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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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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Is Leo Prinsloo the bravest person you know?
There’s something about those white South African guys that seems to make them much thicker-skinned than the rest of us. Perhaps it’s the fact that they live in a much more violent country than most, with South Africa’s crime rate being one of the highest in the world. Or maybe it’s because so many of them seem to work as…
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Thai businessman KengLai Prang charged with promoting illegal online gambling
In a joint operation by the Thai Royal Police and the Department of Special Investigations (DSI), prominent Thai businessman KengLai Prang, who rose to fame after starring in the award-winning movie titled ‘A Prayer before Dawn’, has been arrested and charged with promoting illegal online gambling activities. The arrest comes after an extensive investigation into the illicit gambling operations in…
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‘Monk’ at polling station didn’t violate Thailand’s election rules
The Governor of Lampang ordered the Chae Hom District Chief to investigate a potential election violation yesterday after photos circulated of a monk standing at a polling station in Lampang province in northern Thailand. In Thailand, ordained Buddhist monks are not eligible to meddle in politics or vote in any election. Photos of the monk sparked panic that this rule had…
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MFP leader reaches out to Pheu Thai for coalition government
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat wasted no time after the Election Commission (EC) unofficially confirmed the MFP’s victory in the General Election in Thailand. The MFP chief immediately reached out to the Pheu Thai Party and four other smaller political parties to form a coalition government. Pita believes that a six-party coalition will command a combined 309 seats…
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Police report 38 election violations across Thailand
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) reported 38 violations of election regulations across Thailand yesterday with a record high of 75% of the eligible population, or over 39 million people, exercising their right to vote. Pol. Lt. Gen. Nitthitorn Jintakanon – Director of the Security and Public Order of Election Management Centre – reported that violations included 26 cases of people…
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Bhumjaithai Party led by Anutin records unofficial win in Buriram
Led by current Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the Bhumjaithai Party unofficially won in Burriam province in the northeastern province of Thailand. In the 2019 General Election Buriram was divided into eight constituencies all of which were won by the Bhumjaithai Party. In this year’s General Election Buriram was divided into 10 constituencies and Bhumjaithai was…
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Chinese envoy embarks on European tour to discuss Ukraine crisis settlement
Beijing’s top diplomat, Li Hui, is set to embark on a European tour, including Ukraine, Russia, Poland, France, and Germany, with the aim of discussing a political resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This visit has the potential to coincide with the start of Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive to regain territory occupied by Russia. Li Hui, China’s special representative for…
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Bangkok Police bust sex toy ring, seize over 1 million baht worth of items
Bangkok Police apprehended three individuals accused of selling sex toys and confiscated over 1 million baht worth of products on Friday. The suspects, only identified as Tanayong, 29 years old, Kanree, 27 years old, and Ilda, 32 years old, were detained at their residence in Foresta Village, located in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district. Their surnames have been withheld by the…
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France to provide more light tanks and armoured vehicles to Ukraine
France has pledged to supply Ukraine with dozens more light tanks and armored vehicles, following a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris. The announcement comes as Kyiv prepares for a widely anticipated counter-offensive against Russia. Zelensky visited Macron at the Elysee Palace after making stops in Rome and Germany, where they discussed increasing…
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China sentences 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison for espionage
A 78-year-old US citizen has been sentenced to life imprisonment for espionage, according to a statement issued by the Intermediate People’s Court in the eastern city of Suzhou, China. John Leung Shing-wan, who holds an American passport and is a permanent resident of Hong Kong, was found guilty of espionage and will be deprived of political rights for life. Suzhou…
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Phuket power outage announced for Heroines Monument area
Phuket’s Thalang branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA Thalang) has announced a power outage scheduled south of the Heroines Monument. The disruption is expected to affect homes and businesses in the area. The power outage has been scheduled to take place tomorrow, May 16, between 9am and 4:30pm, and is necessary for workers to safely install load break switches…
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Pickup truck overturns and catches fire in Ban Lat district, killing two
A tragic accident occurred in Ban Lat district, Phetchaburi, when a heavily laden pickup truck overturned and caught fire, resulting in the deaths of a man and a woman. The incident took place near kilometer marker 157 on the south-bound Phetkasem highway in Tambon Samo Phlue and was reported to the 191 emergency center around 5:45am. Upon receiving the distress…
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Cheating husband shot and stabbed by wife as he tries to vote with mistress
A Thai woman shot and stabbed her cheating husband after seeing him vote with his mistress during the General Election yesterday at a polling station in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. The mistress managed to escape with her life. CCTV footage captured the electrifying drama yesterday afternoon. CCTV shows a pickup truck moving quickly down the main road and crashing…
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Lottery predictions for May 16: Thai lucky numbers and tips
Top lottery predictions include a variety of prominent sources this week. Let’s take a look at some of the most standout tips and stories that have been gathered for your enjoyment. Mother River’s winning Numbers unveiled Mother River’s winning numbers for the draw tomorrow have been revealed, featuring a five-dentist number, two-digit numbers 45, 46, 56, three-digit number 456, and…
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Samut Prakan election turmoil as officials refuse recount amidst mismatched votes and cards
The District Chief of Samut Prakan, Somchak Kaewsena, visited the polling station located at the Daan Sam Rong Municipal District to oversee the vote counting process. Overall, everything went smoothly, and he expressed his gratitude to the Samut Prakan residents who exercised their voting rights. As of 10.30pm, the Move Forward Party (MFP) led in all eight districts. However, complications…
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Record breaking! Bangkok has highest turnout in voter history
The 2023 General Election witnessed the highest voter turnout in Bangkok’s history. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), over 74% of eligible voters cast their ballots in the election yesterday. Representatives from the BMA announced the unofficial election result from 6,360 polling stations in Bangkok in the early hours of this morning. Out of the 4,479,155 eligible voters, 3,339,664…
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Thai postal company transports and delivers pre-election ballots for Thai elections 2022 with 100% coverage
Yesterday Thai Postal Company Limited announced through social media that they have successfully delivered and distributed 100% of the advance General Election ballots both within Thailand and overseas for the upcoming 2026 elections. The transportation was completed using more than 500 vehicles and implemented strict security measures, including the use of GPS systems to monitor the path of the transport…
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Body of missing Russian tourist found floating in Phuket sea
The body of the Russian tourist swept away by strong waves at Promthep Cape on Friday was found floating off the coast of Phuket, southern Thailand, yesterday afternoon. A fisherman spotted the body of a foreign man floating in the sea near Laem Saeng Nakhlay, about 200 metres from Phuket’s Kalim Beach, and informed the authorities at 12.50pm, reports DailyNews.…
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MFP wins all Phuket seats in General Election
In yesterday’s General Election, the Move Forward Party (MFP) claimed victory in all three constituencies in Phuket, according to unofficial results declared early today. In Constituency 1, which covers Phuket Town, Koh Kaew, and Ratsada, Somchart Techathavorncharoen from the MFP emerged as the unofficial winner. On the ballot, Somchart was assigned the number two and received 18,604 votes. He expressed…
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Seriphisut acknowledges election results, citing disapproval of military rule
Seriphisut, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party, acknowledged the General Election results and congratulated the pro-democratic parties in a press conference after more than 20% of the votes were counted. He expressed hope that the Pheu Thai and Move Forward Party (MFP) parties would form a coalition government without needing support from other parties. This comes as the election…
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Accessible tourism potential for Thailand’s post-pandemic resilience
The World Tourism Organization emphasizes the importance of accessible tourism as the industry aims to recover post-pandemic. An estimated 10% of the global population is aged over 65, while approximately 16% have some form of disability. As Thailand’s economy increasingly relies on tourism, developments in accessible infrastructure are being implemented in both public and private sectors. Despite existing accessibility laws…
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Thailand Plus Package extension anticipated to attract 6 billion baht investment in three years
The Revenue Department anticipates that the tax measures designed to support the relocation of foreign investors’ production bases will generate investment of approximately 6 billion baht within three years, according to Deputy Director-General Vinit Visessuvanapoom. Visessuvanapoom explained that the cabinet has given its backing to an extension of the tax measures, also referred to as the Thailand Plus Package, which…
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National Telecom unlikely to set high-capacity specifications for first satellite
National Telecom (NT), formed from the merger of TOT and CAT Telecom, is focusing on providing satellite specifications for state agency demands, which are estimated to increase by 7% annually, as stated by a top-ranking executive. With the satellite set to launch in the 126° East slot within the coming three years, determining its specifications is paramount. The firm aims…
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Southeast Asia and China top destinations for overseas business expansion in Asia
Southeast Asia and China are now the top choices for overseas expansion, with 83% of Asian businesses expressing interest in venturing abroad, as revealed in a recent report. The Business Outlook report, conducted by United Overseas Bank (UOB), surveyed over 4,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as large organisations in Asia. The study showed that over four out…
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Muslim man crowned Mr Gay World Thailand set to compete globally in October
A 30 year old Muslim man from southern Thailand has made history by winning the Mr Gay World Thailand competition and will represent the Thai LGBTQ+ community at the Mr Gay World 2023 contest in October later this year. Nazmadih Mateem Nujan, an outdoor fitness instructor, clinched the title at the event hosted by Bangkok Rainbow Organisation at Mambo Cabaret.…
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Funding populist policies: borrowing or tax hikes?
During the general election, political parties presented various populist pledges aimed at attracting voters. Among these were the controversial 10,000-baht digital wallet handout for individuals aged 16 and over, increasing minimum daily wages, raising minimum monthly salaries for university graduates, suspending debts for farmers, cutting electricity tariffs, and increasing the monthly allowance for people aged 60 and over. The Thailand…
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Thai opposition leader Pita Limjaroenrat set to play major role after voters reject army-backed rule
Thai opposition leader Pita Limjaroenrat, 42 years old, seems poised to play a significant role in politics following voters rejecting nearly a decade of army-backed rule. With the majority of votes counted from Sunday’s poll, Pita’s radical Move Forward Party led the popular vote, ahead of the more established opposition Pheu Thai party. This is a remarkable achievement for a…
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Vote-buying incidents highest in Bangkok during General Elections, says EC
The Election Commission (EC) reported that the majority of vote-buying incidents during yesterday’s elections took place in Bangkok, which boasts the highest number of constituencies among all provinces. Despite this, the EC noted that the overall number of poll-related violations was lower than in previous elections. EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee disclosed that the commission received 163 complaints yesterday, with 58…
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Thailand’s opposition wins stunning election victory
Thailand’s opposition celebrated a significant election victory on Sunday after defeating military-allied parties, potentially marking the end of nearly a decade of conservative, army-backed rule. However, despite the liberal Move Forward party and the populist Pheu Thai Party leading with 99% of votes accounted for, it remains uncertain if either will form the next government. Complex parliamentary rules, established after…
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Thai woman robbed of 300,000 baht to bag snatcher at SEA Games in Cambodia
A bag snatcher stole a handbag with assets worth 300,000 baht from a Thai woman at a restaurant in Cambodia last night. The victim suffered serious injuries to her arms and legs. The Thai woman spoke to KhaoSod about the theft that occurred at 9pm on Thursday, May 11. She revealed that she visited Cambodia to watch a football match…
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