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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Stinging situation as Bluebottles sighted around Racha Islands
The Thai authorities issued a warning about the presence of Portuguese Man o’ War, also known as bluebottles, at the Racha Islands, located south of Phuket, following an incident where a tour boat staff member was stung yesterday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has identified bluebottles at Ao La, Ao Tu, and Racha Yai Islands. Tourists and…
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Pattaya ladyboy tricks woman into prostitution with fake debt claim
A Thai ladyboy and her gang members tricked a woman in Pattaya into prostitution, claiming she had a 120,000 baht debt and had to sell sex to repay it. The victim, 22 year old A, shared a video of when the 21 year old ladyboy, Kae, and her gang brutally assaulted her outside her Pattaya condo on June 22. She…
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Election frenzy: Senators battle for top seats
Senatorial candidates arrived at the Impact Forum Mueang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi province as early as 5am today, ahead of the election scheduled for today, June 26. Although official registration wasn’t set to begin until 8am, many candidates decided to brave the early hours to avoid the notorious traffic congestion of the Bangkok metropolitan area. With anticipation running high, the…
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Finance Ministry to launch 500 billion baht fund to boost shares
Stock analysts are backing the Finance Ministry’s initiative to establish a new fund aimed at boosting investment in Thai shares, predicting a surge in trading activity in the fourth quarter. To revitalise the sluggish stock market, Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced that the ministry is exploring the creation of a new fund similar to the Vayupak Fund, a former state-managed…
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Sri Lanna Park adopts drones and firebreaks to combat wildfires
Sri Lanna National Park adjusted its wildfire prevention strategies, incorporating controlled burns to tackle forest fires effectively. Park Chief Anon Kullanin revealed that using drones to monitor and map the fires significantly aided the firefighting efforts. Sri Lanna National Park recently faced a challenging wildfire situation. According to Anon, the park utilised drones to identify hotspots and plan entry routes…
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Hat Yai school officials charged in 2 million baht corruption scandal
School executives in Hat Yai, Songkhla, are entangled in corruption and forgery charges related to school lunch projects, scholarship funds, and the procurement of educational supplies, causing over 2 million baht (US$54,300) in losses. Police Major General Charoonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), disclosed yesterday that the CIB, along with the Anti-Corruption Division and Crime Suppression…
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Shooting in family dispute claims innocent woman in Pattaya
A longstanding family dispute between a man and his father-in-law culminated in a tragic shooting yesterday, where an innocent woman found herself to be an unintended victim of the ordeal. The shooting occurred near Mabprachan Reservoir, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri. The victim, identified as 33 year old Penprapa Palapho was critically injured with a gunshot wound that penetrated her…
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Thailand ranked 4th most beautiful country in the world
Thailand has been ranked as the 4th most beautiful country in the world, according to the latest report by the World of Statistics. The ranking, which was shared on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, used global reports and data from the United States to determine the results. Thailand stands out as the 4th most beautiful country, following New…
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Vietnamese men engage in brawl in Pattaya over debt
A brawl between foreign tourists erupted in Pattaya yesterday afternoon shocking bystanders in the vicinity. The confrontation, which left one man injured, unfolded in front of stunned locals and visitors near a popular restaurant on South Pattaya Road. The chaos erupted outside a food-to-order restaurant when a group of men began attacking 38 year old Vietnamese national Xuan Hai Ngo…
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Family hospitalised after eating toxic mushrooms in Kabin Buri
An 80 year old woman gathered mushrooms from beneath a bamboo grove and placed them in front of her house, unaware that her granddaughter would later use them for cooking. Fifteen minutes after eating, five family members experienced severe vomiting and chest tightness, prompting a rush to the hospital. The incident occurred yesterday, June 25, when the family consumed the…
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Illegal Bitcoin mining operation raided for using state electricity
Police and officials from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) raided a Bitcoin mining operation illicitly using state electricity, incurring monthly losses of 10 million baht. Despite finding over 700 mining rigs, only 59 were seized, with evidence of the rest being moved. Head of the Photharam Police Station in Ratchaburi, Police Colonel Chatchon Narawutiporn, along with PEA officials executed a…
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Taxi tango: Thai woman dances on moving cab in Pattaya (video)
A jaw-dropping video clip has taken Thai social media by storm, featuring a Thai woman climbing onto the roof of a moving taxi and dancing right in front of the Pattaya Police Station. In the 19-second viral clip, the daring dancer, clad in a short skirt and bra, initially appears to be crossing Pattaya Beach Road. Out of nowhere, she…
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Worker found dead in Chon Buri camp, others mysteriously vanish
A construction worker was found dead at a work camp in Chon Buri, leading to the mysterious disappearance of other workers. Police are investigating the incident, which happened last night, June 25, and are baffled by the sudden vanishing of many workers from the scene. The incident occurred at 11.36pm yesterday at a construction site in Takhian Tia, Banglamung District,…
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Heavy rain floods Bangsaen Beach, disrupting local businesses
High waves battered Bangsaen Beach in Chon Buri province yesterday, scattering debris across the coastline, and disrupting local businesses as seawater overflowed during the high tide. Heavy rainfall flooded Bangsaen Beach and the Wonnapha-Bangsaen Beach Road in Saensuk sub-district, Mueang Chon Buri district. Waves reached over 1 metre, discouraging beachgoers from enjoying the beach. Fortunately, as of today, Bangsaen Beach…
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International visitors boost Thailand’s MICE sector by 5%
International visitors are set to drive Thailand’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) sector beyond its annual target by 5%, helping to offset a sluggish domestic market. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), reported a robust recovery in the international market during the first three quarters of the 2024 fiscal year, spanning from…
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Thai man caught red-handed sexually assaulting 10 year old niece
A victim’s grandmother caught a Thai man sexually assaulting his 10 year old niece at her home in the central province of Prachin Buri. The 41 year old rapist, Pornsathit, was caught assaulting a young girl in her home on June 22. The girl’s grandmother had left her alone in the house to tend to chores in the backyard. Upon…
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Thailand needs to step up its fight against human trafficking
Thailand remains in Tier 2 on the US Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, indicating a determined effort to combat human trafficking. The US authority remarked that although Thailand has not met the minimum standards for eradicating trafficking, the government is making significant strides. “The [Thai] government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period. These…
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Fire at Hat Yai hotel sparks chaos, guests evacuated
A fire erupted in the ventilation shaft of a prominent hotel in downtown Hat Yai, leading to chaotic scenes as staff and guests scrambled to evacuate. Officials are investigating the incident, initially suspected to be caused by an electrical short circuit. At 7.30pm yesterday, emergency services were alerted to a fire at a well-known hotel on Sanehanusorn Road, within the…
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PM dismisses concerns over foreign condo ownership plan
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin dismissed allegations that a government proposal to increase the foreign ownership quota in condominiums and extend land leases is akin to “selling off the nation.” “It is about long-term leases, not selling land. It has nothing to do with selling the nation.” Last week, the Cabinet ordered a study into raising the proportion of foreign ownership…
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Seized drug assets to fund addict rehabilitation in Thailand
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin endorsed initiatives to allocate seized assets from narcotic drug cases towards funding the rehabilitation of drug addicts. Somsak revealed that during his tenure as the Justice Ministry chair, he had amended several narcotic laws, particularly those concerning asset seizures. He noted that the previous laws were too passive, resulting in only 20 million baht annually…
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Singaporean man drugged, robbed by Thai girlfriend in Bangkok
A Singaporean man filed a complaint against his Thai girlfriend after she allegedly drugged him at a hotel in Bangkok and stole cash and valuables worth over 1 million baht. The Singaporean victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, complained to Huay Kwang Police Station yesterday, June 25. He explained that he met the Thai woman, aged about 30, online and had…
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Government to accelerate Sino-Thai HSR project
The Sino-Thai high-speed rail (HSR) link construction will be a major item on the agenda at next week’s mobile Cabinet meeting in Nakhon Ratchasima, with the government eager to accelerate the project, according to Digital Economy and Society (MDES) Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong. The 250.77-kilometre high-speed rail link between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima is projected to be completed by 2028. Currently,…
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Rising travel costs hinder Asia-Pacific corporate travel, Visa reports
Rising travel costs and economic uncertainties are impacting business travel across the Asia-Pacific region, according to Visa. Companies are increasingly investing in digitalisation to manage their travel budgets more effectively. Chavi Jafa, Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions for Asia-Pacific at Visa, noted that while business travel may increase in the coming years, current high travel costs and economic…
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Thailand to adopt offset policy for military procurements
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin emphasised the necessity for the armed forces to adopt an offset policy when procuring weapons and military hardware. This policy aims to secure reciprocal benefits as a precondition for approving new procurement deals. The Thai premier said the policy should include opportunities for Thailand to participate in the development of new defence technology from the country…
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Minor earthquake in Phang Nga prompts safety inspections
An earthquake with a magnitude of 2.2 struck the Bang Toei area in Phang Nga Province, prompting officials to inspect for potential damage. It was confirmed that an earthquake occurred in Bang Toei, Mueang District, Phang Nga Province. The incident occurred in the early hours of today, June 26, as reported by the Earthquake Surveillance Division of the Thai Meteorological…
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Thai teacher arrested for sexually assaulting schoolboy for 2 years
Police yesterday arrested a male Thai teacher who sexually assaulted a 14 year old schoolboy for almost two years at a school in the Klong Toey neighbourhood of Bangkok. The boy’s mother only found out about the abuse on June 20 after the young victim, Nat, could no longer stand his teacher’s behaviour. According to Nat, his 38 year old…
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Lao man dies after 12th floor fall in Pattaya amid partner argument
A Lao man tragically died after falling from the 12th floor of a condominium in Pattaya following an argument with his partner. The incident occurred at 3.36am yesterday, June 25, at a condominium on Thappraya Road in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province. Pattaya police, along with rescue workers, promptly arrived at the scene after being notified. Police…
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Thailand braces for heavy rain and flash floods in 47 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued an announcement warning of heavy to very heavy rain in 47 provinces, including Bangkok. Residents are advised to be cautious of flash floods and strong winds. The warning remains in effect until tomorrow. TMD’s announcement forecasts significant rainfall across Thailand due to a monsoon trough passing through the northern and upper northeastern regions, combined…
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Sleep-deprived driver crashes car in torrential rain, injuring two
A sleep-deprived young man driving a car through the rain lost control and crashed into a utility pole at 6am yesterday, resulting in injuries to two women passengers on Suwinthawong Road, Mueang District, Chachoengsao Province. Rescue workers and local police quickly arrived at the scene to assist. The vehicle involved, a Toyota hatchback, was found with significant front-end damage. The…
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Groundbreaking Thai sci-fi flick ‘Uranus2324’ to release in July
In a historic milestone for Thai cinema, Uranus2324, the nation’s first space science fiction film, is set to premiere on July 4. This highly anticipated film has already garnered significant attention, being one of only four films to receive funding under Thailand’s Soft Power initiative and securing global distribution deals. Produced by Velcurve Studio in collaboration with GM Generators Co.,…
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