News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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What’s not covered by health insurance in Thailand?
Health insurance in Thailand has important limits that everyone should know. Many policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, motorcycle accidents, extreme sports, or specific treatments. These gaps can lead to unexpected costs during emergencies. Coverage for outpatient care and hospital...
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Pak Kret sinkhole causes traffic disruption, urgent repairs underway
A giant sinkhole disrupted traffic at the mouth of the Pak Kret tunnel on Tiwanon Road when a precast concrete slab, covering an electrical conduit, collapsed due to heavy traffic. Authorities quickly cleared the area and temporarily halted traffic to urgently repair the damage, aiming to finish before the morning rush hour. The incident occurred at 8pm yesterday. The Pak…
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Cannabis shop raid in Lampang: Teenagers found consuming marijuana
A cannabis shop raid resulted in the discovery of about ten students, including a 14 year old, consuming marijuana within the premises. Residents, distressed by the situation, reported the establishment, leading to an investigation and legal action against the shop owner. Yesterday, at 5.20pm, a special operations team from the Lampang administrative department conducted a raid on the cannabis shop, led…
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Chinese tourists still prefer Thailand despite visa exemptions
Despite increasing competition from countries offering visa exemptions to Chinese tourists, Thailand’s tourism industry remains secure due to its dominant market share and increased expenditure per trip, according to the country’s Tourism and Sports Ministry. Countries such as Kazakhstan, Maldives and Sri Lanka have started offering visa exemptions for Chinese tourists, yet Thailand continues to be the preferred destination, said…
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Uncertainty over Thai hostages release in Israel-Hamas prisoner exchange
A prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas sparked questions about the fate of Thai hostages, yet the Foreign Affairs Ministry remains uncertain about their release. The ministry has been unable to ascertain whether any of the Thai workers detained by Hamas will be among the initial 50 hostages set free. Kanchana Patarachoke, the ministry’s spokeswoman, revealed that information about…
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Visa villains vamoosed: Thailand’s Immigration Police pounce on six suspects for fraud, overstays, and shady transactions
Thailand’s Immigration Police recently nabbed six foreign suspects in three distinct cases of visa fraud, overstaying, and illegal money transactions. According to the Immigration Bureau (IB) commissioner, Police Lieutenant General Itthipol Itthisaranachai, some of the culprits are now awaiting deportation to their home countries for prosecution. Highlighting the first instance, Itthipol drew attention to a group of four Pakistani individuals…
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Bangchak to launch Thailand’s first sustainable aviation fuel factory
Bangchak Corporation Plc, a leading energy conglomerate in Thailand, is set to launch the country’s first factory to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from used cooking oil. The operation of the factory will start in early 2025, with the aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the aviation industry. The venture is being propelled as the Department of Airports and…
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Bank account freeze scam strikes fear: Fraudsters use shocking new tactics in Thailand (video)
Fraudsters have mastered the art of freezing bank accounts and fabricating account screenshots, leaving victims vulnerable to a financial nightmare. A TikTok user, @tawanviewsomboons, has exposed a cutting-edge scam that could leave anyone’s finances in tatters. @tawanviewsomboons posted today a cautionary video, shedding light on the elaborate tactics employed by these scammers. In the video, @tawanviewsomboons recounts a distressing incident…
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Chinese firm offers up to 99,000 baht for chicken feet tasting job
A Chinese company’s job advertisement for a chicken feet taster has Chinese social media clucking, attracting thousands of applicants. The food company, based in the city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, is offering a lucrative salary for a seemingly simple job, which has piqued the interest of many. The company is specifically looking to recruit eating experts whose primary responsibility…
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Rise in intentional female murder reveals home is not safe, says UN report
A recent United Nations (UN) study has unmasked a staggering surge in female murders, reaching a grim milestone with almost 89,000 women and girls worldwide meeting tragic ends last year. This unsettling figure marks the highest annual toll in two decades, sending shockwaves through global communities. The alarming findings, disclosed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)…
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Thailand’s ONWR issues flash flood warning for five southern provinces
The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) issued a warning for potential flash floods and forest runoff in five southern provinces in Thailand, following the forecast of increased rainfall due to a northeastern monsoon covering the Gulf of Thailand and the south. Samroeng Sangphuwong, Deputy Secretary-General of the ONWR, disclosed the alert today. The advisory, which is the fifth of…
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Begging for change: Bangkok business plea as Middle Eastern beggars disrupt Soi 4 harmony
Business operators urged the Thai police to arrest nearly 30 foreign beggars from Middle Eastern countries who have been begging and causing a public nuisance in Soi 4 near Nana Plaza in Bangkok for the past two months. Bangkok is home to not only rich Chinese beggars but also scroungers and vagrants from the Middle East region. Business owners near…
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Thai finance company’s handwritten debt recovery note sparks online debate
A finance company‘s unconventional method of debt recovery has sparked an online debate. A handwritten demand letter for a car instalment of 27,850 baht was left in a woman’s mailbox, causing her to question the legality and normalcy of this approach. The woman took to the consumer group on Facebook, sharing her experience and seeking clarification. She expressed her bewilderment…
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China’s mysterious pneumonia outbreak sparks global fears – is history repeating itself?
In a chilling echo of the early days of Covid-19, a mysterious pneumonia cluster has emerged in China, leaving hospitals overwhelmed and parents fearing a repeat of the deadly pandemic. As concerns rise, experts plead for transparency, drawing unsettling parallels with past outbreaks. In Beijing and Liaoning, hospitals are grappling with an onslaught of sick children exhibiting unusual symptoms, including lung…
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Thai hospital chief issues warning on risky neck cracking habits for fatigue relief
The head of the New Accident Disease Health Science Centre at Chulalongkorn Hospital issued a public warning about the dangers of the common habit of neck cracking to alleviate tiredness. This seemingly harmless practice could lead to critical conditions such as stroke and ruptured blood vessels, especially when coupled with medication, said Teerawat Hemajutha, Twisting, tilting, and shaking the neck could lead…
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Speed-dating swindle: Thai man loses pickup to woman after 2 weeks of dating
A Thai man lost an 800,000 baht pickup truck to a woman he met after only two weeks of dating. The woman is suspected of being a member of a car theft gang that stole vehicles in neighbouring countries. The victim, a 47 year old man named Bancha, reported the theft to Mueang Chaiyaphum Police Station today, November 23. Bancha said…
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Phuket motorbike mayhem: Tourist Police send clear message on green book ownership
Phuket‘s Tourist Police issued a stern reminder to foreigners purchasing motorbikes, emphasising the importance of having the green registration book in their name. This advice follows a recent dispute between a Russian tourist and a local motorbike rental shop that refused to return his vehicle key. The disagreement came to light on November 18, when the Phuket Tourist Police were informed…
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Thai economy in crisis: Government seeks foreign investment and tackles debt
The economy in Thailand is in crisis and needs some significant stimulation, according to the nation’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who also acts as the Thai Finance Minister. The nation’s reliance on tourism has been heavily impacted by lower-than-expected foreign arrivals, resulting in a need to prioritise foreign investment and tackle household debt. The 61 year old prime minister made…
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Loy Krathong chaos at Chiang Mai Airport: 160 flights shuffled, travellers beware!
With the upcoming Loy Krathong Festival in sight, Chiang Mai Airport is set to experience a whirlwind of changes, with a staggering 160 flights facing disruptions from November 27 to 28, post 7pm. Chiang Mai Airport Deputy Director Wisut Khamyod revealed today a jaw-dropping 101 cancellations and 59 rescheduled flights, creating a turbulence level hitting 47% of regular air traffic.…
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Thai prime minister faces backlash over alleged police favouritism
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is facing a backlash over alleged favouritism in police selection assignments. During a meeting with Pheu Thai MPs on Tuesday, November 21, the PM mentioned that some Pheu Thai MPs had requested police colonel positions for their preferred officers. While addressing the debt issue in the meeting, PM Srettha proposed a solution involving district chiefs…
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Matrimony mayhem: Groom kicks bride after learning she’s pregnant at chaotic Chinese wedding
A wedding in the JiuJiang province of China spiralled into astonishing chaos when the groom kicked his pregnant bride, causing her to fall to the stage floor. The incident occurred after the groom discovered his newlywed bride was pregnant, despite their short one-month acquaintance before the wedding. The local media reported that the groom received a text message in the…
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Bangkok’s trash talk: Police crackdown reveals illegal rubbish dumps, locals left in a stinky situation
The Thai Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has cracked down on 11 points across Bangkok, unearthing five illegal rubbish dumps causing a stench and distress to locals. One rubbish dump caretaker revealed that they charge 60 to 100 baht per vehicle. The operation today was led by Police Lieutenant General Watcharawin Pusit, MPB commissioner, who ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Watchirasrisukanya,…
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Phuket’s Quick Win: PM’s health initiative rolls out free flu vaccines for locals and tourists
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin‘s public health initiative in Phuket, the Quick Win policy, has been launched, offering free flu vaccines for both locals and tourists alike. The Phuket News clarified that this service is available to anyone involved in the tourism industry, either as a Thai national or a foreign worker with a valid work permit. There was an earlier…
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Tragedy strikes famous dragon troupe pickup truck: Explosive tyre leaves 3 dead and 15 injured
The pickup truck of a renowned dragon troupe who were on their way to a Khon Kaen performance suffered a tyre blowout, resulting in a devastating accident. The calamity occurred 70 kilometres before the troupe’s destination, turning Mittraphap Road into a scene of chaos. Police Colonel Peerachat, Superintendent’s Branch, Phon Police Station, and his team rushed to the area, responding…
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14 year old girl raped by two men in hotel in northern Thailand
A Thai man and his 14 year old daughter sought help from a Move Forward Party (MFP) member of Parliament after police failed to arrest and charge two men who allegedly raped the girl at a hotel in July in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani. The 40 year old father, Phanu, told MFP MP Wisarut Sawatworn that the sexual assault…
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GCNT chairman urges Thailand to boost human resources for Society 5.0
The chairman of Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT) called on the government to increase its investment in human resources development in preparation for Society 5.0. This new era will be marked by the prominent role of innovative technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in driving the global economy. Suphachai Chearavanont made these remarks while addressing the GCNT Forum 2023 on the…
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Arun Boonchom elected as new Sheikhul Islam in Thailand
Bangkok‘s Islamic Affairs Committee President, Arun Boonchom, made his mark as the newly elected 19th Sheikhul Islam, or Chularajmontri, in Thailand. Arun’s appointment as the spiritual leader of the nation’s Muslim community follows the passing of Aziz Phitakkumpon in the previous month. The decisive vote took place at the National Administration Centre for Islamic Affairs, located in the Nong Chok…
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Nok Air hit by widespread flight delays amid technical issues
A recent surge in delayed flights by Nok Air sparked widespread discussion about the airline‘s on-time performance (OTP). Passengers’ experiences of these delays were brought to light this week when renowned television reporter Thapanee Eadsrichai shared on Facebook that many passengers on a Nok Air flight from Don Mueang Airport to Chiang Mai had to be relocated to other flights…
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Footwear frenzy: More than 300 shoes stolen from tourist resorts in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Accommodation and hotel resort owners in the northern province of Chiang Mai appealed to the police to take action after more than 300 pairs of guests’ shoes were stolen in the past two months. A Thai man who owns a hostel on Soi Saha Si Phum Place on Manee Nopparat Road in Chiang Mai shared CCTV footage on social media…
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Heroic Thai teacher thwarts armed intruder: Calls for improved school safety measures in Thailand
A heroic teacher, who defended students and faculty from an armed intruder, has drawn praise from the government. Thawatchai Duangtham, a teaching assistant at Ban Nam Phu Hin Lat School in Chaiyaphum in northeast Thailand, bravely fought off an armed intruder, sustaining injuries to his hand and arm in the process. Deputy government spokesperson, Kaenika Unjit, commended his courage and…
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Bangkok ranked 9th in 2023 best cities for expats, down from 6th last year
One of the globe’s leading expat networking and guide websites ranked the Big Mango, Bangkok, as the 9th best city to live and visit for expats in 2023. The ranking is down from last year when Bangkok was ranked 6th. InterNations said it conducted an online survey from February 1 to 28 this year, with 12,065 expats from 172 countries…
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