ya Sri Pathum. The shrine’s spiritual significance attracted a vast…
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Escape to Thailand’s best-kept secret: Mae Chaem, a hidden paradise of culture, tranquillity, and starlit nights
In the heart of northern Thailand lies a hidden gem, away from the tourist throngs that swarm popular destinations. Mae Chaem, nestled on the flank of Doi Inthanon mountain, beckons discerning travellers seeking respite from the usual hustle and bustle. As you wind through lush greenery and scenic landscapes, Mae Chaem unfolds like a dream. The journey itself, a four-hour…
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Russian man dies in Phuket motorbike accident involving Chinese tourists
A fatal collision on Kata Hill, Phuket has claimed the life of a Russian man after his motorbike collided with a passenger van carrying six Chinese tourists, on Saturday, November 25, according to Phuket Tourist Police. The incident took place on the stretch between Kata and Chalong, and while the specifics of the collision are yet to be revealed by…
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Democrat Party leader Prawit Wongsuwan embraces eco-friendly Loy Krathong tradition
Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Democrat Party (DP), along with key party executives, participated in an environmentally friendly version of the Thai tradition of Loy Krathong. Using biodegradable Krathongs (floating baskets), they wished for the good health and happiness of all Thai people and for illnesses to be swept away by the river current. Prawit, the DP leader, was joined…
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Chinese airlines hit turbulence: Air China, China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines pump the brakes on December and January flights
Major Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Eastern, and Shanghai Airlines, slam the brakes on flights for December and January. Several Chinese airlines, notably Air China, China Eastern, and Shanghai Airlines, sent shockwaves through the travel industry by cancelling flights to Thailand for December and January. The root cause? A plunge in bookings mirrors China’s economic downturn and a…
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Bangkok university student falls from building during Loy Krathong Festival
An 18 year old student fell from a well-known university building in central Bangkok on the night of the Loy Krathong Festival. The incident took place last night, November 27, as reported by Thanapat Suwannanak, Deputy Sheriff (Investigator) of the Thonglor Police Station. The university premises were examined by police, doctors and charity workers following the incident. The incident occurred on…
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Palm tree falls on top of Thai man and kills him in southern Thailand
A dead palm tree fell on top of a Thai man and killed him at a plantation in the southern province of Satun yesterday, November 27. A Thai man named Sorn reported the incident to officers at Manang Police Station and the Nikhom Pattana Sub-district Rescue Team. His 47 year old employer, Date, had been hit by a large palm…
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Thai NBTC to investigate 40,000 numbers linked to SMS and phone scams
The Thai National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is poised to probe 40,000 numbers, suspected to be instrumental in SMS and phone scams, to apprehend the main culprits. A meeting was recently held by an NBTC subcommittee to discuss the data collected on these alleged scam phone numbers. Key representatives from law enforcement agencies, the central bank and mobile phone…
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Central Thailand: Family demands justice for unexplained death of 17 year old girl at welfare centre
The death of a 17 year old girl while under the care of a welfare centre in Ratchaburi, has left her grandfather and father seeking justice. The family only recently discovered the death of the girl, Nong Not, when contacted by officials last week, despite her passing in October last year. The family is now demanding a clear explanation regarding…
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Thailand and Malaysia enhance bilateral relations to boost border trade and tourism
A significant agreement was recently reached between the leaders of Thailand and Malaysia to bolster their bilateral relations, with a specific focus on enhancing border trade and tourism. The Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, and his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, agreed upon this during their working visit at the newly inaugurated Sadao customs checkpoint in Songkhla. Their meeting, which took…
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7km bridge over Songkhla Lake to boost southern Thailand transport
Plans are underway to construct a 7 kilometre bridge over Songkhla Lake starting next year, a project aimed at enhancing regional transport in southern Thailand. This proposal includes a commitment to protect the local environment and wildlife, particularly the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins living within the lake. The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) has formed a pact with four other state…
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Thai hostages freed: House Speaker’s gratitude shines in Hamas release
The release of three Thai hostages held by Hamas was greeted with relief and expressions of gratitude by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha. This event, which happened Sunday night, brings the total number of liberated Thai hostages to 17, leaving 15-16 still in captivity. The House Speaker is optimistic about their liberation during the next ceasefire between Israel and…
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Commerce carnival: Ministry’s mega discount campaign aims to slash living costs for Thai citizens
In a grand gesture to ease the cost of living for Thai citizens, the Ministry of Commerce is joining forces with over 300 manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and convenience stores to roll out a colossal discount campaign. Scheduled to kick off on December 15 and last until January 15, 2024, this initiative is considered a new year present to the public…
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Surin Beach sunbeds mysteriously vanish, sparking tourist speculation in Phuket
A sudden and unexplained removal of sunbeds from the popular Surin Beach in Phuket has left tourists and locals alike perplexed. The event occurred last week, with only one operator, the Surin Beach Club, left unaffected, leading to a surge in inquiries and speculation. The mystery deepens as the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (Cherng Talay OrBorTor), the local government…
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Hazy highway: Foreign duo sparks backlash for road trip cannabis cruise in Sukhumvit, Bangkok
Two foreign men faced criticism from Thai netizens after a video of them smoking cannabis on a motorcycle on a road in the Sukhumvit neighbourhood of Bangkok went viral on social media. The Twitter account, Red Skull, shared a video of the two foreigners yesterday, November 26. They were reportedly riding in Soi Sukhumvit 23 near the popular entertainment venue,…
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Fuelling the fire: Thai-Italian man arrested for stealing petrol in Bangkok (video)
Police arrested a half-Thai, half-Italian man for stealing 2,600 baht worth of fuel from a petrol station in the Lat Phrao district of Bangkok. The Thai-Italian suspect, 29 year old Tanrak Corsaro, stole fuel from a petrol station on Soi Lat Phrao 134 in Bangkok on October 5. Tanrak was seen on CCTV driving his white Mercedes-Benz C 350 into…
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Double trouble no more: MMA Askhabov twins emerge unscathed from torture conspiracy charges
Renowned MMA fighter Khusein Askhabov, and his identical twin, Khasan, have been released unscathed following charges of conspiracy to torture and extortion. The Askhabov brothers’ release was broadcast on a Russian-language social media platform, as verified by the sports channel Red Fury MMA. The charges originated from an incident involving the alleged invasion of an Italian man’s villa by three Kazakh…
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Cosmic con: Fortune teller tricks Thai woman into sex and 14 million baht loss
A Thai woman issued a warning to others after a fortune teller tricked her into paying more than 14 million baht for rituals and lured her into having sex with him. The 30 year old victim, named only as A, shared her story with the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive to warn other women and process a lawsuit against the fortune teller.…
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