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
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St. Andrews International School, joins global event for children’s wellbeing
Press Release On 30 September, St. Andrews International School, Sathorn has planned activities involving the entire school community of children, parents and employees to mark Global Be Well Day, a worldwide event led by Cognita, the group of 85 schools of which St. Andrews Sathorn school is a member. Over 58,000 children around the world will be taking part to…
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Kanchanaburi experiences earthquake so minor hardly anyone notices it
A minor earthquake of magnitude 3.2 was recorded by seismologists in western Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province early this morning. No damage or injuries were recorded and the Bangkok Post says no one even felt the temblor. The Meteorological Department says the temblor happened just before 5am and was centred 6 kilometres underground, somewhere under the Sri Sawat district, and 50 kilometres…
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Thailand’s reopening divided into 4 phases
Thailand is looking toward the future as the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration announced yesterday its plan to gradually reopen the country. The CCSA’s plan consists of 4 phases that take into consideration tourism revenue, geography, and Covid preventive measures. Pilot phase: October 1 to October 31. Phuket, Surat Thani, including Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao islands. Phang…
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Thai PM hit with 50-million-baht lawsuit from angry restaurant operators
The Thai PM is being sued for 50 million baht by a restaurant group which is also representing 39 other restaurant operators. The Bangkok Post reports that the Never Ending Summer Co has filed a class-action suit against Prayut Chan-o-cha, seeking compensation for financial losses endured as a result of the government’s alleged mismanagement of Covid-19. The Civil Court issued…
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Central Thailand told to prepare for possible flooding
Officials from Bangkok and the nearby provinces of Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani are being told to prepare for possible flooding, following the Royal Irrigation Department’s decision to accelerate the discharge rate of water from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat in expectation of more rain. Thanakorn Tantikul, director of the Ayutthaya irrigation projects says the move was made to…
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Government urged to clarify tourism marketing plan ahead of high season
Following the government’s decision to re-open a further 10 provinces to international visitors from November, tourism operators are calling for a clear plan ahead of high season. Yesterday, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration agreed a number of measures, including reducing curfew hours in the dark red provinces, allowing a number of businesses to re-open, and extending the emergency decree…
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Police say new approach is needed to fight crime using a combination of technology and community participation
15 police stations across the country are participating in an innovative project that joins technology with an interpersonal approach to tackle crime. National police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk says police must reevaluate how they fight crime. He insists police must be knowledgeable and study modern policing. Suwat says educated police work more efficiently in what can be a fluid social environment.…
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Monday Covid Update: 10,288 new cases; provincial totals
101 new coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 16,369. The country’s latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1, has accounted for 16,275 of those fatalities. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 10,288 new Covid-19 cases and 12,494 recoveries. Thailand…
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Consumer complaints hotline targets rip-off shopkeepers
A nationwide hotline number is now in operation to allow consumers to file complaints against shop owners who overcharge for basic necessities. Nation Thailand reports that the Commerce Ministry has launched the 1569 hotline following complaints of excessive charges for essential goods. Shopkeepers are being warned they face penalties of over 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of 140,000 baht…
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Phuket Car rental business says gang rented cars and then sold them off
The owners of a car rental business in Phuket are out 10 cars and vans after a gang said they wanted to rent the vehicles for business, including work with a large cannabis operation, but failed to return the vehicles. The owners say they are worried the vehicles have already been sold off in other provinces. One of the rental…
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OnlyFans arrest sparks calls for reform of prostitution and pornography laws
Following the arrest of an OnlyFans content creator on pornography charges, there have been renewed calls in Thailand for sex work to be legalised. A woman, known as Nong Khai Nao, who is a content creator for the subscription platform, and her boyfriend, were arrested for filming sexual acts and posting it on OnlyFans. The site allows people to pay…
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DSI says land documents were illegally issued for the Phuket “Sri Panwa” resort
The luxury resort in Phuket accused of land encroachment will now be investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Department of Land, and the Anti-Money Laundering Office. Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations looked into the “Sri Panwa” project in Phuket and said that the resort illegally acquired land rights documents. According to Nation Thailand, the DSI found that Sri Panwa…
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Monday Covid Update: 10,288 new cases and 101 deaths
Today, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported 10,288 new covid-19 cases and 101 coronavirus-related deaths. Since April 1, in Thailand’s latest wave of the virus, 1,543,063 confirmed Covid-19 cases have been reported. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 12,494 recoveries. There are now 120,156 people in Thailand currently receiving medical treatment for Covid-19.…
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PM surveys damage from floods, says government needs better plan to handle floods in the future
In light of recent heavy flooding that has swamped Thailand, including in Chaiyaphum where a hospital was forced to evacuate 40 patients, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has conceded that the government is at a loss on how to solve the country’s annual flood problems. The PM did say compensation for flood victims will be on the way shortly. Prayut’s comments come…
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300,000 more AstraZeneca vaccines donated from Japan arrived
In a well-timed shipment, 300,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Bangkok today, a donation from Japan. Today is the anniversary of a milestone for Thailand and Japan, as September 26 is the anniversary of the original establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Today marks the 134th anniversary of the relationship between Japan and Thailand, a perfect…
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US calls meeting with Thai officials to resolve donated vaccines
The saga continues for the additional 1 million Pfizer vaccines that the US donated to Thailand that has been lost in bureaucratic red tape. The United States has now said they will organize a meeting with Thai authorities to discuss the delivery of the donated vaccines. Previously, Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul denied claims that he had dropped the…
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Sunday Covid-19 Afternoon Update: Provincial Totals
Today, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration update reported 12,353 new Covid-19 cases and 125 coronavirus-related deaths. In Thailand’s latest wave of the virus, which was first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has reported a total of 1,532,775 confirmed Covid-19 infections. The 12,353 daily Covid-19 infections in today’s update were made up mainly of 10,809 walk-in tests, while 1,000…
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Phuket relaxes checkpoint requirements to help tourists and health officials
Phuket is looking to bring in more domestic tourists and reduce the workload for healthcare officials who have to screen visitors, by reworking their health surveillance measures, says the provincial office. The measures are focused on the Chatchai checkpoint. Yesterday, Provincial governor Narong Woonciew announced that over 30,000 people have visited Phuket via the Sandbox programme that was launched 2…
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Thailand welcomes its first AI influencer, “AI Ailynn”
Thailand is jumping into the influencer marketing game SkyNet style, with the introduction of AI Ailynn, a metaverse human designed by SIA Bangkok, which styles itself a “virtual influencer agency”. AI Ailynn, their first artificial intelligence influencer will chat with users, pose for pictures, and influence people to buy things. The company’s website describes AI Ailynn as a 21 year…
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Umbrellas out, more monsoonal rain in the wake of ‘Dianmu’
With tropical depression Dianmu now well into the Bay of Bengal and continuing to weaken, another low depression sits over Thailand’s lower north, continuing to drop rain in most parts of the country. The region is also coming to the end of the annual typhoon season which whips up west-moving storms from the Pacific and into the South China Sea…
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Record-breaking 1 million Covid-19 vaccines given yesterday
Thailand set a domestic record yesterday with more than one million Covid-19 vaccines administered in one day. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha thanked the public and everyone involved in making yesterday Thailand’s most successful vaccination day and expressed confidence that Thailand will reach its inoculation goals by the end of 2021. The massive campaign of 1 million vaccines was launched as a…
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Junk messages must now be blocked by Thai mobile carriers
An order made by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission this week declared that all mobile phone operators must now block junk messages and fraudulent SMS. The order is aimed at curbing unsolicited junk messages on people’s mobile phones and protecting them from scams or malicious advertisements. The new order went into effect on September 23 and applies to all…
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Abusive Kanchanaburi temple rehab centre ordered to close.
Following explosive reports of abuse, extortion, and squalor in a drug rehab centre in a temple in Kanchanaburi, the Department of Medical Services ordered the temple be shut down immediately. The Moo 10 village headman in Dan Makhamtia district received an urgent notice Thursday night instructing an immediate closure of the Wat Tha Phu Rat Bamrung facility. The Narcotic Drugs…
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Saturday Covid-19 Afternoon Update: full provincial totals
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration update today reported 11,975 new Covid-19 infections in Thailand along with 127 deaths, both lower than yesterday. Covid-19 data was relatively good over the last 24 hours as total patients in medical care (124,540), patients in ICUs (3,323), patients on ventilators (729), suspected infections by ATK test (2370), and infections in prisons (93) have…
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Covid-19 UPDATE: Provincial totals, vaccinations and more
Today, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported 12,697 new Covid-19 cases and 132 coronavirus-related deaths. In Thailand’s latest wave of the virus, which was first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has reported a total of 1,508,447 confirmed Covid-19 infections. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA reported 13,540 recoveries. There are now 127,392 patients in…
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Contrary to Anutin, US says delivery of vaccines awaits Thailand
In a meeting with Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, founder of the new Thai Sang Thai Party, US Senator Tammy Duckworth stated that she is pushing for more vaccine donations from the US to Thailand, but that Thailand has yet to collect 1 million Pfizer vaccines waiting for them now. The conversation took place in Washington DC on Wednesday. Duckworth was born in Thailand and…
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CCSA approves reopening delay, state of emergency extension
The state of emergency in Thailand has been extended and the reopening of the country postpone following approval by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The CCSA subcommittee met yesterday to approve the extension proposal and discuss reopening. Chairman of the subcommittee National Security Council Secretary-General Natthapon Nakpanich approved the proposal that keeps Thailand in a state of emergency and…
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Video of feet on bread appears to be from India, not Thailand
A video and news story that sent an uproar through the Thai community of workers at a bread factory putting their feet on the bread before packaging has been revealed to have not taken place in Thailand. The Immigration Bureau had ordered a far-reaching check on breadmaking factories across Thailand and particularly in Bangkok to try to uncover the source…
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Education ministry to accelerate vaccination of over 200,000 teachers
All vocational and secondary school students should be fully vaccinated by November 15 and the vaccination of 210,000 teachers is being accelerated ahead of schools re-opening. So says Suphat Champatong from the Education Ministry, adding that the government has taken delivery of 3 vaccine types – viral vector, live attenuated, and inactivated. In a Bangkok Post report, Suphat says the…
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Tourism operators slam government as re-opening postponed to November
Tourism operators have expressed frustration as Thailand’s re-opening is pushed back a month, primarily due to inadequate vaccination levels. The re-opening of Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, and Phetchaburi has been postponed from October 1 to November 1. According to a Bangkok Post report, this is the third time the re-opening of Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Hua Hin…
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