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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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Elderly woman dies in Nakhon Phanom after electricity cut off
The family of a 68 year old bedridden woman who tragically died is laying the blame squarely at the feet of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) after her electricity supply was cut off for failing to pay a bill of 1,500 baht in Nakhon Phanom province. Hospital director Nongluk Chanchana, along with the grieving relatives, is demanding accountability from the Provincial…
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Thailand to resolve forest land disputes by 2026, says minister
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) aims to resolve disputes over 75,000 square metres of forest land by 2026, as announced during its 22nd anniversary celebration. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on addressed the ongoing conflicts between the DNP, other government agencies, and residents regarding the forest boundaries. He emphasised the need to find solutions…
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Relief team cars break down in Chiang Rai due to water in petrol
A team led by Panadda Wongphudee, a beauty queen, presenter, and president of the Foundation for Good Deeds, encountered significant issues during their relief efforts in Chiang Rai. Panadda revealed that five vehicles broke down after refuelling at a local petrol station, which allegedly had water mixed with the fuel. Panadda shared her experience on her Facebook page, Dr Panadda…
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Bus-ted: Driver in bus blaze tragedy jailed, previous accidents shared
Police denied a bail request from the driver involved in the bus blaze tragedy that claimed the lives of 23 people in Pathum Thani. He was detained at Thanyaburi Provincial Court. A school director and student from the central province of Uthai Thani came forward to share details of previous accidents involving the same bus company. The driver, 48 year old Saman…
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Lotto a trouble: Woman caught betting big on Facebook
Police apprehended a young woman for posting advertisements for Lao lottery sales on Facebook, with bets reaching 30,000 baht per draw. She forwarded these bets to a major bookie, earning a 20% commission over the past six months. Yesterday, October 2, police officials, led by Phumiphat Phattharasriwongchai, Bancha Srisuk, and Thapakorn Hanumart, executed a search warrant at a residence in…
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Pattaya officials inspect Walking Street venues for fire safety
Pattaya officials conducted a thorough inspection of Walking Street venues on Tuesday evening, October 1, to ensure fire safety measures are up to par for the incoming tourist season. The inspection, which took place around 8pm, was spearheaded by Weekit Manarotkit, Bang Lamung District Chief, and Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampichet. The focus was on several entertainment venues located on Walking…
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Udon Thani man rescued from roof after drug-induced hallucinations
Police managed to rescue a man experiencing drug-induced hallucinations, who climbed onto his roof and refused to come down. The man, who had been in this state for several days, was eventually taken to a hospital for treatment. At 11.30am yesterday, October 2, Deputy Inspector Wichaneth Suetrong and his team were patrolling their area when they received a report about…
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Speeding car crashes into Pattaya solar store, injuring two
A speeding car crashed into a solar panel store in Pattaya yesterday morning injuring two people. The driver attributed the accident to his lack of familiarity with the road. Nong Prue police received the report at 3.06am, yesterday, October 2, about the crash at the intersection of Jomtien Second Road, Nong Prue subdistrict, in the Bang Lamung district of Chon…
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Cat’s out of the bag: Tomboy’s stolen car ride ends in Bangkok arrest (video)
Police swooped in yesterday to arrest a Thai tomboy struggling with mental health issues in a car park at an apartment in the Lat Phrao district of Bangkok after she stole a car, complete with a pet cat inside, from a shopping mall in the Ratchada area. Footage of security guards desperately trying to stop the black Honda HRV from speeding out of…
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Phuket outlines five-year sustainability development plan
Phuket advances with innovative efforts that integrate community-based tourism, gastronomy, and smart city solutions as part of a five-year development plan for sustainable growth. Suphon Suwannarat, the governor of Phuket Province, highlights the long-term vision. “We have a 20-year development goal for Phuket province, which is Phuket as a city of the new economy based on sustainable development to create…
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Teen shootout in Samut Prakan leaves one dead, four injured
A violent confrontation between groups of teenagers in Samut Prakan resulted in one death and four injuries after a shootout involving over 30 bullets. The incident unfolded on Sriwaree Noi Road, Bang Sao Thong district. At around 9.30pm yesterday, October 2, police from the Bang Sao Thong Station were alerted to a shootout involving teenagers who had arranged to settle…
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Pattaya residents call for action against late-night street races
Residents of Pattaya are urging police to take action after late-night street races disrupted their peace on Jomtien Second Road. Local news reporters received numerous complaints from locals about street racers causing disturbances by racing motorcycles on public roads at 3am yesterday, October 2. The noise was so disruptive that nearby residents were unable to sleep. Upon investigating the area,…
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Bangkok drug bust seizes meth worth 100m baht, three arrested
A major drug bust in Bangkok led to the arrest of three alleged members of a substantial drug network, with methamphetamine (meth) pills and crystal meth worth over 100 million baht seized. Police Lieutenant General Samran Nuanma, assistant national police chief, and senior police officials, announced the operation at the Metropolitan Police Bureau office yesterday, October 2. The suspects, identified…
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Thai’d and tested: Pun-tastic Thai restaurant name breaks Internet (video)
A woman travelling in Sweden was left in stitches after discovering a Thai restaurant with a side-splitting name, sparking curiosity among many who are now desperate to try it out. Ema, a 29 year old traveller who shares her adventures online as @emaonthemove, recently posted a clip of a takeaway in her new hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden. The spot? Thai…
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Phuket scoops top awards in time for Vegetarian Festival
Phuket is proving it’s not just a holiday hotspot but a global player in events, as it bagged two major honours at the 2024 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards in the US. The Thai island, renowned for its stunning beaches, was crowned World Festival and Event City, and its iconic Vegetarian Festival snatched the prestigious Grand Pinnacle award. These accolades…
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AIS launches 5G movie package for youths at 299 baht monthly
AIS ZEED 5G launched the AIS ZEED 5G Movie Lover package, catering to youngsters who love watching movies and entertainment content both in cinemas and online. This package offers one free cinema ticket per month and a second ticket for just 50 baht at Major Cineplex theatres nationwide. Additionally, subscribers receive 10 gigabytes of high-speed Internet for streaming premium content…
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Milking it: ThaiBev pours 18 billion baht into dairy, drinks expansion
ThaiBev Group plans to invest 18 billion baht in 2025, more than doubling its annual investment, focusing on strengthening its non-alcoholic beverage and dairy businesses, including establishing a dairy farm in Malaysia. ThaiBev Group, led by CEO Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, announced a significant investment increase to 18 billion baht for the fiscal year 2025, which spans from October to September 2025.…
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Thai Airways to issue new shares worth 42 billion baht
Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) is set to issue new shares valued at a minimum of 42 billion baht by December, marking a significant move towards concluding its court-monitored debt restructuring and resuming trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). The national airline plans to offer 6.81 billion new shares to creditors as part of a debt-to-equity swap, as…
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Google invests 36 billion baht to boost Thai cloud and AI services
Google committed to a significant investment of 36 billion baht to expand its cloud infrastructure and data centres in Bangkok and Chon Buri, announced on Monday, September 30. Ruth Porat, the President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, highlighted that this expansion aims to meet the growing demand for cloud services in Southeast Asia and globally, while also…
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Thailand’s bold plan to regulate sex work sparks heated debate
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s government is stirring up controversy with a proposal to develop an entertainment complex aimed at formalising underground businesses—sex work included. The plan is designed to bring these industries into the formal economy, making them taxable, and, in the long term, funding welfare programmes in education, public health, and infrastructure. But the proposal has ignited a…
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Thailand’s ‘Glowing Owl’ flower: A rare botanical spectacle
Deep in Thailand’s remote wilderness, one of nature’s rarest and strangest blooms is set to emerge from the forest floor, leaving tourists and botanists scrambling for a glimpse. The mysterious Thismia thaithongiana, also known as Phisawong Owl’s Eye, is about to make its annual appearance in the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary in Tak province on Thailand’s eastern border with Myanmar. Discovered…
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New Thai bank licences grapple with early profitability challenges
The winners of the Bank of Thailand’s virtual bank licences are expected to face significant challenges in achieving profitability in the initial years, as the industry typically experiences high cash burn during the first five years, according to KGI Securities. Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is projected to benefit the least from a virtual bank licence compared to other Thai banks…
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Thai and mighty: Airbnb reveals tourism boom in Thailand
Thailand’s tourism industry is making a strong comeback, and Airbnb has just dropped some tantalising data showing just how much travellers are flocking to this Southeast Asian gem. With the high season fast approaching, Thailand is poised for a tourism surge, and it seems everyone – from digital nomads to family groups – wants a slice of the action. In…
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Myanmar and China crack down on cybercrime fugitives
In a major blow to online scam operations, police from Myanmar and China arrested 313 Chinese nationals, including 45 fugitives wanted for cybercrime. The arrests, part of a coordinated effort between the two countries, aim to stamp out online fraud and strengthen cross-border law enforcement. The bust took place in September, following a joint operation between Myanmar’s Ministry of Home…
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New action plan to tackle global trade shifts and aid Thai industries
The International Institute for Trade and Development is set to unveil an action plan designed to address shifts in global trade regulations and industry supply chains. The institute aims to present this strategic plan to the Commerce Ministry, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, and the Federation of Thai Industries by November. Suphakit Chareonkul, the executive director, highlighted that recent global…
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Lettuce pray: Market shoppers face steep prices ahead of Pattaya Vegetarian Festival
The Rai Vanasin Market in East Pattaya was buzzing with anticipation yesterday as eager shoppers scrambled to stock up on fresh produce for the upcoming Pattaya Vegetarian Festival, which kicks off today, October 2 and runs until October 12. However, as the crowds grew, so did the prices – with many vegetables seeing eye-watering surges just days before the festival…
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Ancient bus and outdated gas tanks blamed in deadly bus blaze
An investigation into the bus blaze that claimed the lives of 23 people in Pathum Thani yesterday revealed that the vehicle was first registered 54 years ago and its NGV gas tanks were 15 years old. A further investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. The tragic incident, which claimed the lives of 23 students and teachers from…
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From idol to outcast: Thaksin devotee switches allegiances
Once a die-hard fan of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a 60 year old Thai woman went as far as travelling from Thailand to the UAE just to see her political hero during his self-imposed exile. Armed with gifts, letters, and a banner, Podjanin Towatrakool wept upon meeting Thaksin in 2009, hugging him and calling him “father.” She even…
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BMA assesses Thon Buri historical sites to boost tourism
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) embarked on a comprehensive assessment of historical sites in Thon Buri to promote tourism and bolster the city development plan. Thaiwut Khankaew, director of the BMA’s City Planning and Development Department, stated that his team, alongside A-Seven Corporation, a consultancy firm, recently visited numerous communities and landmarks. Their objective is to enhance land use potential…
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Boost Songkhla tourism with better rail links to Malaysia, says guide
Promoting Songkhla province’s cultural attractions and enhancing rail connections with Malaysia could significantly boost tourism, according to the founder of the Songkhla Tour Guide Association. Wittaya Saelim addressed these suggestions in a proposal recently submitted to Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul in the Hat Yai district. The proposal focused on addressing the province’s trade and tourism concerns and identifying ways to increase…
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