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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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Drunk foreigner shocks Phuket woman by entering her unlocked car
A Thai man took to social media to issue a warning to locals in Phuket after a drunk foreign man entered his girlfriend’s unlocked car last night leaving her in shock. The Thai man, Wuttipong “Bank” Phibun, shared the story in a Facebook group, ขับรถแบบนี้ต้องประจาน ภูเก็ต (meaning “bad drivers in Phuket must be exposed”), today, November 12. He revealed that…
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Phuket council election set for February 1 next year
The Phuket Election Commission (PEC) confirmed that the election for the new president and council members of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO) is set for Saturday, February 1, 2025. The decision has stirred some concern, as Parit Wacharasindhu, a member of the People’s Party in the House of Representatives, pointed out the potential impact on voter turnout. Elections must…
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Thai Cabinet approves 3 new holidays for 2025 and 2026
The Thai Cabinet has approved an addition of three special public holidays for the years 2025 and 2026, resulting in a total of 21 official holidays next year. These additional days aim to extend existing holiday periods into longer breaks. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Phumtham Wechayachai, announced the decision following the Cabinet meeting at Government House earlier…
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Newsflash: Actor, activist exposed in alleged 20 million baht extortion
A famous Thai news programme host accused a Thai actor and a female activist of using his name to extort money from a senior member of the iCon Group. The renowned host, Kanchai “Noom” Kamnerdploy, came forward today, November 12, to expose the fraudulent actions of the actor and activist. He initially shared the story on his Facebook page and later…
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Thai land dispute: Minister defends decision against court ruling
Deputy Interior Minister Songsak Thongsri defended a contentious decision by a land committee not to revoke land title documents for plots in Buriram’s Khao Kradong area. This decision comes despite a 2021 Supreme Court ruling that determined the land in question belongs to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). A dispute has arisen over 5,083 rai of land in Mueang…
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Bangkok couple arrested for 39 million baht lottery embezzlement
A Bangkok couple, employed by lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd, has been taken into police custody amid allegations of embezzling 39 million baht from a Thai woman who had previously won a significant Euromillions lottery prize. This arrest marks a significant development in an ongoing investigation into the alleged financial misconduct surrounding the case. The couple, 34 year old Nuwat Yongyut and…
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Man sets family’s truck on fire near Pattaya amid drug frenzy
A 28 year old man in the Takhian Tia area near Pattaya set his family’s pickup truck ablaze and wreaked havoc in their home, reportedly under the influence of illegal drugs, before fleeing the scene. The incident unfolded around 10pm, yesterday, November 11, prompting an urgent response from Bang Lamung police and local rescue teams. Upon arrival, law enforcement and…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport to offer early check-in by February
Suvarnabhumi International Airport is set to introduce an early check-in service, allowing passengers to complete their check-in process up to 24 hours before departure. This initiative, announced on the Transport Ministry’s social media platform, is aimed at enhancing traveller convenience and reducing congestion at Thailand’s primary international gateway. Airports of Thailand (AoT) President Kerati Kijmanawat indicated that the service is…
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Pawsitive growth: Thailand’s pet food exports skyrocket 31%
Thailand’s pet food exports have surged by around 31% in the first nine months of the year, raking approximately 80 billion baht, according to the Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO). The demand for high-quality dog and cat food led the charge, accounting for around 71 billion baht—an impressive 39% increase compared to the previous year. “The pet…
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Hippo hooray: Moo Deng ‘charges’ up Chon Buri’s tourism boom
Chon Buri province is experiencing a significant boost in tourism revenue, largely due to the popularity of a baby pygmy hippo named Moo Deng. This charming young hippo, only four months old, has become a major attraction at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo. Governor Thawatchai Srithong announced that Chon Buri’s tourism-related revenue reached 27 billion baht (US$777 million) from July…
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Pilotless ‘air taxis’ takes first flights above Bangkok (video)
Chinese aviation tech company EHang made history by launching its EH216-S pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Thailand. The debut passenger flights, held at the Thailand Drone Exhibition & Symposium 2024, mark a major milestone as Thailand becomes the 18th country to host EHang’s futuristic eVTOL flights. With the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) leading the…
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Fire ravages Ranong market building, efforts save nearby school
A devastating fire engulfed a four-storey commercial building in the heart of Ranong’s market area, taking five hours to bring under control. The blaze consumed two shops selling religious goods while efforts to prevent further spread were successful. Today, November 12, the disaster prevention and mitigation team of Ranong Municipality received an urgent report about a fire breaking out in…
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Pregnant Thai woman charged with attempted murder of ex-boyfriend
Police arrested a pregnant Thai woman in Chon Buri for attempted murder after she allegedly conspired with her boyfriend to kill her ex-boyfriend. She claimed that her ex shared an explicit video of her with her 11 year old son, leaving the boy devastated. The victim, a 32 year old man known as A, filed a complaint with Nong Prue Police…
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Elephant rampage at charity event in Bueng Kan kills woman
An elephant at a charity event in Bueng Kan went on a rampage, causing the tragic death of one woman and leaving a man severely injured. The incident, which took place yesterday, November 11, led to chaos as attendees fled in panic. A social media post detailed the unfortunate sequence of events during the traditional Kathin festival procession. An elephant…
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Coconut prices crack open a fortune for farmers in Trang
Coconut farmers in Trang province are celebrating as prices soar, with coconuts now fetching as much as 20 baht each, doubling previous prices. This lucrative market shift promises earnings exceeding 30,000 baht, drawing significant interest from traders eager to purchase entire plantations. At the integrated agricultural garden owned by 64 year old Suthep Wattanavatchara, located in the village of Khao…
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Thai man found dead 3 days after escaping arrest for theft
A Thai man, who escaped arrest by fleeing into roadside grassland after stealing from a convenience store in the central province of Ayutthaya, has been found dead three days after he disappeared. Bang Pa-in Police Station officers were called to the cattail grassland near Sin Thiwa Thani Village in Bang Pa-in district, Ayutthaya, at about 5pm yesterday, November 11, to…
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Going bananas: Thailand’s creative crackdown on Hua Hin’s monkey mayhem
Innovative measures are underway in Thailand to address issues of monkey disturbances in the Hua Hin area, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), in collaboration with the Hua Hin Municipality, has launched a unique operation employing remote control traps to relocate monkeys from Khao Takiab and Khao Hin Lek Fai. The operation,…
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British man spills beans on his life of ‘cell’ in Bangkok prison
A British man spills the beans in a new book about his brutal incarceration in one of Thailand’s most notorious prisons after being arrested for smuggling heroin into the country. Johnathan Wheeler from Holbury, Hampshire, unleashed his harrowing story in a gripping new book, The Tiger Cage, after spending nearly two decades behind bars in Bangkok for trafficking drugs. In…
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Hawk theft stumps owner as police stall over 10,000 baht fee
A young entrepreneur is grappling with a distressing theft involving a prized Harris’s hawk, valued at nearly 200,000 baht (US$5,765), allegedly stolen by an employee. Three months on, the case remains unresolved despite clear evidence and a reported demand for a 10,000 baht (US$290) fuel fee by police for assistance in the investigation. The incident unfolded when a 25 year…
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Passenger tries to open plane door on Bangkok-South Korea flight
Panic erupted onboard a Korean Air flight from Bangkok to Incheon, South Korea, when a passenger allegedly attempted to open the emergency exit mid-flight, sparking a frantic scramble by the cabin crew to restrain him. The terrifying incident occurred on Korean Air flight KE658 on Thursday, November 7. The unnamed man reportedly commandeered a crew seat without permission, ignoring warnings…
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Tropical storm Yinxing brings heavy rain, flood risks to South Thailand
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) released Announcement No. 17 (278/2567) regarding the ominous tropical storm Yinxing. As of 4am today, November 12, the storm was located in the South China Sea, around 110 kilometres east of Quang Ngai, Vietnam, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometres per hour. Moving southward at 15 kilometres per hour, the storm is expected…
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Fake monk returns to Bangkok to beg day after losing robes (video)
Just one day after being unmasked as a fake monk, a 65 year old man from Saraburi, Central Thailand, was spotted back on the streets of Bangkok, resuming his act as a disabled beggar—but this time without his monk’s robes. Last weekend, netizens sparked an outcry when they spotted the fake monk begging in the Phaya Thai district, using crutches…
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PETA claws back at Thai drama director over anaesthetised cat
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) took to its Asia Facebook page to call for a ban on a Thai drama series director from working with animals after controversy erupted over the use of anaesthesia on a cat on set. In one scene of the fifth episode of the historical drama series The Empress of Ayodhaya, the…
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SEC to charge violators to boost Thai stock market confidence
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to initiate legal proceedings against violators of the Securities and Exchange Act to bolster confidence in the Thai stock market. This decisive action highlights the SEC’s commitment to safeguarding investor interests and maintaining market integrity. According to Anek Yooyuen, SEC Deputy Secretary-General, the regulatory body will persist in addressing cases involving misconduct…
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Bangkok urges ‘zero-foam’ floats for eco-friendly Loy Krathong festival
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is calling on residents to adopt a zero-foam approach for this year’s Loy Krathong festival, encouraging the use of biodegradable floats to safeguard the environment. The push comes after last year’s festival saw over 20,000 of the 639,828 floats collected made from foam, despite previous environmental appeals. Worranut Suaykhakhao, Deputy Director of the Environment Department at…
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Minister defends ‘controversial’ land title decision in Buriram
Deputy Interior Minister Songsak Thongsri recently stepped into the spotlight by defending a contentious decision made by a land committee regarding land title documents for plots in Buriram’s Khao Kradong area. This decision comes despite a 2021 Supreme Court ruling that the land is owned by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). The crux of the issue lies in the…
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Thailand video news | Thailand’s Prime Minister drives airport upgrades to boost tourism, Passenger’s disturbance on Korean Air flight ends in arrest
In today’s video news from Thailand, Alex was joined by DK to cover top stories from Thailand and Southeast Asia. The stories included Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s initiative to upgrade Suvarnabhumi Airport, introducing biometric technology and expanding facilities to enhance the visitor experience. Safety concerns were raised in Phuket after a tourist was robbed of millions in cryptocurrency, while Bangkok…
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Thai man arrested for sister-in-law’s murder in Pathum Thani
Police arrested a Thai man for the murder of his sister-in-law, who served as a sub-district secretary in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok. The victim allegedly attempted to obstruct his relationship with her younger sister. The body of 57 year old Worrakanok Thepphimon, deputy secretary of the Khlong Sam Sub-district Office, was discovered on Saturday, November 9, by her sister,…
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Taxi tensions in Phuket: Drivers demand ride-hailing rights
Tensions are boiling over in Phuket as local green plate taxi drivers, reliant on app-based bookings to stay afloat, face hefty 2,000-baht fines for doing just that. Drivers rallied at Saphan Hin’s central stage last Tuesday, November 5, calling on officials to overhaul outdated regulations that penalise them for using ride-hailing apps – a vital income stream since the pandemic…
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Thailand scores a ‘meth’-odical victory with Saraburi drug bust
More than five million methamphetamine (meth) pills have been seized in Saraburi, marking one of the largest drug busts in Thailand in recent months. Provincial Police Region 1 confirmed the significant confiscation. Police intercepted a total of 5.2 million meth pills on Sudbantad Road in the Kaeng Koi district last Friday, November 8. The acting commissioner, Silpakom Iamwong of the…
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