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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Uncontrolled firework display endangers tourists at Phu Thap Boek
A distressing incident unfolded at Phu Thap Boek, a popular tourist attraction in Thailand, where tourists were endangered by stray fireworks. As the countdown to the new year progressed, a lack of control over the fireworks displays resulted in a chaotic spectacle, putting visitors’ safety at risk. A social media post from an affected tourist shed light on the alarming…
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House committee to inspect Land Bridge project impact on local
An investigative committee from the House is set to make a field visit to Chumphon and Ranong, the designated development areas for the much-anticipated Land Bridge megaproject. The committee’s objective is to garner insights into the project’s potential repercussions on local communities, according to an anonymous source. Presided over by Pheu Thai MP for Phayao, Wisut Chainaroon, the committee has…
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Octogenarian love heist: 81 year old demands justice as 83 year old hubby swipes for secret sweetheart
An 81 year old Thai woman demanded legal action against her 83 year old husband who stole from her and local vendors so he could support his lover. Mueang Sing Buri Police Station officers, in the central province of Sing Buri, received a theft report from a 50 year old grocery store owner named Noppakhun Mathap on December 31. The…
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Bitcoin surges above 1.537 million baht marking a significant peak
With a noteworthy rise of 3%, Bitcoin surged above US$45,000 (1.537 million baht) today, marking its first significant peak since April of the previous year. This considerable leap has signalled an auspicious start to 2024 for the world’s leading and most recognisable cryptocurrency. Earlier in the day, Bitcoin had reached an impressive 21-month high of US$45,386 (1.550 million baht). It…
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Phuket welcomes 2024 with soaring tourist numbers and an 8 billion baht boost
Thailand’s famed island paradise of Phuket has just witnessed an impressive upswing in tourist numbers over the new year break. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office has confirmed that the island has welcomed a remarkable 265,000 visitors, contributing more than 8 billion baht to the local economy. The head of the TAT Phuket office, Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, provided these…
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Chiang Mai confrontation leads to seizure of 200,000 meth pills
A confrontation between soldiers and smugglers occurred in the Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai in the early hours of today. The incident led to a seizure of 200,000 methamphetamine pills that were abandoned during the conflict. The Pha Muang task force, while on patrol, encountered armed individuals near the natural border crossing from Myanmar in the Kaeng Tum village…
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Thai minister pitches pension perk: Varawut’s push for a raise in elderly stipend draws attention
Varawut Silpa-Archa, the Minister for Social Development and Human Security, voiced his backing for an increment in the monthly elderly stipend to 3,000 or 5,000 baht during a briefing yesterday, January 1 but stressed the hike’s financial feasibility for the country. The minister’s comments were a direct response to a legislative proposal, submitted by several civic organisations on December 21,…
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Thai man evades arrest after beating girlfriend to death
The family of a Thai woman is seeking justice after her boyfriend beat her to death at their shared home in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok and evaded arrest. The victim’s younger brother, 26 year old Phontakorn, urged non-profit organisation Saimai Survive to reveal his sister’s story to the public. Phontakorn said he and his mother hoped a miracle would happen…
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Thailand’s economy braces for slow growth
Thailand’s economy is set to experience slow growth in the coming years, with GDP forecasts for this year ranging between 3-3.4%. Several factors, including sluggish growth in exports, subdued Chinese demand for consumption and tourism, geopolitical risks, and a shortage of skilled workers, are expected to influence this. Despite these challenges, industry executives are optimistic and are devising strategies to…
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South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung survives stabbing attack in Busan
South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed while making a public announcement in Busan. Following the incident, authorities immediately apprehended the attacker. Lee, who lost the presidential election in 2022, was transported to the hospital approximately 20 minutes post-assault and is currently conscious. Lee Jae-myung, who suffered a defeat in the 2022 presidential polls, was stabbed on the left…
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Unexpected meeting between Thai actress Khunying Ton and PM Srettha
Social media users have been sharing photographs of a chance seaside encounter between Thai actress Piyapas Bhirombhakdi, popularly known as Khunying Ton, and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in Hua Hin. The images were posted by Khunying Ton on her personal Instagram account on December 31. Khunying Ton captioned her post, stating that PM Srettha has been her friend since kindergarten.…
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Thai teenage boy accidentally shoots and kills friend near Bangkok
A 15 year old Thai boy confessed to accidentally shooting and killing his 14 year old friend while attempting to attack a rival group of teenagers on a road in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok. The 14 year old boy was shot in the back of the head while riding a motorcycle with two friends on Liap Khlong Song Road…
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Nostradamus predicts catastrophic tsunami and royal shake-up in 2024
Renowned French seer Nostradamus predicted a catastrophic tsunami in 2024, a prophecy that has sparked widespread online discussion following the recent tsunami in Japan yesterday. Nostradamus, who lived five centuries ago, penned his predictions in a book of 942 poems, foreseeing major global events with uncanny accuracy, including World War II, the 9/11 attacks, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Famous news…
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Thai Smile takes its final flight: Farewell fiesta signals merger with Thai Airways
Thai Smile Airways threw a farewell party with passengers on the airline’s last flight before saying goodbye on December 31 and merging with Thai Airways (THAI). THAI embarked on a business rehabilitation plan in October of 2021, granting the airline a five-year timeline to enhance its operations. The company underwent significant changes, including restructuring its business, downsizing its workforce, implementing…
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Thai hospitality groups eye global expansion amid tourism recovery
The global tourism recovery has spurred Thai hospitality groups to broaden their horizons beyond domestic borders, tapping into the robust demand in numerous destinations. In the previous year, many hotel management companies reported substantial profits, with some even witnessing their average daily room rates surpass 2019 levels, particularly in prime locations. Minor International (MINT), the largest hotel chain in Thailand,…
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Fatal stabbing in Ban Pong escalates from heated argument
A fatal stabbing occurred in front of a convenience store in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi, following a heated argument between two women. The incident, which took place at 10.45pm yesterday, January 1, ended tragically as a man attempting to intervene was fatally stabbed. The crime scene was attended by Ban Pong Police Station Deputy Investigator Suksiri Chansacha along with Ban Pong…
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Thai authorities craft national oil proposal to boost sustainable aviation fuel
In a bid to bolster the aviation industry’s effort to curtail carbon dioxide emissions, Thai energy authorities are in the process of crafting a novel national oil proposal. The blueprint will cater to the evolution of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a biofuel variant for aircraft. The appeal of SAF lies in its strong resemblance to jet fuel in terms of…
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Pattaya punch-up perplexes police: Viral video captures motorcycle taxi turmoil outside central mall
A viral video emerged on Thai social media over the weekend showing a brutal attack on a foreign man by two motorcycle taxi riders outside Central Pattaya shopping mall. Police said they had received no reports of the incident. The Facebook user, เดฟร็อก ไทย, shared the video of the attack on December 30 with a caption that said: Pattaya motorcycle…
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Bangkok developers warned over glut of affordable condos and townhouses
Real estate developers in Greater Bangkok should tread carefully when introducing new condos and townhouses priced under 2 million baht (US$58,241) due to a significant backlog of unsold units, warns Vichai Viratkapan, acting director-general of the Real Estate Information Center (REIC). Vichai highlighted that the condo and townhouse market for units priced under 2 million baht (US$58,241) experienced a slowdown…
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Thai prime minister ready for key 2024 fiscal year budget bill debate
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confidently announced yesterday his readiness to participate in the upcoming debate on the 2024 fiscal year budget bill. The discussions are set to kick off tomorrow, January 3. PM Srettha revealed that a series of discussions with coalition partners in preparation for the debate had taken place before the new year holiday. The primary aim,…
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Thai investors anticipate surge in depositary receipts popularity in 2024
Executives anticipate a surge in the popularity of depositary receipts (DRs) among Thai investors this year, with the investment tool offering a gateway to high-profile foreign stocks, risk diversification, and potential high returns. As they have become more prevalent on the Thai bourse, investors held DRs worth around 16 billion baht (US$466 million) on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)…
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PM Srettha extends new year wishes, discusses govt’s plans
On the advent of the new year, Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, in company with Supreme Patriarch and House Speaker and Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, extended heartfelt wishes to the nation and its inhabitants. PM Srettha started his year with a visit to Wat Ratchabophit, accompanied by his wife, Pakpilai Thavisin. They expressed their reverence to the Supreme…
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Japan braces for severe earthquakes, warns meteorological agency
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of potential severe earthquakes in the country’s central region in the forthcoming week. The agency revealed this forecast in a press conference yesterday, January 1, following an earthquake that registered a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 on the country’s seven-tier scale. The quake was detected off Japan’s coastline on yesterday afternoon, accompanied by warnings of a…
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Tsunami hits South Korea with unexpected 67cm wave, North Korea on alert
South Korea has been hit by a tsunami with a wave height of 67 centimetres, exceeding initial predictions by the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA). The surging wave height, which is potentially dangerous, could also affect North Korea, which has issued a tsunami warning. The KMA reported that a 20-centimetre high tsunami wave hit the east coast of Kangneung City in…
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Thousands gather in Thailand for New Year’s blessings and cultural preservation
New Year’s Day was marked with customary merit-making and prayers for blessings across Thailand, with thousands of locals and tourists converging at popular sites to witness the first light of 2024. An estimated 5,000 individuals turned out to give alms to over 200 Buddhist monks and novices at the city pillar in Muang district, Khon Kaen province. The event symbolised…
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Thai politician among suspects in fatal Nakhon Phanom petrol station shooting
A local politician is under investigation, together with two other suspects, following the fatal shooting of two petrol station employees in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. The victims, a 50 year old female employee and a 33 year old male known as Phromjak were discovered dead with no significant evidence or spent shell casings found at the scene. The petrol station’s 13…
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Russian tourist child dies in tragic Phuket speedboat accident
Tragedy struck on the last day of 2023 when a speedboat carrying seven Russian tourists, including a five year old girl, crashed into rocks at Koh Maithon while returning to Phuket from Phi Phi Island. The young girl, Liza Pak, sadly lost her life in the incident. The speedboat, named Apirak 89, was believed to be leaving Koh Maithon and…
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Fatal New Year’s shooting in Phuket hotel: police apprehend 32 year old suspect
A 32 year old man was fatally shot in front of a hotel in Phuket during New Year’s celebrations. The assailant, who fled the scene on a motorcycle, was later apprehended by police. The incident occurred at 4.14am today (January 1) Police Lieutenant Colonel Eakasak Khwanhuan, an investigator at the Karon Police Station in Phuket, was notified of the shooting…
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Thailand’s economy projected for strong recovery and growth in 2024
Thailand’s economy is in a promising state of recovery, as projections indicate a boost in both domestic demand and tourist arrivals. With the resurgence of most industries and the emergence of tech-driven sectors like electric vehicles, there is a wave of optimism that the country’s economic growth will significantly strengthen in 2024. Six industries are predicted to experience rapid growth…
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Thailand targets 3.5 trillion baht tourism boost for economy
Thailand’s government is setting its sights on a 3.5 trillion baht (US$101 billion) boost to the economy via the tourism sector this year, aiming to establish the nation as an all-season tourist hotspot. A spokesperson for the government, Chai Wacharonke, revealed that over 27 million international travellers graced the country in 2023, with the majority stemming from Malaysia, closely followed…
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