Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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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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Wee problem: Passenger takes pee on Bangkok bike ride, refuses to pay fare
A Thai app-based motorcycle rider took to social media to expose the shocking behaviour of a passenger who urinated during a ride in Bangkok and refused to pay the fare. The 32 year old app-based rider, Korn, shared a video of his passenger on a Facebook news page to warn other motorcycle taxi riders to avoid offering service to this…
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Dugong dilemma: Thailand’s gentle sea giants face extinction risk
Thailand’s beloved dugongs are in dire straits, prompting an urgent meeting by the National Policy and Planning Committee on Marine and Coastal Resources Management. Led by Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, the focus was squarely on the alarming rise in dugong deaths in recent weeks. With representatives from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, and the Department of Marine and…
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Southeast Asian durian exporters unfazed by Chinese competition
Southeast Asian durian exporters remain confident about their market position despite China’s attempts at domestic durian production, though concerns are growing about potential oversupply and weakening demand in the Chinese market. Industry leaders gathering at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai dismissed worries about competition from Chinese-grown durians, particularly those from Hainan province. Jeremy Chin, Managing Director of…
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Mentally ill woman in Pattaya denies coffin cart theft
Monks and workers at Bun Kanchanaram Temple in Pattaya caught a mentally ill Thai woman taking a coffin cart to use as a clothes hanger at home. She claimed she did not steal it and simply “requested to borrow it in her mind.” Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were called to the temple to apprehend the woman, identified only…
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Ice blunder: Re-used animal feed bags spark mass diarrhoea outbreak in Rayong schools
Shocking revelations have emerged from Rayong province, where a gastrointestinal nightmare unfolded, infecting over 1,400 teachers and students with diarrhoea. The culprit? Ice packed in re-used animal feed bags, a blunder that’s left local government officials scrambling to contain the chaos. Today, November 11, Dr Sopon Iamsirithaworn, Inspector-General of the Ministry of Public Health, Health Region 6, revealed the grim findings…
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Thaksin’s Pheu Thai campaign in Surin election ‘not unlawful’
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra‘s planned campaign activities in Surin province are within legal bounds, Defence Minister and Deputy PM Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed today, November 11, at Government House. Thaksin, who is widely seen as Pheu Thai Party‘s de facto leader, is scheduled to visit Surin from November 19 to 20 to support Natthamon Siriwattanawanit, a former vice CEO of…
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Mother of Thai woman murdered in UAE pleads for help to bring daughter home
The mother of a Thai woman stabbed to death by her United Arab Emirates (UAE) husband of only three months reached out to the president of the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women to help bring her daughter’s body back to her hometown in Thailand for religious rites. In an emotional plea, 50 year old Mrs Prayoon and her…
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4 foreign suspects arrested for extorting 250,000 USDT from Ukrainian man
Phuket police officers today arrested four foreign suspects who allegedly extorted 250,000 USDT (8.5 million baht) from a Ukrainian victim at a hotel in Phang Nga province. The 23 year old Ukrainian man, Viacheslav Leibove, filed a theft complaint with Kamala Police Station in Phuket on Saturday, November 9, claiming he lost cryptocurrency to four foreign thieves. The suspects are…
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Thai woman found dead in parked sedan in Pathum Thani
Police discovered the dead body of a Thai woman, identified only as A, inside a locked Honda City sedan, near Phahonyothin Road. The grim find was made on the last night, November 10, near kilometre marker 36+900, just opposite a local company in Khlong Nueng subdistrict, Pathum Thani. The sedan, with its engine off, held the poignant scene. The 32…
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Thai woman and boyfriend suspected in murder of Pathum Thani official
Police suspect a Thai woman and her boyfriend in the murder of the woman’s older sister, who was a sub-district secretary in the central province of Pathum Thani. The 57 year old deputy secretary of the Khlong Sam Sub-district Office, Worrakanok Thepphimon, was found dead in her home on Saturday, November 9. She had a deep cut wound to her…
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Thai businesses urged to monitor US trade policy under Trump
The Thai Wholesale and Retail Trade Association advises local businesses to closely watch global trade dynamics and the international economy in light of Donald Trump’s recent return to the White House. This call to attention comes amid concerns about potential shifts in US trade policy that could have far-reaching impacts. Somchai Pornrattanacharoen, serving as an honorary advisor to the association,…
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Thailand braces for monsoon madness, chilly north, rough seas
Batten down the hatches and grab your brollies, there’s wild weather on the horizon. The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a severe weather warning across Thailand, as heavy monsoons are set to unleash torrential rain on 13 provinces, with the southern region bearing the brunt, and northern Thailand shivering under cooler temperatures. Today, November 11, a cold air mass…
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Thailand to spotlight climate change at COP29 in Azerbaijan
Thailand unveils its plans to spotlight climate change initiatives at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Azerbaijan. The Thailand Pavilion will be a central feature, offering a platform to display the nation’s strategies and actions against climate change. Among the highlights are activities revolving around Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo, which will draw attention at the international…
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Golden chance: Prices drop, time to cash in on your bling dreams
The Gold Traders Association announced a dip in today’s gold prices, offering a glittering opportunity for buyers. As of 9.05am, today, November 11, gold ornaments are selling at 43,900 baht per baht, showing a 100 baht decrease from yesterday’s figures. For those eyeing pure gold bars at 96.5% purity, today’s prices reveal a buying rate of 43,300 baht per baht…
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Thai-Cambodia skirmish rumours on Koh Kut debunked
Reports of alleged confrontations between Thai and Cambodian soldiers on Koh Kut have been dismissed by the government as fake news. Despite the rumours, government agencies maintain that the tourism situation on the island remains positive, with visitor numbers surpassing those of previous years, according to Jirayu Houngsub, an adviser to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Koh Kut, located in Trat…
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The White Lotus blooms with Lisa BLACKPINK’s acting debut in Thailand (video)
The much anticipated third series of The White Lotus unveiled another teaser revealing Thailand’s favourite K-pop singer Lisa Monobal in her first acting role. Yesterday, November 10, the series producer, Max, swished aside the curtain on Blackpink’s Lalisa as she stepped into the role of Thidapon Sornsin, a charming hospitality host who greets with a quintessentially Thai welcome: “Welcome to…
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Armed gang steals rosewood logs, attacks officers
A coordinated nighttime attack on a forestry protection unit in Nakhon Phanom province resulted in the theft of valuable Siam rosewood and weapons, with officials suggesting the raid was carefully planned by a gang familiar with the location. The incident occurred yesterday, November 10, shortly after midnight in Ban Kut Takab, Waritchaphum district, when five masked men in black clothing…
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Thai man leaves apology note & cash after laundrette knicker theft
A Thai man with a woman’s underwear fetish got his knickers in a twist after stealing a G-string from a local launderette in Pattaya. Overcome with guilt, the remorseful knicker thief penned a heartfelt apology and left cash compensation for the startled owner. Kai, the 42 year old owner of the automatic laundry shop, marched into Pattaya City Police Station,…
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6 Thai inmates stab prisoner to death in Bangkok prison (video)
Six Thai prisoners at Minburi Remand Prison in Bangkok assaulted and stabbed a fellow inmate to death with a sharpened iron rod and spoon for exposing their involvement in a drug case. Officers from Min Buri Police Station reported to the media that the stabbing occurred near the prison welfare shop in the fifth control area. The male prisoner, Yutthakarn,…
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PM on dual-purpose trip to US west coast and APEC summit
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra departed Bangkok yesterday for a diplomatic mission combining stops in Los Angeles and Lima, Peru. Accompanied by Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and other officials, the delegation touched down in Los Angeles at 7.30pm local time, yesterday, November 10. The Thai premier’s Los Angeles agenda includes chairing a strategic meeting with diplomatic representatives from across the Americas…
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Thaicom 9A satellite repositioned to secure Thailand’s orbital rights
Thaicom is set to reposition an EutelSat satellite, now labelled Thaicom 9A, to the 50.5° East orbit. This move comes as the deadline to retain Thailand’s rights to the orbit approaches, expiring tomorrow, November 12. The satellite operator aims to ensure the country’s continued access to this orbital position by completing the relocation process within the stipulated timeframe. Last month,…
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Lifeless body of Indian man found after Koh Samui waterfall stumble
Thai officials discovered the body of a 29 year old Indian man yesterday after he accidentally fell from the cliff at Na Mueang 2 Waterfall on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Over 30 officials from Koh Samui Police Station, rescue teams, the local administrative office, and the Royal Forest Department participated in the search…
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Thailand video news | Thailand and China to strengthen tourism ties across ASEAN region, British tourists fined for reckless motorbike riding in Phuket
In Thailand’s latest news update, Alex and Jay cover top stories from Thailand and Southeast Asia. Key highlights include Thailand and China’s plans to strengthen tourism ties across the ASEAN region, while the Pheu Thai Party faces political challenges as the unresolved 2004 Tak Bai massacre may affect its support in upcoming elections. Other stories feature fines for reckless British…
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Vietnam to block Shein, Temu if unregistered by November
Vietnam announced plans to take action against Chinese online retailers Shein and Temu by blocking their Internet domains and mobile applications if they fail to register their operations with the Ministry of Industry and Trade by the end of November. This development arises from concerns over the influence of these Chinese platforms on local markets, particularly regarding their aggressive discounting…
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Bitcoin hits record high after Trump’s US presidential victory
Bitcoin surged past US$81,000 (2.78 million baht) today, November 11, hitting a record high, following Donald Trump’s win in the US presidential election. The victory, alongside the election of pro-crypto candidates to Congress, has fuelled speculation about a more lenient regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies. The digital currency has experienced a remarkable rise, more than doubling from its lowest point of…
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Chinese call centre scam leader surrenders after 7 months in hiding
A leading Chinese member of a call centre scam gang in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat surrendered to Thai police after seven months in hiding. The 33 year old Chinese man, Jiang Zhaitian, reached out to the Thai police via his lawyer, expressing his intent to turn himself in. Jiang was subsequently taken to the Cyber Crime Investigation…
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Thailand gears up for excise tax as it charges into electric future
Thailand is set to adjust its automotive excise tax structure to reflect the global shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), according to Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul. This move aims to harmonise local policies with international trends in the automotive industry, particularly as the competition between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) intensifies. Paopoom highlighted the uncertainty…
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Canna-bust: British student’s drug-filled dreams go up in smoke
A British student’s high-flying ambitions came crashing down when his ill-fated bid to smuggle a suitcase brimming with cannabis from Thailand was thwarted. The desperate act was all in the name of funding his university education, a courtroom in Austria heard. The 29 year old mature student, travelling with his 24 year old girlfriend, was nabbed during a layover in…
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A World Kindness Day: Spread kindness, prevent illness – Get your 10% discount
With World Kindness Day just two days away on November 13, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how empathy and care can make a real impact, not just in our relationships but in our health, too. This day is all about creating a more compassionate, understanding world, an opportunity to connect the themes of kindness and health prevention. For…
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No time to lose: Mexican tourist returns pricey watch after Bangkok airport mix-up
A Mexican woman on holiday with her family in Phuket agreed to return a luxury watch worth about 200,000 baht to a Thai woman, stating that she thought it belonged to a family member and mistakenly took it from Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok. A 21 year old Thai woman, Rachawalee, filed a complaint with Don Mueang Police Station…
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