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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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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Bangkok braces for flood-tide: Governor takes early action
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has introduced preventive measures in response to reports that floods from the northern provinces of Thailand are expected to hit Bangkok within the next six days. Chadchart informed Channel 7 about measures the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has prepared to prevent flooding in the city. The main measures include closely monitoring the flood situation in northern…
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Thai man hospitalised after toxic plant drink to quit alcohol
A man in Maha Sarakham was hospitalised after consuming a concoction made from a toxic plant, intended by his wife to help him quit drinking. He experienced severe symptoms, including confusion and stiffness, prompting immediate medical attention. The incident occurred yesterday, August 27, at noon when emergency services were called to a home in Nong Kha village, Tha Tum subdistrict,…
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Soi Dog Foundation launches sterilisations to curb stray population
The Soi Dog Foundation has introduced a free sterilisation service to tackle the increasing dog population and provide essential care for neglected strays in Nong Prue municipality. This initiative aims to reduce the number of stray dogs and ensure that pets receive proper medical attention. At the Nong Prue Municipality Health Park Dome, a skilled team of veterinarians offers sterilisation…
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Export-tional growth: July’s 15.2% surge is highest in 28 months
Exports in July surged by 15.2%, marking the highest growth rate in 28 months, attributed to easing inflation and increased purchasing power among trading partners. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, the Director-General of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), reported that July’s exports rose by 15.2% to US$25.7 billion (938 billion baht), primarily driven by the cooling global inflation, which considerably enhanced…
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Thai police seize massive drug haul after high-speed chase
Thai police successfully arrested members of a drug trafficking gang, seizing a massive haul of narcotics, after a high-speed chase involving gunfire. The gang attempted to flee but their vehicle was eventually disabled, leading to their capture. Chada Thaiset, Deputy Minister of Interior, along with Uthai Thani Governor, Kittirat Phanphet, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, and regional officials,…
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9 houses damaged in recent Phuket landslide, no injuries reported
Another landslide hit the Ratsada sub-district of Phuket in the early hours of this morning leaving nine houses in the area damaged. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The landslide in the Kata sub-district of Phuket last week killed 13 people, most of whom were migrant workers, and affected more than 200 households in the area. Residents are not yet out…
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Rescue efforts intensify for rail tunnel trapped Thai workers
Rescue teams are working tirelessly to save three workers trapped inside the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail tunnel in Nakhon Ratchasima. Ekkarat Sriarayanphong, Chief of the Governor’s Office of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), provided an update on the situation yesterday, August 27, detailing the efforts being made to reach the workers. Teams are carefully digging through the collapsed section of…
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Weeded out: Stranded fisherman rescued by helicopter after two days
A fisherman stranded on his boat amidst aquatic weeds for two days and nights was eventually rescued by a helicopter. The incident occurred in the Huai Luang Reservoir, Nong Bua Ban subdistrict, Udon Thani province. Heavy storms trapped Tan Sihararat, a 53 year old resident of Nam Phon Nuea, Nong Wua So district, in a dense mass of water hyacinths…
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Burmese man denies killing Thai taxi driver despite bloodstains in room
A Burmese man denied killing a Thai taxi driver, despite the discovery of suspicious bloodstains on his clothes and belongings in his rented room in the central province of Nonthaburi. The body of an unidentified man was discovered in a pond at a fish farm near the Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province,…
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New regulation allows convicts to serve time outside Thai prisons
Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong staunchly defended a new regulation permitting convicts to be detained outside of prison, addressing concerns that it might unfairly benefit former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The Department of Corrections introduced this regulation to mitigate prison overcrowding, as the current system can only accommodate 150,000 to 160,000 inmates. The current prison population in Thailand stands at approximately…
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Whisky business: Methanol madness in khlong sam wa, Bangkok
A rise in methanol poisoning cases linked to illegal herbal whisky in Khlong Sam Wa has led to increased concern. Four deaths have been reported, with two more individuals falling seriously ill, bringing the total number of affected patients to 35. The Department of Disease Control and the Department of Medical Services, under the Ministry of Public Health, reported today…
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Digital wallet scheme may be delayed to next fiscal year
The 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme faces potential postponement until the next fiscal year starting October 1 if not implemented by next month, according to the Budget Bureau. Bureau Director Chalermphol Pensoot stated that the details of the cash handout policy would need to be revisited once the new Cabinet is formed. The initiative, promising 10,000 baht to up to 50…
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Grinding gears: Dentists fret over TikTok teens filing their teeth
TikTok’s latest trend has left dentists worried as teenagers around the globe are using nail files to reshape their teeth. The platform, known for its viral challenges and trends, has seen a surge in videos where young individuals file their teeth to achieve their desired shape. TikTok has become one of the most influential online platforms today, allowing people worldwide…
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Thailand’s female CEOs soar but the gender equality gap remains
Thailand’s female business leaders are smashing glass ceilings at an impressive rate, but the country’s gender equality struggle is far from over. With 32% of senior leadership positions in Thai businesses held by women, compared to a global average of 27%, Thailand boasts one of the highest ratios of women CEOs in the world. Nearly 90% of businesses in Thailand…
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Peek performance: Students nab half-naked pervert in petrol station
A group of Thai students last night managed to catch a half-naked pervert who fled after peeking at a woman in a bathroom at a petrol station in the Isaan province of Chaiyaphum. Officers from Mueang Chaiyaphum Police Station yesterday, August 26, were called to a road outside Chaiyaphum Wanaram Temple, where the group of students caught the alleged suspect,…
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Job jolt: Thailand’s unemployment hits two-year high at 1.07%
Thailand’s unemployment rate surged to a two-year high, with 1.07% of the workforce out of a job, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) revealed. The rise marks the highest level of unemployment since the Covid-19 pandemic waned, showing a worrying trend in the nation’s job market. Danucha Pichayanan, NESDC Secretary-General, reported that the rate had climbed slightly from…
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Thieves strike twice on VietJet Air flights to Hong Kong
An alarming crime wave has hit Hong Kong’s skies as two separate thefts from flights arriving from Vietnam made headlines. In the latest incident, a 37 year old mainland Chinese traveller reported his credit card stolen and used for fraudulent transactions totalling over 36,000 Hong Kong dollars (around 157,000 baht) while on board VietJet Air 966. The flight landed in Hong…
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Thailand boosts HDD production with 23.5 billion baht investment
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) approved a significant investment project by Western Digital Storage Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd., to expand its hard disk drive (HDD) and related equipment production. The project, valued at 23.516 billion baht, will take place in Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province and 304 Industrial Park, Prachin Buri province. The Secretary-General of the…
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Nomad’s land: TAT’s Destination Thailand Visa leaves embassies in fog
Despite the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) pushing the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) as a boon for digital nomads, the Pattaya Mail has discovered a troubling lack of clarity among Thai embassies. This long-stay visa, designed for remote workers and freelancers wishing to reside in Thailand, is meant to be straightforward, but many embassies are failing to provide adequate guidance…
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Thai man hospitalised after eating ‘crazy eggplant’ to quit drinking
A Thai man in the Isaan province of Mahasarakham lost consciousness after his wife forced him to consume poisonous jimsonweed believing it would help him quit drinking. Mahasarakham Hospital issued a warning to the public after the 61 year old Thai man, Thongdaeng, was admitted to the hospital after consuming the poisonous fruit. It is known among Thais as Makhuea…
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PM Paetongtarn denies Thaksin’s influence on Cabinet
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra firmly asserted that she alone will decide on the composition of her Cabinet. This declaration follows concerns that her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, might interfere in her selections. Paetongtarn was officially named Thailand’s 31st Prime Minister on August 18 after securing a majority vote in Parliament. Since then, her coalition partners have been…
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Bangkok man arrested for raping 11 year old girl while drunk
In a disturbing incident, a 23 year old Bangkok man has been arrested for allegedly raping an 11 year old girl. The suspect lured the girl under the pretence of taking her to see her brother, who was fishing nearby, before sexually assaulting her. He later claimed that he was drunk during the incident. Yesterday, August 26, at 11am, Police…
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Music is the food of love for TAT festival in Hat Yai this weekend
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is rolling out the red carpet for a spectacular celebration of art, music, and culture in southern Thailand with the HATYAI OUTLOUD festival. Scheduled from August 30 to September 1, this vibrant event will light up the Robinson Department Store parking lot and the Sino-European Building Sai 1 on Niphat Uthit 1 Road in…
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Thailand’s household debt growth slows amid stricter loan criteria
Household debt growth in Thailand decelerated in the first quarter of this year, partly due to stricter loan criteria imposed by financial institutions, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) announced. The NESDC Secretary-General, Danucha Pichayanan, reported that household debt reached 16.3 trillion baht in the first quarter of 2024, marking a 2.5% increase, which is a slowdown from…
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Tooth-and-nail: Thai dentist fights antisocial neighbour (video)
A Thai dentist is urgently seeking assistance after enduring nearly a year of antisocial behaviour from a woman living next to his clinic in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima. Despite his repeated appeals for help, the police and government officials have consistently ignored the case. The 36 year old dentist reached out to non-profit organisation Saimai Survive as he…
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Thai monk resigns after secret filming reveals misconduct (video)
A monk in Suphan Buri has been reportedly filmed engaging in behaviour contrary to Buddhist religious principles, leading to his resignation from the monastic order and departure from the province. The revelation came from a Facebook page called Humans of Suphan Buri (เล่าเรื่à¸à¸‡à¹€à¸¡à¸·à¸à¸‡à¸ªà¸¸à¸žà¸£à¸£à¸“) which shared a video clip provided by a concerned citizen. The video allegedly shows the monk, who…
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More heavy rain forecast for 53 provinces in Thailand
Heavy rain is expected to continue across Thailand, with 53 provinces particularly affected, including the upper northern, upper northeastern, and western southern regions. Residents in these areas should be cautious of flash floods and sudden water surges. Today, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a 24-hour weather forecast indicating increased rainfall and heavy downpours in certain areas. The upper northern…
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Fin-ancial forecast: Pisces to swim through love but sink in expenses
Astrologer Tosaporn warns Pisces about significant financial burdens but highlights positive romantic developments. Tosaporn recently took to social media, alerting followers that while Pisces may experience fulfilling love lives, they should brace for unavoidable expenses. The renowned astrologer noted that this period offers Pisces the chance to enhance their romantic relationships, providing time to deepen connections and nurture bonds. However,…
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Worms emerge from boy’s face after medium’s treatment (video)
A Thai man in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat took to social media to share a strange experience after witnessing worms coming out of his young nephew’s face after the boy suffered from toothache and sought treatment from a spiritual medium. The TikTok user Nattawut Phetsritong shared a video in which he removed thin white worms from his…
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Chinese man caught red-handed running illegal tours in Thailand
Thai police nabbed a Chinese national running an unauthorised tour business, exposing a shadowy operation exploiting Thailand’s tourism industry. The National Tourist Police, under the leadership of Police Colonel Piyapong Raksa, Deputy Superintendent of the Tourist Police Division, swooped in on Hao, a 41 year old Chinese national, at the bustling Four Regions Floating Market on Sukhumvit Road on Sunday, August…
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