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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Heavy rains and high waves forecast in 39 provinces
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning of heavy rains in 39 provinces, including Bangkok and its vicinity, due to the southwest monsoon. Anglers are advised to exercise caution as high waves are expected in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. TMD predicts weather conditions for the next 24 hours, with the southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand,…
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Stitched up: Thai man demands justice after surgery mishap
A Thai man is seeking justice for his mother after she nearly lost her life because a doctor at Thammasat University Hospital in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok left gauze in her womb during surgery for endometrial cancer. The issue came to light after Esor News shared the story on Sunday, June 16. The page shared a picture of a…
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Political ally predicts court will dismiss Move Forward Party case
The Progressive Movement (PM), a key political ally of the Move Forward Party (MFP), outlined why it believes the Constitutional Court will dismiss the dissolution case against the MFP. PM’s Secretary-General, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul shared these reasons on his Facebook account. His message arrived just before the dissolution case against the party, which is set to begin today. Piyabutr accused the…
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Referendum bill set to pass initial House test
According to Chart Thai Pattana Party list-MP Nikorn Chamnong, who leads a sub-committee on the charter referendum, the government-sponsored referendum bill will pass its initial test. Nikorn stated the bill, which aims to revise the Referendum Act 2021 as part of the charter rewrite process, is ready for House deliberation following a meeting with opposition whips. Deputy Prime Minister and…
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Ministry seeks 1billion baht tourism budget for new routes
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to request a 1 billion baht budget from the central emergency reserve fund to develop new tourism routes linking major cities to 55 notable destinations in a move to establish long-term tourism strategies. The proposed budget aims not only to organise events but to also develop new tourism routes and enhance infrastructure. Specifically,…
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France loses top spot as Europe’s largest equity market to UK
France’s political turbulence has resulted in the nation losing its position as Europe’s largest equity market, a title it claimed from the UK less than two years ago. President Emmanuel Macron’s unexpected announcement of a snap election triggered a significant sell-off, erasing about US$258 billion from the market capitalisation of French companies. Major banks such as Societe Generale SA, BNP…
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Former soapy king Chuwit Kamolvisit in palliative care abroad
Nipit Intharasombat provided an update on the health condition of Chuwit Kamolvisit, who is receiving palliative care for cancer treatment abroad. The former soapy king and politician has been in the UK for treatment since late last year. A former Member of Parliament for Phatthalung, Nipit, shared this news on Facebook. He mentioned that he had reached out to Chuwit…
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Rocket mishap at Roi Et festival injures 37 attendees
A homemade rocket explosion at a traditional festival in Roi Et left 37 people injured, several of them seriously. The incident occurred yesterday, June 17, at Ban Sang Bu in Tambon Sri Sawang, Phon Thong district, during a rain-seeking rocket event. The Bang Fai rocket, designed for traditional ceremonies to invoke rain, malfunctioned during its launch around 5pm. Initially, the…
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Foreign man captured on CCTV stealing Thai woman’s motorcycle
A Thai woman is seeking help on social media after a foreign man stole her motorcycle, which was parked near Soi Ta-iad in the Chalong district of Phuket today. The woman shared screenshots of the foreign thief from CCTV footage on her social media account today, June 17, and urged local news agencies to spread her story. “A foreigner stole…
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Monkey mayhem: Lopburi targets macaques at historic landmarks
Efforts to control the monkey population in Lopburi are now focusing on the notorious trouble spots: the 13th-century Phra Prang Sam Yot and Phra Kan Shrine. Following successful operations in other downtown areas, the city’s macaque catchers are gearing up to address the primary problem at these historic sites. Lopburi Mayor Chamroen Salacheep announced that the primary focus is shifting…
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Wildfires in Thailand’s Western Forest Complex reduced by 40%
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has reported a significant reduction in wildfires within Thailand’s Western Forest Complex, attributing the success to integrated efforts from various sectors which reduced wildfires by over 40%. Director of Forest Fire Prevention and Suppression, Narupon Thipmonta revealed that the most affected area was the Srinakarin Dam National Park in Kanchanaburi Province.…
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Thai baht leads Asian currency declines amid holiday trade
Emerging Asian currencies experienced declines in holiday-thinned trade today, with the Thai baht leading the fall as the US dollar remained firm and Chinese economic data highlighted an uneven recovery trajectory. Markets were notably quiet across Asia due to closures in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. The Thai baht declined by up to 0.5%, influenced by weaker gold…
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Thai intern uses Muay Thai to beat off hospital sexual assault
A Thai woman used Muay Thai skills, taught by her grandfather, to escape a sexual assault attempt by a male nursing assistant while interning at a hospital in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The victim, Baitong, shared CCTV footage of the incident on Facebook on June 14. She revealed that the incident occurred about a year ago. She later learned that…
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Thai PM Srettha Thavisin tests positive for Covid-19
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has taken sick leave after testing positive for Covid-19. The announcement came yesterday evening through his Facebook page, where he revealed experiencing fatigue and a slight fever, which led him to undergo testing. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke reported that the Bangkok-born prime minister consulted a doctor last Friday upon noticing the symptoms. The test results confirmed…
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RTP seize 36 million meth pills in major drug bust
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) announced a major crackdown on drug trafficking networks, where a series of drug busts resulted in the arrest of 21 suspects and the seizure of 36 million methamphetamine pills and 911 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine. Assistant Commissioner-General, Police Lieutenant General Samran Nuanma, alongside officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, presented the results of the operation…
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Phuket accountant arrested for involvement in call centre scams
A woman accountant in Phuket has been apprehended by officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on charges linked to multiple call centre scams. Identified only as Kanraya, the alleged scammer has been implicated in five separate arrest warrants for her involvement in fraudulent activities, including opening bank accounts used by scam gangs. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phongsak Meemusik led the…
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Pattaya bar brawl brews: Owner and tourist fight over last call
A Thai bar owner and a foreigner got into a bout of fisticuffs in Pattaya after the latter pushed the owner’s girlfriend in the chest for refusing to serve him because the bar was closing. Mueang Pattaya Police Station officers intervened in the altercation between the Thai man and the foreigner outside a bar in Soi Pattaya 8, about 150…
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Contractor arrested in Rayong for series of theft and fraud
Following a warrant by the Rayong Provincial Court earlier this month, Bangkok police arrested a contractor in Ramkhamhaeng yesterday for a series of thefts and fraud extending to government contracts. Investigations revealed that the 50 year old construction company owner, Thanik, who had been operating in Rayong since 2018, reportedly had a history of abandoning projects. In 2019, he allegedly…
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Kerry Express delivers 2.8 billion new shares
Kerry Express (Thailand) Plc (KEX) announced a significant capital increase through the issuance of up to 2.8125 billion new ordinary shares, each with a par value of 0.50 baht. These shares will be offered to existing shareholders for 3.20 baht per share in a rights offering. SF Express Group, which holds a 62.7% stake in KEX, has confirmed its intention…
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Thai police arrest four after ambush knife attack in Phuket
Thalang police apprehended four individuals in connection with a knife attack on a teenager in an ambush at the Heroines Monument in Phuket last Thursday. A resident of Cherng Talay, Natthakorn Kantaphong, recounted the events leading up to the attack. According to his statement, he was at the Saphan Hin gymnasium with his friends when he noticed his nemesis, Kandit…
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Puffball mushroom prices plummet to 30 baht as season ends
As the mushroom season approaches its end, the price of puffball mushrooms (Barometer Earthstar) has dropped drastically to as low as 30 baht per litre, with only the older variants featuring black interiors remaining available. Reports today confirm the winding down of the 2024 puffball mushroom season. These sought-after mushrooms, prized for their soft, white interiors and sweet, fragrant taste,…
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Cave of Titans unearthed: Phayao locals make bone-chilling find
Locals in the Dok Kham Tai district of the northern province of Phayao discovered the Cave of Titans, where they believe a titan couple once lived, after discovering a rock filled with white bones inside. Although the exact date of the cave’s discovery remains unknown, multiple news agencies have recently reported the finding. Situated approximately 5 kilometres from the residential…
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Police crack down on rotating illegal lending scheme in Trang
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers yesterday dismantled a major rotating savings and credit association (ROSCA) operation in Trang, arresting a married couple who were also running a comprehensive illegal money lending, and an unlicensed underground lottery gambling business. Police Lieutenant General Worawat Watnakornbancha today ordered relevant authorities to execute a search warrant for a house in Ratsada District, Trang…
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BTS gears up for electrifying bus race in Bangkok’s BRT expansion
Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC), the BTS Skytrain operator, is in a race to supply Bangkok’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) electric buses and have them operational by the September 1 deadline. BTSC signed a contract with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday, June 16, to procure 23 electric vehicles (EV) buses for the BRT system and to operate them…
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Father shoots two sons, younger child dead, elder critical
A tragic incident unfolded in Sukhothai when a father shot his two sons following a family altercation with his wife, resulting in the death of the younger child and leaving the elder in critical condition. The father, identified as Danai attempted to harm himself following the shooting. The event took place in a village in Ban Na Subdistrict, Si Samrong…
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3 year old girl found dead after disappearing from nursery in Isaan
A three year old girl disappeared from a nursery in the Isaan province of Sisaket before her dead body was found in a swamp 800 meters away. Her devastated parents suspect foul play. The body of the young girl, Bee, was found in a swamp in the middle of a rice field in the Yan Chum Noi district of Sisaket…
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Thailand boosts SMEs growth in upcoming Synergy Expo 2024
Thailand is set to boost marketing opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the newly announced Thailand SME Synergy Expo 2024. This five-day trade show, running from June 19 to 23 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, is a collaborative effort by the Business Development Department (DBD), the Office of SMEs Promotion (Osmep), and several governmental…
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Krabi Airport’s runway to riches, a 941-million-baht taxiway twist
The Department of Airports (DoA) is pushing forward with a 941-million-baht project to build a parallel taxiway at Krabi Airport. Currently, the project is over 76% complete. DoA Deputy Director-General Wittawas Pakdesontiskul recently inspected the site and attended a meeting to monitor progress. The meeting included representatives from the contractor, Nawarat Patanakarn Public Co. Ltd., along with consultancies We Engineering…
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Buzzing battle: Bangkok unites businesses to combat dengue fever
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Department of Disease Control (DDC) are actively collaborating with businesses to combat the rising incidence of dengue fever, a situation exacerbated by the expanding range of dengue-carrying mosquitoes due to climate change. To commemorate ASEAN Dengue Day, which occurs on June 15, BMA and DDC, in partnership with Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Takeda…
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South Koreans injured in Pattaya motorbike crash with Bolt rider
A South Korean tourist, livestreaming his motorbike ride around Pattaya with a friend, sustained injuries in a collision with a Thai Bolt rider early Sunday morning. The speeding Bolt rider suffered serious injuries. The incident took place at 2.20am yesterday at Soi Chaloem Phrakiat 9 on Pattaya Third Road, Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province. Responding swiftly, the Sawang…
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