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 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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Thai villager wins 100,000 baht in lottery from ancient tree numbers
In an enchanting twist of fate, an anonymous resident was thrust into a realm of financial prosperity after uncovering the winning lottery numbers, bestowed upon them by an ancient and revered tree nestled within the tranquil confines of Ban Beng Temple in Sri Narong, Chumphon Buri, Surin. This auspicious turn of events led to the resident’s remarkable windfall—a substantial prize…
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Hermit’s forest meditation takes an eternal detour in remote Thailand
A 58 year old hermit was found dead during meditation in a deep forest in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. The rescue team had to walk to the scene due to the inaccessibility of vehicles. The body was later transported by motorcycle from the mountain today. Jiraphan Suinwai, head of the Naprat Chiang Mai Rescue, stated that on Sunday, October 1, they…
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Shell shock: Giant turtle roadside rescue fuels lottery frenzy in northeast Thailand
A giant turtle was discovered crawling on a road by a young man who decided to take it home, sparking a flurry of lottery number predictions among the local villagers in northeast Thailand. The unusual occurrence took place in the Nong Thep community, Sri Narong District, Surin province. The 28 year old man, Kaewprasert, was en route to buy some…
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World Bank revises Thailand’s economic growth forecast due to export contraction
The World Bank revised Thailand’s economic growth forecast downwards for 2023 and 2024, attributing the adjustment to a predicted contraction in the country’s exports due to reduced global demand. The primary engines of economic growth will be tourism and private consumption. A decrease from 3.6% to 3.4% is predicted for Thailand’s economic growth this year, as reported by the World…
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Brazilian influencer temporarily blinded after freak gym accident
A horrifying incident unfolded in a fitness centre in Brazil, where a gym-goer was temporarily blinded and paralysed after being violently struck in the head by the handle of a chest fly machine. The mishap occurred while 32 year old Abraão Viana was working out at a gym near the city of Fortaleza in the north-eastern state of Ceará. Viana…
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Helmet heist: Foreign couple’s brazen theft to dodge checkpoint fines caught on CCTV
A security camera caught a foreign couple stealing two motorcycle helmets from a post office welfare house in the northern province of Chiang Mai in a bid to avoid being fined at a police checkpoint. The director of the Mae Ping Post Office, Kraisri Thongwirat, discovered that two helmets belonging to the post office had gone missing yesterday, October 2.…
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Survivor’s trauma lingers a year after the daycare centre massacre in northeast Thailand
The trauma of the brutal daycare centre massacre at a Thai nursery still lingers, especially for Paweenuch Supolwong, a four year old survivor in Nong Bua Lamphu. The horrific daycare centre massacre that unfolded a year ago in the rural village of Uthai Sawan, ended in the deaths of 36 people, shattering the peace of this close-knit community. Now, every movement…
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Bangkok underwear thief caught with knickers in a twist at entertainment haunt
A Thai thief who stole women’s underwear from a coin-operated laundry shop has been apprehended. The arrest occurred after the police issued an arrest warrant, and the suspect was later found at an entertainment venue. Numerous women’s undergarments were discovered hidden under the seat of his motorbike. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jedsada Yangnok, the superintendent of Wang Thong Lang Police Station,…
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Wedding day drama: Bride’s hidden career as porn star leaves groom in a reel shocker
A 32 year old Japanese woman suffered a shocking revelation on her wedding day when a close friend exposed her past as a porn star, a secret she had never divulged to her husband. The surprising disclosure left her husband taken aback during their wedding celebrations. The alleged former porn star, known by the pseudonym, Mizuki, met her boyfriend and…
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Chilli reception: Thai senators to spice things up with complaint after Icelandic restaurant row
Thai senators are preparing to lodge a complaint with the Icelandic government following an incident where Doctor Porntip Rojanasunan was thrown out of a Thai restaurant in Iceland by its Thai proprietor. Last week, a video went viral on Thai social media depicting a Thai man, who identified himself as the owner of a restaurant in Iceland, expelling Porntip from…
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Banking on change: Thai banks raise policy rates to woo depositors with digital deals
Following the Bank of Thailand‘s decision to hike its policy rate by 0.25 percentage points, banks are now increasing both their loan and deposit rates. In a bid to attract depositors, special rates are being offered on digital savings products. Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), the country’s fourth-largest lender by total assets, has acted promptly to the central bank’s policy rate…
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Phuket’s unlucky 13: Immigration crackdown reveals rule-breaking escapades
Immigration authorities in Phuket apprehended 13 individuals and charged them with violations of the Immigration Act. This information was disclosed yesterday in the Phuket Overstay Report, issued by the local Immigration department. Of the 13 arrested, seven were detained for overstaying their visas from September 1-30. Also noted in the report was the charging of one individual for failing to…
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Noodle shop’s slippery surprise: Giant python crashes lunchtime in Yala, Thailand
A giant python, almost 5 metres long and weighing 7 kilogrammes, caused a stir today when it slithered into a noodle shop in Yala, Thailand. The reptile was discovered by the shop owner, Suhayna Beeing, who immediately alerted residents of the Gunung Janoang community, sparking panic and attracting a crowd of onlookers. Suhayna noticed the giant python hiding under a…
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British man recounts shocking encounter with racist Russians in Phuket
A British man recounted an unsettling encounter with some racist Russians in Phuket, southern Thailand. His unfortunate experience has led him to declare that he will never return to the island. The British man, who shared his story on the Reddit platform under the username Wanderlust3r0, started his narrative by stating he is a black British man with a Thai…
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Unidentified Thai man found dead in possible hit-and-run in central Thailand
An unidentified Thai man aged between 45 and 50 was found lifeless today on the side of the Saraburi-Lomsak Road in Phatthana Nikhom district, Lopburi province after he was reportedly struck by a large lorry in a potential hit-and-run. According to local rescue personnel, the man, who was heavily intoxicated, had been awakened at a nearby petrol station hours earlier…
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Laid to rest: Thai authorities bury 4.5 million kg of illicit pork in Chon Buri
The Department of Livestock Development, along with other key agencies, has begun the process of burying over 4.5 million kilogrammes of illicit pork, seized at Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri. This gargantuan task, involving 161 shipping containers of illicit pork, is set to be completed within eight days at the Animal Feed Research and Development Centre in Sa Kaeo.…
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Stock slide stalls: Thai stock market slump set to stabilise as analysts predict limited decreases
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index has been subjected to a downward revision this year, dipping to a three-month low of roughly 1,470 points. This has led market analysts to believe that further decreases are now limited. Kasikorn Securities (KSEC) consequently altered its SET index target to 1,544 points by the close of 2023, a significant drop from the…
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Price plunge extravaganza: Nationwide cuts on products and services to boost Thailand economy
A nationwide price reduction on over 150,000 products and services, ranging up to an 87% discount, has been declared with immediate effect in Thailand until the end of December. This is part of the government’s Quick Win policy initiative, aimed at reducing costs, boosting the economy, and expanding business opportunities, stated Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The agreement, reached yesterday, involves…
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Taxi turmoil: Thai woman cries foul as Bolt taxi charges 1,350 baht for 30 minute trip in Bangkok
Another day in Big Mango, another story of a bad boy Bangkok taxi driver ripping off a customer, this time a Thai woman was ripped off by Bolt Thailand. The Thai woman condemned the rail-hailing application for overcharging her after a Bolt taxi driver demanded 1,350 baht for a 30-minute ride, about 50 kilometres, from the Bangkok International Trade &…
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Thyroid-stricken Thai police officer gifted renovated home by superior amidst financial struggle
A 53 year old Thai police officer Boonhiang, from the Samut Songkhram Police Station, who is currently suffering from an enlarged thyroid, was found living in a dilapidated home, leading his superior to help him find a new place to live and support him financially. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sayam Inthrasuwan, Station Chief of Samut Songkhram’s City Police, was informed yesterday…
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Thai high-flyer: PM Srettha aims to lift Thailand to upper-income status in four-year soar
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced ambitious plans to elevate Thailand to an upper-income nation within the next four years. The 61 year old prime minister unveiled the government’s fiscal strategy for 2024, targeting an average economic growth of 5% per annum and a minimum daily wage of 600 baht by 2027. The initial proposal includes a raise of the minimum…
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Heavy rain warning: Thailand braces for flash floods as 44 provinces drenched, eastern region bears brunt
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today issued a heavy rain warning and flash floods in 44 provinces. The eastern region is expected to be the hardest hit, with 80% of the area likely to face heavy downpours. Bangkok is also expected to experience significant heavy rain, with a risk of sudden flash floods and forest water run-off. The 24-hour weather…
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Hyde Park Garden blooms early: Koon Estate & AISL accelerate luxury living
In response to overwhelming demand, Koon Estate, a property developer, and Asia International School Limited (AISL), which operates Harrow International Schools in Asia, have decided to expedite the second phase of their luxury housing project, Hyde Park Garden. Nuttawat Kuvijitsuwan, Koon Estate’s executive director, revealed that planning for the new phase has commenced earlier than initially planned, driven by the…
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Thai PM’s purse power play: Srettha urges military to trade arms for aid in 2024
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin urged the military to postpone their plans to procure weapons for 2024 in a bid to divert funds towards aiding the nation’s needy, according to insiders. Defence Minister Sutin Klunsang and Prommin Lertsuridej, the Prime Minister’s Secretary-General, have been tasked with negotiating the delay with the military leaders. The prime minister wishes to utilise the budget…
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Thao Wessuwan draws devotees to temple for lottery luck and land sales success
The revered Noen Sukh temple in Rayong was abuzz with activity as devotees queued up to pay homage to the Thao Wessuwan statue, believed to bring luck in lottery and successful land sales. A popular retro music band was also hired to perform, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. A couple revealed that they had experienced good fortune after praying at…
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Warning issued over popular Boppy Lounger Pillows following infant deaths
A warning has been issued about the danger of baby nursing pillows, following more than 25 reported infant deaths. Veerachai Jaruschaiyaseree, a legal medicine expert at Srinakharinwirot University, highlighted the two main risks associated with these pillows. Today, October 2, he posted a warning alerting parents to the peril of using Boppy Lounger Pillows, products frequently purchased online. The Boppy…
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Saw X film editor’s realistic horror sounds draw police to his home
In an unexpected turn of events, a film editor working on the horror movie franchise Saw X found himself the subject of a police visit after neighbours mistook the realistic sound effects for actual torture. The unconventional incident, involving Steve Forn, occurred as he was designing the chilling sound effects for a particularly gruesome scene in the upcoming 2023 sequel.…
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Unmasking drama: Upset spectator disrupts Ultraman in Chinese theatre
An unexpected disturbance unfolded during an Ultraman performance at the Zhangxing Theatre in the city of Huozhou, Jiangxi province, China, on September 28. A visibly upset man interrupted the show, expressing his discontent and confusion over a Japanese character being featured on a Chinese stage. The incident, captured on video, depicts the disgruntled individual not only shouting but also physically…
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Royal Thai Police chief unveils merit-based appointment plans in bid for unity
The National Police Chief recently addressed the issues within the Royal Thai Police in an interview on Inside Thailand. Police chief Torasak Sukwimon revealed plans for a merit-based system for appointing and transferring police generals, aiming to foster unity within the force. Torasak expressed his desire to establish the Royal Thai Police (RTP) as a home, a place of unity…
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Yom River surges: Phichit takes swift action to stay afloat
The swift ascent of water levels in the Yom River in Phichit has compelled the Phichit Irrigation Department to expedite the discharge of water from the Sam Ngam Dam. These proactive measures are designed to brace for the anticipated influx of water from the northern region. In light of this development, residents have received counsel to relocate their possessions to…
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