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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Chanthaburi philanthropist’s Mercedes-Benz sparks lottery frenzy in Roi Et
The generosity of a wealthy philanthropist from Chanthaburi sparked a lottery frenzy in Roi Et province. The benefactor donated a red-plate Mercedes-Benz, valued at 2,540,000 baht, to a revered monk, Phra Khru Udompanyasarn of Wat Ban Nong Ruea in Roi Et. The vehicle’s registration number has now become a hot pick for lottery enthusiasts, hoping to strike it rich in…
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Ford Thailand revs up for turbocharged pickup comeback as year-end season approaches
Ford Thailand, the driving force behind Ford Motor’s presence in the country, is gearing up for a turbocharged comeback in pickup sales as we cruise into the final quarter of the year – a season traditionally revved up for car enthusiasts. This resurgence is expected to shift into high gear thanks to the bumper crop of income flowing in from…
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Marshland hideout proves futile for Thai drug smuggler apprehended in northern Thailand
Phichit Police, apprehended a 25 year old drug smuggler after he was found hiding in a marshland, having fled from authorities in northern Thailand. The drug smuggler, Natthanon, was discovered in a shivering state due to being submerged in marsh water for two days, enduring rain and cold without food. The arrest followed a significant drug seizure on October 4,…
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Electrical appliance industry sparks up: El Niño predicted to surge sales by 4-5%
The El Niño weather phenomenon could potentially stimulate a 4 to 5% rise in sales within the electrical appliance and electronics industry this year, with sales projected to elevate from 230 billion baht last year. Major electrical appliance distributors and leading retail chains noted growth in the market within the first nine months of the year. Despite the purchasing power…
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Elephant’s final stampede: Fearless handler’s mysterious forest demise in Buriram
A 61 year old volunteer elephant handler, known for his fearlessness around elephants, mysteriously vanished and was later discovered dead after being trampled by a wild elephant in the heart of a forest in Buriram Province. The grim discovery was made today by Chakkraphan Sukterm, Deputy Inspector (Investigator) of Non Din Daeng Police Station. The deceased, named Thuep (surname withheld),…
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Have it Your Way: Burger King Thailand flips the script with digital makeover for loyal fans
Burger King Thailand is focusing on digital transformation to accommodate shifts in consumer behaviour and bolster brand loyalty. According to General Manager Tanawat Damnernthong, the company has significantly escalated its budget for digital assets this year and intends to continue this trend into the next. Tanawat says the primary objective of this substantial investment is to strengthen the company’s infrastructure, making…
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Thai singer Ning Eileen apologises after controversial comments on Siam Paragon shooting
Thai singer Ning Eileen faced a backlash after making controversial comments about a violent incident at a Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok that resulted in the death of two women and injuries to five people. Her remarks, seen by many as insensitive, triggered a wave of criticism, forcing the 30 year old singer to issue a public apology. The tragic…
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Forked-up flight: Aussie passenger’s shocking Bangkok to Moscow attack with a twist (video)
A man described as ‘Australian’ found himself in a harrowing situation when he allegedly attacked a fellow passenger on a flight from Bangkok to Moscow. Alexey Fursov reportedly stabbed the passenger with a fork, causing injuries to the victim’s chest, shoulder, and back during what has been described as a frenzied attack. Dramatic footage from the flight shows the 35…
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Police pursue ‘Quick Win’ transformation: Thai force targets efficiency and trust
The Royal Thai Police have launched a fast-track programme, Quick Win, focusing on five key areas to transform the police force into a more efficient and trusted organisation. The spokesman for the National Police Office, Aachayan Kritong, revealed the initiative today. Aachayan explained that the National Police Chief, Torsak Sukwimon, recently briefed the entire force via video conference on the…
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Decomposing whale carcass found in Phetchaburi, Thailand
A distressing discovery greeted the crew members of a fishing boat off the coast of Cha-am Beach in the Cha-am district of Phetchaburi. While navigating the waters, they happened upon the lifeless body of a Bryde’s whale, a sombre encounter that prompted immediate action. Responding to the call, a team comprising marine experts, and disaster prevention and mitigation officials, led…
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3 Thai men arrested for involvement in shooting at Siam Paragon
Following a further investigation into the suspects connected to the shooting at the Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok, police arrested three Thai men for selling a modified blank gun and bullets to the teenage gunman. The tragic incident at Siam Paragon, which saw two foreign women shot dead and five injured, spread grief throughout the country and also raised awareness…
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Internal feud rocks Pheu Thai Party: Chalerm Ubumrung severs ties with Thaksin Shinawatra
An internal feud within the ruling Pheu Thai Party is causing ripples in Thailand’s political circles, with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin calling for dialogue to resolve the conflict. The dispute involves long-standing party member Chalerm Ubumrung and the party’s executives, including the influential Thaksin Shinawatra, a respected figure within the party and the former prime minister, currently residing in the…
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Gold market rebounds amid weakening US labour market and dollar decline
The value of the gold market experienced a slight increase yesterday, reaching above US$1,820 per ounce. This followed an eight-day decline which was influenced by the high US bond yields and the strengthening dollar. The rise was a response to a weakening labour market in America. On yesterday morning, spot gold had risen by 0.3% to US$1,827 per ounce. This…
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Thai billionaire’s fortune plummets: Freelance girlfriend accused of fraud, theft
A 70 year old Thai billionaire accused his freelance prostitute girlfriend of 18 years of fraud and stealing from him after his wealth dwindled from billions to just under 10 million baht. The accusation by the man alleges that his 45 year old female partner tricked him into selling his luxury car and property. The Thai billionaire reported the case to…
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Online fraud cases in Thailand soar to 365,000 with 45 billion baht loss
Over the past one and a half years, a staggering 365,000 online fraud cases have been reported, inflicting a massive loss of 45 billion baht, revealed Deputy Government Spokesperson, Karom Phonphonklang. This was in reference to the cumulative data gathered from the thaipoliceonline.com website, available from March 1 of last year until September 30 this year, provided by the Royal…
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BREAKING: 2 injured in shooting in Ayutthaya, gunman arrested
Local media reported at around 11am today, October 6, that two victims had been injured in a shooting in the central province of Ayutthaya. The gunman was arrested immediately after the incident. A Facebook page, Crazy on News (บ้าข่าวไปเรื่à¸à¸¢) and Ayutthaya Station reported that a gunman lost control and shot a victim in Baan Luang sub-district, Saena district, Ayutthaya province.…
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Baggage blunder: 25 more animals smuggled onboard, Thai airport officer suspended
Suvarnabhumi International Airport admitted that its baggage screening officer allowed two foreigners to smuggle animals onto a flight from Bangkok to Taipei. The airport reported it had already suspended the reckless officer after 25 more smuggled animals were discovered onboard the same flight. A Thai passenger on a flight from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to Tao Yuan International Airport in Taipei,…
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Thailand’s crackdown on blank guns following Siam Paragon shooting
The use of “blank guns” in crimes across Thailand has been on a steady rise, with over 1,000 cases recorded last year. The surge was triggered by a shocking incident involving a 14 year old boy who opened fire in Siam Paragon shopping mall, Bangkok resulting in two deaths and multiple injuries. The weapon of choice by the teenage murderer…
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Commerce Ministry revises inflation forecast, amid falling prices
Revising its earlier forecast, the Commerce Ministry now anticipates headline inflation to be within 1-1.7% for the current year, with an average of 1.35%. This comes as a result of expected lowered inflation in the last quarter. In July, the forecasted range was 1-2% with an average of 1.5%. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, revealed…
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Thai PM visits flood-hit provinces as 1,600 villages grapple with damage
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to visit flood-stricken communities in Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, and Roi Et today. The severity of Thai floods in these areas is still under assessment, with aid strategies being formulated. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke reported that the ongoing heavy rains have triggered Thai floods, engulfing over 1,600 villages across 28 provinces from September 26 until…
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Norwegian man murders his Thai boyfriend in Chiang Mai
Police arrested a Norwegian man on Tuesday for the alleged murder of his Thai boyfriend at their home in the northern province of Chiang Mai. A resident of Wang Singha Kham village in Pa Dad district of Chaing Mai province reported the death of a 39 year old Thai man named Charit to Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station on the…
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Hit-and-run incident in Buriram leaves two cyclists dead: Community demands justice
Two cyclists tragically lost their lives, and others sustained injuries when a speeding pickup truck crashed into a group of cyclists in a hit-and-run incident. The incident, which occurred in the darkness of the early morning, has left the victims’ families and cycling community in shock and demanding justice. Today at 5am, local police in Buriram province received an alert…
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Thailand’s first locally made portable EV charger launched by Anitech
Smart ID Group, renowned for manufacturing electronic devices under the Anitech brand, has unveiled Thailand’s first locally produced portable electric vehicle (EV) charger. The product, dubbed Anitech EV-One, is a high-quality offering that has achieved Thai Industrial Standards certification. The launch capitalises on the firm’s 18 years of track record in the consumer electronics sector, according to Thomas Hongpakdee, the…
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Young man escapes fatal car accident at Chon Buri ferry dock
A tragic car accident resulted in two fatalities and one survivor at the Sattahip – Samui ferry dock, Chon Buri, yesterday, at 5.30pm. The survivor, 20 year old Veeraphap, managed to escape the sinking vehicle by smashing a window with his high-heeled shoe. He was unable to assist his two friends, who were seated in the front and were unable…
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ERC approves new tariff, reducing Thailand’s electricity costs
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved a new electricity tariff of 3.99 baht per kilowatt-hour, a reduction aimed at decreasing power bills for households and businesses for the remaining four months of this year. This change is a response to the government’s energy price policies. In its initial meeting on September 13, the Cabinet agreed to lower the electricity tariff…
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Outbound travel market resilient despite weakening baht and fluctuating forex
Despite the weakening baht and fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, the outbound travel market is predicted to remain stable. This is largely due to the fact that potential tourists, possessing the necessary purchasing power, are prepared for travel in the cooler season, coupled with the fact that airlines are increasing flights. Chotechuang Soorangura, the vice president of the Thai Travel…
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Industrial estates in Thailand surge 182% due to foreign manufacturing influx
Industrial land sales in Thailand, managed by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), witnessed a dramatic rise of 182% year on year in fiscal this year, totalling 5,693 rai. This substantial increase was due to the migration of foreign manufacturing plants to Thailand and the country’s government’s investment incentives. The sales figures surpassed the previously projected target of 2,500…
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Bangkok mall killer in Juvenile Protection Department amidst concerns
The 14 year old boy, who shot two women dead and injured five others at Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok, is currently under the care of the Juvenile Observation and Protection Department, according to Siripraya Worapreecha, the department’s deputy director. She revealed that the teenage boy arrived last night with his father who was deeply concerned about him. Upon his…
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Thai Defence Ministry prioritises flood response in annual fiscal policy
The Ministry of Defence in Thailand recently put forth a directive highlighting the urgency of flood response preparations by military units. This announcement followed a Defense Council gathering that outlined the yearly fiscal policy under the jurisdiction of the Defense Ministry. The goal is to bolster administration efficiency and smooth functioning within the ministry. A crucial aspect of this policy…
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Facebook live bust: Rogue doctor injects trouble with counterfeit cosmetics in Thailand
A rogue doctor has been apprehended in action during a live Facebook session, following allegations of injecting counterfeit substances that caused severe facial damage to victims. The arrest operation was conducted by authorities, led by Bunlue Pudngtun, the Deputy Chief of Police, alongside Sravut Jantawong, the Commander 2nd Division, and Pratch Manadech, the Director of the 2nd Division, on October…
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