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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Driver falls asleep at the wheel in Thailand, 27 pigs dead
A driver fell asleep at the wheel while driving a 10-wheel truck carrying pigs through Suphan Buri province in central Thailand yesterday. He drove into a canal and 27 of the pigs died. Officers at Nang Buat Police Station were notified that a lorry carrying pigs had fallen into the canal on the Chainat – Suphan Buri Road in Khao…
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Kanchanaburi Songkran Festival tragedy: 1 dead, 1 injured in shooting
Police arrested two gunmen following a shooting at a Songkran Festival celebration in the central province of Kanchanaburi on April 17. The incident resulted in the death of an 18 year old man and injury to a 17 year old man. The shooting broke out while many people were splashing water on the road near the War Cemetery in Kanchanaburi…
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Daring heist as Thai man steals four necklaces from gold shop
Local police reported that a man, posing as a customer, entered a gold shop located in a department store in the Bang Sao Thong district. The man showed interest in multiple necklaces before stealing four of them in a daring heist. The stolen necklaces have an estimated value of around 230,000 baht. Security camera footage revealed a man aged between…
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Security guard stomps on American tourist’s head in Phuket (video)
An American tourist is seeking justice after being stomped on by a security guard at a pub in Phuket, southern Thailand, at 4am on April 9. The injured tourist decided to take the case to Thai media after the police failed to take action more than a week after he reported the crime. Police deny delaying the investigation and say…
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Endocube: a greener way to save millions of baht in electricity bills
Press Release The Patented Endocube offers huge savings (up to 33%) on monthly Commercial and Industrial refrigeration energy bills. What is an Endocube? An endocube is a revolutionary energy-saving product from the UK that has been specifically designed as food safe and to reduce the long-term running costs for hotels, resorts, large frozen-food warehouses, convenience stores, refrigerated display units,…
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PPRP pledges to boost economy with soft power promotion in upcoming General Election
The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has pledged to enhance the promotion of soft power as a key driver of the economy if the party is victorious in the upcoming General Election. Charnkrit Dejwithak, a spokesperson for the party’s election strategy committee, highlighted the significance of a soft power development policy through the example of the Songkran Festival, which draws numerous…
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Kenyan woman arrested for smuggling cocaine into Thailand
The Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) apprehended a Kenyan woman at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday for smuggling cocaine into Thailand. The Secretary of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Wichai Chaimongkon, disclosed details of the drug bust in a press conference yesterday. The AITF officers discovered 1,250 grammes of cocaine hidden in the luggage of the 45 year…
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Thailand braces for scorching summer as El Nino brings climate change to forefront
Climate experts are warning that Thailand will experience hotter and drier conditions in the upcoming months as a result of El Nino weather patterns, and they caution that this is just the start of the impact of climate change. While hot and humid weather is expected at this time of year, recent heatwaves have been more extreme than anticipated. A…
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Former Kiwi PM commends Thailand for cannabis decriminalisation
Helen Clark, former New Zealand Prime Minister and a current member of the International Commission Against the Death Penalty, applauded Thailand for decriminalising cannabis. However, she also urged the country to put an end to capital punishment, particularly for drug-related offences. During the Harm Reduction International Conference 2023 (HR23), Clark commended Thailand as one of the countries that has managed…
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Thai man dies in paramotor accident on the Mekong River in Isaan
A 39 year old Thai man died in a paramotor accident on the Mekong River in the Isaan province of Bueng Kan yesterday. The cause of the accident is under investigation. The deceased was identified as Watcharapong Khanteetao. He was a member of a paramotor club in the northeastern provinces. The accident occurred after Watcharapong flew the paramotor over the…
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Chinese man kidnapped and stuffed in a box for ransom in Thailand
A wealthy Chinese man was kidnapped from his condo in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday. He was stuffed into a plastic box and transported to Hua Hin for the night and held for a ransom of nearly 4 million baht by a gang of Thai kidnappers, including his ex-girlfriend who is a beauty pageant contestant. It turns out the victim is wanted…
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ACT report exposes a decade of corruption involving politicians in Thailand
The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) recently published a report detailing graft cases involving politicians over the past decade. The most significant financial loss, amounting to 130 billion baht, was caused by the rice-pledging scheme. The report studied 61 cases involving a total of 68 politicians, analysing media coverage, investigations by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and rulings by the Supreme…
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Teenage mum finds lifeless body of one year old baby daughter dead in Bangkok
A heartbroken 17 year old mother yesterday contacted the police after discovering her one year old baby daughter dead on the bed in their rented room in the Tung Khru district of Bangkok. The circumstances surrounding the child’s untimely death remains a mystery, and a thorough investigation is currently underway. The family of the girl reported the baby’s death to…
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A closer look at the crypto industry in Thailand
Thailand’s crypto industry has been steadily growing in recent years. This success is partially thanks to the government’s increased support for the sector. In 2018, the Thai government legalized cryptocurrencies and introduced a regulatory framework to oversee crypto-related activities in the country. Since then, Thailand has become a popular destination for crypto startups like Bitcoin casinos, trading exchanges, and payment…
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10 fishing vessels sink in violent storms off southern Thailand coast
Violent storms in the coastal region led to the sinking of 10 out of 60 fishing vessels that embarked from ports in five coastal districts in the southern province of Thailand yesterday morning. Tragically, three crew members have been confirmed dead. Out of the 60 boats that set sail, 48 were from the Pak Phanang district, with 121 crew members…
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Endangered bright orange langur monkey rescued in Thailand
A baby bright orange langur monkey is now safe at a Thai wildlife rescue centre after being found abandoned by his family in the wild in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, southern Thailand. Estimated to be less than one month old, the infant was found lost and all alone in a rubber plantation. He was abandoned after his family were scared…
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Cambodia bestows citizenship to Brazilian boxer and Polish wife
The King of Cambodia bestowed citizenship to Brazilian kickboxer Thiago Teixeira for sticking up for the Khmers in the recent origins of Muay Thai dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. His Polish wife was also granted citizenship. The royal ceremony follows the World Muaythai Organisation’s (WMO) decision to ban the 30 year old mixed martiaul arts fighter Thiago Teixeira from competing.…
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Doi Pui mountain’s TV Tower in Chiang Rai rescued from forest fires
The Channel 9 TV transmitter tower atop Doi Pui mountain in Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Rai had a close shave with destruction as forest fires inched dangerously close last night. Thanks to the relentless efforts of the firefighting volunteers who rushed to save the day! A motley crew of officials from Mae Puem National Park and local volunteers joined…
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Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort wins MICE Friendly Design Award
Press Release Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort is delighted to announce that the resort has been awarded the MICE Friendly Design Award by the Foundation of Civilization during the Thailand Friendly Design Expo 2022, which was held at Bitec Bangna from 18-22 December 2022. The MICE Friendly Design Award is an award rooted in equal access for…
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Over 25,000 Thai men from diverse backgrounds volunteer for RTA enlistment
A total of 25,100 Thai men, from diverse backgrounds such as monks and those holding Master’s degrees, applied for voluntary enlistment in the Royal Thai Army yesterday, according to deputy army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Sirichan Ngathong. The annual military conscription took a short break during the Songkran Festival and resumed yesterday. The draft is set to continue until Thursday in…
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Myanmar releases 3000 prisoners including 98 foreigners
The military junta of Myanmar released 3,113 prisoners – including 98 foreigners – from prison today to mark the country’s traditional new year, according to a statement released on a pro-junta Telegram channel. Secretary-general of the junta Min Aung Hlaing said the amnesty is a “celebration of Myanmar’s New Year to bring joy for the people and address humanitarian concerns.”…
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Songkran traffic accidents spike in Thailand’s first six days, with 2,008 reported incidents
During the first six days of Thailand‘s Songkran festival, there were 2,008 traffic accidents reported, marking an increase from last year’s more subdued celebrations. Although the festivities resulted in a higher number of casualties this year, the overall number of road deaths has decreased, according to recent data from the Interior Ministry. Chotenarin Kerdsom, permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry,…
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Beach vendor with disability stabbed to death in Pattaya
Police arrested a man fleeing from the scene of a crime yesterday after he allegedly stabbed to death a vendor with a disability on Pattaya Beach. A witness believed the murder was motivated by an illegal business operation. Officers from Mueng Pattaya Police Station received a notification that a 38 year old man named Thotsapon had been stabbed to death…
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Thailand’s Similan Islands to close next month
Thailand’s Similan Islands were bustling with tourists during the Songkran holidays but will soon be much quieter when the archipelago closes for a period of environmental restoration on May 19. The marine park will be closed off to tourists during the monsoon season and will reopen again on October 15, 2023, after nature has had a chance to recover from…
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Thailand’s national lottery: How many years does it take to win the two-digit prize?
A Thammasat University statistics expert revealed that an individual would need to purchase the national lottery consecutively for approximately four years and two months just to win the two-digit prize, raising questions about the promotion of the lottery in Thailand. Assoc. Prof. Wararit Panichkitkosolkul highlighted a recent study conducted by the university’s Faculty of Science and Technology, demonstrating the minimal…
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Mad Buddhist monks brawl at funeral in northeast Thailand
Tensions were high at a funeral in Surin province in northeast Thailand on Friday when a brawl broke out between two saffron-robed Buddhist monks, allegedly over a plastic chair. Yesterday, the acting abbot of Wat Pho Sri Sawang Arom, Phra Toi Kan, told reporters what happened at the temple on Friday. In Thailand, Buddhist funeral rites include a distinctive ritual…
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Tom Kha Gai ranked 9th in TasteAtlas’s Best Rated Soups in the World
Food guide website TasteAtlas ranked the traditional Thai dish Tom Kha Gai, or coconut chicken soup with galangal, ninth in the 100 Best Rated Soups in the World. The well-known Tom Yum soup came in at 16th. The list was compiled based on votes from foodies around the world and published on the TasteAtlas website on March 30. Tom Kha…
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Adapting DDC’s vaccination strategy to address increasing Covid-19 cases
Amidst concerns over a sudden surge in Covid-19 infections, the Ministry of Public Health is altering its vaccination strategy, aiming to handle the increasing numbers connected to the Songkran festivities. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) unveiled the alteration yesterday in response to the spiking rate of new Covid-19 cases experienced last week. According to DDC Director-General Dr Thares Krassanairawiwong,…
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Thailand lottery player bags 114 million baht with 19 winning tickets
“Lucky” is an understatement for the anonymous Thai national who bought 19 winning tickets for Thailand’s national lottery draw yesterday. The newfound millionaire won 114 million baht (US$3.3 million) in total. Yesterday afternoon, the winning numbers 984906 were drawn in Thailand’s national lottery draw. Anyone with a digital or printed lottery ticket dated April 16 with the said numbers wins…
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Injuries increased by 81% during Songkran, road fatalities decreased
Hospital admissions during the Songkran Festival spiked by 81% due to road accidents A significant 81% rise in hospital admissions has been reported due to an alarming 19% increase in the number of people injured in road accidents during the Songkran Festival, as stated by the Ministry of Public Health. The ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Opas Kankawinpong, expressed his concern…
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