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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Catch of the day: Surat Thani nets illegal fishing gear
Officials in Surat Thani have taken decisive action against illegal fishing activities, removing unlawful equipment from Ban Don Bay. Yesterday, October 15, Nattapol Sinpunpol, Deputy Director of the Naval Civil Affairs Department in Surat Thani, led a collaborative effort with multiple agencies to address the issue. The operation involved officials from the Provincial Fisheries Office, the 6th Police Division, legal…
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EEC high-speed rail contract revisions to Cabinet in two weeks
Proposed revisions to the contract for the high-speed rail project connecting three major airports are expected to be submitted to the Cabinet within two weeks, according to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. Pichai, who also chairs the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee, announced that the committee had approved changes to five critical points in the contract. The committee is currently…
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Late-night LPG truck crash in Bang Pakong causes major damage
A late-night accident involving an LPG gas truck colliding with a parked pickup truck caused significant damage but no injuries or fatalities. The incident occurred around 11pm yesterday, October 15, in front of Burapha Village in Bang Wua, Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao province. Police from the Bang Pakong Police Station were promptly notified and rushed to the scene. Upon arrival,…
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Petition calls for PM Paetongtarn’s removal: Adviser appointment
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is embroiled in controversy once again, with a new petition demanding her removal from office over her appointment of Nattawut Saikua as an adviser. Nattawut, a former director of the Pheu Thai family, has a contentious past, leading to the latest challenge against the 38 year old PM’s judgement. Activist Nopparut Worachitwutthikul, formerly a leader of…
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Thai man questioned after girlfriend’s fatal fall at Bangkok condo
A Thai woman plunged to death from the 12th floor of her condominium in the Rama 9 neighbourhood of Bangkok following a dispute with her boyfriend. The death of the 25 year old woman, whose name remains undisclosed, was reported to the Hua Mark Police Station at around 10pm yesterday, October 15. Her body was found near a swimming pool…
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Mo Chit happens: Transport minister warns over Bangkok bus stop rubbish
A large accumulation of rubbish behind the Bangkok Bus Terminal, commonly known as Mo Chit 2, in Chatuchak district, sparked outrage from Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, threatening to revoke public bus operating permits should the problem persist. Suphanat Meenchainan, an MP for Chatuchak, Bang Khen, and Lak Si from the People’s Party, highlighted the issue by posting a photo of…
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Lost Italian tourist rescued after night in Phuket jungle
An Italian tourist thanked local officials for their efforts after launching a search to find him when he got lost in the jungle near Nai Yang Beach, Phuket. Tomas Garcia Martin, a 34 year old Italian national, found himself disoriented during a fishing trip on October 13. Realising his predicament, he contacted the Pullman Naithon Hotel, where he was staying,…
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Flipflop tosser: CCTV catches sole suspect in Nonthaburi scandal
CCTV footage from an apartment in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok captured the perverted behaviour of a Thai man who was seen masturbating with stolen flipflops outside a victim’s room. The victim, a 49 year old Thai man named Chokchai Kadprasit, told Channel 3 that he exited his apartment to send his girlfriend to work but could not find his flipflops.…
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Thai singer Tik Shiro charged with drink driving after fatal crash (video)
Police charged Thai singer Sirisak “Tik” Nantasane, also known as Tik Shiro, with drink driving after he crashed his van into a motorcycle, resulting in one fatality on October 10. The victim, 28 year old Thai woman Thianporn “Meji” Siwapornpithak, lost her life, while her brother, Jakkaphat “Junior” Siwapornpithak, was seriously injured after the well-known singer Tik collided with their…
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KBank ‘assets’ itself with new ventures amid rising NPLs
Kasikornbank (KBank) is shaking things up and eyeing new profits by tackling its bad assets head-on via joint venture asset management companies (JV-AMCs), as non-performing loans (NPLs) climb higher across the banking scene. Rungruang Sukkirdkijpiboon, KBank’s co-President, spilt the beans that the bank is launching a fresh JV-AMC in partnership with Bangkok Commercial Asset Management (BAM), adding to its current…
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Charting new waters: Pheu Thai seeks to ‘amend’ fences with coalition partners
In a political drama unfolding at the heart of Thailand, the ruling Pheu Thai Party admitted it must mend fences with coalition allies to forge ahead with its ambitious blueprint for rewriting the nation’s charter. This revelation came courtesy of PM’s right-hand man, Somkid Chueakong, during the poignant commemoration of the October 14, 1973, uprising on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue. Somkid,…
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Shorely not: Pattaya official demands justice after sea-pee clash
A municipal official in Pattaya is seeking justice after two Thai men attempted to assault him for warning them not to pee in the sea. The men also refused to pay fines for their wrongdoing. The chief of Jomtien Pattaya Municipality Office, Sawate Permpoon, reached out to Channel 7 to share the confrontation with two Thai men on Sunday, October…
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Kao Thailand celebrates 60 years of clean streaks, happy households
Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd., is rolling out the red carpet for its 60th anniversary, celebrating six decades of serving Thai households with beloved brands like Attack, Magiclean, Haiter, Curel, and Laurier. As the first overseas arm of Japan’s iconic Kao Corporation, established in 1964, Kao Thailand has been banging the drum for hygiene & protection while upping the ante…
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Fuel’s gold: Bangchak to fry high with sustainable jet fuel from cooking oil
Bangchak Corporation, one of the big dogs on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), is turbocharging its efforts to collect used cooking oil, aiming to transform it into sustainable jet fuel (SAF) by next year—a first-class upgrade for greener skies. BSGF, Bangchak’s SAF-producing brainchild, has penned a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with New Biodiesel to scoop up used cooking oil…
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Burmese man fakes seizure and death after sexual assault arrest
A Burmese man faked a seizure and death at a police station to avoid detention after he was arrested for sexually assaulting a Thai woman at a market in the central province of Chachoengsao. An off-duty police officer, Sakchai, and witnesses at Bang Wua Temple Market on Bangna-Trat Road in the Bang Pakong district helped the 23 year old Thai woman…
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Phuket aims for 500 billion baht tourism boost with new initiatives
Phuket aims to boost its tourism revenue to 500 billion baht in the latter half of this year by implementing policies targeted at high-end tourists. Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO), announced the revised revenue goal, which had previously been set at 420 billion baht (US$12.6 billion). He emphasised that the new target underscores Phuket’s potential…
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Belief in ghosts ignored: Thieves steal from cinerary urns in Buriram temples
Residents urged the police to swiftly arrest thieves who stole money kept in the cinerary urns of their deceased family members at four temples in the Isaan province of Buriram, allegedly to buy drugs. In line with Thai Buddhist traditions, it is customary to place coins in urns or containers with the ashes and bones of the cremated deceased, with…
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Thai health officials charge fake doctor over illegal clinic
Thai health officials have taken legal action against Thananon Hiranchaiwan, also known as Boss Doctor Ek, for falsely claiming to be a medical doctor and operating a clinic without proper authorisation. Earlier today, the Health Ministry, led by Assistant Minister Thanakrit Jitrariyaprat, along with Ittiporn Kanacharoen, Secretary-General of the Medical Council, and Panawat Panket, Director-General of the Department of Health…
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Croc-and-awe: Residents splash over Ping River crocodile sighting
Residents of Chom Thong, Chiang Mai, are in a right flap after a suspected crocodile was spotted having a lazy float in the Ping River. The provincial fisheries department quickly jumped into action, sending out snaps of mysterious footprints to the experts for a gander. Jesada Thangmanee, the district’s top fish wrangler, jumped on the croco-drama tipped off by buzzing…
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Firefighters prevent explosion at Nakhon Ratchasima restaurant
A dramatic incident unfolded in Nakhon Ratchasima when a gas cylinder caught fire at a restaurant near a renowned university. Firefighters quickly intervened, preventing an explosion and containing the blaze before it could spread. Firefighters were alerted to a fire at a restaurant in front of Rajamangala University of Technology Isaan. Responding to the call promptly, they arrived on the…
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ID check-mate: DLT gears up for tight security drive with ThaID app
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) is cracking down on security, rolling out mandatory identity checks with the ThaID app from November 1 for anyone booking driving license and vehicle registration slots. That’s right, no more easy rides—it’s high-tech all the way via the DLT Smart Queue app and website! Today, October 15, Seksom Akkharaphan, the no-nonsense Deputy Director-General and…
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Upcoming lottery draw sparks excitement with new lucky numbers
The upcoming lottery draw tomorrow, October 16, is generating buzz with various sources revealing their lucky numbers. Here’s a compilation of the most talked-about numbers for the next draw. A crane lifted the statue of Thao Wessuwan in Rayong, followed by the loud noise of firecrackers. Once the firecrackers were silenced, locals rushed to check the numbers on the firecracker…
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Love triangle turns deadly in Phuket with fatal point-blank shooting
A fatal shooting over a love triangle occurred outside Katu Police Station in Phuket on Sunday, October 13, when two men and one woman arranged a meeting to resolve the matter. Officers at Katu Police Station followed a white pickup belonging to the gunman, later identified as 32 year old Thitipong, who fled the scene after the shooting. Police managed…
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Thai execs ‘gen’-erate buzz, placing big bets on AI for success
In a bold business move, executives in Thailand are betting big on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), catapulting it to the top of their corporate agendas, reveals a sizzling study by global CRM giant Salesforce. Amidst economic turbulence, Siddharth Rastogi, Salesforce’s vice-president for the ASEAN, insists it will work. “We’ve got the magic mix for AI adoption, thanks to the nation’s…
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Thai transwoman arrested for drunk driving bites, punches cop
A Thai transwoman failed to escape a drunk driving arrest at a checkpoint in the northern province of Lampang, so she opted to bite and punch one of the police officers during her arrest. Officers from Mueang Lampang Police Station set up the checkpoint on Duangrat Road in the Suan Dok sub-district, Mueang district, Lampang, on the night of Sunday,…
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Blast from the past: Home rebuilds reignited after firework disaster
After more than a year of frustrating delays, construction has finally kicked off again on new homes for victims of last year’s catastrophic firework warehouse explosion near Muno Market. On July 29, 2023, the town was rocked by the devastating blast, which tragically claimed 11 lives, left 389 injured, and wreaked havoc on 649 houses as well as three schools,…
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Thailand to explore new tax system for ageing population
Thailand must urgently adjust its tax structure and increase tax participation to address future expenses related to its ageing population, according to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. The Finance Ministry is exploring a negative income tax (NIT) system to assist individuals with incomes below a government-set threshold. Julapun clarified that the goal is to ensure residents can sustain their livelihoods,…
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Brake-ing bad: Car turns ambulance trip into road rage drama
A viral video captures a white sedan dangerously cutting off an ambulance twice before abruptly braking, causing distress to the patient, medical staff, and relatives inside. Yesterday, October 14, a Facebook user named Makeke Steiker posted a plea to identify the driver of a white Toyota CH-R sedan. The incident occurred yesterday between 3.05am and 3.10am. The TNB Ambulance, carrying…
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iCon Group leaves 635 investors short-changed in 232 million baht bust
In the wake of the iCon Group’s alleged Ponzi scheme scandal, 635 people filed complaints against the company, reporting losses exceeding 232 million baht. Investigations are currently underway into the involvement of a policeman, a politician, and a fraudulent doctor linked to the organisation. The iCon Group, a beauty and supplementary products company, has become a hot topic in Thailand…
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Husband accidentally shoots wife in Nakhon Si Thammarat, flees
A tragic incident occurred in Nakhon Si Thammarat, where a husband accidentally discharged a firearm, resulting in the death of his wife. He sought help from neighbours before fleeing on a motorcycle. Police are urgently pursuing the suspect and investigating the cause. Police reported that the incident took place yesterday, October 14. Phongwut Wutipong, an investigator at Ron Phibun Police…
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