News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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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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Childcare centre director arrested for sexually abusing 3 year old girl
A Thai mother sought justice for her three year old daughter, who was sexually abused by the director of the Nong Yai Child Development Centre in the northeastern province of Buriram. The director asked for the case to be dropped for fear of losing his pension. The girl’s mother, identified as A, told Channel 3 that she had been approached…
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Pedestrian’s pavement protest takes a toll on illegally parked car, driver pays the price
A major lesson was learnt when a car illegally parked on the pavement faced the wrath of a disgruntled pedestrian. In an unexpected move, the man chose to walk over the vehicle, damaging it and subsequently reporting the driver for causing him injury. The occurrence resulted in both parties filing complaints and the car owner facing a fine for his…
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Malaysian Economy Minister roasted over ‘eating out’ remark amid global financial turmoil
Malaysians are expressing their frustration towards their Economy Minister, following an interview where he claimed the public’s financial struggles are due to their preference for eating out, rather than being economical. This criticism comes as various countries worldwide are grappling with economic issues, particularly income disparity and poverty. Malaysia is among those nations facing these issues, with most of its…
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Royal revelations: King’s son unveils his visit to ‘Faces of 112’ exhibition curated by fugitive academic
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, the second eldest son of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his second wife, Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, shared his experience of visiting the Faces of Victims of 112: An Exhibition, curated by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an academic and a fugitive from a Section 112 case. The exhibition, held at Columbia University, was visited by Vacharaesorn, a Thai resident residing in New York,…
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Sukhumvit snatch: Thai thief nabbed for stealing 40,000 baht from Ukrainian couple
Police arrested a Thai man at his home in Bangkok’s Khlong Toei district today after he stole more than 40,000 baht from a Ukrainian couple on Soi Sukhumvit 18. The Ukrainian couple reported to Thong Lor Police Station in the early hours of today, September 19, that a thief on a motorcycle rode up from behind and snatched a bag…
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EGAT seeks Cabinet approval for 50.8 billion baht power generation boost in Bangkok
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) anticipates approval from the Cabinet for its proposal to increase power generation at its south Bangkok gas-fired facility in Samut Prakan. The initiative recently underwent a public hearing. The proposal for additional capacity comes in response to the decommissioning of several generators. To ensure sufficient electricity for the capital’s inhabitants, EGAT deemed this…
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Thai gold market glistens: Prices sparkle with a 100 baht boost in a day
Gold prices in Thailand saw a significant surge today as per the Gold Traders Association. Compared to the closing price of the previous day, gold ornaments today, September 19, were sold at an increased rate of 33,100 baht (US$926) per baht weight, marking an upswing of 100 baht. At 9.28am, the Gold Traders Association’s website showed the latest data. For…
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Head-on collision: Thai woman’s quest for justice after construction site calamity results in skull fracture
A Thai woman embarked on a quest for justice after concrete debris from a construction site in Bangkok’s Sathon district came crashing down on her head, resulting in a skull fracture. She is now pressing for more than just the cost of her medical treatment as compensation from the owner of the under-construction building. The victim, 36 year old Ananya,…
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Thailand’s new tax twist: Overseas earners spending 180 days face income tax
Thailand’s tax policy, as declared by the Revenue Department, recently stipulated that an individual spending up to 180 days a year in the country and earning income from overseas will be liable for personal income tax. This decision, governed by Section 48 of the Revenue Code, is expected to primarily influence three groups: individuals involved in foreign stock market trading…
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Thai woman dies after breast augmentation surgery with illegal doctor
The president of the Forensic Physicians Association of Thailand yesterday warned the public of illegal breast augmentation surgery, which recently led to the death of a Thai woman. The doctor, Smith Fa Srisont, took to Facebook yesterday, September 18, to share the story of a Thai woman who underwent breast augmentation surgery with a fake doctor and suffered tragic consequences.…
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Thai man dodges arrest after shooting outside Robot pub in northern Thailand
A Thai man escaped arrest last night after shooting two men outside the Robot pub in the Kud Pong sub-district in the Isaan province of Loei. The two victims were seriously injured. Officers from Mueang Loei Police Station received a report of the shooting at 1.10am yesterday, September 18. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered a trail of bloodstains…
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BCHF’s heartwarming mission: Nourishing bodies and souls of Bangkok’s homeless, elderly, less fortunate
The Bangkok Community Help Foundation (BCHF), a non-profit organisation committed to enhancing the lives of residents in Thailand’s capital, has undertaken a heartwarming mission aimed at offering crucial support to the homeless, elderly and less fortunate in the city. In an extraordinary display of dedication, BCHF has made a solemn pledge to distribute 500 daily meals to Bangkok’s homeless, elderly…
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Thai monk-on-the-run: Holy man in ‘fur-ocious’ trouble for abusing animals
Royal Thai Police arrested another misbehaving Thai monk for repeatedly abusing animals and using them to haul a cart laden with offerings from devout merit makers. The Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) disclosed that the Thai monk had a previous run-in with the law for abusing animals, employing a goat, a donkey, a horse, and even a pig to pull his…
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DSI probes 20 firms over suspected collusion in Thai state construction bids
A probe by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has led to questioning representatives from 20 firms involved in bidding for state construction projects. These projects were eventually won by businesses owned by Praween Chanklai, also known as Nok. The investigation focuses on the construction of two sections of Highway 375, the first linking Don Toom and Lam Luk Bua in…
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Chiang Mai tourism recovery slower than expected despite visa-free policy
Despite the gradual revival of tourism, a significant number of rooms in Chiang Mai‘s hotels and the international airport remain unoccupied, with the return of travellers seemingly slower than anticipated post-pandemic. Adding to the concerns is the anticipated PM2.5 dust during the peak season. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin undertook an inspection of the airport in light of…
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Brake failure leads to crane lorry crash into Nakhon Sawan shops
A terrifying escape from death unfolded in Nakhon Sawan province when a crane lorry’s brakes failed, causing the vehicle to veer off, hitting a roadside shop, and causing severe damage. The incident, which took place yesterday, reportedly resulted in a noodle shop owner being scalded by boiling water. The driver insisted that he hadn’t consumed alcohol prior to the incident.…
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Former Thai deputy minister says ‘pandamonium’ not worth it, urges ‘elefant-astic’ focus on local treasures
The former Thai Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education voiced her opposition to the idea of importing new pandas from China, citing high rental costs and a declining interest in pandas. Instead, she suggests, the focus should be on the increasingly popular Thai elephants. Kanchana Silpa-archa, advisor and head of the Thai Nation Development Party, yesterday posted a message…
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Thailand reviews taxes and launches digital wallet to tackle income disparity
The Finance Ministry of Thailand is set to review the new land and building tax and the inheritance tax and launch the digital wallet following an order from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The move aims to mitigate income disparity in the nation. PM Srettha, who also holds the Finance Minister post, gave the directive subsequent to the appointment of a new…
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Ancient ice cream tempts tourists to Thai heritage park Si Thep
A unique idea of ancient ice cream moulded from artefacts found in the historic Si Thep Park has attracted a swarm of tourists. The Si Thep (SI THEP Towards World Heritage) Facebook page yesterday posted images of the ice cream, designed with various patterns matching those in the ancient site in Si Thep, Phetchabun. “Ancient ice cream of the ancient…
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Thai PM’s ‘spice of life’ plan: Srettha Thavisin to boost Thai-Indian tourism in Modi meet
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced his impending visit to India, scheduled for later this year, with an agenda to discuss boosting Indian tourism in Thailand with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders aim to resolve ongoing issues with visa application procedures and achieve approval for a visa-free policy for Indian tourists. Srettha told the media yesterday that he…
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Counterfeit vehicle plates crackdown: Police ‘benz’ the rules to arrest two men
In a crackdown on the use of counterfeit vehicle registration plates, police officers arrested two men while confiscating their vehicles: a Mercedes Benz GLA200 and an Isuzu D-Max pickup truck. A 33 year old man named Phan, from Rop Wiang, Chiang Rai, was apprehended for using a counterfeit vehicle registration plate on his Mercedes, claiming he bought it online for…
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Food delivery rider’s spooky encounter sparks social media stir in Thailand
A food delivery rider’s eerie experience at a customer’s location sparked a heated debate on Thai social media. The encounter, shared by a Facebook user named Suwat Radomboon, unfolded in the early hours of today when he arrived at a customer’s pin drop location, only to find a seemingly abandoned, dark building. Suwat, a food delivery rider, was left puzzled…
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Chiang Mai Airport’s 24 hours upgrade takes off to meet ‘soaring’ Chinese demand
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is preparing to take flight as Chiang Mai International Airport gears up for 24/7 operations starting November 1, all in response to the soaring demand from Chinese visitors. The Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson, Chai Watcharong, said today that the PM and Finance Minister, Srrettha Thavisin, wants to extend Chiang Mai Airport’s operating hours, from the…
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Krungsri Bank anticipates Thai baht fluctuation amid global market developments
The Global Markets team at Krungsri Bank predicts a movement in the Thai baht this week within the range of 35.40 to 36.00 baht per US dollar. Last week, the baht closed weaker at 35.79 baht per US dollar after trading in the range of 35.43 to 35.82 baht per US dollar. The dollar strengthened against the euro but held…
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Funeral fumble: Factory worker’s sacking to attend grandmother’s funeral sparks public outcry
A factory worker in Pak Thong Chai, Nakhon Ratchasima, was abruptly dismissed after requesting leave to attend his grandmother’s funeral, sparking widespread social criticism. The incident was revealed through a conversation shared on the Line application, where the worker asked his supervisor for two days off. The supervisor’s response of “feel free” was understood as a granting of permission to…
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Party probe: AMLO speeds up investigation into fatal Nok housewarming bash
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) is fast-tracking an investigation into police officers who attended the housewarming party of village headman Praween Chanklai, also known as Nok, which led to the death of two police officers. The victims of the fatal shooting were Police Major Siwakorn Saibua, a 32 year old highway police inspector who ultimately succumbed to multiple bullet injuries, and…
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Rubber to riches: Thai farmer’s organic vegtable transformation yields green profits
A 58 year old entrepreneurial farmer in Trang has transformed his four-acre rubber plantation into a thriving organic vegetable garden. Previously, he was earning only 100 baht for 3 kilograms of rubber. Now, his organic vegetable farming generates an income of over 50,000 baht per month from his new endeavour. The farmer, San Chanchia, residing at House No. 17, Village…
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Bangkok vendor pays tribute to revered monk after selling land for 2 million baht
A Bangkok-based vendor sold her land for over 2 million baht and used the money to pay tribute to a revered monk at a well-known temple in Nakhon Pathom. The event occurred today, at the central temple of Bang Phra in Nakhon Chai Si district, Nakhon Pathom province. The vendor, 55 year old Sunan, was previously burdened by a large…
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Fatal Pattaya accident: 57 year old woman on motorbike struck by school van
A tragic accident occurred at a bustling intersection in Pattaya when a 57 year old woman on a motorbike was fatally struck by a school van. The incident happened yesterday around 6.30am at the Wat Boonkanjanaram traffic signal intersection. The police, led by Deputy Inspector Kotanan, were alerted and promptly arrived at the scene with the Sawangboriboon Thammasathan Pattaya rescue…
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Khon Kaen concert altercation ends in fatal shooting incident, suspect claims self-defence
Khon Kaen police charged a man following a fatal shooting incident that occurred after a concert. The suspect, Anucha Sidaput, also known as 22 year old Kung, defended his actions, claiming self-defence against a group he feared posed a threat to him. The incident took place today. According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Rungsak Jongklarat, Director of Weluwan Police Station in…
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