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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Government’s digital wallet scheme delayed amid sustainability concerns
A seven-month delay is set to affect the government’s digital wallet scheme, with the expected launch now projected around September of next year, according to an adviser to the prime minister. Pichai Chunhavajira, while addressing a Senate-organised forum on the scheme, voiced that the policy is a vital economic stimulant but doubted its implementation in February as initially planned. The…
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Bangkok’s 20-baht electric train policy boosts ridership by 30% on key lines
Bangkok was abuzz with positivity on October 28, as Dr Pichet Kunadhamraks, the Director General of the Department of Rail Transport, stepped forward to share the latest numbers. The recently implemented 20-baht electric train ride policy on the Red and Purple BTS lines saw a significant increase in ridership since its inception on October 16. The director general revealed a…
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Unusual coconut tree brings lottery luck to Surin province residents
Residents in Surin Province, Thailand, hope for good luck after discovering a coconut tree resembling an elephant’s trunk. Yesterday a peculiar incident occurred in the backyard of Somphis Riaproi, 54 years old, living at house number 61, Moo 2, Jik Daek Subdistrict, Phanom Dong Rak District, Surin Province. A coconut tree with an unusual shape resembling an elephant’s trunk, with…
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Thailand and Laos aim for US$11 billion bilateral trade boost with enhanced transport links
Thailand and Laos have set in motion plans to increase the value of bilateral trade to US$11 billion (395.7 billion baht) within the next two years, as announced by government spokesperson, Chai Wacharonke. This ambitious target was a significant point of discussion during a meeting between the Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, and his Lao counterpart, Sonexay Siphandone. Covering an…
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Thailand’s winter arrival delayed, Meteorological Department forecasts milder season
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) is preparing to announce the arrival of winter early next week. This declaration is set to occur approximately two weeks later than the usual calendar due to the persistence of weak cool winds and the forecast of a milder temperature trend. Somkhuan Tonjan, the Director of the Meteorological Observation Division, indicated that rainfall may…
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Thai man arrested after murdering 6 year old son to win ex-wife back
Police arrested a Thai man for the murder of his six year old son. He was reported to have murdered his son to win his ex-wife back. The suspect, 23 year old Nattapon, reached out to the Hua Hin Police Station at 9pm on Friday, October 27 to file a missing complaint to the officers. Nattapon reported that he parked…
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Thai PM’s frequent flyer miles soar: Srettha’s approval ratings stay grounded
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has received favourable approval ratings despite concerns over his frequent overseas trips, according to a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). Conducted over the telephone between October 24-25, the NIDA Poll surveyed a diverse group of 1,310 individuals aged 18 and above. The findings revealed that the Thai prime minister’s international travel…
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Inhalant addiction: Chulalongkorn University lecturer warns of serious health risks
Frequent use of inhalants, especially to the point of addiction, can pose serious health risks, warns a popular Facebook page, Oh, It’s Like This, by Dr Jatuporn Denpruang, a lecturer in the Department of Biology at Chulalongkorn University. She responded to a query from a page fan asking whether frequent inhaling of these products is harmful or has long-term effects…
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Thai hostages in Israel reach 22 amid escalating Gaza conflict
The number of Thai workers held hostage during the recent attack by Hamas on Israel has escalated to 22, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The latest confirmation of three additional abductions was disclosed by the Foreign Ministry. The 61 year old prime minister relayed this information while addressing journalists at the Wing 23 air terminal at Udon Thani Airport,…
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Fashion faux pas: Cleaning company mistakenly discard bag of high-end clothes worth thousands of baht
A woman was left stunned after her bag of high-end designer clothes, left for laundry in an upscale condo, was thrown out by the cleaning staff. The cleaning company declined responsibility, claiming they were unaware of the bag’s value and couldn’t afford compensation. The woman, a resident of an upscale condo in the city centre, found herself in a shocking…
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Brewing trouble: Khon Kaen coffee shop brews up plea for sugar price control
A renowned coffee shop in Khon Kaen called on the government to regulate sugar prices. Having been in business for over two decades, the shop is now grappling with the highest sugar prices it has ever encountered. This has led to serious concerns about the survival of the establishment. Yesterday at 1pm, a reporter visited several beverage vendors in the…
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Mpox outbreak in Thailand: 24 infected, one death reported
Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) has claimed the life of a man in Thailand and infected an additional 24 people, as disclosed by the acting director-general of the Disease Control Department today. The affected individual was a 24 year old Thai male, who had been battling HIV for three years prior to contracting mpox. His symptoms included high fever, physical…
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Fake Hi-So man swindles over 10 million baht from women
Police arrested a Thai man who created a fake Hi-So (high society) profile to swindle more than 30 women out of over 10 million baht. A number of his victims were too embarrassed to report the crime to the police, allowing the man to continue his deceitful operations for years. However, several victims did come forward to file a complaint…
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Star-seeking serenity: Beloved actor Long Na Boonrit’s spiritual sojourn
Beloved actor Long Na Boonrit attended a spiritual ceremony to seek blessings and good fortune at the Ruesi Naen Ashram, That Buddhakun Temple today. The temple is located in Pho Taeng, Bang Sai district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. A steady stream of believers flocked to the temple to pay their respects to various spiritual figures, hoping to attract luck and prosperity…
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Mother Pao’s minty-fresh generosity: Herbal toothpaste mogul gives back to seniors
A well-known businesswoman, widely recognized as Mother Pao and serving as the chairperson of a prominent herbal toothpaste company, generously shared her wealth among the community’s elderly. In remembrance of her birthplace, Nakhon Ratchasima province, and coinciding with the annual end of Buddhist Lent, Sunantha Leelertphan, donated to the elderly in the Bua Yai district and neighbouring areas every year.…
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Naga Fireballs dazzle spectators at Buddhist Lent finale in northeastern Thailand
The Naga Fireballs phenomenon, a highlight of the end of Buddhist Lent festivities in Nong Khai, did not disappoint the expectant crowd this year. The provincial statistics revealed a total of 289 fireballs observed today by around 83,610 spectators. The Naga Fireballs, a mysterious and awe-inspiring natural phenomenon, were seen along the Mekong River in Nong Khai province. The spectacle…
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Government Housing Bank breaks ground with 0% down payment home loans
The Government Housing Bank (GHB) is set to introduce three new home loan products with a combined budget of 45 billion baht. With an initial interest rate of 0% for the first three months and a minimum monthly repayment of just 3,300 baht per million borrowed, the bank aims to make homeownership more accessible for Thai citizens. GHB, a state-run…
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CIB police named Social Impact Partner in TikTok Award Thailand 2023
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Thailand has been named Social Impact Partner of the Year in the TikTok Award Thailand 2023. TikTok Thailand held the awards ceremony on Saturday, October 28 at Suralai Hall on the seventh floor of the ICONSIAM shopping mall in Bangkok. Several Thai celebrities, singers, musicians, artists and content creators attended the event. All their…
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Thai film ‘The Undertaker’ digs up box office gold, heading for 700 million baht (video)
The Thai film The Undertaker (also known as Sapparor), continues to extend its box office success, heading towards a revenue of 700 million baht. Its director, Tongtae Thiti Srinual, expresses his gratitude towards the audience and the film’s cast and crew. Meanwhile, Tata Chachai Chinsri, who plays the character Xiang, posted his thanks on his Bak Xiang Tai Ban page. The…
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Struggling student’s 5,000 baht hustle in Khon Kaen sparks online empathy wave (video)
The online world is abuzz with the story of an 18 year old high school student from Khon Kaen province who has shared his struggle to make ends meet on a monthly income of 5,000 baht. His father’s salary has to stretch to cover the needs of four people, resulting in him resorting to unusual measures to survive. The student,…
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Lottery numbers soar: Chiang Mai locals rush to buy lucky tickets at 120 baht
Lottery fever is gripping Chiang Mai as locals throng to buy tickets bearing lucky numbers, Chinese calendar numbers, and lunar eclipse numbers. With lottery tickets still selling at high prices ranging from 100 to 120 baht per piece, people are flocking to markets and major vendors in the town, Mahidol Road, and Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road. One lottery vendor, Phannee, reported…
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Vietnam scam alert: Thai men survive scam and physical assault
A Thai TikToker issued a warning to other tourists after he and his friend survived a scam and physical assault by fraudsters in Vietnam. The Thai man shared his experience in Vietnam in a video posted to his TikTok account @golf_sanit on Friday 27 October. He said in the caption. “I fell victim to a scam in Vietnam. The scammers…
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Thailand persists with 10,000-baht digital money giveaway to reboot economy
The Thailand government is standing firm on its decision to proceed with the 10,000-baht digital money giveaway, despite various calls for its reconsideration. The government maintains that while the specifics of the project can be tweaked, the fundamental principle of using it as a tool to reboot the economy remains steadfast. According to Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, the Thai…
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Pothole accident: Dodge causes pickup truck to crash into pole in Nakhon Ratchasima
A pick-up truck, in an attempt to avoid a large pothole on the road and prevent damage to its alloy wheels, lost control and collided with a high-voltage electricity pole in front of a minimart in Nakhon Ratchasima. The pothole accident, which took place yesterday at 6.30pm, resulted in vehicle damage and minor injuries to the driver and two passengers.…
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Naga worship ceremony draws crowds in Kamphaeng Phet
The well-known Wang Nakarin Kamphaeng Phet, owned by 41 year old Kritsana Phong Naak Chan, hosted a grand Naga worship ceremony at the end of Buddhist Lent. The event attracted a large crowd of devotees and included a special lottery number prediction ritual today. Located at house number 26/3, Moo 2, Khlong Mae Lai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kamphaeng Phet Province,…
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Edtech collaboration: Hong Kong and Thailand unite to enhance education
Hong Kong extended an open invitation to Thailand to engage in a meaningful Edtech collaboration aimed at advancing educational technology in both regions. This is to enhance student learning and facilitate teachers in crafting personalised lessons and promoting active classroom engagement. The EdTech collaboration was discussed during the Edtech Month Summit 2023 held recently in Hong Kong. The summit centred around…
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3 Thais killed after jet ski crashes into their longtail boat near Bangkok
Three Thai people lost their lives after a jet ski crashed into their longtail boat in the Nong Ngu Hao Canal in the Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok on October 28. Officers from Bang Sao Thong Police Station and rescuers rushed to the accident scene in the canal. They met with the tragic deaths of three victims, including a 31…
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Thai food delivery rider arrested for murdering female DJ in northern Thailand
Police arrested a Thai food delivery rider on Saturday, October 28, for the murder of a female disc jockey (DJ) and the subsequent abandonment of her body in the woods within the Phichit province of Isaan. On October 22, 68 year old DJ named Jutathip “Ju” Daanwannakit disappeared from her house. Her family filed a missing person report with the…
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Cool season in Thailand delayed due to El Niño phenomenon
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) announced that the onset of this year’s cool season is likely to be delayed by approximately two weeks, and will be warmer than usual. The shift has been attributed to unpredictable weather patterns and the influence of the El Niño phenomenon. Typically, Thailand’s cool season commences around mid-October. However, this year the initial moderate…
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Coach crash from Loei to Bangkok leaves one injured
A near-fatal crash involving a coach and two dogs left almost 40 passengers in a state of shock and one with leg injuries. The fully loaded coach from Loei to Bangkok veered off the road and plunged into a canal, hitting a tree on the way down. The driver revealed that the incident occurred because he swerved to avoid two…
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