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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Caught in the act: Police swoop down on illegal immigration, nabbing 23 in southern Thailand sting
A swift police operation on illegal immigration yesterday resulted in the apprehension of 23 individuals in Songkhla, a province in southern Thailand. Four of them were Thai citizens acting as drivers, and the remaining 19 were Bangladeshis, who were identified as unlawful immigrants. Following an informant’s tip-off about chances of illegal immigration, the local law enforcement swung into action, anticipating…
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Viral spectre sensation: Young girl’s chilling ghost encounter haunts the Internet with over 3 million views
A video capturing a young girl’s encounter with a ghost in the midst of the day has taken the Internet by storm, with views exceeding three million. The footage was posted by TikTok user @nnlsenseless and in it, the girl is seen standing on a staircase, claiming she can see a ghost. The caption of the now-viral clip says… “My…
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Temple tragedy: Drug-addict murders elderly monk in Isaan province
A drug addict murdered a 71 year old Buddhist monk at a temple in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The murderer allegedly said he felt no remorse for his actions because he acted in self-defence. Officers from Kumphawapi Police Station arrested the murderer, 34 year old Wuttichai Mongkhonsaen, for the murder of the 71 year old monk named Dao…
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Thai health sector to add 175,000 jobs tackling major staffing shortage
To combat the ever-present issue of personnel shortages within the public health sector, an agreement has been struck between the Ministry of Public Health and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), set to open numerous new positions for both doctors and nurses. There has been an increasing trend of medical practitioners leaving the state sector for greener pastures in private hospitals,…
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Pattaya crackdown reveals foreigners living illegally amid beggar population
A crackdown by the Pattaya authorities to clear the city’s vibrant tourist hotspot of beggars unearthed a surprising amount of illegal foreigners residing within the country. Wutthisak Ruemkijjakarn, the deputy mayor of Pattaya, revealed that the city crackdown took place on Wednesday evening under the watchful eye of numerous authorities. This included officials from Chon Buri’s Social Development and Human…
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Thai repatriation: Rescuing nationals caught in Japanese job scam
Efforts are currently underway by the Thai foreign affairs and labour departments to assist in the safe return of six Thai nationals. The Thai nationals were deceived into travelling to Japan under the guise of a fictitious job contract, compelled to undertake illegal work, and then stranded when they declined to take part in these illicit activities. The ongoing efforts are…
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Phayao province police bust: Pillow reveals 316 methamphetamine tablets
Police in Phayao Province yesterday conducted a raid on a residential property leading to the arrest of two suspected drug users. Officers discovered five methamphetamine tablets on the premises and later found 311 more meth tablets concealed within a pillow. Investigative officers from Phayao Province Police Station detained Thawat, a 25 year old man, and Kalayanee, a 29 year old…
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Perverted Bangkok taxi driver caught masturbating to porn while driving
A Thai woman took to Twitter to warn netizens about a perverted taxi driver in Bangkok. She revealed that the driver watched porn and masturbated while transporting her and her friends to their destination. On June 20, the woman shared pictures of the taxi driver, his identification card, and his registration number on Twitter along with the caption that said……
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Thunderstorm warning issued for 37 provinces including Bangkok
Thailand’s The Department of Meteorology issued a warning for the possibility of thunderstorms in 37 provinces, including Bangkok. This is attributed to the low atmospheric pressure engulfing Vietnam’s upper zone, leading to a decline in the rain after today. While rainfall has diminished, volatile weather conditions persist in certain parts of the country. The inclement conditions over the Andaman Sea…
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World Hindu Congress to be hosted by Bangkok this year, boosting Thai tourism
As a first, Bangkok, Thailand’s vibrant city, is set to play host to the World Hindu Congress (WHC), set to take place from November 24 to 26. Around 3,000 Hindus hailing from 60 different countries are anticipated to grace the event chaired by Susheel Kumar Saraff. Themed “Jayasya Aayatnam Dharmah” or “Dharma,” the Abode of Victory,” the congress aims to celebrate…
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Healthcare shortage tackled by Thai government with new strategy
The Thai government’s Public Health Ministry laid out strategies to address the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals in the nation’s state-operated medical sector. Within the next three years, these measures aim to expand the country’s cadre of medical personnel according to current legal parameters. The government spokesperson, Anucha Buraphachaisri, indicated the interventions may result in a 40% increase in doctors and…
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Germany’s vaccine donation: A million Pfizer doses to strengthen Thai Health Ministry
Germany has made a vaccine donation of almost one million doses of the bivalent Covid-19 vaccine to the Thai Ministry of Public Health, planning to distribute this significant stockpile to Thai hospitals in the forthcoming weeks. This considerable vaccine donation was welcomed by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during an official handover ceremony at the German embassy yesterday. The ceremony…
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Chinese tourism deterred by tourist scams in Thailand, says ATTA
Fear of being conned by tourist scams poses a bigger concern to prospective Chinese tourists than Thailand’s political ambiguity, advises the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA). Given a sluggish economic recovery on the mainland, the Chinese tourism market could slightly be affected. Calling for tougher safety measures, ATTA’s president, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, indicated that improving the country’s image and reassurances…
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Thai tourism-linked businesses experience booming growth amid economic recovery
Amid escalating tourist arrivals and robust economic recovery, Thai tourism-associated enterprises have been reaping lucrative rewards, particularly in the fields of foreign exchange, travel agencies, tour guides, dining establishments, and the accommodation industry. Such industries have experienced impressive growth within the initial five months of this year, as revealed by data garnered through the Business Development Department of the Commerce…
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Business diversification: Susco Beyond explores EV market amidst fluctuating oil prices
Susco Beyond, an auxiliary affair of Susco Plc, a prominent Thai oil retailer, persists to diversify. While an integral part of their business still revolves around the oil industry, they seek to mitigate the risks associated with fluctuating oil prices through business diversification. To this end, they have turned their attention to non-oil businesses, an example of which includes their…
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Post-pandemic business growth: CMG aims for 20% revenue boost relying on beauty trends
In an era marked by a surge in consumer-based beauty industry trends, Central Marketing Group (CMG), a key Central Retail Corporation subsidiary and renowned distributor of over forty top-notch global brands, targets a 20% revenue business growth for their beauty segment this year. The company’s president, Edwin Yap Hawson, notes that the anticipated business growth can be credited to inventive…
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Mother’s cry for justice as 13 year old daughter sexually assaulted at Bangkok high school, authorities turn a deaf ear
A mother sought help from a news agency to highlight the rape and sexual assault of her 13 year old daughter by three male students at a high school in the Romklao neighbourhood of Bangkok after the police and school ignored her case. The 33 year old mother, named Bee, told the media that she only recently learned about the…
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Chachoengsao shockwave: 5-vehicle crash injures 4, incites traffic alarm
A sudden vehicle collision occurred in Chachoengsao province, involving a compact Isuzu Jumbo truck and a series of cars, resulting in the wreckage of five vehicles. The incident, which took place today around 12.30pm, caused concern among locals. The crash resulted in four injuries and happened in the Bang Pakong district along Thepparat Road, in the direction towards Bangkok. The…
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Unique Thai village profits from hot-season tokay gecko trade exports to China
A unique Thai village is gaining lucrative income from capturing and processing tokay geckoes, generating hundreds of thousands of baht (US$2,860) per month during the hot season. In the northeast province of Nakhon Phanom, villagers from Ban Tal in Nah Wah district are seizing the opportunity to capture the amphibians that thrive in the warm weather. Ban Tal Thai Village,…
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Bangkok Airways triumphs at World Airline Awards for 7th consecutive year
The World Airline Awards 2023 ceremony saw Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited retaining its resplendent position under the spotlight. The prestigious accolades of ‘The World’s Best Regional Airline’ and ‘The Best Regional Airline in Asia’ were pinned on this airline, marking its seventh year of triumph. The presentation took place today at the Paris Air Show, where Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, the…
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Chon Buri authorities arrest employee accused of adolescent assault in 2022
Authorities in Chon Buri province tracked down and arrested a young staff member who enticed a new female employee to stay with him, assaulting her later, and eventually fleeing the case. Thanachai, a 21 year old man, was apprehended today per the court order of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya on charges of “Using brute force to commit indecent assault and…
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Thailand tourism thrives as it ranks second in global travel, Bangkok tops city list
Thailand tourism continues to thrive, as online travel platform Agoda recently revealed that the country holds the title of the second most popular destination for travellers worldwide, with Bangkok topping the list of favourite cities for global travellers. The ranking came from an analysis of booking data collected from January to May of the current year, shared by government spokesman…
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Thai Ex’s revenge plot goes awry after spreading false claims and posting sex video
A disgruntled ex-boyfriend posted a sex video of his former girlfriend on social media and falsely claimed she was a prostitute which led to a number of unwelcome men visiting her family home. The Thai man was apparently unhappy that their relationship ended due to his infidelity. The victim’s mother spoke to the media and reported the incidents to the…
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Picture perfect scandal: Bangkok governor addresses leaked intimate photos
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt addressed intimate pictures of him with an unnamed woman that were circulated on social media. These pictures showed the 57 year old Bangkok chief kissing a blonde woman in a restaurant. Chadchart today admitted that the photographs were taken in a private setting and unrelated to his role as Governor of Bangkok in any way. He…
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Phuket road closure: Temporary shutdown for flood-prevention works disrupts traffic
Police have released a map indicating alternative routes to help reduce traffic disruptions after the temporary closure of a 1-kilometre stretch of road for flood prevention works in Patong. The section affected from Soi Banzaan to Soi Nanai Ruamjai (Soi Nanai 8) has been closed since Tuesday. The road closure was originally scheduled until August 26, although recent notices from…
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Bang Klaan temple abbot identifies 17 suspects behind violent intrusion
The abbot of Bang Klaan temple reported 17 more suspects involved in the recent violent intrusion at his temple in Phichit province. The offenders are comprised of 14 locals and three non-affiliated monks. The police have used CCTV footage to identify the culprits who caused several injuries to the temple’s staff and lay supporters. The abbot, Pissut Warakan, granted authority…
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Notorious scammer behind 3 million baht online fraud arrested in Thailand
A notorious scammer has been arrested for deceiving people through online sales. The 31 year old man, known as Pop Bueng Sam Phan, allegedly conned around 3 million baht (US$85,599) from his victims, who complained to the police and prompted an investigation. The suspect has a history of criminal records spanning the past six years, including prior arrests for drug-related…
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Bangkok’s historic Hua Lamphong station plans major exhibitions and celebrations
Bangkok’s historic Hua Lamphong railway station, with its Italian Neo-Renaissance-style architecture, is gearing up to host prominent events while continuing to provide suburban commuting and tourism train services. This comes on the heels of extensive renovations that have transformed the 107 year old station to accommodate both roles effectively. Ekkarat Si-arayanphong, head of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor’s office,…
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Double shooting suspect surrenders to police, reveals motive in Chachoengsao
A suspect in a double shooting at a popular establishment in Chachoengsao province has turned himself in to police at Plaeng Yao Police Station and revealed his motives for the crime. Thirty-two year old Natthaphon, whose last name was withheld, explained that the incident occurred due to an altercation at a live entertainment venue in Plaeng Yao on June 18.…
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Spice of controversy: Vietnamese, Indian vendors accuse Thai Police ‘Curry’pt practices
Vietnamese and Indian vendors in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok accused the Thai police of extortion and soliciting bribes from them. Nonthaburi province residents last night handed a video to Channel 3 of a Vietnamese seller’s complaint about having to hand over eye-watering bribes. In the video, the 31 year old Vietnamese man, Min, disclosed that he has been selling dried squid…
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