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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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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Lampang thieves ring in trouble: Brass bells stolen from sacred site
A group of thieves have stolen four brass bells from Wat Phra That Doi Muang Kham in Lampang’s Mueang district. The theft is believed to be the work of the same group responsible for a similar incident at another temple in August. The theft was reported yesterday, September 9, when the local press received information about the missing bells. The…
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Phuket launches road safety initiative for children
The Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) kickstarted an initiative to boost road safety awareness among the island’s children and youths. The project, titled Safe Transportation Under the Royal Grace, was organised to commemorate His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua‘s 6th cycle birthday, celebrated on July 28. An official event report highlights the activities held at the Honda Safety Riding…
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3 Thai police face sack for mistaking woman as drug suspect
Three police officers in the northern province of Chiang Rai may face dismissal after mistakenly identifying a Thai woman as a drug suspect and attempting to arrest her, leading to a violent high-speed chase. The 22 year old Thai woman filed a complaint with Mae Yao Police Station, stating that a group of men tried to abduct her on the…
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Monk’s quarters raided: Firearms and drugs seized, two arrested
Police raided a monk’s quarters, uncovering a cache of firearms and ammunition, and detained two people, one of whom had just consumed drugs. The monk had previously served a sentence for drug trafficking in 2021 and had been ordained for two to three years. Yesterday, September 9, at 3.30pm, Phayoon Pattuli, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation, and Weerapun Boonnak, Investigation Inspector…
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Flood turns Sukhothai village into lake, isolates residents
A flood has turned Ban Nong Non village in Sukhothai province into a vast lake, with residents relying on boats for transportation. The floodwaters have impacted over 12,000 rai of land for the past two weeks, isolating the village. Ban Nong Non village in Sukhothai province remains submerged under floodwaters, creating a lake-like appearance that has attracted visitors from nearby…
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Thailand to speed up 145 billion baht digital wallet handout
Thailand will advance the distribution of 145 billion baht from its digital wallet handout programme to support vulnerable groups, announced by the deputy finance minister yesterday. The decision aims to provide immediate economic stimulus in the short term. During a budget debate in the senate, Julapun Amornvivat revealed that the government has allocated 450 billion baht for this flagship handout…
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Thai police officer commits suicide over loan guarantee for friend
An officer from Samrong Police Station in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani committed suicide at his welfare home yesterday, September 8, after a friend for whom he had guaranteed a loan died, leaving him to bear the debt. Officers from Samrong Police Station rushed to a welfare home behind the station to investigate the death of 55 year old Police…
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Pregnant woman and husband escape after car plunges into pond
A nine-month pregnant woman and her Chinese husband narrowly escaped when their car plunged into a pond after she accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake. The incident occurred yesterday in Wang Takhian, Kabin Buri, Prachinburi province. The pregnant woman, 30 year old Wannarat, from Si Maha Phot district, was driving with her husband when she made a wrong…
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Heavy rain set to flood Ang Thong and Ayutthaya this week
Heavy rain is expected to drench the Bangkok area this week, with imminent flooding forecasted for Ang Thong and Ayutthaya provinces. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) predicted rain for more than half of Greater Bangkok throughout the week, with particularly intense downpours anticipated on Sunday. The Hydro-Informatics Institute reported overflows from two main canals in Ayutthaya province. The Disaster Prevention…
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Severe rainfall warning issued for 34 Thai provinces tomorrow
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for severe rainfall in 34 provinces tomorrow, urging residents to be cautious of potential flash floods and landslides. The warning highlights the risk due to heavy and very heavy rain expected in various regions. Tomorrow, September 11, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecasted for parts of northern and northeastern Thailand. TMD…
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Thai PM urged to approve key high-speed train contract
Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote is pushing for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s approval of a crucial construction contract for the long-delayed Thai-Chinese high-speed train project. This contract is one of the last two to complete the first phase. Boonchai Panich Co secured Contract 4-5, which involves constructing a 13.3-kilometre section. Despite this, the signing of the contract has been delayed…
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Thai cop allegedly demands bribe and sex from arrested student
A Thai university student accused an officer from Thanyaburi Police Station in Pathum Thani province, near Bangkok, of demanding a 10,000 baht bribe and sexual favours from her after she was arrested for drunk driving. The 22 year old female student reported the police corruption to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women. She revealed, alongside the foundation’s founder, Pavena Hongsakul, that…
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Thailand champions game-changing tax scheme for low earners
Finance Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit has thrown his weight behind the daring negative income tax (NIT) scheme, championing welfare payments for workers when their income dips below a certain threshold. Dubbed “workfare,” this initiative is geared to incentivise employment while offering crucial financial support. Lavaron made his case clear: the NIT system encourages people to stay employed by guaranteeing state…
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Thailand unveils trillion-baht infrastructure boom
The Government of Thailand is poised to unveil a series of ambitious infrastructure projects, seeking to attract over 1.5 trillion baht in private investment. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is said to outline these initiatives in her policy statement to Parliament on September 12 to 13, focusing on economic stimulation and critical infrastructure enhancements. One of the flagship projects is the…
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Thai woman left blind and disfigured after misdiagnosis
A Thai woman is demanding accountability and compensation from doctors and a hospital in the Phahonyothin neighbourhood of Bangkok after a misdiagnosis and medicine allergy left her blind and disfigured. The victim, Sasinan, and her husband sought assistance from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after she lost her sight and suffered facial disfigurement due to the recklessness of a doctor at…
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Cathay soars again: A350 fleet back in action after fiery setback
Cathay Pacific Airways triumphantly re-launched its Airbus A350 aircraft, after a dramatic engine fire grounded the fleet and caused the cancellation of 90 flights over the past week. The fiery incident uncovered a rare issue with fuel hoses, triggering an urgent, large-scale inspection and repair operation across the airline’s A350 lineup. With 48 of these widebody jets under Cathay’s wing,…
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Tree-mendous: Neighbour saves man stuck up tree for 10 hours
A neighbour came to the rescue of a Thai man who got stuck up a tree in the Isaan province of Chaiyaphum for over 10 hours after an unexpected accident. The victim, 46 year old Phongsathorn, was stranded in a Ceylon oak tree in his neighbour’s paddy field in the Nong Bua Rawe district of Chaiyaphum for more than 10…
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Controversial Nonthaburi monk defrocked for multiple misconducts
Police volunteers detained a controversial monk accused of violating monastic conduct, selling alms, and residing in a young woman’s home within an Islamic community. The incident led to a heated confrontation with local religious leaders. At 8am yesterday, September 8, a team consisting of four senior monks, along with Bang Bua Thong police volunteers, arrived at the morning market in…
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Pet peeve turns deadly: Feud erupts in central Thailand bloodbath
A bitter, months-long dispute over pets exploded into shocking violence in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district yesterday, leaving a retired army officer and his neighbour dead in a bloody confrontation. Police rushed to the scene at a housing estate in tambon Khlong Sam yesterday, September 8, around 7.30am, where they discovered the lifeless bodies of 64 year old Colonel Jaruchart…
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Pattaya City launches health project for night workers
Pattaya City takes a significant stride in enhancing healthcare accessibility for night workers as Mayor Poramese Ngampiches inaugurated the Proactive Health Promotion Project for Night Workers yesterday, September 8. The launch event, held at Leela Club on Walking Street, gathered prominent city executives, including Nathamon Ajsong, Chairman of the Pattaya City Transformation Leaders, and Doctor Atthaporn Limpanyalert, Deputy Secretary-General of…
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Fake doctor scams Thais with bogus UK tours and job offers
A group of people reported being scammed by a fake doctor selling fraudulent tours and collecting fees for work in the UK, with losses exceeding 40 million baht. Despite a red notice, the suspect remains at large, with a 1 million baht reward for their capture. A group of approximately 20 victims, approached the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to file…
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Raining trouble: Downpour drama traps man in Pattaya elevator
Drama struck in Nongprue yesterday when heavy rain caused a power outage, leaving a man trapped in an elevator for nearly two hours. The incident unfolded yesterday, September 8, at an apartment building on Soi Krom Thidin 4, in Pattaya creating a scene of chaos and tension. At 5.56pm, an emergency call was made to the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue…
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Motorbike mayhem: Monkey wreaks havoc on bike seat in Phuket
A large monkey at Khao Rang (also known as Monkey Hill) in Phuket Town tore apart the seat of a parked motorbike, prompting an assistant village headman to issue a warning for locals and tourists to be cautious around the monkeys. Suriyan Mai-on, the assistant village headman for Thalang district, shared a video of the incident online today, September 9,…
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Shooting for justice: Ex-Thai champion takes aim at cheating soldier husband
A former shooting champion of Thailand sought help from social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet after her cheating soldier husband faced no punishment from the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and refused to compensate her as ordered by the court. The former national athlete, 50 year old Jarinporn Daengpiam, held a press conference today, September 9, to bring the matter to…
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Scaffold sore: Storm lashes Pattaya, topples hotel project (video)
Pattaya City was battered by strong winds and heavy rain yesterday at around 5pm, leading to a major construction site calamity. Scaffolding at a seven-story hotel project on Pattaya Klang Road in Soi Arunotai came crashing down, smashing into power lines and causing high-voltage power poles to break, blocking the road. Miraculously, no injuries were reported. The collapse, a direct result…
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Frenchman arrested in Krabi for eight-year visa overstay
A Frenchman was arrested in Krabi after a visa overstay of eight years. The Frenchman, Didier, entered Thailand on February 19, 2016, with a tourist visa that expired on May 18, 2016. After the visa’s expiration, Didier continued to stay in Thailand, resulting in a total overstay of 3,032 days. Police were alerted on September 9 when Police Lieutenant General…
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Tractor tragedy: Cops plough through claims after addict’s mysterious death
The police maintained their innocence after a Thai drug addict mysteriously died following his arrest on Saturday. The incident occurred while the individual was driving a farm tractor along a road in Bangkok. Patrol officers from Pathum Wan Police Station were involved in a car chase with 45 year old Thai man Bancha Samingkaew on Phetchaburi Road in the Bangkapi…
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Noodles of growth: Mama set to stir up premium market
Thai President Foods Plc, the company behind Mama instant noodles, anticipates significant growth in the instant noodle market this year, with the premium segment potentially outperforming the overall market. Pun Paniangvait, manager of the president’s office, reported that Thailand’s instant noodle market experienced an 8% to 9% growth in the first half of this year, and the company projects a…
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Tourists rescued after ignoring red flags at Phuket beaches
Emergency services in Phuket rushed to rescue two tourists who nearly drowned after ignoring red flag warnings at Kata and Karon beaches. The tourists, from Russia and China, were successfully resuscitated with CPR before being taken to Chalong Hospital for further treatment. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sanya Suksawat of Karon Police Station received notification from the Karon Radio Centre about the…
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Bus-tling arrival: Baby born on board Khon Kaen-Phuket route
A woman travelling from Khon Kaen to Phuket on a bus unexpectedly gave birth while on board, assisted by a nurse who happened to be a fellow passenger. This marks her fourth child, and she was unaware of her pregnancy. The incident occurred today, September 9 at 8am, when Wiroj Srisang, Mayor of Simamokhon subdistrict, Klangdong, Pak Chong district, Nakhon…
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