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 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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iCon-venient truth: Cops swoop to arrest 18 in fraud bust scandal
Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) dramatically swooped to arrest 18 key members of iCon Group, including its CEO, three well-known celebrities, and other key suspects over allegations of fraud. Shocking revelations from multiple victims and former members have exposed iCon Group Group’s dodgy business model, which appears to mirror a Ponzi scheme. Many investors lost their life savings,…
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Police chief orders swift arrest after fatal hit-and-run in Bangkok
A dramatic incident involving a motorcyclist killed in a hit-and-run occurred yesterday in Bangkok prompting immediate intervention from the national police chief. The event took place around 5.10pm, yesterday, October 16, as Chief Kittirat Panpet was on his way to a religious ceremony at Wat Thepsirin. While travelling to the ceremony following an inspection of police riot control units at…
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Soldier attacks Thai sausage vendor, evades arrest in military camp
A soldier attacked a sausage vendor with a knife before fleeing to a military camp, leaving the police unable to apprehend him. Despite the incident occurring a week ago, the perpetrator remains at large, unpunished. Wisanu, a 20 year old sausage vendor from Nang Rong district, Buriram province, reported the incident to Police Lieutenant Colonel Thongrat Keawsanam. According to Wisanu,…
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Chiang Mai shuts flood centre, locals claim aid unmet
Chiang Mai has shut down its flood relief centre, sparking discontent among locals who claim they have not received the promised aid. Deputy Governor Tosapol Phuanudom announced the closure yesterday, October 16, stating that the centre had completed its mission. The centre was established in response to the severe flooding that hit Chiang Mai between October 5 and 14. Despite…
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Leopard spotted in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi
A leopard made a rare daytime appearance in Kaeng Krachan National Park, located in the Kaeng Krachan district of Phetchaburi. Mongkol Chaipakdee, head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, confirmed that a tourist captured detailed photos of the leopard lounging on a road inside the park on Tuesday, October 15. Mongkol noted that leopard sightings have become more frequent recently, indicating…
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Monsoon brings heavy rain to central, eastern, southern Thailand
Weather conditions for today see a monsoon trough passing through central, eastern, and southern regions, including Bangkok, bringing rain to 60% of the area with heavy showers in some places. Mariners are advised to navigate cautiously due to high waves. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts that for the next 24 hours, the monsoon trough will move across the upper…
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Bangkok Community Help Foundation dives in for Chiang Rai flood relief
Bangkok Community Help Foundation mobilised to provide urgent flood relief to Chiang Rai and surrounding areas. The region has been severely impacted by the overflowing Kok River, leaving more than 30,000 people stranded and many without homes. With the support of volunteers, locals, and law enforcement, the foundation has delivered over 6,000 kilogrammes (kgs) of essential aid, reaching remote villages…
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Knife-wielding gang on the run after Patong attack horror
Patong’s popular Bangla Road turned into a crime scene early this morning as police launched a manhunt for a gang behind a brutal knife attack. Chaos erupted today, October 16, in Soi Sea Dragon when a 33 year old man, Sarawut Booniai, was chased down and stabbed by a group of unidentified assailants. Two brave bystanders, who stepped in to…
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Bank of Thailand slashes interest rates after four-year freeze
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has stunned financial markets by slashing its key interest rate for the first time in four years, buckling under mounting pressure from the government to revive the sluggish economy. The unexpected move saw the one-day repurchase rate trimmed by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 2.25% from its 10-year high of 2.50%. This decision…
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Don Mueang Tollway projects revenue boost amid rising traffic
Don Mueang Tollway Public Company Limited (DMT) forecasts a bright performance for the third quarter of this year heading into the High Season of Q4. The surge in tourism, both foreign and domestic, is expected to boost passenger numbers and traffic on the elevated tollway. Sakda Phanwai, the Managing Director, expressed optimism as Thai AirAsia X relocated its flights back…
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Nok Air takes off again: Ready to ‘baht’ back in business
Nok Air is plotting a major comeback, with a 5 billion baht cash injection on the cards for 2025. The Thai low-cost airline, which entered business rehabilitation in 2021, is now eyeing an exit in 2026, as CEO Wutthiphum Jurangkool outlines a path to financial recovery. In an interview with Bangkok Business, Wutthiphum revealed the funds will be used to…
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Chinese woman perches kids on 23rd-floor air con amid argument
A shocking video has emerged from Luoyang, central China, showing a Chinese woman putting her two young children in terrifying danger—all to spite her husband. The viral clip, viewed over 55 million times on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, shows the children perched on an air conditioning unit outside their flat on the 23rd floor, as their mother argues…
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Mae Ya Krathong Shrine draws crowds for lucky lottery numbers
Residents flocked to the Mae Ya Krathong Shrine, a century-old sacred site, to seek lucky lottery numbers using the innocent touch of children to draw numbers from an urn. This time, the numbers drawn coincidentally matched popular ones, sparking hope for big wins. The Mae Ya Krathong Shrine, located under the shade of an ancient Krathong tree at the foot…
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Sedan driver trapped after high-speed horror in Pattaya
Chaos erupted on Siam Country Club Road in East Pattaya on Monday, October 14, when a sedan lost control, smashing into an electric pole and careening into the wall of a substation. Pattaya’s Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Center swiftly responded to the alarming report of the accident, dispatching teams armed with cutting tools to the scene. Upon arrival, rescuers discovered…
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Vocational student brawl disrupts Bangkok train commuters (video)
Panic erupted on a crowded train this morning when a group of young vocational students were involved in a wild brawl, sending Bangkok commuters scrambling for safety at Siam BTS. The chaotic scene unfolded around 8.30am, today, October 16, with Police swooping in to detain the troublemakers. Videos circulating online show more than ten boys, believed to be vocational students,…
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Chon Buri: Late-night beach vandalism caught on camera
In a shocking display of vandalism, a man was caught on video smashing a padlock at Yinyom Beach with a hammer, leaving residents in disbelief. The incident occurred late last night, October 15, in the Jomtien area off Thappraya Road, and was captured by a vigilant resident. Pattaya City officers responded swiftly to the scene, finding minimal damage to the…
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Feline fire fiasco: More than 20 injured in Samut Prakan blaze
A late-night fire in a crowded apartment building in Samut Prakan’s Mueang district left more than 20 residents nursing minor injuries from smoke inhalation. The chaos erupted around midnight yesterday, October 15, as hundreds of tenants made a frantic escape from the five-storey building on Samrong Soi 20. The fire reportedly ignited in a second-floor room, where the tenant had…
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Man robbed at knifepoint while selling iPhone 16 in Bangkok
A man was robbed at knifepoint after attempting to sell an iPhone 16 via Facebook. The incident took place early yesterday, October 15, near the entrance of Soi Phahonyothin 49 in Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok. Police are currently investigating the case to apprehend the suspect. Around 12.03am today, Bang Khen police officers were alerted to the robbery involving a weapon…
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Climate activists rally in Bangkok: No more ‘carbon’ copies of injustice
More than 200 climate activists descended on the United Nations Headquarters in Bangkok yesterday passionately demanding an end to climate change laws and carbon credit systems that favour corporate giants. The rally, titled “System Change Not Climate Crisis,” aimed to pressure the Thai government ahead of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), taking place in Azerbaijan from November…
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Search continues for 12 year old Thai girl missing for 12 days
A Thai mother and aunt in the southern province of Phang Nga are searching for her 12 year old girl, who has been missing for 12 days since October 5, when the family left the girl alone at home to attend a vegetarian festival. Wandee Hanhuan, the aunt of the 12 year old missing girl, Poonyanut “Sompoy” Kayankhai, took to…
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Motorcyclist dies in collision with 18-wheeler on Sukhumvit Road
A tragic accident occurred when a motorcyclist collided with the rear of an 18-wheeler, resulting in the motorcyclist’s death. The incident took place on Sukhumvit Road, heading towards Bangkok, opposite the entrance of Thung Krad Temple in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. At 12.06am today, October 16, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya Rescue Radio Centre received a report of a serious…
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German man found dead in Patong hotel after fever and dizziness
A German man was found dead in his hotel room in Patong today after experiencing fever and dizziness. The incident prompted police to request a medical examination to determine the cause of death. Patong police were alerted to the situation at approximately 6am, today, October 16, and arrived at the hotel on Phra Mettha Road. Upon investigation, officers found no…
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Thailand’s stock market sees a ‘baht’ of foreign interest
Foreign investors have increased their holdings of Thai shares by 1.37% in the first eight months of 2024, reaching a total of 5.18 trillion baht, based on data from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). This rise highlights the growing interest in the technology, financial, and services sectors. By August 2024, foreign investors held over 5.18 trillion baht (US$155 billion)…
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Thai man arrested in Bangkok for firing gun while on meth
Police officers stormed a residence to arrest a drug-addled man who had been firing a gun from his apartment. The incident occurred in the Pom Prap Sattru Phai district of Bangkok, following a tip-off from a concerned citizen. The man in question, 33 year old Sombat from Chumphon, was apprehended on charges of possessing an unlicenced firearm, discharging a firearm…
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Lottery hopefuls rush to Udon Thani as lucky numbers sell out
Crowds of lottery enthusiasts flocked to Kham Chanod in Udon Thani to buy the lucky numbers 451 and 154, derived from incense sticks at the sacrificial table of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s son, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, completely selling out the lottery stalls. Today, October 16, reports from Kham Chanod Island, located in the Naga King’s realm of Wang…
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Highways reopen after Chiang Rai flood chaos
Flood-ravaged Chiang Rai is getting back on its feet, with crucial roadways reopened after devastating landslides. The Department of Highways (DOH) has fast-tracked repairs to reconnect communities isolated by torrential rains, particularly along the vital Highway 1150, linking Wiang Pa Pao in Chiang Rai to Phrao in Chiang Mai. This key route, blocked by multiple landslides, had halted travel and…
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Barefaced bandit: Naked thief strips Rayong office of 200,000 baht
An owner of an office building in the eastern province of Rayong urged swift police action after a naked thief robbed his office twice, resulting in damages and losses exceeding 200,000 baht. The victim, Paisit Jiam-anukunkit, filed a theft complaint at Mueang Rayong Police Station and shared his story with news agencies, hoping to frighten the thief and hasten an…
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Fugitive general resigns amid Tak Bai scandal
Retired General Pisan Wattanawongkiri, once the chief of Thailand’s 4th Army Region, has abruptly quit the ruling Pheu Thai Party and resigned from his MP position amidst a cloud of controversy. Wanted for his role in the brutal 2004 Tak Bai crackdown in Narathiwat, Pisan faces mounting pressure to return and face charges before the statute of limitations expires. The…
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Thailand extends TM6 form suspension to boost tourism
Thailand has extended the suspension of its TM6 immigration forms until April 30 next year, a move that promises to ease cross-border tourism while a new electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system is being developed. Officials say the ETA could also streamline the collection of tourism fees. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong revealed that the Cabinet approved the decision, which…
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Thai man allegedly fakes wife’s suicide after adultery lawsuit
Police arrested a Thai man for allegedly killing his wife and faking her suicide after she sued him for adultery and gained ownership of all assets earned during their relationship. A Thai woman was rushed to a hospital in the northern province of Nan in August. Her husband, 45 year old Somchai, told the medical team that his wife committed…
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