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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Monk’s resurrection: Revered Luang Pu Khek’s remains restored after fiery ordeal, followers seek lottery blessings
The skeletal remains of revered monk Luang Pu Khek, an esteemed figure in the city of Phitsanulok, have been fully restored and returned to their original state after a devastating fire destroyed his glass coffin. This follows a call to his devotees, and those who hold faith in him, to participate in a procession and try their luck at guessing…
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Pop goes the chaos: Opening day at POP MART’s Thai flagship store at CentralWorld turns topsy-turvy
Leading art toy company POP MART introduced its inaugural flagship store in Thailand at the popular Bangkok shopping mall, CentralWorld. Regrettably, the opening day took an unexpected turn, resulting in chaos and posing a threat to the safety of customers waiting in the queue. The first-ever POP MART flagship store, spanning an area of 169 square metres, was officially unveiled…
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Duck egg prices quack up as rain dampens Khon Kaen production
Continual rainfall in Khon Kaen has led to a decrease in duck egg production, driving the cost of duck eggs to an unprecedented high of 170 baht per tray. Salted eggs have also seen a price increase, now costing 8 to 10 baht per egg. Reporters yesterday visited Ban Dong Pong, Moo 10, Sila Subdistrict, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province,…
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Visa-free Chinese tourism raises concerns over illegal Thailand tour operations
The recent decision to exempt Chinese visitors from visa requirements sparked concerns within the Tourism Department about potential loopholes for illegal zero-dollar tours and unlicensed tour guides. The worry stems from the inability to verify the legitimacy of tour companies during the visa-free period. The department’s director-general, Jaturon Phakdeewanit, revealed that this issue was flagged to Tourism and Sports Minister…
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Loei’s watery woes: Torrential rain drowns 60 homes and more
Relentless downpours over the past week have led to extensive flooding in Loei province, northeastern Thailand, submerging more than 60 residences, agricultural land, government structures, and even a central sports field. The continuous precipitation has triggered the overflow of numerous tributaries, with particular emphasis on the Loei River, the province’s primary watercourse. While water levels in the Loei River have…
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BMA to pay first instalment of 22 billion baht debt for BTS Skytrain extension
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is set to pay the first instalment of the 22 billion baht debt it owes to Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC), the operator of the BTS Skytrain Green Line extension next month. This payment comes after the expected approval from the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC). The debt relates to the Green Line extension and…
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Heartbreaking horror: Sadistic Thai father arrested for murdering 2 year old daughter
Police arrested a sick, sadistic Thai man who killed his two year old daughter and buried her under his wife’s house in the northern province of Kamphaeng Phet. Shockingly, the suspect also admitted to the horrific killing of three other children. The tragic incident was uncovered after Thai social media influencer, Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet, rescued two girls aged four and…
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Lottery luck spooks home builder: Superstitious stir at mysterious milestone
A lottery win has stirred unease among a landowner and the local community, as they prepare to develop a plot of land into a new home. A photo shared on Facebook depicted a conspicuous sign that read, “Please be aware, you can come and pray but do not leave garlands or offerings here. The owner of this plot is about…
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Storm warning issued for 42 Thai provinces under deluge threat
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a storm warning for 42 provinces across the northern and southern regions today. With 60% of the area expected to receive heavy rainfall, residents are cautioned against potential flash floods and rapid runoff. The warning is in effect until 6am tomorrow. The south-westerly monsoon is currently covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf…
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Chinese tourism to Thailand lags despite lifted travel restrictions
The number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand continues to fall behind predictions, despite China lifting travel restrictions over eight months ago. By September 10, a total of 2.28 million Chinese arrivals had been recorded for the year, with estimates for the end of the year standing between 4 and 4.4 million. This falls short of the initial target of 5…
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Visa-free policy for Chinese, Kazakh tourists boosts Suvarnabhumi Airport readiness
Suvarnabhumi International Airport is preparing to welcome an influx of tourists from China and Kazakhstan following the announcement of a new visa-free policy, effective from next week. The Immigration Bureau (IB) is set to bolster its officer presence at the airport in anticipation of the increased arrivals. The visa-free policy, approved on Wednesday, September 13 and publicised in the Royal…
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Mayor’s trash-tigation: Chalong clamps down on waste disposal after viral aerial reveal
The mayor of Chalong has enforced a swift ban on any further waste disposal at a three-rai site in Baan Khoktanod, Moo 9, Chalong, following the spread of an aerial image of the site on social media. The image, first shared by the Facebook page Monsoon Garbage Thailand, prompted immediate action from local authorities. Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew assigned Thanaporn…
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Yangon sees surge in scam call centres amid economic depression
Scam call centres, previously primarily associated with Myanmar’s lawless border regions, are making their way into Yangon, the country’s commercial hub, as reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA). The operators are exploiting the economic depression, using the surplus of inexpensive office spaces and the considerable pool of educated, unemployed locals in Yangon. RFA’s investigation reveals that, unlike the call centres…
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Thai student loan restructuring to begin in November, easing debt burden
The Student Loan Fund (SLF) recently announced that it will start the restructuring of student defaulters’ debts starting in November. This information was disclosed today by Chainarong Katchapanan, the manager of SLF, during a meeting with Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. According to him, the necessary regulations required for the restructuring process will be finalised within the next month. Tawee, the…
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Thailand scam gang exposed: Four nationals nabbed in Poipet, face legal return
Four Thai nationals, involved with a scam gang tied to a family tragedy in Samut Prakan, were apprehended in Poipet and sent back to Thailand to face legal charges. Cambodian immigration officials informed their Thai counterparts last night, September 18, about the deportation of the four Thais: One male and three females, through the Poipet-Aranyaprathet checkpoint, according to Police Colonel…
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Mafia-scan: Nationwide probe into local chiefs’ ties progresses in colourful stages
A comprehensive nationwide examination into the possible mafia ties of local chiefs has reached a progression stage of 20-30%. Deputy Interior Minister, Chada Thaiset, disclosed that the gathered data will eventually be organised into zones marked by distinct colours. The impetus for this initiative stemmed from a distressing incident wherein a highway patrol officer was shot during a dinner gathering…
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Cat-astrophe in a cup: Bangkok cat café sparks social media fur-ore
A recent social media storm erupted over a cat café in Bangkok, which stands accused of neglecting its ailing feline residents and potentially creating a haven for disease. The café’s perceived apathy towards the well-being of its cats and the potential risks to public health have ignited a wave of anger and apprehension among the online community. The controversy flared…
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Childcare centre director arrested for sexually abusing 3 year old girl
A Thai mother sought justice for her three year old daughter, who was sexually abused by the director of the Nong Yai Child Development Centre in the northeastern province of Buriram. The director asked for the case to be dropped for fear of losing his pension. The girl’s mother, identified as A, told Channel 3 that she had been approached…
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Royal revelations: King’s son unveils his visit to ‘Faces of 112’ exhibition curated by fugitive academic
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, the second eldest son of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his second wife, Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, shared his experience of visiting the Faces of Victims of 112: An Exhibition, curated by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an academic and a fugitive from a Section 112 case. The exhibition, held at Columbia University, was visited by Vacharaesorn, a Thai resident residing in New York,…
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Sukhumvit snatch: Thai thief nabbed for stealing 40,000 baht from Ukrainian couple
Police arrested a Thai man at his home in Bangkok’s Khlong Toei district today after he stole more than 40,000 baht from a Ukrainian couple on Soi Sukhumvit 18. The Ukrainian couple reported to Thong Lor Police Station in the early hours of today, September 19, that a thief on a motorcycle rode up from behind and snatched a bag…
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Thai gold market glistens: Prices sparkle with a 100 baht boost in a day
Gold prices in Thailand saw a significant surge today as per the Gold Traders Association. Compared to the closing price of the previous day, gold ornaments today, September 19, were sold at an increased rate of 33,100 baht (US$926) per baht weight, marking an upswing of 100 baht. At 9.28am, the Gold Traders Association’s website showed the latest data. For…
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Head-on collision: Thai woman’s quest for justice after construction site calamity results in skull fracture
A Thai woman embarked on a quest for justice after concrete debris from a construction site in Bangkok’s Sathon district came crashing down on her head, resulting in a skull fracture. She is now pressing for more than just the cost of her medical treatment as compensation from the owner of the under-construction building. The victim, 36 year old Ananya,…
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Spider senses tarantula tingling: Arachnologists spin a web of discovery in Thailand
If you go down in the Thailand woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise, but it’s almost guaranteed there’ll be no Teddy Bears’ picnic, as arachnologists found while discovering a new species of tarantula. Arachnologists discovered the new species of tarantula deep in a mangrove forest in Phang Nga province, on the southwestern coast of Thailand. They stumbled upon…
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Thai woman dies after breast augmentation surgery with illegal doctor
The president of the Forensic Physicians Association of Thailand yesterday warned the public of illegal breast augmentation surgery, which recently led to the death of a Thai woman. The doctor, Smith Fa Srisont, took to Facebook yesterday, September 18, to share the story of a Thai woman who underwent breast augmentation surgery with a fake doctor and suffered tragic consequences.…
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BCHF’s heartwarming mission: Nourishing bodies and souls of Bangkok’s homeless, elderly, less fortunate
The Bangkok Community Help Foundation (BCHF), a non-profit organisation committed to enhancing the lives of residents in Thailand’s capital, has undertaken a heartwarming mission aimed at offering crucial support to the homeless, elderly and less fortunate in the city. In an extraordinary display of dedication, BCHF has made a solemn pledge to distribute 500 daily meals to Bangkok’s homeless, elderly…
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Thai weather alert: Monsoon brings heavy rain and thunderstorms across the nation
An intense Thai weather monsoon, accompanied by low atmospheric pressure, is forecasted to sweep across the northern and upper northeastern regions of Thailand and extend its reach to the upper shores of Vietnam. The western monsoon is also expected to cover the Andaman Sea, lower northeastern region, central region, eastern region, southern region, and the Gulf of Thailand, causing continuous…
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Thai monk-on-the-run: Holy man in ‘fur-ocious’ trouble for abusing animals
Royal Thai Police arrested another misbehaving Thai monk for repeatedly abusing animals and using them to haul a cart laden with offerings from devout merit makers. The Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) disclosed that the Thai monk had a previous run-in with the law for abusing animals, employing a goat, a donkey, a horse, and even a pig to pull his…
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DSI probes 20 firms over suspected collusion in Thai state construction bids
A probe by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has led to questioning representatives from 20 firms involved in bidding for state construction projects. These projects were eventually won by businesses owned by Praween Chanklai, also known as Nok. The investigation focuses on the construction of two sections of Highway 375, the first linking Don Toom and Lam Luk Bua in…
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Thai government plans further electricity tariff cut to 3.99 baht per unit
The Thai Energy Ministry has laid out plans to further reduce electricity tariffs by an additional 11 satang per unit, announced government spokesperson Chai Watcharong yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga disclosed the plan during the meeting, stating that the current rate of 4.10 baht per unit is set to drop to 3.99 baht. Just last month,…
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Former Thai deputy minister says ‘pandamonium’ not worth it, urges ‘elefant-astic’ focus on local treasures
The former Thai Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education voiced her opposition to the idea of importing new pandas from China, citing high rental costs and a declining interest in pandas. Instead, she suggests, the focus should be on the increasingly popular Thai elephants. Kanchana Silpa-archa, advisor and head of the Thai Nation Development Party, yesterday posted a message…
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