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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Thai economy faces scrutiny amid recession fears and slow pandemic recovery
The Thai economy is in the spotlight as concerns over a looming recession persist due to the nation’s weak export outlook and slow recovery from the pandemic. Last week, the government faced heavy criticism from opposition parties and business leaders during a Thai economy policy debate, with the latter expressing concerns over the lack of detail in the 43-page policy…
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Bitcoin blowup: Domestic dispute turns crypto catastrophe with six-hour standoff in central Thailand
A heated dispute over Bitcoin investment loss led to a domestic violence incident that escalated into a six-hour standoff with the police. The 35 year old husband, Kritsada, shot his wife and barricaded himself in their home in Uthai district, Ayutthaya province, before eventually surrendering to the authorities. The agitated husband yesterday shot his wife with a handgun, causing her…
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Unexpected generosity: Penny-pinching Vietnamese mother-in-law treats grandchildren to caviar
A young Vietnamese woman recently misjudged her mother-in-law‘s penny-pinching habits, only to be stunned by the unexpected generosity shown towards her grandchildren by treating them to some caviar. The woman, baffled by the sight of her children enjoying what she mistook for bitter gourd seeds, discovered they were actually eating caviar, one of the world’s most luxurious foods. The woman…
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Broken taxi meter mended: Thai good samaritan’s TikKok gesture goes viral
A kindhearted Thai woman shared a video on TikTok of the moment she helped a struggling taxi driver. She paid the driver an extra 2,350 baht to replace his broken meter. The video was posted on the TikTok account, @worldmj on Tuesday, September 12. The video caption read… “Travelling for several kilometres, but the meter does not count it. What…
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Undercover scandal: Child prostitution and curfew violations uncovered in northern province
The Department of Provincial Administration last night uncovered underage drinking, curfew violations and child prostitution at two entertainment venues in the northern province of Phayao. As a consequence of this discovery, five officers from Meuang Phayao Police Station have been transferred. Acting on a tip-off from the anti-trafficking Immanuel Foundation, authorities from the Department of Provincial Administration, Phayao Provincial Office…
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Internet sensations make waves in dramatic love triangle
A drama involving three Thai Internet celebrities blew up into a full-fledged love triangle melodrama over the weekend surrounding a couple, nicknamed Wave, his ex-partner P’Porn, and his new girlfriend. Following a tumultuous episode marked by accusations of infidelity, disputes over valuables, and car-related issues, Wave and Pee Lek, Wave’s new partner, issued apologies to P’Porn. This development came after…
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Thai business department investigates 439 firms for potential nomination violations
In a move to suppress the ‘grey’ market in the fiscal year 2023, the Business Development Department (BDD) investigated 439 companies, suspecting them of acting as nominees for foreign corporations. Interestingly, legal entities potentially involved in nominee activities were discovered in Chiang Mai and Chon Buri provinces. The BDD Deputy Director-General, Jitakorn Wongkhatekorn, revealed that the agency inspected three targeted…
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Thai gold prices hold steady: 33,000 baht for ornaments and 32,500 baht for bars
The Gold Traders Association announced that Thai gold prices remain steady today, compared to yesterday’s final prices. The association revealed that the selling price of gold ornaments stands at 33,000 baht per baht weight. This information was obtained from the Gold Traders Association’s website at 9.22am today. The domestic buying price for gold bars is set at 32,400 baht per…
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Thai students rally to care for teacher’s child in heartwarming TikTok video
A heartwarming scene unfolded in a Thai school when a teacher’s young child was cared for by third-year students. The teacher, who had to bring her child to school due to her mother’s illness, was touched by the students’ collective effort. The event was captured on video by the teacher, known as @aungzalalala on TikTok, and quickly gained over a…
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Tragic gym death in China as young man gets trapped under 100kg barbell
A tragic incident unfolded in Wuhan, China, Hubei province when a 25 year old man lost his life during a gym workout. The tragic gym death occurred as Zhang attempted to lift a 100-kilogramme barbell, which unfortunately fell onto his neck, trapping him beneath its weight. Despite his desperate efforts to free himself, Zhang was unable to do so, prompting…
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Identity heist: Thai man’s plastic surgery ploy backfires, friend jailed in case of mistaken identity
A Thai man resorted to using his friend’s identity to commit a crime and then underwent plastic surgery in an attempt to evade capture. This wrongful act led to his friend being wrongfully imprisoned for 80 days in his place. The transformed criminal was eventually apprehended on Saturday, September 16. The incident unfolded on September 10 when the parents of…
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Mercedes driver faces charges after road rage incident with taxi in Phuket
A road rage incident involving a Mercedes Benz driver and a taxi driver near the Darasamut Intersection in Phuket, Thailand, resulted in the former facing charges for his violent reaction. The event took place on a Saturday night in September and quickly escalated when the green plate taxi allegedly cut off the Mercedes Benz. The 38 year old taxi driver,…
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Monsoon mayhem: TMD forecasts heavy rains for 51 provinces, including Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department issued a warning for heavy rains caused by monsoons affecting 51 provinces across the country, including Bangkok, with 70% of the areas expected to be hit hard. The warning, issued today, September 18, forecasts continuous rain for the next 24 hours due to a moderate monsoon trough passing through the northern and upper northeastern regions. The…
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TasteAtlas stirs the pot: Pad kaprao sizzles to the top of global stir-fry rankings
Food guide platform TasteAtlas unveiled its list of the 50 best stir-fry dishes in the world, with Thai fast food favourite pad kaprao claiming the coveted top spot. The website added that Thai pad kaprao also stands as the fourth most frequently ordered dish by foreigners visiting Thailand. Pad kaprao scooped first place in the rankings with an impressive 4.8…
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Asia-Pacific bond defaults surge amid China’s real estate crisis
Asia-Pacific bond defaults are on the rise, outpacing the global average, amid China’s real estate crisis. A joint study by the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (FETCO) and the Capital Market Development Fund (CMDF) highlighted a concerning uptick in debenture default rates, signalling a potential global crisis. The study revealed that bond defaults occurred at a faster pace in…
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Roadside accident: Truck splits in two after lamppost crash
A dramatic incident was recorded by a dashboard camera as a young driver lost control of his vehicle, causing it to crash into a lamppost by the roadside and split into two. The roadside accident occurred in the early hours of this morning and resulted in a head injury for the 24 year old driver. The incident happened as the…
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Tragic twist: Slippery roads lead to double tragedy with feline fatality
A fatal road accident occurred in Nakhon Pathom in the early hours yesterday, when a car skidded off a slippery road and plunged into a canal. The driver, a 36 year old man named Tsai, and his 35 year old girlfriend Saowaphak, both drowned, while two other passengers sustained injuries. Also found deceased at the scene were two Persian cats…
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Thailand’s healthcare sector transformed by AI innovations
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming Thailand’s healthcare sector, with innovative solutions designed to enhance patient care, ease the workload of medical professionals, and address the specialist shortage. In a collaboration aimed at advancing medical treatment, public hospitals, state agencies, and local startups are joining hands to develop AI-based healthcare products and services. These advancements are expected to boost the…
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Debt moratorium to benefit 7 million farmers and SMEs
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced that no more than seven million farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will qualify for the initial phase of the debt moratorium. The breakdown of this figure is expected to be around four million small-scale farmers and three million SMEs. The Deputy Finance Minister refrained from providing specifics on the scope and limit…
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Chiang Rai’s new college to tackle Mekong region drug trafficking
The International Narcotics Control College (INCC), a newly founded institution in Chiang Rai, Thailand, is set to provide specialised training for law enforcement agents and associated organisations, with the mission of curbing drug trafficking in the Mekong subregion. Nestled within the compound of the Hall of Opium, Thailand’s opium museum, in Chiang Saen district, the INCC is the first of…
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Sexual activity aids kidney stone expulsion, suggests Thai doctor’s study
A noteworthy post was made yesterday on the Facebook page Sirianan Prasit by Doctor Sirianan Prasit. The post highlighted an intriguing revelation: Engaging in sexual activity can assist in the natural expulsion of kidney stones. Dr Sirianan shared insights from a conference he attended, where the intriguing research was presented. The study, which was conducted systematically and analysed meticulously, compared…
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Farmer’s pickling stone revealed as rare jade worth over 24 million baht
A farmer’s luck takes a surprising turn when a ‘stone’ used for pickling vegetables is valued at a staggering 5 million yuan (over 24 million baht) on a Chinese television show. The farmer, known as Li, brought the peculiar black stone to the show, where experts were astounded by its true worth. China has a history spanning more than 5,000…
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Thai man’s chest hair pillow for long-distance girlfriend sparks online debate
A long-distance relationship can be challenging, and couples often find various ways to maintain their bond. Some people even resort to unconventional methods to alleviate the feeling of missing their partner. This became a controversial online topic when a man revealed what he believes to be his “greatest invention” – a pillow for his long-distance girlfriend, adorned with his chest…
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Erratic behaviour on high-speed train reveals woman’s struggle with mental health
A shocking incident unfolded on a high-speed train in China when a woman suddenly rose and began to act erratically. Her strange behaviour, which included speaking incoherently and appearing to dance as if intoxicated, alarmed fellow passengers. As the situation escalated, a concerned onlooker contacted train staff, fearing something was amiss, raising concerns about the woman’s mental health. The woman…
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Evergrande wealth management staff detained amid ongoing debt crisis
China Evergrande Group, the world’s most heavily indebted property developer, finds itself under increased scrutiny as staff from its wealth management unit have been detained by the police in southern China. Shenzhen City Police said in a social media statement on Saturday night that public security organs took criminal compulsory measures against China Evergrande general manager Du Liang and other…
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Villa robbery in Phuket raises safety concerns for foreign family
A foreign family, currently residing in Phuket, experienced a shocking robbery of their villa in Chalong, raising serious safety concerns. The audacious theft occurred while the family of four, including two children, were present in the house, and the thief managed to escape with stolen goods worth over 50,000 baht. The family, of Russian origin, reported the invasive villa robbery…
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Universal healthcare pilot scheme offers flexible hospital choice in Thailand
The Public Health Minister, Cholnan Srikaew, has announced the readiness of a new pilot scheme that will enable members of the universal healthcare (UC) programme to seek health services at any hospital. The initiative is aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery, providing UC members with the flexibility to seek eligible services at any hospital. It is expected that the scheme will…
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Srettha Thavisin to bolster Thai-Chinese tourism, bilateral ties in China visit
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is slated for a diplomatic visit to China from Oct 8-10 to negotiate on 10 pivotal issues, among which strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing Thai-Chinese tourism cooperation take precedence. The announcement came yesterday during his visit to Chiang Mai, where he also hinted at the renewal of the Thai-Chinese memorandum of understanding on the loaning of…
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Hartalika Teej: Phuket hosts Nepalese holiday, fosters love and tourism
The Nepalese community in Phuket, Thailand, recently basked in the joyous celebration of the ‘Hartalika Teej‘ festival, which marks the end of a three-day fast observed by women. Held on Friday evening, the celebration saw women being honoured and cared for by the men in their lives. The event took place at the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Chao Fah Hotel…
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Phuket tourism and property sectors propose Andaman Wellness Economic Corridor
Phuket’s tourism and property development sectors have called on Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to swiftly consider their proposal for an Andaman Wellness Economic Corridor (AWC). This initiative is intended to align with the global wellness trend, enhancing the tourism industry and related investments. This came to light during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Phuket and Phang Nga, where he…
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