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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Thailand lottery fever heats up: Friday draw sparks fortune frenzy
Thailand lottery fever heats up for enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the latest draw on Friday with various sources hinting at the numbers that may bring good fortune. The collective buzz around these predictions gathers momentum, capturing the imagination of those hoping to strike it lucky. Channel 3’s Chinese calendar lottery numbers are generating excitement this cycle. The calendar, featuring news presenters…
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Thailand News Today | German Man’s Fatal Flight, The Kingdom experienced a population decline
A couple went viral for all the wrong reasons over the weekend in Pattaya Pattaya Beach, often referred to as Thailand’s “Sin City” due to its notorious nightlife and adult entertainment venues, has once again become the center of controversy following the public fornication of a tourist couple. Captured in a video shared on Facebook, the naked pair was seen…
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TasteAtlas triumph: Kanom Krok flips to victory as top ASEAN pancake
Online foodie travel guide TasteAtlas ranked Thai dessert Kanom Krok as the fourth best pancake in the world. Additionally, the delectable dessert was crowned champion in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). TasteAtlas last week released its list of Top 85 Pancakes in the World on its platform with one of Thailand’s much-loved desserts, Kanom Krok, high on the…
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Naga’s eyes open wide: Cave ceremony stuns Thailand devotees
A ceremony to reveal the eyes of the Naga statues in the Ruesi Sombat Cave in the Phetchabun province caused astonishment among devotees. The event, led by the head monk of the Sombat Cave, Phra Ajarn Sakol Kosolo, and witnessed by over 300 participants, involved rituals to honour deities and sacred entities. The cave, with historical significance dating back to…
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Bangkok street food vendor dies after punch in card game dispute
A Bangkok street food vendor succumbed to injuries sustained from a single punch delivered by a friend during a drunken altercation over alleged cheating in a card game. The incident, which took place yesterday, February 12, resulted in the 49 year old vendor, Wichok, being found unconscious in his room with a swollen, bruised face and bleeding from the nose…
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Thailand’s sugar intake quadruples WHO daily limit
Thailand’s sugar consumption soared to a worrying level, with Thai citizens consuming on average 23 teaspoons of sugar per day, almost quadruple the daily limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The information was revealed by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), which pointed out that this sugar intake greatly exceeds WHO’s guideline of six teaspoons per day. Pairoj…
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Cambodia registers most hotspots amid surge in Southeast Asia
A flurry of nearly 6,000 hotspots was detected across several neighbouring countries on a recent Sunday, with Cambodia registering the most, at 4,056, as per the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). The Suomi NPP satellite images pointed out a total of 5,823 hotspots spread out in countries neighbouring Thailand. After Cambodia, Myanmar had the second-highest number with 979,…
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Controversy over new water tunnel network plan in Kanchanaburi’s wildlife sanctuary
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) have come under scrutiny for their plan to build a new water tunnel network in the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanchanaburi. The project, designed to combat summer droughts, has sparked concerns among local conservationists due to its potential impact on the local ecosystem. The RID justifies…
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British man faces disability after motorcycle accident in Thailand
The tranquillity of a family vacation was shattered for Lee Francis, a 54 year old occupational therapist from Church Village, Rhondda Cynon Taf when a motorcycle accident in Thailand left him with paralysis from the waist down. The irony is not lost on Lee, who spent his career aiding disabled individuals to live independently, and now faces a similar struggle…
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Genetic link discovered between prehistoric Thai communities and modern ethnic groups
Ancient human bones and teeth excavated from Iron Age Log Coffin sites in Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province have revealed a genetic link between prehistoric communities and modern ethnic groups in the region. The discovery follows a study led by Rasmi Shoocongdej, a lecturer at Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Archaeology, who has been exploring a prehistoric cave community in Mae…
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Forex trading fraudster detained in Songkhla after three-year evasion
A 51 year old woman has been detained in Songkhla’s Sadao district, suspected of defrauding investors out of 300 million baht (US$ 8,354,220) via a deceptive foreign exchange trading scheme. The arrest, conducted by the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) police, brings to an end her near three-year evasion of justice. The warrant for her arrest was issued by the…
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Thailand’s population sees slight drop to 66 million in 2023
Thailand’s official population count witnessed a slight downtrend in 2023, marking a 0.06% decrease in comparison to the previous year’s figure, revealed the Interior Ministry. The recent civil registration documented Thailand’s population as 66,052,615 as of the close of 2023, marking a decline by 37,860 individuals from the conclusion of 2022. The data showed that out of the total population…
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Public health ministry sets drug possession thresholds
The Public Health Ministry issued a directive setting a threshold for the possession of illegal drugs. Individuals found with quantities below this threshold will be classified as drug users and will not face criminal charges. This directive was issued by Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew and was announced in the Royal Gazette on February 9. This initiative is a companion…
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Thai prosecutors allege life-threatening harassment linked to gambling probe
Thailand’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is currently investigating claims of life-threatening harassment against two of its senior prosecutors, allegedly committed by a group of police officers connected to major gambling operations. The distressing allegations were brought forward by Kulthanit Mongkolsawat, the chief of the OAG’s Investigation Office, and Suriyon Prabhasavat, a senior public prosecutor. The OAG spokesperson, Prayut…
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Dark web leak reveals 19.7 million Thai older persons’ personal data
A dark web data leak has exposed the personal details of 19.7 million members of the Department of Older Persons (DOP) in Thailand, sparking the Thailand Consumers Council to prompt immediate action. The council has implored the DOP to enlighten its members about the potential risks they face and to devise strategies that will ensure the protection of their data.…
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BioThai urges caution over EU’s eased restrictions on gene-editing crops
BioThai, a leading environmental organisation, called for the Thai government to tread carefully in the wake of the European Parliament’s decision to ease restrictions on gene-editing crops, also known as new genomic techniques (NGTs). The European Parliament’s decision was made on February 7 and was accompanied by stringent regulations. After a vote of 307 in favour and 263 against, the…
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Classical music world mourns death of renowned Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa
Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa, renowned for his vibrant style and cultural fusion, passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on Tuesday, February 6. The music maestro, whose career spanned decades, left an indelible mark on the world of Western classical music. From Chicago to Boston to Vienna, Ozawa mesmerized audiences with his East Asian sensibility, infusing his performances with…
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AOT announces 4.4bn baht plan to boost Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports
Airports of Thailand (AOT) revealed an ambitious investment plan of 4.4 billion baht for enhancements at Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang International Airport. These plans were made public by AOT Deputy Director Keerati Kitmanawat, who shared the vision of increasing service and security standards at Suvarnabhumi Airport to meet the passenger traffic that is expected to bounce back to…
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German passenger’s terrifying mid-flight death leaves Lufthansa plane splattered in blood
On a Lufthansa flight from Bangkok to Munich, a 63 year old German passenger sparked panic in the cabin when he began spurting an endless flow of blood. The German passenger boarded the plane visibly ill. As the flight progressed, his condition rapidly deteriorated, causing panic among the passengers. Fellow passenger Martin Missfelder described the scene as absolute horror, with…
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Pheu Thai’s Paetongtarn hopeful for Thaksin’s release on parole
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, expressed wishes for the release of her father, convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on parole. With the possibility of his release looming, Paetongtarn remains uncertain if her father’s name will be included in the Department of Corrections’ (DoC) list of eligible inmates for parole and special parole. Special parole is typically…
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Party chief Suwat celebrates 69th birthday with prime minister
Chart Pattana Kla Party chief Suwat Liptapanlop celebrated his 69th birthday by hosting the prime minister and lending his backing to the government’s highly debated digital wallet policy. Despite facing opposition from the central bank and various government agencies, Suwat firmly believes that the controversial plan to distribute 10,000 baht to nearly every Thai aged 16 and above is crucial…
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West Thailand: Massive operation to save forests from devastating blaze
More than 250 firefighters from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) have been deployed to the western forest complex to combat raging fires. With a whopping 1,600 hectares of forest already devastated, these brave souls are working tirelessly to prevent further destruction. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) issued alarming warnings regarding the threat…
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Chinese New Year celebrations across Thailand: Golden dragons, vibrant attire, and mouthwatering feasts
Chiang Mai has been transformed into a mesmerising spectacle as lion and golden dragon dance troupes from Bangkok took to the streets for the Chinese New Year celebrations. Store owners eagerly invited them inside, hoping to bask in the good luck and prosperity they brought. Meanwhile, at the iconic Tha Phae Gate, Chinese tourists swarmed, dressed in Thai traditional attire,…
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‘Pattaya flying club’: Romanian tourist plunges to death from hotel balcony
A 63 year old Romanian tourist became the newest addition to the “Pattaya Flying Club” when he met with a fatal end after falling from the balcony of a seven-story hotel in Soi 5, Pattaya. The incident, which occurred yesterday morning has left the local community in a state of shock. Authorities were alerted to the incident at approximately 9.30am…
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45 year old man arrested in Pattaya for alleged sexual abuse of seven year old girl
A 45 year old beach umbrella and chair rental provider in Pattaya was apprehended on February 8 following allegations of child sexual abuse. The suspect, known only by his nickname Tum, was taken into custody by Pattaya police following a warrant issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court. The arrest came after grave allegations of child sexual abuse surfaced against him. The…
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Songthaew driver seriously injured after brawl in Pattaya
In a violent altercation that unfolded on a busy Pattaya street, two Songthaew drivers went head-to-head in a brutal brawl over a group of Chinese tourists. The explosive confrontation left one driver hospitalised and the other facing serious legal consequences. Late in the evening on February 4, just steps away from Grand Honey 3 on South Pattaya Road, chaos erupted…
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Australian governor-general to visit Thailand, strengthening ties
The longstanding ties between Thailand and Australia are set to be celebrated as Governor-General of Australia David John Hurley prepares for a visit to Thailand from February 13 to 17. The visit, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, promises to be a significant event in the annals of both nations. The itinerary of the visit includes a royal…
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Lunar New Year rituals at Bangkok’s dragon lotus temple draw Thai-Chinese community
Today marks the onset of the Lunar New Year, also known as the Year of the Dragon, a significant occasion for Thais with Chinese roots. The shared belief of expelling impending misfortune, termed as fixing a cursed year or Pi Chong in Thai, strengthens the cultural ties between the two communities. A customary practice during the Lunar New Year involves…
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Thai woman arrested in murder for hire case after 16 years
Officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) arrested a Thai woman in Bangkok in a murder for hire case after she evaded arrest for over 16 years. The body of a Thai woman was found in a canal in Pak Poon sub-district, Mueang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province on July 8, 2008. She bore signs of strangling on her neck…
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PM Srettha heralds visa-free travel between Thailand and China (video)
In a heartening message marking the Lunar New Year, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed his optimism about the newly lifted visa requirements between Thailand and China, anticipating a significant boost in bilateral relations and travel. During his well-wishing messages on Lunar New Year, PM Srettha conveyed his hopes that the lifting of visa requirements would foster increased interaction between Thailand…
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