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 Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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MFP Pita defends himself over shareholding charge at Constitutional Court
Pita Limjaroenrat, the advisory chairman of the Move Forward Party (MFP), defends himself at the Constitutional Court over the charges against him for the iTV shareholding case. The Court was poised to dissect his involvement in the beleaguered iTV – a spectacle eagerly anticipated by political enthusiasts. At precisely 9.10am, Pita, exuding an air of calm confidence, addressed the media.…
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Erroneous English signboard at Trang airport rectified following social media uproar
An incorrect English translation on a signboard leading to Trang Airport has been rectified following public criticism. The sign, which was meant to point towards the airport, was found to be using the Karaoke language style in its English translation. It should have read Trang Airport, but instead it was written as THAAGRAD SAYAITHANG. The error has now been corrected,…
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Phuket paradise beckons: TAT teams up with Saudia Airlines for tourism extravaganza
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has joined forces with Saudia Airlines, setting their sights on a jaw-dropping target of 300,000 arrivals and a staggering 27.68 billion baht in revenue. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool revealed ambitious plans after a high-stakes meeting in Riyadh with Saudia Airlines bigwigs. Thapanee disclosed discussions that could make this a game-changer for Saudi tourists seeking…
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Motorbike rider cheats death in Pattaya cable catastrophe
In Pattaya, a Bolt motorbike rider narrowly cheated death when he collided with a hanging cable, leaving his neck gruesomely wounded. The motorbike rider, 22 year old Ethan Ketwongsa, took to Facebook to recount his harrowing ordeal that unfolded on December 17. Cruising down Soi Ban Nern Thang Rotfai 1, just off the parallel railway road in East Pattaya, Ethan…
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Young firefighter steals hearts and extinguishes flames
Capturing the internet’s attention, six year old Peerapat, a kindergarten student at Wat U-Tapao Kindergarten in Chon Buri, has become a viral sensation after a video of him extinguishing a forest fire alongside adult firefighters surfaced on social media. The video, shared on Thai social media on December 18, has amassed over 2 million views, turning Peerapat into a symbol…
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Explosive growth in Thai insurance industry predicted for 2024
The Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) has foreseen an unprecedented surge in the insurance industry, with premiums expected to skyrocket to 303 billion baht in 2024. The TGIA president, Somporn Suebthawilkul, revealed the industry’s trajectory, unveiling that premiums for the initial nine months of this year already hit a whopping 210 billion baht, marking a staggering 5.2% rise from the…
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Illegal meatball factory raided, dirty products flood Bangkok and surrounding areas
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police conducted a raid at an illegal meatball factory in the central province of Pathum Thani on December 18. The substandard and dirty products were found to be shipped throughout Bangkok and surrounding provinces. CIB officers launched proactive measures and operations against illegal food producers in the country after six children suffered dizziness and rapid…
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Thai government ditches 300-baht fee for tourists: Massive insurance plan
In a bold move to restore tourist trust, Thailand‘s Tourism and Sports Ministry has abandoned the long-delayed 300-baht tourism fee and is now looking for another type of insurance for tourists. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is spearheading a grand plan to offer a whopping 500,000 baht coverage for injuries and a jaw-dropping 1 million baht in the event of a…
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Marriage equality bill final draft to be submitted to Parliament
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared yesterday, December 19, that the Cabinet is set to propose the Marriage Equality Bill final draft to Parliament tomorrow, December 21. Expressing unwavering confidence in the bill’s potential, Srettha envisions a future where same-sex couples bask in the same marital rights as their heterosexual counterparts, pending parliamentary consideration. The final draft of the bill, an…
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Thailand warned of escalating PM2.5 dust levels: GISTDA
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) issued an urgent warning about PM2.5 dust particles exceeding safe levels in various parts of Thailand. Samut Sakhon saw the worst conditions with PM2.5 levels reaching 76.7 micrograms per cubic meter, more than double the standard limit of 37.5 micrograms. In Bangkok, 22 districts experienced PM2.5 levels exceeding the standard limit, with…
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Uncle Phol receives 20-year sentence in Mukdahan for toddler’s death
A 20-year sentence has been handed down to Chaiphol Wipa, also known as Uncle Phol, in the Mukdahan Provincial Court for his role in the death of a 3 year old girl, Chomphoo, who disappeared from her home in the Gok Kok village, Dong Luang district, Mukdahan province on May 11, 2020. Accompanied by his legal team, Wipa, along with…
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Thai police warn about rise in deepfake AI related crime
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has issued a public warning about the potential rise in crime related to advanced deepfake AI technology. This technology, capable of swapping faces and mimicking voices, is feared to be the next tool for scammers in the coming year. The warning stemmed from the national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol’s concerns, which were communicated…
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Bangkok BTS Skytrain extends service hours to 2am on December 31
Bangkok BTS Skytrain will extend moments of happiness for the passengers with extended service hours from midnight to 2am on the last day of the year December 31. The board director of the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company, Surapong Laoha-unya, announced yesterday, December 19, that the BTS Skytrain will extend its operating hours at all stations and lines on on…
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Pattaya visa scam leaves hundreds of tourists out of pocket and overstaying
Hundreds of victims have been financially swindled by an unscrupulous visa extension agency in Pattaya, with some foreign victims being illegally overstayed in the Kingdom. Today, 36 year old Chanidapha Thowasakul, represented a group of more than 30 victims, including foreign nationals, and brought 33 year old Suphawadee (surname withheld) to the Pattaya City Police Station. The victims, with 40…
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Eco-friendly e-pedicabs revolutionise Vientiane’s transport scene
In a groundbreaking move towards a greener, quieter Vientiane, the Laos-Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project has unveiled an innovative non-motorised initiative set to transform the city centre. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport’s Department of Transport, the project aims to combat air and noise pollution. Introducing a novel addition to the bustling streets of Vientiane, the project…
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Lava bypasses town, dodges devastation in Iceland volcanic eruption
A massive volcanic eruption in Iceland seems to have spared the only town in its path, offering a glimmer of hope for the residents of Grindavik. Geologists and rescue officials are now breathing a sigh of relief as the lava takes an unexpected detour away from the vulnerable town. The explosive volcanic eruption, which rocked the Reykjanes peninsula on the…
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Fatal collision at Talat Phlu intersection: motorcycle hits taxi
A 21 year old man riding a motorcycle against the traffic flow collided with a taxi on a bridge crossing Talat Phlu intersection, resulting in a fatal accident. The cab driver recalled the shocking moment, noting that he had to regain composure before alerting the police. The incident took place around 1am today. The Talat Phlu police station received a…
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Thai driver evades arrest after crashing and killing nursing student
A Thai driver evaded arrest after crashing his pickup into a motorcycle on a bypass road in the central province of Ratchaburi, killing a nursing student and injuring her mother. Officers from the Mueang Ratchaburi Police Station and Ratchaburi Hospital rushed to the accident scene to rescue two victims. A 55 year old woman named Chuanpit was a motorcycle rider.…
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Thai AirAsia X sets sights on Kazakhstan: New route sparks tourism frenzy
In a bold move set to revolutionise travel, Thai AirAsia X is gearing up to launch direct flights between Bangkok and Almaty, the thriving heart of Kazakhstan. Riding high on the unprecedented influx of tourists from Kazakhstan this year, the airline, under the visionary leadership of Tassapon Bijleveld, the executive chairman of Asia Aviation, the holding company of Thai AirAsia,…
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Magical sunset kiss: Discover the hidden ‘Kissing Mountain Cave’ in Khao Sam Roi Yot
In the heart of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park lies a mesmerising secret: the Kissing Mountain Cave, an enchanting spectacle of rocks that come alive as a romantic silhouette during sunset. As the sun dips below the horizon, witness nature’s own love story unfold. The rocks, strategically positioned, cast a shadow that resembles a tender kiss shared between two…
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Phatthalung highway police intercept 58 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh
Highway police in Phatthalung intercepted three pickup trucks carrying 58 illegal Bangladesh immigrants. The migrants were being smuggled into Hat Yai to work. The drivers confessed to receiving 1,500 baht per person, a higher income than transporting goods or vegetables. Today, Deputy Superintendent Chamnan Suwanchatree, along with seven officers, set up a checkpoint on the southbound Asia Highway between Nakhon…
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Thai police investigate human skeletons found in container from US
Thai police are investigating human skeletons found in the cubes of compressed recycling cardboard shipped in a container from the US to a company in Bang Phra district, Chon Buri province. A logistics company reported the discovery of a human leg bone to Sriracha Police Station officers at about 1pm yesterday, December 19. The leg was compressed together in the…
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China’s deadliest earthquake in years leaves 127 dead in Gansu (video)
Northwest China is reeling from the aftermath of a monstrous 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Gansu province, marking the country’s deadliest seismic event since 2014. The toll stands at 127 lives lost, with fears that the numbers may surge as icy conditions and treacherous terrains impede rescue efforts. As President Xi Jinping mobilises thousands of rescue crews to the impoverished…
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Thailand and Cambodia to resume talks over disputed Gulf region
February will see the reignition of talks between Thailand and Cambodia regarding a disputed region in the Gulf of Thailand, spanning 26,000 square kilometres. This area, rich in energy resources, is a matter of contention as both nations lay claim to it. Experts suggest that the discussions should primarily concentrate on the mutual development of energy resources in the Overlapping…
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Thailand’s tripartite committee to reconsider new minimum daily wage
A pivotal meeting is set to take place on Tuesday, led by the tripartite committee on minimum daily wages in Thailand. The discussion is centred around the possibility of revising the new daily wage rate that was established on December 8. This comes in the wake of comments made by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin criticising the newly determined rate as…
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Air Arabia soars to new heights: Inaugural flight to Phuket unveils sky-high perks for budget travellers
Air Arabia, the leading low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, has launched its maiden flight to Phuket, Thailand, lifting off from the iconic Sharjah International Airport in the UAE. Air Arabia Group Chief Executive Officer Adel Al Ali, was beaming with pride as he celebrated this milestone, emphasising the airline’s unwavering dedication to making travel accessible and…
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Thai man murders 2 year old stepdaughter while intoxicated
A Thai man admitted to murdering his two year old stepdaughter at a house in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok while he was intoxicated. Police suspected a 16 year old caregiver of involvement in the murder. Medical professionals reached out to officers from Phra Pradaeng Police Station at night on December 17 after an unconscious girl, 2 year old Focus,…
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Tragic car and motorcycle collision in Chachoengsao claims mother’s life, leaves daughter critically injured
An unfortunate collision between a car and a motorcycle resulted in the death of a mother and left her daughter seriously injured. The incident, which took place on route 304, Chachoengsao, was reported by Police Lieutenant Colonel Peeradon Saengsuwan, the investigating officer from Phanom Sarakham Police Station, at 10.35pm yesterday. The accident occurred near a U-turn close to Phanom Sarakham…
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Investigation into Thai student’s fatal fall over parking dispute
The investigation speeds up in the case of a postgraduate student from Kasetsart University, who tragically fell from the sixth floor of a mansion. The police probe is focused on multiple witnesses, including the man believed to have initiated the incident due to a parking dispute. Today Police Lieutenant Colonel Witthaya Ruangthep, deputy investigation chief at Chokchai police station, provided…
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State-owned company officer accused of age fraud to prolong retirement
A group of people calling themselves the State Enterprise Lover Club accused a deputy executive director of a state-owned telecommunications company in Thailand of committing age fraud to extend his retirement. The State Enterprise Lover Club urged a renowned Thai lawyer, Sittha Biabangkerd, to expose the matter to the public as they filed a complaint with the relevant government agencies, but…
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