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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Thap Lan tunnels face disruption after heavy rainfall and flooding damage
The recent flooding in Prachin Buri have left a trail of damage in their wake, particularly impacting Thap Lan tunnels. The Department of Highways has been assessing the aftermath now that the waters have subsided. The twin tunnels, integral parts of Highway 304 connecting Khao Yai and Thap Lan national parks, were rendered impassable due to heavy rainfall over several days.…
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Thai universities shine in Times Higher Education World Rankings
Nineteen universities in Thailand have made their mark on the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024, drawing commendations from Thailand’s Minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation, Supamas Isarabhakdi. This year’s list included 1,904 universities from 108 countries and regions, with THE evaluating more than 134 million citations from over 16.5 million research publications and survey responses…
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Young Thai woman found dead after suspected overdose in northeast Thailand
A tragic incident occurred in Udon Thani province when a young woman was discovered dead in her ex-boyfriend’s room. Authorities promptly arrived at the scene to conduct an investigation. The victim, 21 year old Supak, was found lifeless on the floor of room A9. The room’s occupant, a 20-year-old named Charupong, revealed that the deceased had consumed an excessive amount…
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Acid attack survivor scammed out of motorbike by brutal loan shark
In a recent incident, a 26 year old woman from the Ban Ngang district of Buriram province found herself victimised twice over. Initially, the woman, Wunpen, suffered facial disfigurement and blindness from an acid attack by her ex-husband in 2020. Recently, she has been defrauded by a loan shark who refused to return her mortgaged motorbike, allegedly selling it to…
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Rainy rampage: Flash floods turn northern Thailand province upside down
Heavy rain and flash floods have wreaked havoc in two districts, five sub-districts and 31 villages in Phrae Province, Thailand. Rampu Chantapatu, the Assistant Head of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office in Phrae, reported that the torrential downpour caused flash floods, inundating local homes and agricultural areas. However, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. Affected areas in Wang…
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Yala’s sizzling vegetarian fest: A spicy stir of cultures draws tourists like dim sum buffet
The Yala Vegetarian Festival is now sizzling hot like a stir-fry wok. It kicked off with a spicy city-wide procession circling Betong in southern Thailand, and yellow flags popping up like corn in a kettle. This cultural fusion extravaganza, blending Thai spice with Chinese nice, is attracting more tourists than a dim sum buffet. Today, the festival kicked off at…
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Purr-fectly unexpected: Cat-astrophe as nail tech invades cat café
In a fur-midable twist, ‘a Daily‘ cats café found itself in a bit of a ‘purr-dicament’ when a customer decided to ‘pam-purr’ themselves with nail services right alongside the resident feline friends. The café, typically a meow-sterpiece of tranquillity, suddenly found itself with nail equipment ‘paws-ing’ for attention and tables ‘claw-sing’ a bit of chaos.” The owners expressed concern for…
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Bangkok Governor warns residents near Chao Phraya River of potential floods due to unexpected storm
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt issued an alert for communities living near the Chao Phraya River to be on guard against high water levels due to the storm surge effect at around 7pm today. The 57 year old city chief revealed at Bangkok City Hall that the volume of seawater was significantly higher than forecasted, leading to a 30% surge in…
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Undercover operation hits Jackpot: 50 busted in illegal gambling den in northern Thailand
A high-stakes illegal gambling den, operating for nearly two months in the heart of Rom Klao’s bustling Kriangkrai Market, was stormed by a special operation team from the Department of Provincial Administration (DPA) yesterday. The crackdown at about 5pm yesterday, September 28, resulted in the arrest of 50 gamblers and 17 gambling organisers. The fallout from the illegal gambling den…
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Tak’s rising waters put dams at risk, residents urged to seek high ground
Severe rainfall in Tak province caused a mass influx of water into reservoirs, exceeding their storage capacity and raising concerns over potential dam breaches. The deputy governor has ordered immediate action to prevent further erosion and expansion due to Tak flooding, urging residents to quickly move their belongings to higher ground. Heavy rainfall in Tak province today resulted in a…
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Fishy business: Tyre blowout flips lorry in east Thailand
A lorry transporting fish suffered a tyre explosion in Rayong, causing the vehicle to flip and crash into a tree, seriously damaging the entire vehicle. The driver, 29 year old Sunthorn Yotdam, sustained injuries, while the fish, primarily tilapia numbering in the thousands, were scattered across the road, resulting in an estimated loss of no less than 100,000 baht. Police…
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Monk’s mysterious death unveils temple ‘whodunit’ in central Thailand
The mysterious death of a 57 year old monk in a temple in Ang Thong province sparked a police investigation. The body was found in a monk’s hut, lying on the floor surrounded by a foul smell, with blood and yellow liquid on the ground. A lottery ticket for the October 1 draw was discovered in the hut, which drew…
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Chiang Mai’s sizzling lottery craze: Rain or shine, locals bet on luck
The buzz around the “hot lottery” is intensifying in Chiang Mai, with locals eagerly purchasing tickets for Sunday’s draw in hopes of securing the lucky numbers revealed by revered teacher Sreevichai. The allure of the lottery is strong, despite the ongoing rainy season and the ticket price remaining at 100 baht per ticket and 110-120 baht for a series. The…
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Thai economy loses steam: UTCC’s growth forecast trims to 3%
With an anticipated dip in exports and a delay in state budget preparation, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) revised its economic growth forecast for the current year to 3%, a decline from the previously estimated 3.6% in December last year. The revised growth forecast is reflective of new government measures aimed at lowering the cost of…
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Severe flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima sparks fears of 1980 disaster repeat
Torrential rains triggered severe flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima causing residents to hastily evacuate their homes. The situation has raised concerns of a repeat of the devastating floods of 1980. The Thai authorities are closely monitoring the situation, especially in the Lam Takhong area. Khao Yai National Park Head, Chaiya Huay Hongs Thong, reported that the depression storm has led to…
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TV host left scarred after beauty treatment botch-up at popular Thai clinic
A beauty clinic client shared her traumatic experience after a beauty procedure went wrong, resulting in severe burns on her face. The beauty treatment was carried out by a new employee who apparently adjusted the equipment incorrectly. The client, named only as Am, works as a TV show host. She has been left in agony, unable to work, and facing…
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Thai-dal wave: 80% of Thailand soaked as intense rainfall reigns
Intense rainfall is expected to continue across 49 provinces in Thailand, with a staggering 80% of the area predicted to be affected, including the capital, Bangkok. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued this warning today, urging citizens to be cautious of potential flash floods and landslides, particularly in open areas and under large trees. A powerful monsoon trough is forecasted…
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Phuket set for 148 billion baht infrastructure boost to uplift tourism
The renowned resort island of Phuket is set to undergo a significant infrastructural facelift, courtesy of a proposed budget of 148 billion baht by the Transport Ministry. The ambitious Phuket infrastructure upgrade plan includes the addition of a second airport on the island, a move aimed at transforming Phuket into a prime regional tourism hub. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit disclosed the…
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Thailand’s lucky L6: Your shot at 180 million baht lottery jackpot begins October 1
The Government Lottery Office of Thailand announced the launch of a six-digit lottery, referred to as L6, with the first draw set for Sunday, October 1. This new lottery offers the chance to win up to 180 million baht. This L6 will be sold in paper form as well as digital format, according to the announcement. The sale of L6…
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Mother Kali ceremony: Devotees flock to Kamphaeng Phet hoping for luck
Hundreds of devotees today gathered at the residence of Mother Kali, a famous spiritual medium in Kamphaeng Phet, to participate in a sacred ceremony. Believers consider Mother Kali, a Hindu deity, as a transformation of the terrifying goddess Uma Devi. Despite her fearsome appearance, Kali is believed to be compassionate and benevolent, helping those who pray with sincerity to achieve…
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Thai Labour Minister pledges tailored minimum wage hike
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has committed to increasing the minimum wage to a suitable level in the upcoming year. However, a standard daily rate of 400 baht will not be uniformly applied across all sectors. Some industries, like tourism, currently exceed this proposed baseline. The ministry, in conjunction with employers and employee representatives such as the Federation of Thai Industries and…
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Thailand and Cambodia to boost bilateral trade
Thailand’s commitment to deepen ties with Cambodia has been firmly established, with both nations aiming to boost bilateral trade volume to US$15 billion (551 billion baht) by 2025. This was confirmed by government spokesman, Chai Wacharonke, following a significant meeting between Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet. The meeting, which took place in Phnom Penh,…
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Thai-UAE free trade agreement 80% finalised, may boost Thai GDP
Progress is being made in the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Thailand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with discussions now reportedly 80% finalised. This update comes from Thailand’s Commerce Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, who recently held talks with the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. Phumtham revealed agreements have been made in…
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Fraudulent scheme: Thai model Emmy Maxim and secretary sentenced
A prominent 37 year old model and her personal secretary have been ordered by the court to serve two-month and 40-day detention respectively for their involvement in a fraudulent share scheme. Their victims included ten individuals who collectively filed a lawsuit after suffering significant financial losses. The initial court ruling dismissed the charges, which prompted the plaintiffs to appeal. The appellate…
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Chinese suspect caught in Thailand armed robbery caper
A suspected participant in a recent armed robbery, originally from China, was yesterday apprehended in the Sri Racha district of Chon Buri, as confirmed by the police. The arrest of the Chinese man, Lui Jian, was backed by a warrant issued by the Criminal Court, charging him with armed robbery and the illicit possession of a knife and a firearm…
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Thai authorities uncover illegal e-waste importation at three factories in central Thailand
An illegal importation of electronic waste, or e-waste, was uncovered during a raid by the Department of Industrial Works and the Pollution Control Department. They discovered over a thousand tonnes of the waste in three factories located in Pathum Thani and Chachoengsao provinces. The inspection took place today, initiated by Police Lieutenant General Puthidech Bungrapheu, of the Office of the…
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Torsak Sukvimol approved as Thailand’s new national police chief
The Police Commission officially approved the appointment of Deputy National Police Chief General Torsak Sukvimol to the position of national police chief. Torsak will take over from Police General Damrongsak Kittiprapas, who is set to retire on Saturday, September 30. The decision was made during a meeting of the Police Commission, chaired by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, at the Royal…
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Two dead in Nakhon Phanom-Rayong bus crash: Sleep-deprived driver suspected
A bus crash on the Nakhon Phanom-Rayong route resulted in two fatalities and two injuries. The incident occurred at about 10.30am today. The bus veered off the road and crashed into a concrete barrier on the edge of the motorway. Traffic investigator Prakarn Pladech from Huay Yai Police Station reported the incident and emergency response units from several agencies rushed…
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Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, gives all salary to charity
Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin today declared that he will not accept his 125,590 baht monthly PM salary while he is in office, adding he will donate it to charity. PM Office spokesperson Chai Watcharong said PM Srettha stressed to officials that charity is a good thing and everyone can do good according to their ability. To extend the…
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Tee turmoil: Husband’s golf caddy ‘mistress’ request sees wife slice wildy
A Thai man almost found himself on the fairway to heaven after he asked his wife if he could take his golf caddy as a mistress – she stabbed him three times in Chon Buri province. Officers from Don Hua Lor Police Station swung into action today, September 28, heading to a rented room in Mueang Chon Buri district, Chon…
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