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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Loy Krathong chaos at Chiang Mai Airport: 160 flights shuffled, travellers beware!
With the upcoming Loy Krathong Festival in sight, Chiang Mai Airport is set to experience a whirlwind of changes, with a staggering 160 flights facing disruptions from November 27 to 28, post 7pm. Chiang Mai Airport Deputy Director Wisut Khamyod revealed today a jaw-dropping 101 cancellations and 59 rescheduled flights, creating a turbulence level hitting 47% of regular air traffic.…
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Thai prime minister faces backlash over alleged police favouritism
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is facing a backlash over alleged favouritism in police selection assignments. During a meeting with Pheu Thai MPs on Tuesday, November 21, the PM mentioned that some Pheu Thai MPs had requested police colonel positions for their preferred officers. While addressing the debt issue in the meeting, PM Srettha proposed a solution involving district chiefs…
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Tofu turmoil: Viral furry recipe from China divides opinions on safety and health
A unique recipe for furry tofu, a trending dish from China, sparked a global debate over its safety and health benefits. The recipe, which involves fermentation, was shared by a user on the social media platform Twitter and quickly went viral. The video showcases a woman instructing viewers on how to prepare furry tofu. The ingredients required include tofu, tempeh…
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Bangkok’s trash talk: Police crackdown reveals illegal rubbish dumps, locals left in a stinky situation
The Thai Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has cracked down on 11 points across Bangkok, unearthing five illegal rubbish dumps causing a stench and distress to locals. One rubbish dump caretaker revealed that they charge 60 to 100 baht per vehicle. The operation today was led by Police Lieutenant General Watcharawin Pusit, MPB commissioner, who ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Watchirasrisukanya,…
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14 year old girl raped by two men in hotel in northern Thailand
A Thai man and his 14 year old daughter sought help from a Move Forward Party (MFP) member of Parliament after police failed to arrest and charge two men who allegedly raped the girl at a hotel in July in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani. The 40 year old father, Phanu, told MFP MP Wisarut Sawatworn that the sexual assault…
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GCNT chairman urges Thailand to boost human resources for Society 5.0
The chairman of Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT) called on the government to increase its investment in human resources development in preparation for Society 5.0. This new era will be marked by the prominent role of innovative technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in driving the global economy. Suphachai Chearavanont made these remarks while addressing the GCNT Forum 2023 on the…
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Arun Boonchom elected as new Sheikhul Islam in Thailand
Bangkok‘s Islamic Affairs Committee President, Arun Boonchom, made his mark as the newly elected 19th Sheikhul Islam, or Chularajmontri, in Thailand. Arun’s appointment as the spiritual leader of the nation’s Muslim community follows the passing of Aziz Phitakkumpon in the previous month. The decisive vote took place at the National Administration Centre for Islamic Affairs, located in the Nong Chok…
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Footwear frenzy: More than 300 shoes stolen from tourist resorts in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Accommodation and hotel resort owners in the northern province of Chiang Mai appealed to the police to take action after more than 300 pairs of guests’ shoes were stolen in the past two months. A Thai man who owns a hostel on Soi Saha Si Phum Place on Manee Nopparat Road in Chiang Mai shared CCTV footage on social media…
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Heroic Thai teacher thwarts armed intruder: Calls for improved school safety measures in Thailand
A heroic teacher, who defended students and faculty from an armed intruder, has drawn praise from the government. Thawatchai Duangtham, a teaching assistant at Ban Nam Phu Hin Lat School in Chaiyaphum in northeast Thailand, bravely fought off an armed intruder, sustaining injuries to his hand and arm in the process. Deputy government spokesperson, Kaenika Unjit, commended his courage and…
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Bangkok ranked 9th in 2023 best cities for expats, down from 6th last year
One of the globe’s leading expat networking and guide websites ranked the Big Mango, Bangkok, as the 9th best city to live and visit for expats in 2023. The ranking is down from last year when Bangkok was ranked 6th. InterNations said it conducted an online survey from February 1 to 28 this year, with 12,065 expats from 172 countries…
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Thailand’s bold leap: Marriage equality legislation set to light up Parliament
Thailand‘s Cabinet greenlighted a historic draft legislation on marriage equality, sparking hopes for a significant stride towards inclusivity. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the pivotal decision on November 21, marking a potential turning point for the nation’s LGBTQ+ community. In a nation renowned for its vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, the legislation aims to bridge the gap between societal shifts and traditional…
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Disturbed Thai police officer’s shocking family drama: Father shot, mother and wife taken hostage
A tragic incident unfolded in Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom, when a disturbed police corporal shot his 71 year old father while he slept, before taking his mother and wife hostage. As the situation escalated, local law enforcement officials and negotiation teams rushed to the scene to intervene. At 4am today, police received a distress call about a 31 year…
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Teenage love rivalry ends in brutal murder in southern Thailand
The brutal murder of a 16 year old boy has been traced back to a love rivalry over a 14 year old girl. The victim was reportedly beaten by a gang of youths around his age in a shocking incident that took place in the Thung Song district of Nakhon Si Thammarat. On November 19, Police Lieutenant Colonel Jittinan Suwanchatree…
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74 year old Thai man kills his brother-in-law over 35 year long dispute
A 74 year old Thai man shot and killed his 74 year old brother-in-law in a community in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok after a long dispute over a house payment 35 years ago. Officers at Rattanatibeth Police Station were notified of the 74 year old man’s death at 3.30pm yesterday, November 22. The victim, Uthai Wanlarat, was found lifeless in front…
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Thai ambassador advises workers to delay return to Israel amidst conflict
The ambassador of Thailand to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, advised Thai workers who have recently returned from Israel to refrain from going back due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. She updated on the situation during a meeting involving 97 of the nation’s high-ranking overseas representatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pannabha suggested that those who had returned…
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Thai Interior Ministry to launch nationwide crackdown on influential figures
The nationwide crackdown on influential figures, orchestrated by Thailand’s Interior Ministry, is set to kick off on December 1, confirmed Deputy Interior Minister, Chada Thaiseth. The operation, a collaborative effort between numerous authorities, including provincial administrative organisations, subdistrict administrative organisations, law enforcement and armed forces, is aimed at scrutinising and disbanding networks of these influential figures. A comprehensive list of…
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Thailand and Sri Lanka set to finalise free trade agreement by year’s end
Thailand and Sri Lanka are on track to finalise a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) by the close of this year. The chief of trade negotiations has indicated that the signing of the agreement is expected by early February next year. Chotima Iemsawasdikul, the director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department, disclosed that Thai and Sri Lankan officials are set to…
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Thailand’s visa exemption policy for Chinese unaffected despite low flight demand
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday announced that the government’s visa exemption policy for Chinese citizens remains unaffected amidst the cancellation of flight slots by several Chinese airlines due to low passenger demand. These airlines had previously secured slots for flights to Thailand, inclusive of ground handling services for their aircraft, only to relinquish their landing and take-off rights due to…
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Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement offers hope for Thai hostages
The Israeli–Gaza war took an unexpected turn as Israel and Hamas agreed to swap hostages for prisoners. This development has brought a glimmer of hope for the Thai workers who were held hostage during the conflict. As per the information received by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, the ceasefire agreement between the two battling factions is likely to facilitate the release…
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Shocking family tragedy in Songkhla: husband kills wife and child, then himself
A man, driven by obsession, took his own life after fatally shooting his wife and one of their daughters in Songkhla Province. This tragic event occurred yesterday at 5.09pm at house number 57, Moo 12, Kao Rak Kiart village, Kamphaeng Phet Subdistrict, Rattaphum District. The report was received by Police Captain Surachet Suwannoppamat, the station chief of Rattaphum Police Station, who…
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Local gambling operator in Don Mueang sentenced to four months detention
Don Mueang District Court sentenced a local gambling operator to four months in prison, converting the sentence to detention instead. The gamblers involved received individual penalties of 15-day imprisonment and a 2,000 baht fine but were granted bail awaiting the court’s final judgement. This verdict was delivered yesterday at Don Mueang District Court. The court considered the case where the…
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Thailand braces for temperature rise of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius
Temperatures across Thailand are set to rise by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius, as the nation experiences a fade in cold weather. Despite this, the mornings in the north and northeast will continue to be cool, with some areas in the south experiencing rainfall. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasted the weather conditions for the next 24 hours, attributing this…
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AIS Fibre and 3BB unite to boost Thailand’s home Internet industry
AIS Fibre and 3BB have merged their strengths to supercharge the future under the name, AIS – 3BB Fibre 3. This union aims to uplift the home Internet industry in Thailand, supporting sustainable national growth. The idea is to combine for a better life and boost your brighter future by connecting all applications with a fibre network and superior innovations…
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Wat Suan Kaew’s head monk offers ‘face down’ charms for 10 baht
The head monk of Wat Suan Kaew, Bang Len subdistrict, Bang Yai District, Nonthaburi, is distributing face down charms to remind Buddhists to use morality, concentration, and wisdom in their battle against greed, anger, and delusion. The charms are available to the public participating in merit-making at the temple or for a donation of 10 baht each to share with…
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Central Thailand: Former officer arrested for 700,000 baht embezzlement from disability fund
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) today arrested a former financial and accounting officer for embezzling over 700,000 baht from a fund dedicated to improving and developing the lives of disabled people. The individual in question, identified as Wilaiporn (surname withheld), has been accused of corruption and misconduct under section 1 of the Criminal…
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Intense manhunt for Thai fugitive Chaowalit persists despite lack of leads
The hunt for the fugitive Chaowalit Thongduang continues unabated, albeit without any solid leads to his whereabouts. It has been 15 days since law enforcement agencies initiated the intensive manhunt for Chaowalit, also known as Sia Paeng, in the Bantud mountain range, following a heated confrontation. Despite the relentless efforts of special operations units from Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and the…
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Northern Thailand: Gate to Heaven stirs debate due to similarity to Bali temple
A recent opening of a new tourist spot in Nan province, Thailand, named Gate to Heaven sparked widespread criticism for its striking resemblance to the famous Lempuyang Temple in Bali, Indonesia. The site’s replication of the iconic Lepuyang Temple ignited a heated online debate about cultural appropriation and originality in tourism. The Gate to Heaven became a trending topic on…
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BMW super-bike and local motorcyclist’s high-speed collision results in 400,000 baht repair bill
A high-speed collision between a BMW super-bike and a local motorcyclist resulted in a massive repair bill. The accident, which was captured and shared on TikTok by the user @aof_823, occurred yesterday. The super-bike rider, who was held responsible for the crash by the police, was given a repair estimate of 400,000 baht by the BMW service centre. The video…
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Thai woman mysteriously disappears for week in southern Thailand
The family of a Thai woman who mysteriously disappeared over a week ago turned to a news agency to help find her. The family lost contact with her after she got into a car with two women outside Suratthani Rajabhat University in the southern province of Surat Thani on November 13. Channel 3 reported that the family urged the news…
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Southern Thailand: Police warn of online refill machine scams in Thepha district
Con artists are exploiting online refill machines to carry out fraud using money mule bank accounts, according to a warning issued by Thai police today. The alert today, November 22, was initially raised by the Sai Mai Must Survive (Sai Mai Tong Rot) Facebook page, which posted a video warning of the deceitful practice primarily occurring in Thepha district, Songkhla…
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