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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Delivery fraud: Thai rider disappears with eight iPhones worth over 100,000 baht
A Thai delivery rider vanished after collecting eight iPhones, valued at over 100,000 baht, causing the client, Kittiphong Loeslaew, to voice his frustrations online. The delivery service is expected to compensate him for the loss. The online community advised Kittiphong to file a formal complaint against the delivery fraud, as the rider and vehicle registration details were available. They also…
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Fishy business: RTN reels in Indonesian vessels straying into Thai waters
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) stopped three Indonesian fishing vessels after they strayed into Thai waters after a recent maritime operation near Phuket. This unfolding event kicked off yesterday when Thai authorities apprehended these vessels within Thai territorial waters. What added to the significance of this operation was the detention of all 40 crew members aboard the ships. The operation…
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Ex-Transport Minister arrested over corruption allegations
Former Minister of Transport and Pattaya Mayor Itthipol Khunpluem was detained upon his return from Cambodia, a development that has drawn significant attention. The Thai Immigration Police acted swiftly, taking Itthipol into custody in connection with a high-profile corruption case currently under investigation by the Corruption Case Office Two of Rayong Province. This case stems from a judicial order issued…
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Phuket tuk tuk drivers attack Saudi Arabian passenger over service fare
Officers from Patong Police Station arrested three thuggish Thai tuk tuk drivers for assaulting a Saudi Arabian passenger on Rat U Thit Road in Phuket after the foreigner paid them only 300 baht out of 400 baht for a 3-kilometre journey. A video of three Thai tuk tuk driver thugs physically assaulting the Saudi man went viral on Thai social media.…
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French mother demands justice for son sexually assaulted by Thai man in Koh Samui
A French mother is demanding justice after her seven year old son was sexually assaulted by a predatory Thai pedophile in a grocery store on Koh Samui island in Thailand. Remarkably, despite her son being the victim of a sickening sexual assault, the French mother had her passport confiscated after the suspect filed an assault charge against her. To add further…
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Phuket stabbing: Driver fatally attacked at hotel car park
A commercial driver from Phuket province met a tragic end after visiting a popular nightclub and getting into a heated dispute. He was fatally stabbed and his body was found at the entrance of a local hotel. Phuket police responded swiftly, arriving at the scene at 6am today. Surachai Watitsuppaphon, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) of Phuket City Police Station, led the…
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Airbnb’s Thai-cation: Boosting GDP and jobs in the Land of Smiles, study shows
A recent study by Oxford Economics highlights the significant role played by Airbnb in Thailand’s tourism sector, making a substantial contribution to the country’s GDP and job market. According to the report commissioned by Airbnb, the platform made a substantial 31 billion baht contribution to Thailand’s Gross Domestic Product in 2022, supporting almost 56,500 jobs. This translates to approximately 1.7%…
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2 Thai teenagers suspected of murdering former diplomat
Royal Thai Police detained two Thai teenagers following the murder of a former Thai diplomat. The teenagers, aged 15 and 17, were the last people to visit the former diplomat’s home before his dead body was discovered. The dead body of 63 year old Wichit Chitwimarn was discovered in a three-storey luxury house on Soi Vibhawadee-Rangsit 20 in Bangkok’s Chatuchak…
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Historic satellite launch rescheduled: Thai THEOS-2
Thailand’s second earth observation satellite, THEOS-2, is slated to be launched once more from the French Guiana spaceport. Supamas Isarabhakdi, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), revealed the launch would occur at 8.36am today. This comes after the initial launch attempt on October 7 was halted due to minor signal irregularities detected in the last 14…
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12 Thai people killed, 8 injured, and 11 detained in Hamas attacks
Thailand’s Centre of an Emergency Situation in Israel reported that 12 Thai nationals were killed, eight injured and 11 detained in Hamas attacks. A Thai resident in Israel, taking to Twitter, shared that he and nearly 100 fellow Thais managed to survive without any assistance from officials. Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkapong Saengmanee stated that Thailand maintains a neutral stance in…
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Illegal firearms crackdown: Thai police clamps down on illicit trade after alarming surge in gun violence
Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Phuridej targeted 114 illegal firearms distributors across Thailand in an extensive nationwide crackdown. The illegal firearms crackdown, involving over 800 officers including a special task force known as “Hanuman” from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), came in the wake of increased online trading of illegal firearms, including modified guns, homemade guns, and blank guns. The illegal…
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Bangkok shooting survivor recounts horrific encounter with Siam Paragon gunman
A survivor of the recent shooting at the Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok recounted her terrifying encounter with the 14 year old gunman. Anyapat Thipjirasakul, while fleeing the scene, came face to face with the teen gunman on an escalator. His immediate reaction was to fire, hitting her in the shoulder. Despite the pain, she continued running, scared he…
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Thai truck driver shot in Israel during Hamas attack, contact lost
A 28 year old woman from Nong Song Hong District, Khon Kaen, revealed a shocking incident involving her 26 year old husband. The woman, Supattra Asanok, revealed her husband, Phadung Butmo, originally from Kham Mueang District, Khon Kaen, currently works as an agricultural goods truck driver in Israel. He was shot in the back and right buttock during a Hamas…
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Thai bonds surge 5.8% amid elevated corporate debenture issuance
Thai bond valuations experienced a notable increase of 5.8% within the first nine months of the year, skyrocketing to a colossal 16.7 trillion baht. This rise was predominantly propelled by government and corporate bonds, as revealed by the Thai Bond Market Association (ThaiBMA). Corporate debentures, a significant part of this upswing, saw an issuance of 825 billion baht from January…
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Inheritance tax law changes aim to reduce economic inequality
A revenue department insider has revealed plans for the adoption of the prime minister’s proposal to make changes to the inheritance tax law. The objective of the amendment is to reduce economic inequality, according to the anonymous source. The source disclosed three key points that form the guidelines for the amendment. The first is the application of the inheritance tax…
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Thailand’s commerce ministry aims for 20% cross-border trade boost
The Commerce Ministry of Thailand has an ambitious vision for the upcoming year – pushing cross-border trade value to 1.2 trillion baht, marking a 20% increase from this year’s estimated 1 trillion baht. Deputy Commerce Minister Napintorn Srisunpang, the overseer of the Business Development Department, Trade Negotiations Department and Foreign Trade Department, disclosed the ministry’s strategy to achieve this. They…
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AI adoption boom: Igniting innovation, doubling productivity, and fostering cross-gen cooperation
The revolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in businesses is underway, igniting innovation, boosting productivity by twofold, and fostering cross-generational cooperation. Currently, the United States alone hosts over 14,700 AI startups, with more sprouting daily, according to McKinsey. Forecasts suggest that AI adoption and digitisation will automate between 30% and 40% of existing jobs, augment 50 to 60% of job tasks,…
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Mongolia opens honorary consulate in Phuket, boosting ties
Phuket marked a significant milestone as Mongolia inaugurated its honorary consulate on the island, coinciding with the 49th anniversary of its diplomatic ties with Thailand last week. The consulate’s office is located at the Gig Hotel on Soi Bangla in the Patong district. The opening ceremony saw the attendance of key figures including Tumur Amarsanaa, Mongolia’s ambassador to Thailand, Nutthaphong…
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Elderly woman in Buriram lives alone without basic amenities for 30 years
An 84 year old woman has been living alone for over 30 years without any basic facilities such as electricity and water in her Buriram home. This distressing scenario unfolded in the Buriram province where the woman lives in a dilapidated house. She is unable to walk and relies on the kindness of her neighbours and leftover food from a…
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DSI crackdown on counterfeit dietary supplement warehouse in Chon Buri costing over 10 million baht
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) raided a warehouse in central Chon Buri storing counterfeit dietary supplements for humans and pets, causing damages exceeding 10 million baht. The raid was carried out in response to Thailand being closely watched by the US Trade Representative (USTR) for intellectual property rights violations and stemmed from tips about unlawful sales of supplements via…
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Former diplomat found dead in Bangkok luxury home under mysterious circumstances
The body of a former diplomat was discovered in the bathroom of a luxurious house, locked from the outside and covered with cardboard boxes today. The house, located in the affluent neighbourhood of Soi Vibhavadi Rangsit 20, Jom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok, was inspected by Deputy Superintendent Puthipong Hongthong and his team following the report of a death. The three-storey luxury…
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Thai family identifies son among captives in Hamas-Israel conflict
A couple from Pla Pak district, in the northeastern border province of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, have positively identified their son as one of the workers reportedly captured by Hamas militants during a large-scale assault on Israel. The news of the abduction, which occurred yesterday, spread rapidly through social media, featuring a distressing image of six captive men with their hands…
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Accused gambling MP sits on Anti-Corruption Committee, claims Thai Patriots Network leader
Srisuwan Janya, the leader of the Thai Patriots Network, revealed that a member of Ratchaburi’s House of Representatives, previously accused of gambling in a viral video, sits on the Anti-Corruption Committee. This is a committee that is highly contested, especially when the individual was a member of the Blue Party during his tenure as a Ratchaburi representative. Despite the selection…
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Thai national killed, 11 detained in Israel amid evacuation challenges
A Thai national lost his life and approximately 11 others were taken into custody during a Hamas assault on Israel, disclosed Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, early today. He also highlighted the ongoing air travel restrictions that are hindering evacuation efforts. Ahead of his international journey from Sunday to Thursday, PM Srettha shared at Wing 6 in Don Muang that…
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Thai CEOs discuss sustainability’s key role in supply chain survival at SX2023
The Sustainability Expo 2023 (SX2023) has illuminated the essential role of sustainability in successful supply chain networks. The Thailand Supply Chain Network (TSCN) Business Partners Conference, also known as the TSCN CEO Panel, took place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center as part of the ongoing expo. The key topic of discussion was the self-application of sustainable practices for…
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Thai PM’s diplomatic tour to boost ties, revive tourism hit by mall shooting
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin embarks on a five-day tour to Hong Kong and three ASEAN nations, beginning Sunday. The journey commences from the Royal Thai Air Force’s (RTAF) terminal at Don Mueang Airport, with the Airbus 320 aircraft setting course for Hong Kong. Post the Hong Kong visit, the premier’s itinerary includes Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia, with his return scheduled…
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Tourist vehicle overturns on Doi Inthanon injuring six: Driver’s unfamiliarity suspected
A tourist vehicle overturned on Doi Inthanon, resulting in injuries to six passengers. The accident happened near kilometres 32-33 on the route to Doi Inthanon, a mountain located in the Ban Luang district of Chom Thong, Chiang Mai. The injured passengers had to crawl out of the wrecked Toyota Fortuner. The accident occurred around 6pm yesterday, involving a black Toyota…
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Bangkok workers rally for better employment conditions and against privatisation
World Day for Decent Work was marked by a significant rally in Bangkok, where approximately 600 workers rallied for their cause. The protestors demanded the government address unjust employment conditions and enhance employment security. The rally, which took place along Ratchadamnoen Avenue, saw the participation of members from the Thai Labour Solidarity Confederation (TLSC), the State Enterprises Workers’ Relations Confederation…
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Tesla’s safety feature confuses Thai Songthaew passengers with pedestrians, causing hilarity amongst netizens
A Japanese YouTuber driving a Tesla in Thailand found himself perplexed when the car repeatedly warned him of pedestrians crossing in front. However, upon looking up, he saw nothing. The amusing reality emerged later when he realised the car was not identifying people cutting in front but mistakenly interpreting people hanging on the back of Thai Songthaew, or two-row pick-up…
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Thai Cabinet approves assembly for constitutional referendum, amid MFP exit
The assembly to draft a referendum on revising the constitution is set to convene on Tuesday, following the Cabinet’s recent approval of its 35 members, reveals Chusak Sirinil, a member of the assembly. The assembly, under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Phumtham Wechayachai, will deliberate on modifications to the committee after the exit of the…
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