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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Vote-buying incidents highest in Bangkok during General Elections, says EC
The Election Commission (EC) reported that the majority of vote-buying incidents during yesterday’s elections took place in Bangkok, which boasts the highest number of constituencies among all provinces. Despite this, the EC noted that the overall number of poll-related violations was lower than in previous elections. EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee disclosed that the commission received 163 complaints yesterday, with 58…
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Elderly voters inadvertently tear ballot papers, violating Thai election law
Instances of individuals tearing up ballot papers were reported in various provinces across Thailand. Most of those involved were elderly individuals who suffer from health conditions, and they maintained that they had no intention of damaging the papers. The Royal Thai Police revealed that the police’s election coordination centre had received around 20 reports of voters tearing up their ballot…
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Thailand General Election shows opposition parties in the lead
Preliminary results of Thailand’s General Election revealed that the majority of voters support the opposition parties Move Forward and Pheu Thai to lead the country, potentially ending nearly nine years of pro-military rule under incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Data from the Election Commission of Thailand displayed a strong lead for both parties, with 114 and 111 constituency seats respectively.…
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MFP predicted to form coalition government with Pheu Thai
Academics predict that the Move Forward Party (MFP) is likely to form a government coalition with the Pheu Thai Party and other smaller parties following the recent Thai election. Their assessment comes after the Election Commission (EC) began counting votes when polling stations closed. As the counting continued, MFP led in both the constituency and party-list races, followed by Pheu…
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Bangkok voting area with large army presence sees crowding and long qeues
Army members flocked to vote at Bangkok‘s Dusit district polling station, while the public complained about long queues and inadequate facilities for over 6,500 people. The atmosphere at the voting site Health Service Centre 38 was bustling and hectic since the polls opened today at 8am. This location, with eight polling stations, has a total of 6,506 eligible voters, with…
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Phuket governor casts first vote in General Election
Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew kicked off the General Election process on the island by casting the first vote at the Phuket Auditorium in Phuket Town today. The Phuket Auditorium, located at the government administration centre on Tha Kraeng Road, is one of 22 polling stations established throughout the Talad Yai sub-district of Phuket Town. Candidates are vying for Constituency 1…
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Thai student gives birth and hides baby on fire escape
A 19 year old Thai student left her newborn baby on a fire escape after giving birth, having kept her pregnancy a secret from friends and family. Her 19 year old boyfriend found out only after discovering the baby on the fire escape. This morning police in the city of Pak Kret in Nonthaburi province received reports from concerned citizens…
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Thai teen faces extended stay in juvenile facility due to royal defamation charge
A Thai teen is facing an extended stay in a juvenile facility due to a royal defamation charge. The Central Juvenile and Family Court has become involved in the case involving a 15 year old girl who has been held in a juvenile facility for over 40 days. The court said yesterday that the girl’s mother neglected to attend her…
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Free shuttle bus services to ease Bangkok traffic on school routes
School routes in Bangkok might soon see a bit less traffic. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is set to offer free shuttle bus services connecting Samsen Road to various areas in Thon Buri to alleviate traffic congestion when schools reopen tomorrow. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt spoke after a trial run, stating that the shuttle bus services will help mitigate heavy traffic…
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Pattaya mayor unveils concept art for revamped and covered Bali Hai Pier
Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngampiches unveiled concept art yesterday for a revamped and covered Bali Hai Pier. The need for improvement has been a topic of discussion for quite some time, with numerous complaints from tourists, both local and international, about the lack of shade and protection from rain at the pier. Travellers use the pier to access various islands around…
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Thaiger Top Shelf: Best dispensaries in town (Video)
With its captivating culture and mouth-watering cuisine, Bangkok has long been known as an attractive destination for travellers seeking a one-of-a-kind adventure. And now, with the flourishing cannabis industry, the capital of Thailand has also transformed into a hotbed for cannabis enthusiasts eager to find the best dispensary spots in the country. From the bustling streets of Sukhumvit to the…
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Body of missing teen found buried in northern Thailand forest
UPDATE #2 The body of 16 year old “Ping Pong” was found buried in the forest in Lampang province, northern Thailand, this morning after a week-long search. Ping Pong went missing on Saturday, May 6, after she did not return from a motorbike ride with 17 year old Woramet “Ben” Taota, a dual Thai-British national, whose body was found in the…
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Thai Election Commission predicts 85% turnout, confident of smooth process
Thailand‘s Election Commission (EC) predicts an 85% voter turnout for the upcoming General Elections tomorrow (May 14) and maintains confidence in its ability to conduct the elections efficiently despite a few issues encountered during advance voting last week. EC member Thitichet Nuchanart revealed the estimation after an impressive 91% turnout was recorded for last weekend’s advance voting process. The EC…
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Thai tourism rebound evident with surge in new business registrations
Thailand’s tourism sector has witnessed a strong rebound, as evidenced by the significant surge in new registrations for tourism-related businesses during the initial four months of this year. The Ministry of Commerce revealed yesterday that the number of new tourism-related business registrations had doubled year-on-year, reaching 2,579 in the first four months, with a total registered capital increase of 135%…
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Thai Airways anticipates 130 billion baht revenue this year
Thailand’s flagship carrier, Thai Airways (THAI) is optimistic about its revenue this year. Thai Airways is anticipated to accumulate at least 130 billion baht in revenue this year after its net profit in the first quarter reached 12.5 billion baht. THAI CEO Chai Eamsiri announced yesterday that the airline is projected to complete its financial rehabilitation in 2025 as planned,…
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Regents International School Pattaya: Offering unique Sixth Form Pathways for your child’s success
Regents International School Pattaya recognises that each student is unique, and their journey towards academic success should be tailored to their individual needs and passions. The school offers an unrivalled choice of subjects, a breadth of experiential adventures beyond the classroom, and, most importantly, two distinct pathways in the sixth form. Globally Recognised Curricula The globally recognised British and international…
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Amnesty highlights importance of upcoming general election for Thai politicians to protect and promote human rights
Amnesty highlights the upcoming general elections in Thailand, set for 14 May, as a crucial opportunity for political parties and candidates to publicly commit to protecting and promoting human rights, including the rights of disadvantaged groups, civil society, and young people. Chanathip Thitiyakarunwong, a regional researcher for Amnesty International in Thailand, emphasized that the new Thai government must guarantee that…
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Soldier punished for political post in Whatsapp group
The 4th Army Area Command has imposed penalties, including 30 days of imprisonment and suspension of annual salary increments, on a soldier who posted politically biased messages on a Line group, contravening an order by the Army Commander to maintain political neutrality. The army spokesperson, Second Lieutenant Paramote Promin, announced disciplinary measures against a soldier for inappropriate political conduct and…
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Horny couple caught having sex at work sets Thai social media abuzz
A couple of horny factory workers set tongues wagging on Thai social media after being caught having sex at work in Rayong, East Thailand. The randy factory workers were caught in the throes of passion in the middle of a warehouse while on the clock. A female colleague, far from being shocked or offended, recorded the entire pornographic encounter on video…
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Exploring the peace corps’ sixty-year history in Thailand
The Peace Corps is a United States agency established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to promote peace and friendship worldwide. Peace Corps volunteers have been working in Thailand since 1962, assisting Thai government agencies in various fields. Currently, they operate in two main projects: Teacher Collaboration for Development and Youth Development. Over 5,500 volunteers have worked with Thai…
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Police say woman found dead in Chiang Mai condo wasn’t murdered
UPDATE Despite police saying that they assumed the woman found dead in a condo room in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, this morning was murdered by her foreign husband, they are now saying she was not murdered at all. Pol. Lt. Col. Phirom Yosalai, an inspector at Mae Ping Police Station, said the woman is expected to have died from an…
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Firefighters rescue elderly woman from burning building in Pattaya
Firefighters rescued an elderly woman from a burning building in Pattaya last night. The incident occurred on Soi Bongkot 4 in the Nong Prue sub-district of Bang Lamung district. Firefighters received a call at around 8pm reporting a fire at the TG Battery Shop on Soi Bongkot 4. They arrived at the scene along with Sawang Boriboon rescuers. Upon arrival,…
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Thai singer files complaint against unhinged neighbour after five years of disturbing anti-social behaviour
A Thai singer and businessperson filed a complaint against his seemingly unhinged anti-social neighbour for a series of disturbing incidents that have occurred over the past five years. The woman in question smashed his car with a hammer, threw urine and poo at his house, and attacked an employee with liquid acid. On Tuesday, May 2, Teerasak “Ko” Phantujariya took…
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Taiwanese drug traffickers arrested in Thailand
Police caught two Taiwanese men and two Thai men with 15 kilogrammes of ketamine disguised as Chinese tea and fake police uniforms in Chachoaengsao province in eastern Thailand on Wednesday. The drugs were smuggled from Laos and bound for Cambodia. At 5.30pm, police arrested four men on the roadside of Soi Wat Hua Noen in Lat Khwang subdistrict, Ban Pho…
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BJT sues Chuvit Kamolvisit for damage to party reputation
The Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) has filed a lawsuit against the former politician and whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit, accusing him of damaging the reputation of its party candidates and seeking 100 million baht in damages. The party’s lawyers, Natchanikarn Ketkhamkhwa and Pichai Iem-on claim that Chuvit has harmed the party’s popularity in the lead-up to the general elections. The BJT is also…
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Transwoman physically assaulted by bar guards in Phuket
A Thai transwoman filed a complaint at Patong Police Station on Tuesday, May 9, after four to five security guards at a bar in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket physically assaulted her and forcibly removed her from the venue without a reason. The 27 year old transwoman posted a video on her TikTok account, Prasita Punyang, three days ago of…
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Six arrested for wildlife trafficking and macaques rescue in Phetchaburi
Phetchaburi authorities arrested six members of a wildlife trafficking gang and rescued over ten macaques near a hill in the Muang district. The arrests took place today morning following a tip-off, leading the police to the foothill of Khao Luang in tambon Thongchai, where they discovered the group capturing long-tailed macaques. Upon monitoring the gang, officers observed four men and…
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Arson attacks hit multiple locations in Thailand’s southern provinces
Arson attacks struck 23 locations in Thailand‘s southernmost provinces late last night, causing damage to mobile phone antenna towers, and power poles, and resulting in the burning of tyres. The attacks took place between 9pm and 11pm, with officials providing updates on the situation on Friday. The affected areas spanned across three provinces: Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat. In Yala, seven…
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Uncle Tu offers prayers at Nakhon Si Thammarat main shrine before attending grand rally as lottery enthusiasts gather to buy lucky numbers
Yesterday in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, a prime ministerial candidate for the Palang Pracharath Party, spent the whole day campaigning and visiting five districts. Later, he concluded the campaign with a large rally at the city’s central sports field, ahead of the elections on May 14. Feeling tired from the continuous travel and rallies, Prayut took…
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Chinese mother laughs as son smuggles her gold bracelet as a gift for his preschool crush
A video of a Chinese boy admitting to taking his mother’s gold bracelet to primary school has gone viral online. In the clip, a young boy can be seen confessing to his mother that he took her valuable jewellery, worth nearly 48,000 baht (US$1,540), to school to give to his girlfriend. The mother’s laughter as she questions her son has…
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