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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9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Woman saved from suicide leap into Chao Phraya River by quick-thinking volunteers
A 30 year old woman was rescued from the brink of jumping off the Rama 7 Bridge into the Chao Phraya River yesterday. A team of volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation were alerted by passersby to the distressed woman sitting on the bridge, facing the river. Despite their attempts to console her and convince her to step down from the…
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Interim leader steps in for embattled MFP amidst legal tension
Pending a legal verdict, 45 year old Chaithawat Tulathon assumes the role of interim leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) after his predecessor stepped down. Chaithawat was elected alongside the board of executives, taking over from Pita Limjaroenrat, who resigned from the MFP leadership earlier this month to facilitate the transition to a new opposition leader. Pita’s position as an…
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Phuket hotels collaborate with ONWR to tackle water crisis and boost sustainable tourism
Facing a critical water shortage, the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) devised a strategy to collaborate with Phuket hotels, launching an initiative to decrease water utilisation in the tourism industry. Surasee Kittimonthon, the ONWR secretary-general, highlighted the escalating water crisis in the popular Thai resort island, marked by inadequate water supply and treatment issues. With the tourist count…
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Thailand signals reopening for foreign investment at UNGA78, says PM Srettha
Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand, declared his attendance at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) session in New York a triumph, as it signalled that Thailand is reopening its doors to foreign investment. PM Srettha, who also holds the position of finance minister, shared this positive outlook with the press following his address at the UNGA78 general…
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TV host Perry Pairoj announces retirement to pursue personal dreams
Perry Pairoj, renowned entertainer and TV host, announced her upcoming retirement. After a successful career spanning one year, Perry plans to follow her dreams and embark on an exciting new chapter. Perry’s announcement left fans heartbroken. After a year-long stint in the entertainment industry, the TV host is setting her sights on fulfilling her dreams. She expressed her immense gratitude…
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MFP elects Chaithawat Tulathon as leader amid Pita MP status uncertainty
Previously the secretary general of the Move Forward Party (MFP), Chaithawat Tulathon was elected as the new leader, succeeding Pita Limjaroenrat. Pita resigned amid ongoing uncertainty regarding his Member of Parliament status. Chaithawat, however, indicated this may be a temporary measure, as he and the new executive committee members are prepared to step aside, should Pita be able to resume…
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Handsome Thai pancake seller goes viral, adds charm to local markets
A handsome Thai pancake seller who helps his mother at her market stall in Rangsit has become an Internet sensation. The young man has caught the attention of netizens after a TikTok user, @niwat_kj, shared a video of him following a visit to the market stall at Si Mum Mueang Market. In the TikTok post, the user wrote, “The pancakes…
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Swiss tourist falls to death at Phuket airport raising safety concerns
A 53 year old Swiss tourist met a tragic end last night, plunging from a parking structure at Phuket International Airport. The Sakhu Police Station’s chief, Police Colonel Salan Santisatsanakul, reported that the police were alerted about the foreigner’s fall around 7.30pm. The officers on arriving at the scene discovered blood traces on the ground floor of the parking building. The…
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Thai PM sparks debate with plans to seek advice from ex-PM Thaksin
The Thai Prime Minister and Finance Minister has sparked heated debates among politicians with his new intention to seek counsel from former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, upon his release from prison. Srettha Thavisin revealed in an interview with Bloomberg Television that he values Thaksin’s political advice, describing him as the country’s most popular prime minister, hence “it would be unwise of…
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Thai man linked to 2013, 2014 infant deaths through DNA tests
DNA tests have confirmed that a 46 year old man named Songsak Songsaeng, presently under arrest on charges of murdering his two year old daughter is also connected to the deaths of two infants discovered in the Bang Sue district in 2013 and 2014. The DNA samples from the bodies of the infants match those of Songsak and one of…
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Henna tattoo horror: Thai woman’s ordeal serves as an allergy warning
A devastating experience with a budget henna tattoo has been shared by a woman on social media who ended up with severe blisters and itching, leaving a scar. The TikTok user @Iamseasons posted a video today detailing her ordeal with the cheap henna tattoo that turned into a nightmare. “I advise you not to follow suit, it’s not about the…
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Corruption probe deepens: Mayor’s office searched again after arrest in southern Thailand
The Anti-Corruption Police conducted a second search of the office of the Mayor of Bang Kaeo in southern Thailand after his arrest for alleged under-the-table solicitation of 1.5 million baht. The Mayor, Nathapong Taengsuwan, had earlier been taken into custody for reportedly demanding bribes in exchange for approving a 13-million-baht LED screen installation project. A shocked Nathapong had attempted to…
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Former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher ‘Lives Forever’ with Thai fans after adopting stray dog from Thailand (video)
Former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher will “Live Forever” in the eyes of a legion of Thai fans after they learned the charismatic singer adopted a five month old stray dog from Thailand. Irishman Niall Harbison took to Twitter to share the heartwarming news of Gallagher and his dog, Buttons. Harbison who lives in Koh Samui in the southern province of…
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Box office shocker: Thai trafficking thriller spooks Chinese tourists from coming to Thailand (video)
A Thai box office movie highlighting the real-life dangers of human trafficking in Thailand and Southeast Asia has been blamed for scaring Chinese tourists away from the kingdom. The movie, No More Bets, is a gripping thriller grounded in true events. It follows the harrowing journey of a computer programmer who finds himself ensnared in a violent scamming ring in…
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Intense plankton bloom threatens Chon Buri’s marine life and mussel farms
A severe plankton bloom, unusually dense in nature, has emerged off the eastern coast of Chon Buri province, leading to the formation of what marine scientists are referring to as an aquatic “dead zone.” This situation poses a significant threat to the livelihoods of local fishermen and the operations of mussel farms in the region. In specific areas of the…
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Buzzkill: CIB busts counterfeit mosquito repellent ring spanning three provinces in Thailand
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) recently apprehended a manufacturer of counterfeit mosquito repellent in Samut Sakhon, along with three distribution points across three provinces. The counterfeit products, containing hazardous chemicals, were discovered today, and a total of 227,000 boxes worth 4.54 million baht were seized. The CIB’s investigation was sparked by the discovery of two Chinese mosquito repellent brands sold…
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Roojai revs up for success: Thai online insurer aims to drive into top 10 with profitable year ahead
Online insurance firm Roojai is poised to post its first profit from Thai operations in the fiscal year ending March 2024, according to founder and CEO Nicolas Faquet. This is largely attributable to the company’s growth in motor insurance sales, as it sets its sights on becoming a top 10 player in this segment by next year. Faquet revealed it…
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Beauty clinics raid in Bangkok: Over 940 items seized for illicit use of cosmetics
The Central Criminal Investigation Bureau (CCIB) led by Major Anan Nanasombat, with Surasak Vichaisak, Director of Health Support Services, and Paisan Dankhum, Secretary of the Food and Drug Committee, today announced the results of a raid on four beauty clinics in Suan Luang, Bueng Kum, Dusit and Wang Thonglang. The clinics were found to be illicitly using cosmetics as substitutes…
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Phuket’s 191 hotline control room gets ‘ready to dial’
The Phuket control room, part of the National Emergency Notification Center and commonly referred to as the 191 police hotline, yesterday underwent an operational readiness inspection. Police Major General Saksira Phueakam, the Deputy Commander of Region 8 Police, conducted the assessment. This control room serves as a crucial hub for receiving reports from both Thai and foreign tourists, as well…
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14 year old schoolboy stabs rival student to death at school near Bangkok
A 14 year old schoolboy fatally stabbed a 15 year old rival student at a school in Bangkok’s Chacheongsao province yesterday after an argument prior to the incident. Community leader Korrakot Tungphan told ThaiRath that he received news of the stabbing at 5pm yesterday and immediately rushed to the school. Upon arrival, he encountered a group of teachers and students…
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Powder puff surprise: Methamphetamine-filled makeup case shocks salon in northeast Thailand
An intriguing incident took place yesterday in a beauty salon located in Thammasat Alley, Udon Thani province when an unknown woman handed over a powder case to a 52 year old woman. Astonishingly, the powder case turned out to be stuffed with 30 methamphetamine pills. Stunned by the discovery, the receiver of the powder case, Patsakorn, immediately reported it to the…
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105,000 baht windfall goes downhill: Thai man’s road to trouble after purse find
Police arrested a Thai man who discovered 105,000 baht in a purse on the road behind a hospital in the central province of Nakhon Sawan and spent it on drugs, gambling, a new motorcycle and a new mobile phone. A Thai woman, Wannapa Kaewtakun, told ThaiRath that she withdrew the 75,000 baht from an ATM at 8.20pm on September 15 and…
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Tragic collision in Thailand’s west claims life in high-speed horror
A fatal collision between a saloon car and a pickup truck occurred on the roads of Kanchanaburi province, western Thailand. The high-speed crash resulted in the death of a man who was thrown from the pickup truck and subsequently crushed. The incident was reported to Tha Mueang Police Station at 3.30am today. Investigations at the fatal collision scene revealed a…
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Bonding for the future: Thai govt sets sail with expanded issuance
The director-general of the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) yesterday asserted that the planned issuance of government bonds in fiscal next year will be proportionate and appropriate. The limit for bond issuance for the said fiscal year has been expanded by approximately 160 billion baht. Patricia Mongkhonvanit revealed the increase is intended to counterbalance the budget deficit for fiscal next…
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Overstaying Indian man requests extension to spend budget before he’s deported
Thai Immigration Police arrested an Indian man in the southern province of Phattalung for overstaying his visa by over five months. The foreign man reportedly asked to extend his stay to travel to Pattaya as he still had money left over for the trip. Phattalung Provincial Immigration authorities detained 31 year old Gurinder Singh while he was aboard a train…
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Thai Prime Minister Srettha rolls up changes: Strict revisions ahead for cannabis laws
The Prime Minister of Thailand announced plans to revise the nation’s cannabis law and put an end to the free use of cannabis. PM Srettha Thavisin emphasized that cannabis should be used only for medical purposes. As Thailand was the first country in Asia to remove cannabis from its list of illegal narcotics last year, Bloomberg interviewed Thai PM Srettha about…
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Heartbroken British mother accuses Thai officials of ‘lies’ in son’s alleged suicide in Thailand
A British mother slammed the Thai authorities as “liars” after they informed her of her son’s alleged suicide in Thailand. Darnel Kimbia was reportedly found dead in a Bangkok car park on Sukhumvit Soi 50 on Thursday, September 7 with a suicide note lying by his side. The 24 year old man from Brighton had been travelling in Thailand for a…
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Baht depreciation: Experts foresee currency’s decline amid global market turbulence
Financial experts are predicting a further depreciation of the baht throughout this month and next, due to the increased volatility in the global money and capital markets. This follows the US Federal Reserve’s recent suggestion of a potential increase in its benchmark interest rate. Poon Panitchpibun, a strategist at Krungthai Global Market, a research centre of Krungthai Bank, noted that…
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BEV sales set to outstrip targets despite stricter loan criteria
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) predicts sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to exceed the set target of 40,000 units, by reaching between 60,000 to 70,000 units this year. This surge is despite the stricter loan criteria by banks, which pose a potential threat to Thailand’s domestic car manufacturing. According to Surapong Paisitpatanapong, vice-chairman of the FTI and spokesperson…
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TrueMoney, true borders: Fintech giants unite for cross-border payments
Ant Group and TrueMoney, a dominant fintech company in Southeast Asia, have forged a collaboration to facilitate mobile payments across borders between China and Thailand, a move that will see Thai tourists making cross-border payments to millions of merchants in China via the TrueMoney e-wallet. The cross-border payments are facilitated by Alipay+, a cross-border mobile payment ecosystem under Ant Group,…
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