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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Lufthansa sets sights on Thailand as expansion takes off
The Lufthansa Group is focusing on expanding its operations in Asia and Thailand, while also diversifying into non-airline businesses. Carsten Spohr, chief executive of the group, highlighted that Thailand is not just a tourism hub but also a lucrative business destination. The demand for cargo from Thailand is rising, and the Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market for maintenance, repair,…
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Jealous boyfriend murders partner in central Thailand
A jealous boyfriend murdered his 28 year old girlfriend for smiling at a male colleague. The young couple had been living together for six months while working at the same factory before the tragic incident unfolded. Police Lieutenant Phasith Chultakarn from Ban Pong Police Station in Ratchaburi province, yesterday, March 5, at 6pm, received a report of a woman fatally…
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Old wall collapses, kills grandmother and grandson in Isaan
A tragic incident occurred in the Mueang district of Nong Bua Lam Phu province, where a concrete wall from a 30 year old house collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 63 year old Duangjai Sriphalan and her 6 year old grandson. The accident happened in the laundry area of their single-storey home. Prasert Sriphalan recounted returning from errands at approximately…
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Failed enhancement: Pattaya rescuers remove steel ring from man’s penis
A Pattaya rescue team was called into action to remove a stainless steel ring from a Thai man’s penis. The man had hoped the ring would boost his sexual performance but he ended up in hospital instead. The 45 year old Thai man, whose identity remains undisclosed, visited a private hospital in Pattaya for treatment. His genital area was swollen…
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Thai court annuls 50-year-old student hairstyle regulation
The Supreme Administrative Court has annulled a long-standing Education Ministry regulation, originally established 50 years ago, which restricted students’ hairstyles. This final decision, delivered yesterday, March 5, resolves a contentious issue that has involved educators, students, and parents. The regulation, implemented in 1975, was immediately nullified by the court for infringing upon individual freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and being…
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Teacher arrested for posting indecent images of boys in Thailand
Technology Crime Suppression Division officers have detained a male teacher for posting indecent images of boys under 13, with five victims identified, some abused for over a decade. The arrest took place yesterday, March 5, at Kui Buri Police Station in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The Technology Crime Suppression Division, also known as cyber police, summoned A (a pseudonym) for…
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Home for Thais registration ends soon, housing lottery set for April
Registration for the Home for Thais initiative will end this month, with a property owner lottery scheduled for next month, according to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote. Since the project started on January 17, around 350,000 people have registered. However, fewer than half, approximately 140,000 applicants, have passed the initial qualification screening, making them eligible for housing loans from the…
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Bangkok residents raise alarm over illegal condo rentals, prostitution
Furious residents in Bangkok’s Nana district say their once-tranquil homes have been turned into a noisy nightmare, thanks to illegal condo rentals and prostitution. They claim foreigners are not only flouting the rules but also running a seedy prostitution racket, sparking serious safety concerns. People’s Party MP Bhuntin Noumjerm brought the issue to public attention, highlighting the ongoing distress faced by…
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Thai interest rate cuts to ease loan load amid economic slowdown
In a move that promises relief for borrowers across Thailand, six leading commercial banks and a clutch of state-owned counterparts have slashed lending rates following the Bank of Thailand’s recent policy rate cut. This adjustment is designed to alleviate the financial strain as the economy slows down. Domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) are joining forces to trim loan interest rates…
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Israel boosts Thai worker quota to 21,000 amid labour shortages
Israel has decided to increase the number of Thai workers in its agriculture and construction sectors to 21,000 positions this year, as announced by Labour Minister Rabbi Yoav Ben Tzur. During an official visit to Thailand concluding today, Ben Tzur addressed the press at the Israeli Embassy. He, along with Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, signed a memorandum of understanding…
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Zebra crossing accident in Sa Kaeo leads to11 year old boy’s death
A black sedan struck a Thai man and his 11 year old nephew on a zebra crossing outside Sa Kaeo Crown Prince Hospital in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo yesterday, resulting in the boy’s death. The Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Sa Kaeo reported the fatal accident to the public after it occurred at 10.45am, yesterday, March…
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Body of foreign tourist found on Kata Beach, Phuket
A grim discovery cast a shadow over Kata Beach in Phuket yesterday, as the lifeless body of a female foreign tourist, believed to be in her 50s, was found face down in the sand. The solo traveller’s body was unearthed near the Karon subdistrict municipal office yesterday, March 5, leaving officials stumped and scrambling for answers. With the cause of…
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Bang Bon Market shooting leaves fish vendor seriously injured
A shooting incident at Bang Bon Market resulted in a fish vendor being seriously injured due to a dispute between the wives of two vendors. The altercation led to chaos as shoppers fled. Police Lieutenant Sarayut Santhat, Deputy Inspector from Bang Khun Thian Police Station, yesterday, March 5, responded to reports of a shooting at Bang Bon-Ekachai Fresh Market in…
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Thailand to discuss Tri Muk Pavilion fire with Cambodia
Thai government officials are gearing up for urgent talks with Cambodia following a fire that tore through the Tri Muk Pavilion in the Emerald Triangle, a symbolic structure of unity between Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the discussions will take place at the 17th Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) tomorrow,…
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Thai family of 3 escape safely after roof collapse due to termites
A family of three fled their home in the eastern province of Rayong this week after their roof collapsed due to termite damage. Rescuers from the Sawang Phonkusol Rayong Foundation rushed to the scene at a house in Soi Koh Kloy 5, in Rayong’s Mueang district, on Tuesday, March 4, to investigate the collapse. The homeowner, along with her husband…
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Bet and busted: Poker faces flop in 51 million baht Bangkok bust
Thai police made a full house of arrests on Tuesday, swooping down on a clandestine poker den tucked away in a Bangkok warehouse. The audacious raid on March 4, led by officers from Ladprao Police Station, captured 52 gamblers, both locals and foreigners, caught red-handed amidst a sea of chips worth a staggering 51.4 million baht. Tipped off about the…
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Phuket officials probe ‘extra-large’ condo scandal
A major investigation is underway in Phuket as officials probe two controversial condominium developments in Cherng Talay. The projects, described as “extra-large,” have raised legal and environmental concerns, prompting high-level scrutiny from the Ministry of Interior. Leading the charge is Supoj Rotruang Na Nongkhai, Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Interior, who is conducting a two-day inspection on the island.…
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Thai dancer shocked after drink spiked with sexual stimulant
A Thai dancer had a terrifying brush with death after suffering a severe shock mid-performance at a temple in Kamphaeng Phet. The culprit? A mystery drink laced with a sexual stimulant, handed to him by a member of the audience. The official Facebook page of the Mor Lam performance band, หมอลำใจเกินร้อย (Mor Lam Jai Kern Roi, meaning over 100% spirit…
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Storm warning: Thailand braced for a shocking downpour
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today announced a summer storm will hit 40 provinces with heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and lightning, in its daily weather forecast. This phenomenon is expected to impact the northeastern and eastern regions, while other regions will face similar conditions subsequently. Northern Thailand is experiencing generally hot weather, with extremely hot conditions in some areas…
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Holy spirits: Pattaya toasts to temple tipple alcohol tweak
Pattaya officials and business moguls are toasting the National Alcohol Policy Committee’s bold decision to uncork alcohol sales at select venues on major religious holidays, a move set to pour life into the city’s tourism juggernaut. The clinking of glasses will be heard in hotels, entertainment hotspots, and international airports, while other public areas remain dry. Optimists predict the change…
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World’s longest kiss Thai couple split after record-breaking romance
A Thai couple who set the Guinness World Record for the longest kiss have now separated, ending their record-breaking love story more than a decade after their historic smooch. Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat became global sensations in 2013 when they locked lips for an astonishing 58 hours and 35 minutes, breaking their own 2011 record of 46 hours and 24…
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Ex-mayor arrested over 900,000 baht mobile toilet scam
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) arrested a former mayor in a bathroom after allegations of corruption involving the purchase of a mobile toilet vehicle, causing damages exceeding 900,000 baht. The arrest took place yesterday, March 4, as Saroj Phuengrampan, NACC Secretary General, reported that the NACC Region 1 office tracked down and apprehended Saijai, former mayor of Khao Sam Yot…
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Phuket Airport immigration chief transferred amid nepotism claims
Police Colonel Padthongtew Damapong, chief of Phuket Airport Immigration, has been promoted to head Nonthaburi Immigration, part of the Greater Bangkok area after only ten months. The move, which follows another fast-tracked promotion just 10 months earlier, raised eyebrows due to his high-profile family connections. Pol. Col. Padthongtew is the nephew of Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, the ex-wife of former…
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Phuket taxi driver’s dash after runaway Russian fare dodgers
A Thai taxi driver chased after a Russian couple who allegedly fled without paying their fare upon arriving at their destination in Phuket. The couple still refused to settle the bill after the driver caught up with them. The Phuket Times shared pictures and a video of the argument between the Russian couple and the Thai taxi driver today, March…
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Thai woman crashes car into boyfriend’s vehicle over jealousy
A Thai woman crashed her car into her boyfriend’s vehicle on a road in the Romklao district of Bangkok last night, following a dispute driven by jealousy. The argument arose after her boyfriend had repeatedly sneaked out to party with his friends. The Facebook page ZOOM Rayong shared a video of the incident, with a caption reading, “The couple argued,…
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Grill and illegal thrills: Cops smoke out e-cig and kratom juice joint
Investigation Division 1 police conducted a raid on a dual-purpose establishment masquerading as a grill restaurant while illicitly selling e-cigarettes and bottled kratom juice. The operation resulted in the arrest of four workers, both Thai and Lao nationals, who confessed to merely overseeing operations for a daily wage of 600 baht (US$18). The raid took place at 3pm yesterday, March…
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Cambodian slashed in Pattaya over cigarette smoke dispute (video)
A late-night altercation in Pattaya turned violent when a Chinese restaurant worker allegedly attacked a Cambodian man with a knife, leaving him seriously injured on the roadside. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation radio centre received a call at 2.19am today, March 5, about a knife attack near Soi Chaloem Phrakiat 4/1, North Pattaya, in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province.…
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Suranaree task force seizes 196,000 meth pills in drug bust
The Suranaree Task Force seized approximately 196,000 methamphetamine pills and arrested a 26 year old suspect during an operation yesterday, March 4. The suspect was caught transporting the drugs in an ant army style operation and has since been handed over to the police for further legal action. Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, commander of the Second Army Region and head…
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Former boxer accused of killing mother in Trang province
Police yesterday escorted a former Thai boxer from detention for questioning at Mueang District, Trang Province. He is accused of killing his 46 year old mother, Sudarat, a vegetable and fruit vendor, at their home in Koh Pia subdistrict, Yantakhao district, Trang, on February 28. The former pugilist, 28 year old Nattaphon Thongtriphan, also known as Khiam, was apprehended in…
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Bangkok Airways suspends northern flights due to smog
Bangkok Airways announced the temporary suspension of all flights between Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the northern destinations of Lampang and Mae Hong Son, as thick smog and hazardous air pollution continue to engulf the region. The airline confirmed that services would be grounded from March 15 to April 20 due to dangerously low visibility caused by persistent haze, which has…
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