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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Thief caught stealing to finance motorcycle payments in Ratchaburi housing scheme
Residents of a housing development caught a thief who had been stealing electrical cables and water pumps to fund payments for his newly purchased motorcycle. The man was detained yesterday around 4pm at the Thungpo housing project in Mueang Ratchaburi, western Thailand. Attending the scene were police led by Police Colonel Worrasak Khlongngam, Deputy Investigative Officer of Mueang Ratchaburi Police.…
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Shocking ink-ident: Famous tattoo artist’s alleged misconduct rattles Thailand
The tale of a famous tattoo artist allegedly crossing the line with female customers has shocked the city of Nakhon Sawan in central Thailand. The account of a tattoo artist overstepping professional boundaries emerged from an online post shared on July 2, by a TikTok user identified as @3310qqq. The claims prompted wide debate and raised awareness about personal safety…
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Caught in the drama: Foreign Thai soap opera fan’s secret kissing clip leads to blackmail attempt
An unnamed foreign Thai soap opera fan tried to blackmail two actors after secretly filming them kissing in one of their apartments, believed to be in Bangkok, Thailand. The two Thai soap opera stars caught in the embrace were Sarocha “Freen” Chankimha and Wichai “Seng” Saefarn. Both actors star in the television series GAP The Series, which is popular among…
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Sisaket Hospital probes alleged sabotage of patient data to sell backup software for 3 million baht
The Director of the Sisaket Hospital has ordered the formation of a committee to investigate claims that patient data was deleted, causing the entire Hospital Information System (HIS) to crash in northeastern Thailand. Allegedly, this sabotage was part of a reckless attempt to sell backup software for 3 million baht (US$87,387). If proven true, it signifies alarming corruption within the…
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Fire sale with a twist: Man sells ex girlfriend’s clothes for 100 baht each
A young man‘s hilarious viral post offering his ex-girlfriend’s clothes for sale set social media on fire. Selling each garment for just 100 baht (US$3), the man confirmed that he has personally tried on all the items for comfort and found them to be of high quality. He revealed he felt no regret in selling them as he hopes to…
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Tragic twist: High-ranking officer’s fatal collision with tree leaves Sisaket mourning
A tragic accident took the life of a high-ranking Nam Kliang Police Station officer when his vehicle collided with a tree resulting in fatal injuries in Sisaket province in northeastern Thailand. The driver of the car survived but suffered severe injuries and was rushed for medical treatment. In the early hours of 3.30am today, local police received an alert about…
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Move forward, lese divide: Thai election winner MFP sparks coalition clash over lese majeste law revision
Thai General Election winner the Move Forward Party (MFP) is refusing to abandon its ideology, insisting it will revise the lese majeste law, leading to a division among the Pheu Thai Party and the eight coalition parties. As a consequence, the Pheu Thai Party insisted that they cannot work with the MFP and announced they will form a government with…
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Warning waves: Portuguese Man o’ War sighted at Lanta Island raises alarm in Krabi
An alarm has been raised over a hazardous marine creature, a Portuguese Man o’ War, spotted at Lanta Island in Krabi. Holiday-goers to the sea are advised against using bare hands to touch the creature where they stumble upon it. A tourist from Bangkok came across the creature during her recent vacation to Lanta Island’s hotel located in Moo 2,…
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MFP MP blames corrupt cops for firework warehouse explosion in southern Thailand
Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn accused corrupt cops for the explosion of a firework warehouse in the southern province of Narathiwas. As a result of the ongoing investigation, four police officers have been transferred. The explosion at the firework warehouse in Muno Market in the Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwas province occurred on Saturday, July 29. The warehouse…
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Tisco ESU advises focus shift to debt instruments amid market instability
Amid global stock market turbulence, financial analysts at Tisco’s Economic Strategy Unit (Tisco ESU) are advocating that investors pivot their focus towards debt instruments for potential high-yield returns. The ongoing pressures from elevated bond yields, coupled with the weakening economies in the US and Europe, are some of the contributing factors exerting pressure on the financial markets. The ongoing macroeconomic…
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Blue pee surprise: Thai Highway Police bust narcotics ring in Bangkok
The Thai Highway Police today busted a narcotics ring and its leader who produced blue pee after taking a urine drug test in Bangkok. The gang employed an unconventional smuggling tactic to transport a massive haul of 400,000 methamphetamine pills. Their plan involved transporting the illicit drugs from Bangkok to Surat Thani. The police successfully carried out the operation, culminating in…
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Maya Bay closed until September 30 for nature restoration and tourist safety
Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi Nationa Park authorities, located in the southern province of Krabi, announced they will close Maya Bay and Loh Sama Bay from August 1 to September 30. The move aims to preserve nature and prioritise tourist safety during the monsoon season. Ratchanok Parenoi, the national park director, pointed out that Thailand experiences the monsoon season…
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Beach beating: Thai transwomen assault foreigners in Pattaya
In the early hours of this morning, a gang of twenty Thai transwomen unleashed a physical assault on three foreigners along Beach Road in Pattaya, raising concerns due to their previous involvement in violent acts in the area. The Pattaya Tourist Police swiftly responded to a distress call and arrived at the scene to aid the victims, comprising two Saudi…
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Water shortages: Thai govt mulls halting Central Plains rice farming amid anticipated drought
In a bid to counteract the effects of a potential drought, the central government of Thailand is contemplating the suspension of rice cultivation in the Central Plains region. This proposal comes alongside the potential establishment of a command centre to combat reduced rainfall and water shortages. The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) initiated this conversation, citing apprehensions about…
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Drunk shoots neighbour in ongoing feud in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand
A severe case of neighbourhood conflict escalated drastically yesterday when a drunk man shot his neighbour with a shotgun in northern Thailand. Local police dashed to the scene to investigate the incident with an emergency rescue unit in Chiang Mai. The perpetrator was arrested and charged. The 66 year old offender, Manu, was found in a severe state of inebriation…
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Bangkok cleanup: State railway clear rubbish on future elevated train line site
An assertive Bangkok cleanup approach has been taken by both the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in conjunction with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), to clear mounting rubbish clustered along the rail tracks in proximity to Phaya Thai. This follows a poignant post by a Japanese Twitter user which displayed the deplorable conditions encircling a Kiha-183 train, generously donated to…
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Tissue dreams ahead: Kuma Thailand to build dedicated factory in five years
Kuma (Thailand) Co, the parent firm of the Kuma tissue brand, is setting its sights on augmenting its production capabilities by developing a dedicated factory within the next five years. The goal of this ambitious project is to bolster the company’s capacity and pave the way for future product expansion in the consumer goods sphere. The director at the helm,…
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Flash flood scare at Bueng Kan’s Phuwua Sanctuary prompts quick evacuation of tourists
The renowned tourist attraction of Phuwua Wildlife Sanctuary was the recent setting of a narrow escape for visitors in Bueng Kan, northeast Thailand. Sudden heavy rainfall resulted in water flooding down from the Phuwua mountains, leading tourists, who were enjoying a day at the Tham Phra Waterfall, to flee for higher ground. As reported at 4pm yesterday, amidst a vibrant atmosphere,…
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Cautionary Krabi Sea waves: Dramatic speedboat manoeuvres issue stern warning to operators and tourists (video)
Dramatic documentation of three speedboats manoeuvring massive 5-metre waves in the Krabi Sea issued a stern warning to the boat operators and tourists to remain cautious. The posted video, which instantly caused a commotion on social media yesterday, showcased the life-threatening conditions faced by the vessels amidst the towering waves. An individual on Facebook initially shared the gripping video of the…
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Thai NHSO launches homegrown rubber prosthetic fistula, expects 540 million baht savings
Moving towards medical self-sustainability while concurrently conserving expenses, Thailand’s National Health Security Office (NHSO) has come up with an innovative solution. The NHSO has launched a new, locally made prosthetic fistula prepared from natural rubber for those participating in the Universal Healthcare (UHC) programme, also commonly referred to as the “gold card” scheme. This new initiative aims at reducing the…
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Family feud over dinner turns fatal as man in northern Thailand kills father
In a tragic act of family violence, a 32 year old man fatally slashed his father after a dispute over eating rice in the family farm hut, in Ban Tat, Non Sung District, Udon Thani province in northeastern Thailand. At around 8.15pm yesterday, Non Sung Police Station officer, Sethawit Kunseth, rushed to the scene where they found the body of…
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ASEAN bolsters talks with UK, Russia for potential economic cooperation plans
In an attempt to further drive economic cooperation, Southeast Asia, through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is accelerating its dialogue with the United Kingdom and Russia. This information was released by Auramon Supthaweethum, the head of the Trade Negotiations Department. A senior official from the department, Duangarthit Nidhi-u-tai, was sent to represent the region at the 4th ASEAN-UK,…
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Tourism revival in Thailand risks airport slot overcrowding, suggests alternative options
In anticipation of the upcoming high season, Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) expressed concerns over the slot capacity at international airports. As more flights are set to resume, it is predicted that the country will receive around 8 million tourists this year, primarily derived from long-haul markets anticipating a significant tourism revival. The deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East,…
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Education rights for Burmese students advocated by former Thai minister
A case involving former Thai education minister Chaturon Chaisang has recently shone a light on the plight of 126 Burmese students caught in a legal conundrum. The students, undocumented and without Thai nationality, were accepted into the school by Kanlaya Thasom, also known as Teacher Poo, the former head of Thairath Wittaya 6 School in Ang Thong province. This issue…
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Hidden electrical fault causes boiling ground and shocks central Thai district
A mysterious plume of smoke erupting from the ground yesterday left locals in the Bang Chakreng district perplexed. Residents were especially alarmed when a frog leapt into view, only to be cooked alive in some boiling water on the path. Importantly, it wasn’t until staff at the Electricity Authority switched off the power that the reason for this unusual happening was…
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High drama in Pattaya: Foreigner’s cappuccino turns fatal at ganja café
A foreign man met a tragic end at a marijuana shop in Pattaya, allegedly after consuming what the shop owner claimed was a cappuccino. The unfortunate incident occurred on Sunday, July 30, at a well-known ganja café situated on the bustling Walking Street. The identity of the deceased, Hamad Alblaiher, a 52 year old man of unknown nationality, was found…
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Bangkok: The digital nomad’s No.1 destination, says survey
Bangkok earned the prestigious title of top city for digital nomads worldwide, according to a recent survey conducted by CommercialSearch, a renowned platform specializing in working and co-working spaces. The bustling metropolis outshone all its competitors in this year’s rankings of the Best Cities for Digital Nomads. CommercialSearch’s evaluation process involved assessing cities globally with populations exceeding 400,000 residents and…
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Police and extortion: A case of ‘break-in’ hearts in Thailand
In a striking turn of events, an alleged victim reported that a police officer attempted to extort 100,000 baht in exchange for not pursuing a break-in case. The officer also offered to help dissolve her case if she entered into an intimate relationship with him. The victim revealed that the unsettling incident occurred in October last year, in the province…
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Surge in cyber-attacks worries Thailand: Weekly numbers surpass global average
A recent report by Check Point Research has highlighted an alarming surge in cyber-attacks on organisations in Thailand over the past six months. The average attack incidents were notably higher than the global norm and even edged past figures from the rest of Southeast Asia. Every week, organisations in Thailand fell prey to an average of 2,388 cyber-attacks, which slightly…
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Monsoon warnings issued across Thailand: Heavy rainfall and flash floods expected, says TMD
The northern and northeastern regions of Thailand are set to experience heavy rainfall, warns the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). Across the country, 45 provinces, including Bangkok, have been alerted to be prepared for sudden flooding and flash floods, particularly in low-lying areas and near waterway passages. According to the forecast, it seems that an approaching southwestern monsoon which is becoming…
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