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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
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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Final call for Social Security Fund members to register for inaugural election
The Labour Ministry has made a final call to Social Security Fund (SSF) members to register for the inaugural election of Social Security Board members, with today marking the end of the registration period. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn explained the extension of the registration period, which was originally set to end on October 31, was granted to provide members with…
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HPV vaccination drive: Thailand aims to inoculate 1 million young women
The Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) in Thailand is on a mission: to vaccinate one million young women against the human papillomavirus (HPV) within 100 days. This ambitious initiative is part of a national campaign aiming to safeguard the health of the country’s female population. The campaign’s life-saving work began at Plookpanya School in Phuket Town, where 200 female…
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Thai Airways reports profitable Q4, driven by Chinese visitor surge
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) announced a profitable fourth quarter, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of profits, underpinned by a steady recovery in passenger numbers amid the Covid-19 era. The growth has been particularly driven by a surge in visitors from China. Thai Airways recorded a net income of 1.54 billion baht (US$43 million) for the quarter ending…
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Mild earthquake shakes Pai district affecting four provinces
A 4.7 magnitude earthquake at a depth of 2 kilometres shook Pai district, Mae Hong Son province, causing tremors that were felt across four provinces. The Geology Department reported that the quake occurred today, with no initial damage found. The earthquake originated in the northern part of Wiang Nuea subdistrict, Pai district, Mae Hong Son province. It was followed by…
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Notorious motorbike thief’s joyrides hit the brakes in Thailand
A notorious thief, who swiftly stole motorbikes in under 15 seconds and sold them at cheap prices online, was arrested in his latest act as police slammed the brakes on his illegal business. The suspect, Phongsathon, was involved in over 40 such thefts and used the proceeds for gambling and drug abuse. The arrest took place today, by the police…
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Woman nearly dies after jumping into river to retrieve 1,000 baht bill
A 71 year old Thai woman almost died for literally chasing money by jumping into the Bang Pakong River in the central province of Chachoengsao to retrieve a 1,000 baht bill. Officers from Mueang Chachoengsao Police Station rushed to the pier in front of the Chachoengsao Provincial Fire Station after receiving a report of a water accident. At the scene,…
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Sex trade crackdown: Thai woman leaps from hotel window in Malaysia
A 27 year old Thai woman sparked a frenzy as she leapt from the third floor of a budget hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia while attempting to evade the authorities. Suspected of being involved in the sex trade, she was ultimately apprehended by immigration officers. The incident occurred when immigration officers stormed the hotel on a sex trade crackdown mission…
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Chiang Mai MP refutes accusations of falsifying documents for party funds
Chiang Mai’s Move Forward Party (MFP) MP, Phattarapong Leelaphat, refuted accusations of falsifying documents to garner financial support from his party yesterday. This controversy was brought to light by the Democrat Party’s Tankhun Jittitsara on Wednesday, November 8. In response to the allegations, Phattarapong took to Facebook, dismissing the claims as baseless. The politician explained that most of the funds…
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First coalition party dinner signals unity and relaxed political discourse
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin reported a warm atmosphere at the first coalition party dinner held on November 8, with no bargaining for political gains witnessed among the government parties. The dinner, hosted by the leading Pheu Thai Party, was attended by leaders of coalition parties and was deemed successful enough to warrant monthly repeats, as reported by Deputy Prime Minister…
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Thai government to reveal details of contested 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme
The Thai government is set to disclose the specifics of its contentious 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme distribution today. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, in response to critics who argue the initiative could inflict more economic damage than benefit, will conduct a news conference at 2pm today to elucidate all aspects of the policy. The 61 year old Thai prime minister has…
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13 year old girl confesses to fabricating minibus driver rape story
The 13 year old girl who reportedly accused a minibus driver of drugging and sexually assaulting her, later confessed that she had fabricated the rape story. However, a medical examination revealed signs of sexual assault and her relatives are suspected. The grandmother of the victim revealed to the public that her 13 year old granddaughter lost control of herself and…
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Thailand military upgrade: Defense Ministry responds to emerging threats
Thailand’s Defence Ministry is gearing up to bolster the country’s armed forces, aiming for a technologically superior edge to counter emerging security threats. Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang highlighted the Thailand military upgrade commitment during his address to the incoming batch of the National Defence Course at the National Defence College yesterday. Sutin conceded his previous misunderstanding regarding military expenditure, stressing…
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Consumer confidence in Thailand soars to 44 month high
Last month witnessed a surge in consumer confidence for the third consecutive month, reaching its highest point in 44 months, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC). Factors contributing to this uplift include the government’s initiatives to curb living costs, a boost in foreign arrivals, and a revival in exports. The UTCC reported that the consumer…
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Content creator economy thrives in Thailand with Meta’s support
Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, is cultivating a thriving content creator economy in Thailand, offering local creative talent numerous avenues to monetise their output. This initiative allows creators to offer unique content and experiences to their subscribers, thereby establishing a new stream of revenue. According to Meta, these revenue-earning opportunities encompass branded content, partnership ads, and Instagram subscriptions.…
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Thais in Myanmar issued emergency documents for repatriation
Emergency travel documents are being issued to the majority of Thais awaiting repatriation in Myanmar, as most of them are without passports, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) yesterday. The MFA revealed that these individuals had their passports taken away by their employers. The information was disclosed by Ruj Thammamomgkol, director-general of the MFA Consular…
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Bangkok cracks down on corruption after road collapse incident
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin called for a thorough crackdown on corruption following an incident where a section of road in Bangkok collapsed under the weight of an overloaded lorry. The lorry is suspected to have been allowed to operate due to illicit payments to officials. This incident caused two traffic accidents earlier this week on the busy Sukhumvit Road. The…
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Cyberattacks plague Thailand: Over 10 annual incidents cause significant losses
A recent survey reveals that more than half of Thai organisations have experienced over 10 cyberattack incidents in the past year, leading to significant financial losses. The report, released by US-based cloud connectivity firm Cloudflare Inc., highlights the urgent need for Thai businesses to strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure. According to a data breach report commissioned by IBM, the global average cost…
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Cupid’s Arrow: Factory worker’s romantic gesture misses target, woman rejects overtures, sparks viral sympathy
A viral story from China has caught the attention of netizens after Cupid’s Arrow apparently missed its target. A factory worker’s bold declaration of love to a female colleague, complete with a bouquet, was met with rejection and disdain. The woman’s reason for the dismissal was simple – they didn’t know each other well enough for such a declaration of…
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Chilled vibes: Beat smelly fridge odours with toilet paper
A new social media trend is sweeping social media, with many people placing toilet paper in their refrigerators. This strange behaviour has puzzled many, leading to questions about the potential benefits of such an act. The answer, surprisingly, lies in combating unpleasant odours and excess moisture. Excessive moisture in a fridge often results in the growth of mould and undesirable…
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Two men arrested in major drug bust by MPB worth millions of baht
A recent crackdown by the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) led to a drug bust and the arrest of two 25 year old men. The duo, identified as Ton from Chiang Rai province, and Narongkiet from Suphanburi province, were apprehended today at their rental residence in Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom province, with an assortment of illegal drugs worth millions of baht. The…
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Bloody confrontation on dusty road: Fatal stabbing rocks peaceful village in Nakhon Phanom
A tragic incident unfolded in the village of Phathai, Tha Uthen, Nakhon Phanom, where a 48 year old local man was fatally stabbed multiple times by a 56 year old man from Loei province. The killing took place on a dusty road near the perpetrator’s residence at around 5.30pm yesterday. Police Lieutenant Colonel Saewang Khonklong, station chief of Tha Uthen…
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Woman discovers husband’s cruel bet to be the first to take her virginity was the reason for marrying her
A woman was left heartbroken upon discovering that her husband had married her as part of a cruel bet to be the first man to take her virginity. The shocking truth was revealed to her during a party by a former coworker. She first met her husband while working at the age of 20. Coming from a religious family with…
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Heatwave history: European scientists declare 2023 hottest year in 125,000 years
European scientists confirmed that this year is the hottest in 125,000 years. This follows data released last month indicating that global temperatures have reached record-breaking highs. The European Union’s climate change watchdog, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), revealed that the temperature in October surpassed the previous record set in 2019 by 0.4 degrees Celsius. The weather anomalies observed in October…
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Manhole lorry accident: BMA orders review of 371 construction sites
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered a review of 371 construction sites after a lorry incident revealed overloading up to 61 tonnes. The BMA is considering the use of a Bridge Weight Motion system to measure vehicle weight, with results expected within two months. Yesterday at the Bangkok City Hall, the Governor of Bangkok, Chadchart Sittipunt, and Deputy Governor…
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Ukrainian cosplayer Karina’s husband Johnny drowns in Bali
A tragic incident occurred in Bali, Indonesia when the husband of a well-known cosplayer lost his life to a rogue wave. The couple were on a trip to celebrate the husband’s birthday when tragedy struck, causing a stir on China‘s social media platform Weibo. Karina, a famous cosplayer, and her 34 year old husband Johnny had travelled to Bali to…
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Frantic rescue operation as Bangkok police officer’s car plunges into Chao Phraya River
A police officer’s vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into the Chao Phraya River near Bangkok, resulting in a frantic rescue operation. The driver of the vehicle, a Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) police officer, was found in a state of distress, pleading for help for his wife, presumed to be trapped inside the submerged vehicle. The mysterious plot…
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Man detained for climbing ancient Buddhist stupa’s golden spire at Wat Phra Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A young man was detained after climbing to the top of the golden spire of the ancient Buddhist stupa, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The spire, adorned with ancient gold artefacts and blue sapphires, is a revered site for Buddhists worldwide. At around 1am this morning, local law enforcement and passersby noticed a man scaling the…
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Bang Pla officials arrested in 2.3 million baht corruption scandal
A corruption scandal has surfaced in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, where the 61 year old chairman of Bang Pla Tambon Administrative Organisation (TAO), and his 44 year old secretary, were apprehended today. The duo was accused of demanding a 2.3 million-baht bribe from a local business. The arrest followed a complaint lodged by a business firm…
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Bangkok’s bumpy ride: Lorry takes an unexpected plunge, open manhole chaos ensues
An investigation team has been assembled to probe into an incident that occurred yesterday where a lorry registered under the number 43-3281 Nonthaburi plunged into an open manhole in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok. The incident led to substantial traffic congestion and vehicle damage. The police chief, Thiti Saengsawang, delegated the investigation task to a committee led by Witthawat Chinkham, the…
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Government sets up command centre for visa-free Indian and Taiwanese tourists
A command centre has been established by the government in preparation for the influx of tourists from India and Taiwan. The visa-free entry policy, starting tomorrow, is expected to draw a significant number of visitors. The high season is around the corner, and to avoid overcrowding at Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports, several agencies have been asked to contribute to…
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