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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Thailand health insurance that covers chronic conditions: What expats need to know
The Thaiger key takeaways Managing chronic conditions in Thailand requires health insurance that covers specialist visits, medications, tests, and hospital stays. Cigna offers high-coverage plans with access to top hospitals, direct billing, and telemedicine support for convenient long-term care. Expats...
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RTN defends 50 million baht drone procurement amid transparency concerns
On Wednesday, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) defended a nearly 50 million baht drone training procurement after critics raised concerns regarding the project’s transparency. Admiral Pokkhrong Monthatpalin, RTN spokesperson, affirmed that the project was above board while elaborating on the Naval Ordnance Department‘s 49.8 million baht acquisition of Phoenix Jet Unmanned Aerial Targets from Air Affairs Australia. Critics questioned why…
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No political vacuum following May 14 election, says deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam addressed concerns regarding the potential for political deadlock following the May 14 General Election. Despite foreseeing a delay in the formation of a new government, he dismissed the possibility of a political vacuum emerging. Wissanu’s remarks come as polls indicate that leading parties are continually growing closer in terms of popularity. While he acknowledges that…
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MFP’s popularity rising as election looms, new poll reveals
The Move Forward Party (MFP) is gaining momentum as Thailand’s General Election approaches, according to a recent pre-election poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). While the Pheu Thai Party continues to lead in terms of constituency and party-list Members of Parliament (MPs), the MFP is rapidly gaining popularity. NIDA’s third pre-election poll was released on Wednesday,…
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NHSO seeks funds for additional flu vaccine doses amid rising Covid-19 cases
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) plans to purchase an additional 860,000 influenza vaccine doses, increasing the stockpile to 5.26 million doses to protect vulnerable groups. To expand people’s access to the vaccine, the NHSO is requesting a budget of 105.2 million baht for the supplementary 860,000 doses, according to Secretary-General Jadet Thammathat-aree. Referring to individuals over 60 years old…
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Taiwanese model’s embarrassing airport experience: Items that vibrate in the night
Renowned Taiwanese model Xin Yu Li, known for being a top-tier talent in the industry, recently shared her embarrassing yet amusing experience at an airport after returning from an international work assignment. While preparing to return, Yu Li encountered a situation that left her red-faced and others nearby witnessing the ordeal. In her recount, Yu Li mentioned that she had…
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Gas cylinder explosion wreaks havoc, damages 8 houses, a car and injures teenage boy
A gas cylinder explosion damaged eight houses and a car in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok while a 15 year old boy living in the incident house suffered serious burn wounds all over his body. The incident occurred yesterday in a three-storey townhouse owned by a 39 year old man named Weeraphat Chuensomsong. He was not home during the explosion. Unfortunately,…
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Former Yala governor sentenced to 8 years for malfeasance in GT200 bomb detector case
Former Yala governor, Teera Mintrasak, aged 59, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for malfeasance in connection with the purchase of fraudulent GT200 bomb detectors from 2007-2009. The sentence was delivered by the Region 9 Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Teera was among 12 defendants involved in the case, with the other 11, all of whom…
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King of Thailand strips Premchai of insignia over outcome of ‘black panther’ case
The King of Thailand has called back Premchai Karnasuta’s royal decorations and insignia due to the final verdict of the famous ‘black panther’ poaching case which resulted in the former construction tycoon’s imprisonment. In December 2021, the Supreme Court sentenced Premchai – the former president of the construction conglomerate Italian-Thai – to more than three years in jail after finding…
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Thai youth vote for reform despite political hurdles
Three years ago, 24 year old Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul was at the forefront of a democracy movement in Thailand as thousands of young protesters clashed with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets on the streets of Bangkok. The movement shook the kingdom with its calls for reform and unprecedented demands to curb the power of King Maha Vajiralongkorn but gradually…
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Woman commits suicide in car with 11 pet dogs
A Thai woman in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok allegedly committed suicide in her car by using a charcoal stove to kill herself with her 11 Poodle dogs. A rescue team, Ruamkatanyu Volunteer Association, was alerted to the death of the Thai woman and her 11 pet dogs and reported the news on its official Facebook page today. According to…
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Bizarre wedding prank goes wrong as groom left in torn clothes
Most weddings in the West are generally sedate, uneventful affairs, with toasts to the bride and groom while there are others which push the boundaries of tradition like one ceremony in China which resulted in torn trousers for the groom and revealing underwear that shocked guests outraged by tradition. In rural parts of China, certain long-standing wedding traditions continue to…
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No foreigners receive yellow or red cards in April, reports Phuket Immigration
Foreigners were on their best behaviour in Phuket, southern Thailand, last month with 0 foreign tourists receiving yellow or red cards, reports Phuket Immigration. Phuket Immigration launched the yellow and red card scheme in March to combat the problem of wayward foreigners on the island. The system sees law-breaking foreign tourists deported from the kingdom after two offences. Any tourist…
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Krabi tour bus crash injures driver, 42 passengers survive
A tour bus crash in Thailand’s Krabi province left the bus driver with moderate injuries, however, the bus’s 42 passengers fortunately survived. The bus crashed into a power pole on Petch Kasem Road in the South Klong Tom district on Monday. Witnesses said that a pickup truck cut in front of the bus, and the driver avoided the collision before…
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Young woman attacked with razors over 250 baht in southern Thailand
A loan shark chased a debtor for 750 baht debt yesterday in Phattalung province, southern Thailand. When the debtor coughed up only 500 baht, she was attacked by around 20 people over the remaining 250 baht. The gang slashed her with razors all over her body causing serious injury. At 2am today, officers at Mueang Phatthalung Police Station were called to…
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Unique ordination parade sees men tossed in air in Chaiyaphum village
Eight men embarking on a spiritual journey into the Buddhist monkhood experienced a thrilling ordination parade in Ban Non-Salao, a village in the Phu Khieo district. In the morning, the provincial governor of Chaiyaphum, Sopon Suwanrat, attended religious ceremonies at a village shrine honouring the 8 men being ordained, collectively referred to as ‘nagas.’ The day’s main attraction was a…
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Glue sniffer arrested for stealing police motorcycle
Police yesterday arrested a glue sniffer who lost control and stole a police motorcycle parked in front of a shopping mall in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The arrest was made with the help of a food delivery rider. An officer from Mueang Udon Thani Police Station was alerted to an incident inside the Central Udon Thani shopping mall.…
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Man caught on CCTV breaking into woman’s home and masturbating
A Thai businesswoman was shocked to discover a man breaking and entering her home, trashing a room, and masturbating over her underwear when she checked her CCTV cameras in the eastern province of Rayong. Bizarrely, no assets were stolen. The woman, Naruemon Thognthai, posted CCTV footage of the incident on Facebook on Monday, May 1 to expose the pervert’s behaviour…
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PPRP offers upskilling for welfare card holders to tackle poverty
The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has proposed new initiatives for the holders of its Pracharath welfare cards aimed at empowering them to break free from the poverty trap. Charnkrit Detwithak, a spokesperson for the party’s election strategy committee, stated that the party leader and prime ministerial candidate, General Prawit Wongsuwon, is focused on core issues and the need to boost…
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Suspected murderer of car saleswoman in Thailand charged with 7 serious offences
UPDATE Police pressed seven serious charges against the man who yesterday confessed to raping and murdering a young car saleswoman in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, on Saturday. Police say it is likely he will be punished with the maximum penalty. Initially, officers at Doi Saket Police Station charged 40 year old Nathapol “Ainat” Panpadungsap with three counts of rape using…
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Prayut Chan-o-cha not keen on minority government post-election
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha affirmed his preference for a majority government in the upcoming May 14 election, despite the constitution permitting the formation of a minority government. In an exclusive interview, the 67 year old, who is also the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party’s chief strategist and top prime ministerial candidate, explained that the formation of the next government would…
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Thai police target traffickers sending workers to South Korea
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) of the Royal Thai Police is intensifying its efforts to investigate websites run by companies with the aim of deceiving Thais, known as “little ghosts,” into working in South Korea illegally. The ATPD has been investigating the websites operated by these firms since South Korea’s partial reopening after the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions. Sarut…
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Caretaker Cabinet seeks approval for 10.4 Billion baht subsidy cut on household power bills
The caretaker Cabinet is set to submit a revised proposal to the Election Commission (EC) for approval of a reduced subsidy of 10.464 billion baht for household power bills, a 648 million baht decrease compared to the previous request that was turned down by the regulator. The initial proposal called for an 11.112 billion baht subsidy, which would be funded…
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Honesty prevails: Motorcycle taxi rider returns lost 100,000 baht cash found on road to owner in Nonthaburi
A motorcycle taxi rider in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok found 100,000 baht in cash on the road and returned it to its owner. The provincial governor is preparing the reward for the rider’s good deed. KhaoSod reporters interviewed the motorcycle taxi rider, 48 year old Akkadate “Toey” Jittayasothorn, today about the incident that occurred at noon on Thursday, April 27.…
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Lucky lottery winner in Thailand banks 36 million baht
Thailand‘s Government Lottery Office (GLO) revealed that one lucky winner scooped a life-changing 36 million baht (over US$1 million) in the digital lottery draw today (May 2) after purchasing six winning digital tickets. Today, the number 834019 was drawn in Thailand’s twice-monthly government lottery draw. Anyone who bought a ticket with this number wins the lottery’s first prize of 6…
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Thailand’s export forecast for 2023 suggests 1% growth due to China’s economic recovery
Thailand’s exports are predicted to experience a 1% increase in 2023, with a more significant improvement anticipated later in the year due to the recovery of China’s economy, according to the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC). In a news conference, council chairman Chaichan Chareonsuk stated that although exports faced a downturn in the first quarter, a resurgence is predicted for…
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Thai cyanide serial killer found support from police officer, says Big Joke
The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, confirmed that a police officer supported the Thai cyanide serial killer, Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, in her dastardly deeds. Big Joke did not reveal the identity of the officer but said an arrest warrant would be issued within two days. The serial killer’s ex-husband, a deputy superintendent of…
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DLT recommends 6 ride-hailing apps to order a motorbike taxi in Thailand
One of the fastest and most convenient ways to get around Thailand is by motorbike taxi, and Grab isn’t the only option. The Department of Land Transport (DLT) recommends ordering a motorbike taxi (“Win”) safely and legally using six mobile applications. The DLT has certified six applications providing motorbike taxi services so far, reports BangkokBizNews… Hello Phuket Service Bonku Asia…
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No justice for victim: Suspect in kidnapping, rape, and murder walked free on technicality
Doi Saket Police Station revealed they could not arrest a serial sex offender who later went on to kidnap, rape, and murder a woman because it was a public holiday and the court was closed. The case involving the murder of a 36 year old car showroom saleswoman known as “Aom” has gathered significant attention. Aom, who worked at a dealership…
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Top 5 nationalities investing in Thailand in Q1
Foreigners invested 33 billion baht into Thailand in the first quarter of the year, a government spokesperson revealed today. Investors from Japan invested the most, followed by investors from Singapore and the USA, respectively. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office and Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister Anucha Burapachaisri revealed that the government approved investment from 174 foreign investors…
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Thai cannabis vendors call out illegal importation practices
Thailand is known for its glittering beaches, bustling street food scene, expert Muay Thai fights, and full moon parties. But now it’s known for something that no one could have expected just a few short years ago – becoming the world’s home of the happy herb, marijuana. It’s been less than a year since Thailand decriminalised the growing of marijuana…
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