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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Elderly Thai market vendor wins 12 million baht lottery jackpot
An elderly Thai lady says she will continue her career selling fried chive cakes at the market despite winning 12 million baht in the government lottery yesterday. Yesterday afternoon, 72 year old Phuangphet Pelacheun from the northern province of Uttaradit forgot to check the lottery results. When her colleagues started talking about the winning numbers, Grandma Phuangphet leapt up, screamed…
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Senior Buddhist monk’s visit to Islamic education centre in Thailand’s Deep South sparks uproar
A senior Buddhist monk in Thailand sparked uproar over his visit to an Islamic education centre in the south. The visit to the centre in Narathiwat province in Thailand’s south came with heavy criticism on the second day of the House debate against the Prayut government yesterday morning. According to Thai PBS World, army officials defended the visit by saying it…
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Thailand’s smartphone market poised for revival
As the world starts to emerge from the pandemic, Thailand‘s smartphone market is expected to see a resurgence in the second half of 2023. Despite a decrease in smartphone sales last year, the premium smartphone segment remains strong and is less affected by economic woes. According to Wansiri Fitschen, a senior category manager at Thai Samsung Electronics, pre-orders for the…
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Thai election explainer – Constitution, House and Senate
Thailand’s democratic structure consists of a Constitution, House of Representatives and Senate. The constitutional monarchy is ruled by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the head of state. The king has limited formal power but is highly influential in politics. He has significant influence over the military. Constitution, House and Senate – Constitution The current constitution was developed by a committee appointed by…
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Thai ecologist sounds alarm on declining shark numbers
A Thai ecologist is sounding the alarm on the decline in the number of sharks in the country’s waters. The marine ecologist, Assistant Professor Thon Thamrongnawasawat, the deputy dean of the Faculty of Fisheries at Kasetsart University, presented some worrying facts about the situation. Dr Thon said that around 75 of the 87 shark species in Thai waters are endangered.…
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75 Foreign lives lost by road accidents in 2023 | GMT
In today’s episode, Thailand’s plastic bag use plunges by 148,000 tonnes in 3 years, Phuket health spa slams travel agency for ripping off foreigners, 400 people fall victim to Japan tour scam resulting in 14 million baht loss, Massive fire breaks out in front of Pattaya massage parlour, and Thailand’s perilous roads claim the lives of 75 foreigners so…
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Rogue balloons shot down in the US were not Chinese spy devices, says Biden (video)
United States President Joe Biden yesterday announced that he will speak with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, over the recent Balloongate incidents, adding he doubted they were spy balloons sent from China. US military shot down three rogue balloons over South Carolina, Alaska, and Lake Huron on the US-Canada border this month claiming they were Chinese surveillance balloons. But…
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Body of Thai woman killed in Turkey earthquake returns home
The body of the young Thai woman who was killed by the recent earthquake in Turkey has been returned to her family in Chaiyaphum province in northeast Thailand. At 4am this morning, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs returned the body of 29 year old Chamaiphon “Dao” Homsanthia to her home town in Nong Bua Rawae district in Chaiyaphum.…
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Viral video of fight reveals more drama with foreign motorbike racers in Patong
Patong is once again having drama with foreign motorbike racers. On Wednesday night, a video of a fight involving foreign motorbike racers on Bangla Road went viral. The racers were reportedly causing a disturbance. Residents and police tried to warn the racers to stop, but they didn’t listen. The racers then allegedly pushed residents before the residents got angrier and…
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Thai woman protests agains Polish husband’s deportation in Bangkok
UPDATE A Thai lady and her relative staged a two-person protest at the United Nations HQ in Bangkok to appeal for “justice” for her Polish husband, who says that forcing him to return to Poland is a certain death sentence for him, reports SiamRath. Sornsiri Khittook’s 37 year old husband Michal Kamil Wielebinski, was arrested and detained in Koh Samui…
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How to find high-quality cosmetic packaging for multiple use
When it comes to finding high-quality cosmetic packaging for multiple use, one of the best options is to work with wholesale cosmetic packaging suppliers. These suppliers specialize in providing a wide range of packaging options for cosmetics and other beauty products, and they often offer bulk discounts and other cost-saving benefits for businesses and individuals who are looking to purchase…
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400 people fall victim to Japan tour scam resulting in 14 million baht loss
Representatives from 10 travel agencies filed a complaint with the Central Investigation Bureau after being lured into buying 14 million baht worth of fake tour packages to Japan. Over 400 victims have been duped by the scam so far. Representatives for the group claimed to have purchased tour packages from a major company based in the central province of Pathum…
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Massive fire breaks out in front of Pattaya massage parlour
Another devastating fire has struck Pattaya. A massive electrical fire broke out in front of a Pattaya massage parlour last night. Firefighters rushed to the scene on Pattaya Second Road in Soi 13 where a fire was burning overhead wires and signs in front of the fire. Meanwhile, terrified passersby watched as the incident unfolded. The firefighters were eventually able…
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Best Thai cannabis strains for sleep and insomnia relief
Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, and one of its most common applications is to help with sleep and insomnia. With the growing popularity of cannabis as a sleep aid, it can be challenging to know which strains are the best for promoting a restful night’s sleep. In this article, we will explore some of the best…
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Phuket using street art to draw tourists to historic Old Town
Phuket is using street art to draw tourists to its historic Phuket Old Town. The colourful, vibrant mural art is a painting of a cute character and a Chinese-style dragon, as well as a painting of a boat and a sea turtle amidst Phuket’s buildings. Phuket City Mayor Saroj Angkanapilart stated that the local government is prepared to welcome Chinese…
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Siam Paragon invests 3 billion baht to transform the global landmark to the next level
Siam Paragon, a world-class destination, has officially launched a transformation project to redefine the ‘global landmark in the heart of Bangkok’ and take it to new heights of excellence to meet all the lifestyle needs of the future, reinforcing its positioning as one of the most-visited ‘global landmark destinations’. Starting towards the end of 2022, the 3-billion-baht investment project will…
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Malaysia and Thailand jointly investigate Betong shooting
A man from Malaysia is seriously injured after he was shot by a suspected Thai national in Betong town, Yala province, southern Thailand, on Saturday. The victim, 55 year old Rada [surname withheld], from Kampung Padang Tamat in Pengkalan Hulu, was driving a motorbike along Chantharothai Road when he was shot three times in front of a convenience store at…
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Pattaya Police report used condoms and illegal drugs after bar raid
Pattaya Police are once again cracking down on monkey business in the city’s bars. Bang Lamung police said they found used condoms and illegal drugs after they raided a bar on Soi Pattaya Klang 12, located in the Nong Prue sub-district, early this morning. The raid on the Dragon Man Bar was led by the district chief Pisit Sitisawatnukun and…
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Tearaway teens arrested for robbing four motorists
Three teenagers and a man were arrested for robbing four motorists at the weekend in Samut Prakarn province in Bangkok. The suspects reportedly admitted to committing the crime to obtain funds to buy kratom drinks. Footage captured by a car dashcam went viral on Thai social media. It showed the four thugs intimidating a motorcyclist into surrendering his valuables and…
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Thailand’s perilous roads claim the lives of 75 foreigners so far this year
Thailand’s deadly roads have claimed the lives of 75 foreigners so far this year. A further 2,886 foreigners were injured, according to data from Thai RSC, an accident information centre. Foreigners getting into road accidents in Thailand regularly make headlines but much more go unrecorded by the media. Data recorded from January 1 – February 15, 2023, reveals that 2,099…
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Elderly German man dies in Pattaya motorbike crash
An elderly German man tragically died in a motorbike crash in Pattaya yesterday. Police and rescuers arrived at the scene on Soi 14 in the Naklua sub-district of Bang Lamung district. They found the man, 81 year old Hans Werner Schreiner, dead in a pool of blood on the road. Schreiner was lying upward, and suffered critical head injuries. Police…
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Patong Police bust Frenchman for hit-and-run that seriously injured woman
Patong police busted a Frenchman for a hit and run after a Thai pedestrian was seriously injured last week. The culprit, Naji Sami Bouakkz, hit a woman, 54 year old Maliwan Sarnrat, with his motorbike on Friday, February 10. The incident happened on Soi Sai Namyen. Bouakkz did not stop his motorbike after hitting Maliwan. Officers and rescuers rushed Maliwan…
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Phuket health spa slams travel agency for ripping off foreigners
A Phuket health spa announced that it will no longer accept reservations from travel agencies after one agency ripped off its foreign customers. The decision was made after the agency in question overcharged foreign customers, causing them to file complaints about the high prices of the spa services. Phumontra Cafe & Massage is one of the most popular spa spots in Phuket…
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Four Thai teens win award for pioneering parasite-killing invention
Four high school students from Yala in southern Thailand won the New Gen Inventors Award 2023 for inventing a herbal product made from galangal leaves which kills parasites in raw foods in less than six minutes. Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha praised the children for creating a practical product from readily available herbs which will improve the Thai population’s physical…
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Thailand’s deputy police chief “Big Joke” is unsure that missing baby is alive
Thailand’s deputy police chief “Big Joke,” says he is unsure that the missing eight month old baby who disappeared from his home is alive. However, Surachate Hakparn, better known as “Big Joke,” says he is quite sure that the baby’s parents know what happened. The parents of the missing baby, 19 year old Sitthichoke Saengsawang and 16 year old Philaiporn…
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Surf’s up in Hua Hin! Festival coming up
Surf’s up in Hua Hin! The annual Hua Hin Surf Festival is coming up next week in Thailand’s scenic seaside town. The event in Thailand brings together surfers, beach enthusiasts, and thrill seekers from all over the country. This year’s event is set to take place on February 25 to 26 at Khao Takiab beach and promises to be bigger…
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Thai woman who fled from America after alleged hit-and-run agrees to return to face punishment
A Thai woman who left America after an alleged hit-and-run incident has agreed to return to face her punishment. The woman, Tubtim “Sue” Howson, allegedly struck Michigan State University student Benjamin Kable, 22, before dawn on January 1. Kable was killed and Howson allegedly fled to Thailand over fears of being arrested and charged with his murder. The 57 year…
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Thai activists want humiliating haircut punishments to stop in government schools
Thai activists want humiliating haircut punishments to stop in government schools after a teacher was accused of cutting at least 100 students’ hair. According to The Guardian, the activists are calling for clearer guidelines surrounding the haircut rule in government schools after the Ministry of Education revoked the decades-long haircut regulations. Now, the Ministry says schools can develop their own…
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Thailand’s Wild Boar football team pays tribute to captain “Dom” after his sudden death
Thailand’s Wild Boar football team is paying tribute to Duangpetch “Dom” Promthep, 17, who died suddenly in England. As the captain of the 13 Wild Boars football team, “Dom” was rescued from the Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai back in 2018 after the cave flash-flooded leaving them trapped inside for 17 days. According to Khaosod English, the Associated Press…
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Mosquito bite in Thailand causes Dutchman to lose both legs
A Dutchman living in Nakhon Rathasima in Thailand is on a mission to spread awareness about “flesh-eating bacteria” (necrotising fasciitis) after a mosquito bite led to the amputation of his left leg and lower right leg. Long-term expat, 62 year old Ed Olieslagers from the Netherlands, went to the hospital in April last year after a mosquito bite became inflamed and…
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