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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Thai military doctor with mental illness surrenders after shooting near Bangkok
A Thai military doctor surrendered to police last night after a shooting incident in a village on the Srinakarin Road in the Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. Bang Kaew Police Station officers received a report of a shooting at 4.45pm yesterday, December 11, and rushed to the scene to find the gunman shouting and waving a gun around outside of…
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Parent’s tutor requirements spark online debate over Rajabhat University
Social media users have been divided over a post by a parent seeking a tutor for their seven year old child but specifying that they mustn’t be a graduate from Rajabhat University. The post, which was shared in a Facebook group for finding home tutors, sparked a flurry of criticism and debate, with some accusing the parent of belittling the…
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Thai labour minister takes wages for a spin: Cabinet gears up for minimum wage review
Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced that the Cabinet will be looking into a review of the new daily minimum wage rates. This comes after several business organisations urged the government to uphold the decision made by a tripartite wage committee regarding the increase in wages. Phiphat disclosed that he has no authority to review the rates approved by the…
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Major drug trafficking bust in Mukdahan seizes over 600,000 meth pills
A drug trafficking gang was apprehended in the province of Mukdahan, as Region 4 Police seized a staggering haul of over 600,000 meth pills on December 10. Acting on intelligence, the law enforcement officers intercepted a white Mitsubishi Attrage sedan en route from Don Tan district to Mueang Mukdahan district. Behind the wheels was 30 year old Daeng, a resident…
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Phuket: Danish tourists minivan crash with pickup truck in Thalang
Four Danish tourists were left battered and bruised after a collision between their minivan taxi and a pickup truck in Thalang, Phuket. The crash unfolded yesterday morning, December 11 on the Mueang Mai – Paklok Road in Thep Krasattri. Thalang Police received report of a crash at 9.30am, and rushed to the accident scene where a minivan lay battered on…
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Debate arises over child’s safety as zoo employee drapes python around him
The appropriateness of a zoo employee placing a large python around a young boy sparked a debate online. A member of the Facebook group, AtHome Reptile, posted a photo of the incident, questioning whether the staff member could have ensured the boy’s safety in time in case of an emergency. The photo, taken yesterday, December 11, shows a man, presumably…
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Thailand’s Democrat Party in crisis following mass leadership change
The Democrat Party in Thailand teeters on the brink of a crisis, following an overwhelming loss of members due to a recent change in leadership, according to the party’s former leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. Chalermchai Sri-on, the ninth elected leader of the Democrats, took over the reins amidst internal turmoil. Abhisit, in his first public comment since the leadership election on December 9,…
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Thai widow pleads for help as loan sharks tighten grip after husband’s suicide
The recent suicide of a 60 year old woman’s husband due to mounting debt led her to plead for assistance to deal with aggressive loan sharks. The woman, known as Yay Yuphin, from Uthai Thani province, sought help from Ekaphop Luangprasert and his team from the Saimai Must Survive news page, following her husband’s death. The man had committed suicide…
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Tragic phone distraction causes fatal motorbike collision in Thailand
A tragic incident occurred when a woman driving a Nissan March car was searching for her mobile phone in the passenger seat, causing the vehicle to lose control and collide with a motorbike. The collision resulted in the death of an 18 year old female student, returning from her Test of General Aptitude (TGAT) examination. The accident took place around…
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Thailand’s nightlife gets green light: Entertainment venues now open until 6am
The Interior Ministry today gave the green light for entertainment venues across Thailand to remain open until 6am in a move to bolster tourism and add extra sparkle to new year celebrations. Interior Ministry Spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said the temporary extension of the closing time at entertainment venues across Thailand was aimed at promoting tourism and new year celebrations. Traisuree…
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Danish family in critical road accident on Phuket’s border area
A family of Danish tourists experienced a harrowing road accident in Phuket when their van collided head-on with a pickup truck. The accident, which occurred yesterday on the Mueang Mai-Paara Road in the border area between Thepkrasattri and Pa Klok, Thalang, left all four family members and both drivers injured. Around 9.30am, the incident was reported to Phongpipat Kamchomphu, the…
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Thai companies seek dynamic leadership amid challenging times
The need for a dynamic, collaborative and empowering leadership style is paramount in today’s business environment, particularly for Thai companies navigating unpredictable challenges. Leadership development has become a critical issue for companies as they strive to integrate Generation Z into the workforce, reskill older generations, and cultivate a diverse pool of leaders who can inspire innovation and high performance, whilst also…
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Retired Indian civil servant sets up unique Constitution Temple
A 71 year old Sivadasan Pillai, a retired civil servant, converted his small residence in Kudappanakkunnu, Thiruvananthapuram, into Bharanaghadana Kshetram or Constitution Temple, using his pension funds. This unique temple hosts the Constitution of India for worship, similar to the sanctum sanctorum of traditional temples housing deities. Since its official proclamation on January 26, 1950, after three years of independence,…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport opens automated channels to foreign travellers
The Immigration Bureau (IB) announced that Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s automated channels are now accessible to foreigners to alleviate congestion for outbound travel. This decision, effective from December 15, aligns with the Prime Minister’s directive, enforced by Srettha Thavasin, to enhance the outbound immigration system. The move is aimed at reducing the density of passengers who need to rush to catch…
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Football field gunman caught in Chanthaburi following dramatic escape
The gunman responsible for an attack at a football field has been apprehended in Chanthaburi province after fleeing the scene. He confessed to the crime, revealing that he had discarded his firearm in a canal. Police are rapidly investigating the motive behind the incident. Today, news emerged that the suspect had been spotted at a checkpoint in Chanthaburi’s Ban Laem…
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NBTC and Thai police bust illegal communications warehouse worth over 200 million baht
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the Royal Thai Police (RTP) demolished an illegal communications radio warehouse in Pathum Thani province. The joint operation aimed to disrupt the network of call centres, seizing CCTV cameras fitted with SIM cards and 58,400 related items, valued at over 200 million baht. At 10am today, Dr Sornchai Boonyachaiyapruek, the chairman of…
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Folk singer Neung Phalanchai doubles as a rescuer: Helps man during gig
Renowned folk singer and rescuer Neung Phalanchai leapt into action during a concert, aiding a man who was being attacked. In addition to his musical career, Neung invested in rescue vehicles and equipment, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the Rescue Hook 31 team. This act of bravery occurred today. Neung, who stepped into the spotlight as the lead folk…
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Plastic predicament: Thailand faces a ton(ne) of trouble with a 62% surge in waste
Plastic waste in Thailand has witnessed a surge of 62%, escalating from 2.12 million tonnes in 2019 to 3.4 million tonnes in 2020, according to the Thailand Environment Institute. This increase has been largely attributed to lifestyle changes induced by the pandemic, such as an increased reliance on food delivery services. The Prayut Chan-o-cha government initiated a policy in 2018…
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Bang Pu chemical factory fire sparks swift evacuation
A chemical factory within the Bang Pu Industrial Estate was engulfed in flames, resulting in the immediate evacuation of nearby residents. Firefighters swiftly responded to contain the blaze, clearing the area by 7.30am. The fire was reported to have originated in a chemical storage warehouse within the factory complex. By 8.25am, reports suggested that the fire was yet to be…
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Thai police step up probe into underage assault linked to ex-Olympic boxer
Thai police are accelerating their investigation into the case of a 17 year old girl who reported being sexually assaulted after a night out at a club. They are gathering information before summoning Somluck Kamsing, a former Olympic gold medal boxer, for questioning about the underage assault. The incident occurred today, at an entertainment venue on Prachasamran Road, Khon Kaen…
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Thai bars to establish sobering-up zones to deter drink driving
A new mandate from the National Alcohol Beverage Policy Committee of Thailand stipulated that entertainment venues intending to remain open till 4am must establish sobering-up zones. This initiative aims to deter patrons from driving under the influence of alcohol. The directive, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, was declared on December 9. Following the committee’s meeting, Deputy Minister of…
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China positions Guangxi as Southeast Asia’s primary gateway
Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, bordering Vietnam, is being positioned by China as the primary gateway for businesses and tourists from the ASEAN region. Its southern China location and connectivity to Vietnam through land, sea, and air routes make it a strategic point for Southeast Asia. The region is equipped with three international airports and three deep-sea ports which collectively host…
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New M81 motorway segment open for new year holiday traffic in Thailand
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that a portion of the new M81 motorway, set to connect Bang Yai district in Nonthaburi to Kanchanaburi province, will be accessible to drivers over the new year holiday season. Suriya and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin were in Kanchanaburi on Saturday, where they conversed with officials about the province’s development. During the period from December…
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Thailand’s minimum wage increase sparks controversy and calls for revision
The contentious decision to marginally increase the daily minimum wage in Thailand spurred the Ministry of Labour into seeking discussions with the tripartite committee, which approved the hike. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin critiqued the decision as insignificant, stating that the 2 to 16 baht rise approved last Friday was insufficient. The tripartite committee, also referred to as the wage board,…
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Escaped prisoner recaptured in Thailand following penis enlargement surgery
The Department of Corrections in Thailand recently recaptured an 37 year old escaped prisoner, who had fled from the surgical ward of Bang Lamung Hospital. He was discovered today at approximately 7am, hiding on the rooftop of a one-storey psychiatry ward building, a mere 20 metres from the surgical ward he had escaped from. Thanaphat Mayod, who was serving a…
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Hot coffee spill burns passenger on Thai Airways flight
A passenger aboard a Thai Airways flight suffered burns on December 8 when hot coffee was accidentally spilled on him. The man, who recounted the incident on social media, noted that the flight attendant had poured several hot drinks at once and was handing them out to passengers when the accident occurred. As he was seated in the middle, a…
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Brutal murder mystery in Srisaket solved with a shocking family confession
A shocking case of a man’s brutal murder has been cracked in Srisaket, Thailand. A gruesome discovery of the body of a 48 year old man was made near a reservoir, Huay Haed, between the village of Ban Na and Ban Pho. His body bore deep stab wounds, inflicted by a sharp object, on his neck, chest, and back. The…
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Lamduan drug gang apprehended in high-speed chase by operation unit 238
Operation Unit 238, tasked with protecting the city of Lamduan, successfully apprehended a drug gang following a high-speed car chase. The operation ended with two young men in custody and almost 70,000 methamphetamine pills confiscated. Another suspect managed to escape during the pursuit yesterday. Anupong Suksomnit, the Provincial Police Region of Sisaket, revealed the details of the drug bust, which…
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Tragic discovery as government official found hanged in Samut Songkhram
The body of a 43 year old government official was discovered hanging from a bridge over the Mae Klong River in Samut Songkhram province at 3am today. The deceased, was an employee of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Samut Songkhram. Her body was found by a group of shrimp fishers, who alerted the authorities. The incident took place…
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Thailand pushes for violence reduction and public involvement in southern peace talks
Two urgent matters were put forward by Thailand for discussion in endeavours to resolve the southern conflict, as revealed by a source close to the Peace Dialogue Panel. These topics include the reduction of violence and public involvement in the peace negotiation process. Chatchai Bangchuad, the head of the government’s peace panel, is set to advocate for these issues once…
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