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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University students’ protest ignites over senators’ role
Activists comprising mainly students, as well as supporters of the Move Forward Party (MFP), held protests at the Kasetsart University, situated in the Bang Khen district of Bangkok, yesterday evening. The protests sparked from the increasing tension and anger against the seemingly prominent role individuals appointed as senators hold in the prolonged political disturbance of the country. This rally was…
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Thailand’s yearly military reshuffle may be delayed due to coalition government
In light of the formation of an impending coalition government, Thailand’s yearly military reshuffle might be subjected to a delay, as revealed by Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is concurrently serving as the Defence Minister and Prime Minister. His announcement was made on Friday, upon the closure of a Defence Council session. Expressing uncertainty about the timing of the reshuffle, Prayut said…
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Thai Democrat party denies rumors of joining Pheu Thai party
The Democrat Party of Thailand vehemently dismissed circulating rumours that more than half of its members of parliament were in the process of joining a coalition led by Pheu Thai. The party remains undecided regarding its stance on voting for Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial nominee, Srettha Thavisin. Party spokesman, Ramet Rattanachaweng, quashed speculations about a mass defection yesterday. Gossip had…
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Bangkok police shut illegal beauty clinic attracting foreign clients
In a decisive move against illegal medical practices in Thailand, police have shut down an illicit beauty clinic operating without authorisation in the Ekamai region of Bangkok. The unapproved facility, CCoco Beauty Clinic, was found operating on Thursday and immediately closed based on reports from the Department of Health Service Support. The entity of the clinic was discovered to be…
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Former monk arrested for 10 million baht fraud through online religious artefact shop
Police arrested a former monk for defrauding people of over 10 million baht through his online religious artefact shop. His illicit proceeds were used for everyday needs, online gambling, and to rent accommodation for hiding. The arrest occurred near a bustling night market in the Phang Khon district of the northeast Sakon Nakhon province. Warakorn Kongu-tit, a 46 year old…
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Undocumented foreign workers caught in East Thailand: Illegal entry attempt foiled
Police in Chanthaburi, East Thailand, apprehended six undocumented foreign workers attempting to enter the country illegally. This action took place amid a nationwide crackdown in response to a directive by the Ministry of Labour, allowing for the registration of foreign labourers in the country. The apprehended individuals were caught following a high-speed pursuit. Under the command of Superintendent Khemarin Phitsamai…
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Move forward, step back: Thailand’s election winner yields to Pheu Thai Party to form govt
Thailand’s General Election winner, the Move Forward Party (MFP), and its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, have agreed to step back and make way for the Pheu Thai Party to lead the coalition parties and form a government. The MFP Permanent Secretary, Chaitawat Tulathon, today, July 21, revealed the party’s struggles over the past two months during a press conference. The conservative…
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Mosquito mayhem: Dengue fever cases surge in Loei province, Thailand
Faced with a significant surge in dengue Fever cases, health officials from Thailand’s northeastern province of Loei have issued an urgent appeal for residents to exercise caution and intensify efforts to eradicate mosquito breeding sites. The province has reported 462 cases of the disease, with several patients requiring hospitalisation. Chanachai Bunyu, a leading provincial health official, disclosed that the ongoing…
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Tiktok user’s stunning story reveals funeral fiasco: The ‘not-so-dead’ elderly man
In a captivating twist of events, a TikTok user, going by the handle ‘Sellpae phopping,’ shared a remarkable tale of an elderly man who was mistakenly believed to be dead and had an already planned funeral. However, the story took an unexpected turn when it became clear that it was all a misunderstanding. Despite facing numerous challenges after a severe…
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Heartbreaking twist: Thai man discovers coworker’s lifeless body in truck, links it to son’s tragic death
A Thai man who discovered the lifeless body of his 29 year old coworker in the back of a truck parked in the Soi Tessaban Bang Pu 80 in the Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok believes that the dead man committed suicide because his son died. Amid the heart-wrenching cries of relatives and coworkers, Police Lieutenant Colonel Thertphum Duangprathum, deputy…
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Buriram Highway Police crack down on driver using deceptive number plate sticker
A 45 year old man landed himself in hot water with highway police in Thailand’s northeast Buriram province after attempting to foil them with a deceptive tactic. He attempted to dodge speeding tickets by putting a sticker over his vehicle’s number plate, leading the traffic police on a convoluted hunt. The bizarre case began with a Mercedes-Benz owner filing a…
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MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat hailed as politician of the year in E-Saan Poll
The leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) was hailed politician of the year according to an E-Saan Poll. The survey was compiled by the E-Saan Centre for Business and Economic Research (ECBER) of the Faculty of Management Science, Khon Kaen University, in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The annual “Rewards of E-Saan” poll aims to gauge the sentiments…
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Lottery quota scam: Investor dupes 10+ people, swindles staggering 40 million baht
In a dramatic turn of events, a business investor recently scammed over 10 people out of a staggering 40 million baht (US$1,166,180) through a lottery quota sale tactic. The victims gathered to present the case to Bangkok’s Central Investigation Bureau earlier today, hoping to expedite the search for the fraudulent businessman, known as “Sia Mo,” who is now on the…
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Tyre-rifying mishap: Pickup truck reverses over 5 year old, leaves tyre marks on his back
In a distressing incident in the northern province of Chaing Rai, a pickup truck reversed over a five year old boy, leaving tyre marks on the young victim’s back. The incident took place on Monday, July 17, at approximately 4.30pm when 54 year old Aryo Wuimae drove his pickup into Mae Yao Wittaya School premises to pick up his child.…
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Milk delivery worker found dead in dormitory in northeasten Thailand, police await post-mortem results
An unexpected incident has shaken milk delivery workers after their co-worker was discovered dead in a shared bathroom facility within a two-storey dormitory. The police today were called to the scene located within the city district in Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima, northeast Thailand. Unsettled co-workers discovered the body of their 56 year old colleague, Watcharin, who was found stripped and face-down in…
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Jackson Wang-demonium’ shakes Bangkok airport: Nine IB officers transferred for causing chaos
The Immigration Bureau (IB) announced the transfer of nine IB police officers after the hapless officers caused chaos at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok while fans lined up to see Hong Kong rapper, Jackson Wang. On Tuesday night, July 18, hundreds of Thai fans gathered at Suvarnabhumi Airport to welcome their beloved idol, Jackson Wang, who arrived in Thailand to…
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Thai Smile Airways’ turbulent tiff: Passenger’s ‘left-behind’ fiasco halts takeoff in Chiang Mai (video)
A Thai Smile Airways flight had to make an emergency stop as it taxied down the runway after a foreign passenger demanded the plane returned to the terminal gate so he could pick up his left behind valuables at Chiang Mai International Airport. A Thai TikTok user, bandzlam, shared a video of the incident when a foreign man urged a…
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Fiery accident on Ayutthaya overpass leaves car ablaze after collision with 18-wheeler
A traumatic accident occurred in the early hours of this morning, as a sudden brake from an 18-wheeler led to a fiery collision on an overpass in the central Ayutthaya province. north of Bangkok. The vehicle crashing into the trailer was a passenger car unable to brake in time, resulting in an intense fire. Upon investigation at the scene, it…
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Heavy downpours forecasted across 42 Thai provinces, flash floods expected
The country has been warned of possible intense downpours and potential floods today by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), affecting 42 major provinces across Thailand, including Bangkok. Residents are being cautioned of sudden flash floods. At 5am today, the TMD forecasted a 24-hour weather change with the intrusion of monsoons from the north and northeast. These monsoons are heading towards…
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Road collapse: Residents demand quick compensation after elevated road project mishap
Prompted by the destructive downfall of a chunk of an elevated road project on Luang Phaeng Road situated in the Lat Krabang district on July 10, residents are fervently appealing to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for a swift distribution of compensation and other financial aid post the unfortunate road collapse. A portion of the On Nut-Lat Krabang elevated road…
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Saudi-Thailand relations: Leaders discuss tourism and investment amid strengthening ties
The chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Consultative Assembly, Abdullah Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Sheikh, was heartily welcomed by Thailand’s Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday for a constructive dialogue on potential collaboration for tourism and investment in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The Saudi-Thailand relations discussion was announced by Tipanan Sirichana, deputy government spokesperson for Thailand. Al-Sheikh, leading the delegation from Saudi Arabia, had…
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Business events sector in Thailand set for a boost with projected tourism rebound
The business events sector in Thailand is set to benefit from the buoyancy of the country’s tourism industry and a new influx of trade shows this year, fuelled in part by the country’s stable political environment, according to specialists at Informa Markets Thailand. Sanchai Noombunnam, who helms the firm in Thailand, drew attention to predictions that the country would recoup…
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Thai finance minister proposes high-value fruit insurance, EV premium changes
Exuding a wave of fresh optimism for the agricultural and green sectors, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith has floated a revolutionary proposal – the launch of insurance for high-value fruits. A measure aimed at fortifying the faith of fruit farmers, the proposal was made during a compelling keynote speech at the CEO Insurance Forum 2023. The main theme for the forum,…
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Phone scam: 400,000 baht stolen using face recognition and hacking, former Bangkok MP aids victim
Former Bangkok MP Patcharin Sumsiripong accompanied a woman who was tricked by fraudsters claiming to be land officials raiding her phone. They managed to take her money by gaining her trust using accurate data before she realised that her money had been transferred to another account. This phone scam took place yesterday, when Patcharin escorted the swindled woman, Yaowalak, to…
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Thailand sees tourism growth skyrocketing to 3 trillion baht in 2023
Thailand recently experienced a surge in international arrivals, with numbers reaching 15 million within just seven months of this year, encouraging tourism growth, informed Rachada Dhnadirek, a deputy government spokesperson. She acknowledged the substantial contribution of northern hemisphere school summer breaks increasing the influx of international tourists to the vibrant Southeast Asian nation, thereby boosting tourism growth. In response to…
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Buriram residents bewildered by backdated water bills up to 9 years old
In Thailand’s northeast province of Buriram, inhabitants of Ban Dan district are left in confusion as they are being billed for water usage dating back six to nine years. Appearing across each village, these bills have sparked controversy, with municipality staff explaining that the payment must be collected. The complaints escalated as residents within the Ban Dan area, in some…
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Breaking stereotypes: Thai students organise birthday surprise for black teacher (video)
Thai students at Chaturaphak Phiman School in the Isaan province of Roi Et have taken a stand against stereotypes, showing the world that not all Thai students are racist. The student shared a video of them creating a birthday surprise for their black teacher. Three days ago, a video of a Thai student raising her middle fingers at a black…
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Move Forward Party’s ‘Pita’-ful plan: Deputy leader aims for Thailand’s PM seat
The deputy leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) revealed to the media today that the party plans another attempt to put forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat as Thailand’s next prime minister. Natthawut Buapratum made known the MFP will discuss the matter with the eight coalition parties. Natthawut revealed that Pita’s bid to become PM was blocked by many MPs and senators…
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Wounded turtle rescued amid rising beach pollution at Thailand’s Sirinat National Park
In the coastal paradise of Thailand’s Sirinat National Park, an unexpected occurrence unfurled yesterday. A hapless turtle was found ensnared in discarded fishing nets on Nai Yang Beach, Phuket, severely injured and in distress amid inclement weather. Park officials, alerted to the creature’s predicament by vigilant tourists, made immediate efforts to liberate it from the nets, battling against high waves…
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Uncaring boss berates employee for Covid-19 sick leave
A compelling online controversy has ignited following an exchange of conversation between a female employee who requested sick leave because of Covid-19 and her uncompassionate boss. This incident, disclosed by TikTok user lilich_pch in a video clip, has amassed substantial attention across the Internet. @lilich_pch♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – Fraremn In the shared video, lilich_pch reveals a chat message conversation with her…
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