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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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Phuket motorbike mayhem: Tourist Police send clear message on green book ownership
Phuket‘s Tourist Police issued a stern reminder to foreigners purchasing motorbikes, emphasising the importance of having the green registration book in their name. This advice follows a recent dispute between a Russian tourist and a local motorbike rental shop that refused to return his vehicle key. The disagreement came to light on November 18, when the Phuket Tourist Police were informed…
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Thai Srivijaya Party leader gets one-month prison sentence and 20000 baht fine for intimidation
The Phra Nakhon North District Court sentenced Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, also known as Tae, the leader of the Thai Srivijaya Party, to a month in prison and a fine of 20,000 baht for intimidation. The intimidation charges relate to threats made against Decha Kittiwittayanan, with sentencing to be deferred for a year and a probationary period of one year, during which…
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Loy Krathong chaos at Chiang Mai Airport: 160 flights shuffled, travellers beware!
With the upcoming Loy Krathong Festival in sight, Chiang Mai Airport is set to experience a whirlwind of changes, with a staggering 160 flights facing disruptions from November 27 to 28, post 7pm. Chiang Mai Airport Deputy Director Wisut Khamyod revealed today a jaw-dropping 101 cancellations and 59 rescheduled flights, creating a turbulence level hitting 47% of regular air traffic.…
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Thai prime minister faces backlash over alleged police favouritism
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is facing a backlash over alleged favouritism in police selection assignments. During a meeting with Pheu Thai MPs on Tuesday, November 21, the PM mentioned that some Pheu Thai MPs had requested police colonel positions for their preferred officers. While addressing the debt issue in the meeting, PM Srettha proposed a solution involving district chiefs…
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Tragedy strikes famous dragon troupe pickup truck: Explosive tyre leaves 3 dead and 15 injured
The pickup truck of a renowned dragon troupe who were on their way to a Khon Kaen performance suffered a tyre blowout, resulting in a devastating accident. The calamity occurred 70 kilometres before the troupe’s destination, turning Mittraphap Road into a scene of chaos. Police Colonel Peerachat, Superintendent’s Branch, Phon Police Station, and his team rushed to the area, responding…
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14 year old girl raped by two men in hotel in northern Thailand
A Thai man and his 14 year old daughter sought help from a Move Forward Party (MFP) member of Parliament after police failed to arrest and charge two men who allegedly raped the girl at a hotel in July in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani. The 40 year old father, Phanu, told MFP MP Wisarut Sawatworn that the sexual assault…
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Former TAT governor urges government to boost Chinese visitor numbers
The former Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor urged the government to reconsider its tourism strategy to improve the dwindling Chinese market. Predictions for this year suggest that arrivals from China will only total 26.8% of the 2019 level. Former TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn suggested that the government should negotiate with China to secure more flight routes and slots for Thai…
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Nok Air hit by widespread flight delays amid technical issues
A recent surge in delayed flights by Nok Air sparked widespread discussion about the airline‘s on-time performance (OTP). Passengers’ experiences of these delays were brought to light this week when renowned television reporter Thapanee Eadsrichai shared on Facebook that many passengers on a Nok Air flight from Don Mueang Airport to Chiang Mai had to be relocated to other flights…
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Heroic Thai teacher thwarts armed intruder: Calls for improved school safety measures in Thailand
A heroic teacher, who defended students and faculty from an armed intruder, has drawn praise from the government. Thawatchai Duangtham, a teaching assistant at Ban Nam Phu Hin Lat School in Chaiyaphum in northeast Thailand, bravely fought off an armed intruder, sustaining injuries to his hand and arm in the process. Deputy government spokesperson, Kaenika Unjit, commended his courage and…
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Bangkok ranked 9th in 2023 best cities for expats, down from 6th last year
One of the globe’s leading expat networking and guide websites ranked the Big Mango, Bangkok, as the 9th best city to live and visit for expats in 2023. The ranking is down from last year when Bangkok was ranked 6th. InterNations said it conducted an online survey from February 1 to 28 this year, with 12,065 expats from 172 countries…
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Thailand’s bold leap: Marriage equality legislation set to light up Parliament
Thailand‘s Cabinet greenlighted a historic draft legislation on marriage equality, sparking hopes for a significant stride towards inclusivity. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the pivotal decision on November 21, marking a potential turning point for the nation’s LGBTQ+ community. In a nation renowned for its vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, the legislation aims to bridge the gap between societal shifts and traditional…
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Disturbed Thai police officer’s shocking family drama: Father shot, mother and wife taken hostage
A tragic incident unfolded in Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom, when a disturbed police corporal shot his 71 year old father while he slept, before taking his mother and wife hostage. As the situation escalated, local law enforcement officials and negotiation teams rushed to the scene to intervene. At 4am today, police received a distress call about a 31 year…
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74 year old Thai man kills his brother-in-law over 35 year long dispute
A 74 year old Thai man shot and killed his 74 year old brother-in-law in a community in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok after a long dispute over a house payment 35 years ago. Officers at Rattanatibeth Police Station were notified of the 74 year old man’s death at 3.30pm yesterday, November 22. The victim, Uthai Wanlarat, was found lifeless in front…
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Thai Interior Ministry to launch nationwide crackdown on influential figures
The nationwide crackdown on influential figures, orchestrated by Thailand’s Interior Ministry, is set to kick off on December 1, confirmed Deputy Interior Minister, Chada Thaiseth. The operation, a collaborative effort between numerous authorities, including provincial administrative organisations, subdistrict administrative organisations, law enforcement and armed forces, is aimed at scrutinising and disbanding networks of these influential figures. A comprehensive list of…
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Phuket officials accused of extorting Thai women and their foreign husbands
Multiple Thai women accused officials at district offices in Phuket of extorting money from them and their foreign husbands. The alleged malpractice involves overcharging them between 3,000 to 8,000 baht for marriage certificates, a substantial increase from the standard 200 baht fee. These complaints were brought to the attention of a Facebook news page called Phuket Info Centre, whose administrator…
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Thailand’s visa exemption policy for Chinese unaffected despite low flight demand
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday announced that the government’s visa exemption policy for Chinese citizens remains unaffected amidst the cancellation of flight slots by several Chinese airlines due to low passenger demand. These airlines had previously secured slots for flights to Thailand, inclusive of ground handling services for their aircraft, only to relinquish their landing and take-off rights due to…
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Thailand braces for temperature rise of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius
Temperatures across Thailand are set to rise by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius, as the nation experiences a fade in cold weather. Despite this, the mornings in the north and northeast will continue to be cool, with some areas in the south experiencing rainfall. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasted the weather conditions for the next 24 hours, attributing this…
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AIS Fibre and 3BB unite to boost Thailand’s home Internet industry
AIS Fibre and 3BB have merged their strengths to supercharge the future under the name, AIS – 3BB Fibre 3. This union aims to uplift the home Internet industry in Thailand, supporting sustainable national growth. The idea is to combine for a better life and boost your brighter future by connecting all applications with a fibre network and superior innovations…
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Central Thailand: Former officer arrested for 700,000 baht embezzlement from disability fund
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) today arrested a former financial and accounting officer for embezzling over 700,000 baht from a fund dedicated to improving and developing the lives of disabled people. The individual in question, identified as Wilaiporn (surname withheld), has been accused of corruption and misconduct under section 1 of the Criminal…
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Intense manhunt for Thai fugitive Chaowalit persists despite lack of leads
The hunt for the fugitive Chaowalit Thongduang continues unabated, albeit without any solid leads to his whereabouts. It has been 15 days since law enforcement agencies initiated the intensive manhunt for Chaowalit, also known as Sia Paeng, in the Bantud mountain range, following a heated confrontation. Despite the relentless efforts of special operations units from Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and the…
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Northeast Thailand: Teenager fatally shot after Carabao concert at Surin Elephant Festival
A 17 year old teenager was fatally shot during a violent confrontation at the Surin Elephant Festival today, following Thai rock band Carabao’s last concert at the festival. The annual event, which attracted over 20,000 spectators, took place at the Srinagarind Stadium in Surin, Thailand. Tensions escalated after midnight as groups of teenagers began to leave the venue. A heated…
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3D-printed coral islands to rejuvenate Phuket’s degraded reefs
The coastal waters of Racha Yai Island, south of Phuket, are about to witness a groundbreaking ecological restoration project. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) initiated a project to install 88 sets of 3D-printed coral larvae islands at Siam Bay, to restore the severely degraded coral reef in the area. At the helm of this inaugural installation was…
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Southern Thailand: Police warn of online refill machine scams in Thepha district
Con artists are exploiting online refill machines to carry out fraud using money mule bank accounts, according to a warning issued by Thai police today. The alert today, November 22, was initially raised by the Sai Mai Must Survive (Sai Mai Tong Rot) Facebook page, which posted a video warning of the deceitful practice primarily occurring in Thepha district, Songkhla…
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Bangkok’s transit bombshell: BTSC to back 20 baht train rides but at what cost?
Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company (BTSC) is poised to back the government‘s bold move to limit train fares to a mere 20 baht on the city’s suburban rail network. However, there is a catch. BTSC CEO Keeree Kanjanapas revealed yesterday that this support comes with a crucial condition – the government must engage in talks with train operators to…
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Counterfeit money scam shocks Thailand’s mobile top-up kiosk operators
A video circulating on social media platforms showing a successful mobile top-up using counterfeit money has rocked Thailand. The clip, posted on the Facebook page Want to Be Famous, will arrange it, Retrine part 6, has triggered concerns among kiosk operators offering top-up services. A 71 year old shopkeeper, known as Uncle Lek, from Moo 6, Saohonghin sub-district, Bangyai district,…
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Thai man killed in gas cylinder explosion during fire drill at sugar factory
A fire instructor lost his life today in a gas cylinder explosion during a safety drill exercise at the Thai Identity Sugar Factory in the northern province of Uttaradit. Uttaradit Municipal Office authorities conducted the fire drill at the factory at around 9am today, November 22. According to the Uttaradit Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (UTT DDPM), the drill…
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Northeast Thailand: Knife-wielding man causes chaos at school in Khon Kaen
A shocking incident occurred at a school in Khon Kaen when a mentally disturbed man wielding a knife chased teachers and students around the flagpole, leading to injuries. The man was later apprehended by the police. The incident took place at 8.30am, at Ban Namphu Hin Lat School in Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum province. The man, identified as 37 year old…
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Thailand’s smart electronics and IT sectors set for growth with EV production
The Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) anticipates a significant surge in Thailand’s smart electronics, and IT sectors in the forthcoming year. The trigger for this expected growth is the commencement of production by global electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers within the country. The assembly of EVs is heavily reliant on electronics and IT products, hence the increased demand in these sectors,…
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Beauty blunder: Victims demand beauty clinic take responsibility for surgery failures
A Thai woman urged a beauty clinic in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, to take responsibility for the surgical mishaps that resulted in her developing gangrene and a forehead infection. Additionally, at least six others have also suffered adverse effects from procedures performed at the same clinic. The 32 year old victim reported the matter to the Consumer Protection Crime Suppression Division…
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Thai man arrested at Phuket Airport over computer crime charges
A 33 year old Thai man, accused of computer-related crime, was apprehended while attempting to depart from Thailand through Phuket International Airport. The arrest took place around 10.30pm on November 20, in the international departures hall, according to immigration officers stationed at the airport. The individual was sought after under arrest warrant No. 197/2566, issued by the Sisaket Provincial Court…
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