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Stay up-to-date with the latest news from across Thailand and beyond with The Thaiger. Our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from this stunning part of the world, covering a diverse range of topics, including local politics, business, culture, and tourism. Keep yourself informed about the Kingdom’s rich history, stunning landscapes, and thriving expat communities, as well as updates on events, attractions, and transportation.
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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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King donates 300-rai for new sustainable zoo in Pathum Thani
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua has donated a 300-rai plot in the Rangsit Khlong Hok area of Pathum Thani’s Thanya Buri district for a new zoo. This new facility will replace the 80 year old Dusit Zoo in Bangkok, which closed in 2018. Attapon Srihayrun, Director of the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand, highlighted that the new zoo…
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MICE industry must prioritise people management to sustain growth
Game-changing People Management was the focus of a recent presentation at the TMX conference, one of the largest fairs dedicated to the meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) industry. The discussion highlighted significant opportunities for growth and transformation within this expanding sector. The MICE industry is on a remarkable growth trajectory, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of…
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Astrologer advises Pisces, Virgo to perform merit-making with light
Astrologer Tosaporn suggests that during the Buddhist Lent, two zodiac signs should perform merit-making activities involving light to mitigate the influence of Rahu in their horoscopes. Tosaporn advises those born under Pisces and Virgo to visit temples and engage in activities such as offering candles, refilling oil lamps, donating towards electricity bills, and contributing to education, which is considered the…
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Thai SME bank sees non-performing loans surge to 13%
Rising non-performing loans (NPLs) in the first seven months of this year have predominantly emerged from wholesale and retail sectors, as reported by the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME D Bank). The Managing Director of SME D Bank, Phichit Mitrawong, attributed the increase to sluggish economic conditions, which have led to a contraction in consumer purchasing…
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Charged up: GAC Aion plugs into Thailand’s booming EV market
GAC Aion New Energy Automobile, an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer under Guangzhou Automobile Corporation (GAC), anticipates substantial benefits from the ongoing expansion of Thailand’s EV market. This comes after the recent inauguration of a 2.3-billion-baht EV assembly plant in Rayong. The company aims to produce up to 70,000 EVs annually for both domestic sales and export, according to Ma Haiyang,…
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Thailand faces investment challenge post-1997 financial crisis
Thailand faces investment challenges post-1997 financial crisis despite natural gas discovered in the Gulf of Thailand around 40 years ago sparked nationwide excitement, marking the beginning of a golden era. This period saw the launch of the Eastern Seaboard Development Project aimed at developing the eastern coastal region. Foreign investment surged, propelling the economy to expand at double-digit rates, and…
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Ana maintains pre-pandemic load on Thailand-Japan flights
Japanese carrier ANA has successfully maintained the load factor on Thailand-Japan routes at the same robust level as in 2019, despite the challenges posed by a weak yen. Notably, the majority of its passengers are now Thai tourists and long-haul travellers transiting through Japan. Thailand has emerged as one of ANA’s strongest routes in Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia post-pandemic, alongside…
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Tak Bai tragedy court case to be decided next month
A lawsuit against nine former top officials implicated in the Tak Bai tragedy is set for consideration by the Narathiwat Provincial Court next month. The lawsuit, filed on April 26 by a group of 48 plaintiffs, seeks justice for the victims and their families who have seen no action taken by police or prosecutors beyond financial compensation. The plaintiffs, consisting…
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Srettha Thavisin tops poll as Thailand’s favourite politician
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has emerged as the country’s favourite politician, surpassing Move Forward Party (MFP) adviser Pita Limjaroenrat, according to a recent survey. The survey, conducted by LINE TODAY from July 1 to July 20, saw participation from about 21,000 individuals who were asked to choose their preferred politician. The results, released yesterday, revealed that the Thai premier received…
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Wildlife tragedy: Thailand mourns as serow and tiger bite the dust
A serow was discovered shot dead in Phetchabun province, while an injured tiger succumbed to its wounds in Buriram, according to reports from Thai officials yesterday. Chanyaphak Thanachatakkarakun, the chief of Phupha Daeng Wildlife Sanctuary, revealed yesterday, July 21, that a worker from the Silarat Lom Sak stone crushing plant heard gunshots emanating from a mountaintop and subsequently witnessed a…
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Berry misleading: Thailand picks apart fake Finland job offers
Thailand is actively pursuing local agents who deceived Thai citizens into believing they had secured berry picker jobs in Finland. This action follows the interception of 43 individuals at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Saturday, July 20, just before they were set to board a flight to the Nordic country. The Department of Employment initiated the investigation after receiving a tip-off about…
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Man drinks fabric softener mistaking it for water, hospitalised
A man in a highly intoxicated state mistook a bottle of fabric softener for water and consumed it entirely, causing severe convulsions. His friends promptly contacted the police for help. At 3.32am today, July 21, the Phra Khanong Police Station received an urgent call reporting that a man had ingested fabric softener in a rental room. Directed by Police Colonel…
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Heavy rains trigger flash floods and mudslides in Ubon Ratchathani
Heavy rains battered Ubon Ratchathani throughout the night, causing flash floods and mudslides that damaged over 100 homes and swept away personal belongings. Early today, July 21, officials reported that the situation had stabilised but left significant damage behind. Relentless rain pounded Ubon Ratchathani province overnight, leading to flash floods and mudslides from the mountain ranges. This natural disaster inundated…
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Ghost banquet in Rayong cemetery spooks attendees
A ghost banquet held at a cemetery in Rayong left attendees spooked after mysterious images appeared to show many seated figures, despite no one being physically present. These apparitions are believed to be spirits attending the feast by invitation. Siam Rayong Rescue Officers organised a Chinese banquet with 30 tables yesterday, July 20, at the Chag Phak Kud Temple cemetery,…
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Over 1,000 vehicles fill temple for Thao Wessuwan worship
Over a thousand vehicles occupied both parking lots as people flocked to Chon Buri’s renowned temple to worship the deity Thao Wessuwan after it reportedly granted nine individuals first-prize lottery wins. At 9.50am today, July 21, Wat Khao Chong Lom in Khao Khun Song, Si Racha, Chon Buri, saw a surge of visitors enjoying time off due to the Buddhist…
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Thailand cannabis group ends hunger strike over reclassification
Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network concluded a hunger strike and peaceful demonstration against the reclassification of cannabis as an illegal narcotic. The group made this announcement through a statement on social media, expressing their concern over the government’s approach to cannabis regulation. From July 8 to July 19, members of the network gathered in front of the Thai Government House,…
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Thai police arrest Nigerian man for cocaine and visa overstay
Thai police raided a luxury hotel in Koh Pha Ngan and arrested a 47 year old Nigerian national for possession of cocaine and overstaying his visa. The Nigerian, Kenneth, claimed to use magic to evade detection during his drug transactions. Tourist Police Chief Saksira Puek-am revealed that the operation was conducted as part of a broader crime suppression effort targeting…
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Woman caught stealing beer in Udon Thani after fight with husband
A woman was caught stealing five cans of beer from a shop in Udon Thani, sparking a confrontation with her husband. She claimed the theft was due to a lack of money after an argument with him. Police in Udon Thani received a report yesterday about a woman stealing five cans of beer from a small community shop in the…
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Heavy rainfall and flash flood warnings issued for 50 provinces
Heavy rainfall is expected across 50 provinces today, with 70% of these areas, including Bangkok, set to experience significant downpours. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of potential flash floods and forest runoffs due to the weather conditions. The TMD forecasted the weather for the next 24 hours, noting that a monsoon trough is passing over the upper northern and…
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Man surrenders after BB gun road rage incident in Nonthaburi
A 44 year old man turned himself in after firing a BB gun at another driver in response to a close encounter on the road. The incident, captured on CCTV, led to his swift surrender to the police. The incident unfolded yesterday at 6pm when Anan Worasart, chief of Bang Khen Police Station, along with his deputies, received Puridet (surname…
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Boy drowns in Hat Yai canal despite rescue efforts
An eight year old boy tragically drowned while playing in a canal with his friends in Hat Yai, Songkhla. Despite efforts to rescue him, it took two hours to locate his body after his grandfather performed a ritual. The incident occurred at around 1.30pm yesterday, July 20, when police from Koh Hong Police Station in Songkhla received a report of…
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Tiger dies near Dong Yai Forest after alarming villagers
A tiger identified as M116 has died after causing alarm among locals near a concrete dam close to Dong Yai Forest in Lam Nang Rong, Non Din Daeng, Buriram province. Officials discovered the tiger in a weakened state before it passed away, and investigations are underway to determine the cause of death. Villagers recently spotted a large tiger in the…
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Fire destroys house in Ubon Ratchathani, 2 million baht damage
A fierce fire engulfed a two-storey house in Ubon Ratchathani, completely destroying it and causing chaos as firefighters scrambled to control the blaze. The incident occurred yesterday in a densely populated community. Police officer Prawit Wacharin received a report about a fire at a two-storey residence on Sukha Upatham 3 Alley, Sukha Upatham Road, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Ubon Ratchathani…
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Expats: New Thai visas make elite status obsolete
Longstay expats are in uproar as Thailand’s new visa policies render their costly long-term options nearly worthless. The introduction of a 60-day visa-exempt policy and the 180-day Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) has left many feeling shortchanged. Geoffrey Fisher, a Brit who recently forked out 900,000 baht (approximately £20,000) for a five-year Elite visa, lamented, “I’ve wasted my money as more…
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Thai senior police officer disguised as monk arrested in scam probe
Thai police apprehended a senior police officer, allegedly involved in a call centre scam, who had fled to become a monk in Lampang. The officer denied being the ringleader, claiming he was merely an accomplice. An investigation into a call centre scam led police to a residence in Pa Tan, Mueang district, Chiang Mai, and another apartment within the Baan…
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Police seize 6 million methamphetamine pills in North Thailand
Police in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand seized 6 million methamphetamine pills (meth) and 21 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) that had been abandoned in the area. However, the individuals responsible for transporting the drugs escaped arrest. Chucheep Pongchai, Governor of Mae Hong Son, instructed Anek Pantayom, the District Chief of Pai, to address the drug…
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Young girl drowns in Khon Kaen weir tragedy
A young girl drowned in Khon Kaen as she played on a weir with a group of others. Three were rescued after a four-hour search. Police from the Water Operation Unit of the VR Friendship Rescue Association in Phon Mueang mobilised to search for the 12 year old girl, Panadda Nganman, also known as Nong Mai yesterday, July 19. She…
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Police arrest man terrorising Don Mueang community
Police apprehended a Thai man for causing disturbances in Don Mueang. Residents complained about his disruptive behaviour, including blocking roads and live-streaming. Police searched his home, discovering weapons and taking him into custody. The Thai man, 42 year old Ekaluk, also known as Ek Saiteo, has been a notorious figure in his neighbourhood for some time. Residents finally reached their…
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Police seize vaping products worth 5 million baht in Lat Krabang
Police raided a large warehouse in Lat Krabang yesterday, July 19, discovering over 60,000 pieces of illegal vaping products worth 5 million baht. Two suspects were arrested, and the warehouse was disguised as a grocery store. Police Colonel Korrawis Thongsriwanich, head of Division 1 of the Tourist Police Bureau, led the operation. His team collaborated with Police Colonel Somkid Pracheunsuk,…
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Thai tenant shocks owner by bringing 29 cats for one night (video)
A tenant staying at a daily rental room shocked the owner by bringing 29 cats along for just one night. Initially, the situation seemed amicable, but it ended poorly. TikTok user @brand2lor, who owns daily and monthly rental rooms, posted a clip showing the aftermath of a guest who rented a room for a single night and brought along 29…
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