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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Berry bad: Ex-boss faces 5 years for human trafficking scandal
Finnish prosecutors are gunning for a hefty five-year prison sentence for the former head of a berry company and his Thai business partner over shocking human trafficking charges. The Lapland District Court kicked off the trial yesterday, August 13, with the duo facing a staggering 77 counts of aggravated human trafficking. Jukka Kristo, the ex-CEO of Polarica, and his Thai…
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Heavy rain warning for three Thai regions, Bangkok to see showers
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning for heavy rain in three regions, with the northern region expected to face 70% rainfall. Bangkok will experience heavy showers from afternoon to evening. Residents are advised to be cautious of potential flooding and flash floods. The weather forecast for today indicates a possibility of heavy rainfall in the northern, upper…
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Puff the magic danger: Letting kids vape could land you in hot water
Allowing your little ones to puff away on e-cigarettes or even just breathing in that vapour at home might land you in hot water warned a government official. Child health and rights experts are sounding the alarm, warning that such actions could be a serious breach of child protection laws. Sapphasit Khumpraphan, a member of the National Child Protection Committee, called…
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Thailand ministry urges public to stop giving money to beggars
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is set to launch a major new campaign this Friday, and it’s urging the public to stop giving money to beggars and halt the shocking surge in the number of beggars across Thailand. The big reveal will kick off at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in Pathumwan district. Expect a star-studded…
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Pipe bomb attack at Batu checkpoint injures volunteer in Narathiwat
Two assailants hurled pipe bombs at the Batu checkpoint in Narathiwat, injuring one paramilitary volunteer and damaging property. CCTV footage captured the incident, showing the suspects approaching the checkpoint on foot before throwing the explosives. The southern border province of Narathiwat has been plagued by unrest, and the recent attack at the Batu checkpoint is a stark reminder of ongoing…
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Hat Yai in southern Thailand hailed Asia’s most affordable travel destination
One of the globe’s most popular online travel platforms hailed Hat Yai district in the southern province of Songkhla as the most affordable travel destination in Asia. Agoda released a ranking of cities that offer the most affordable stays in Asia, providing suggestions for users seeking budget-friendly holidays or those wishing to extend their trips within a limited budget. The…
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Vitamin C and shrimp myth debunked by Thai authorities
Fake news about the dangers of consuming vitamin C with shrimp, claiming it causes sudden death, has caused widespread panic online. The Anti-Fake News Centre in Thailand previously debunked this myth, confirming it as false information. The online community is once again abuzz with panic over the false information that eating shrimp with vitamin C causes sudden death due to…
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Thailand’s tourism boom: Revenue set to soar to 2.8 trillion baht
Hold onto your sun hats! Thailand’s tourism sector is on the brink of a massive surge in the latter half of the year, with an eye-popping revenue forecast of 1.46 trillion baht. That’s set to push the annual total to a whopping 2.8 trillion baht—up a staggering 25% from last year, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The…
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Thai rice faces sticky situation as Vietnamese rice steals the show
Rice exporters are sounding the alarm over the possible disappearance of local Thai rice varieties, as farmers increasingly switch to a Vietnamese strain celebrated for its soft texture. Charoen Laothamatas, President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, raised concerns about the dire state of the industry. Production of beloved Thai varieties like Pathum Thani fragrant rice and KB 79 has…
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Technician crushed to death while repairing lift at Bangkok airport
A technician, believed to be a Thai national, tragically lost his life today while repairing a lift at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. The technician’s death was reported today, August 13, by several Thai news agencies. It was stated that he was conducting repairs at the bottom of the lift within a domestic passenger terminal of Suvarnabhumi Airport when the…
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Chinese-owned smelting plants raided for hazardous aluminium waste
Police raided two illegal aluminium smelting plants owned by a Chinese investor in the central provinces of Pathum Thani and Samut Sakhon on Sunday and Monday, August 11 and 12, after discovering potential negative impacts on human health and the ecosystem. The raids on the two plants were carried out following the discovery of aluminium dross, a dangerous waste product…
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Thailand aims to be global tech talent hub by 2030
Thailand is on the brink of becoming a global hub hotspot, thanks to its strategic location, abundant resources, and savvy policies aimed at drawing in young professionals, according to industry bigwigs. The strategy, highlighted at the Techsauce Global Summit 2024 Home for Tech Talent panel, seeks to boost knowledge transfer and export future talent. Karndee Leopairote, chief of foresight and…
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Taiwan netizen’s leaf mistaken for stray cat goes viral
A viral sensation has emerged online in Taiwan, where a netizen shared a humorous experience of trying to rescue what appeared to be a stray cat on the street, only to discover it was something entirely different. According to reports, the netizen recounted that at around 10pm, yesterday, August 12, while driving home after work, they noticed an orange stray…
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Thai man caught for Bangkok rape after 3 week-manhunt (video)
Police arrested a Thai man who evaded capture for three weeks after raping a 59 year old woman at an apartment in the Srinakarin neighbourhood of Bangkok. The suspect, 38 year old Surapong, also known as Bang Pakchong, escaped arrest after sexually assaulting the victim on July 23. Surapong reportedly sneaked into the victim’s apartment and placed a pillow over…
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Malaysian woman goes viral for transporting durians on car (video)
A durian-loving Malaysian woman, who cannot stand its strong smell, has gone viral for her unique solution of placing the fruit on the bonnet of her car while driving. She shared her experience on TikTok, receiving widespread attention and mixed reactions from netizens. Durian, often dubbed the king of fruits, is known for its divisive nature: people either love it…
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Support floods in for social activist battling costly illness in Thailand
Residents in Kanchanaburi, West Thailand, have rallied to help aid a social activist suffering from severe illness due to a lack of protein caused by a stomach disease. The activist, Mint, appealed for help as her medical expenses reached 4,000 baht per day. Mint, the owner of the Facebook page “ชื่อ’อ มิ้น’น,” posted a heartfelt plea for donations to cover…
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Thai teen allegedly shoots himself in face while playing with gun
A Thai teenager in the southern province of Phattalung allegedly shot himself in the face while playing with a gun, but his father doubts this, believing that his son may have been attacked by someone. Officers from Kong Ra Police Station rushed to a wooden hut in the Kong Ra district of Phattalung after being notified of the shooting at…
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MG to produce hybrid electric vehicles in Chon Buri next year
Thailand’s hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) market is set to witness heightened competition as automakers roll out investment plans. The Chinese-Thai joint venture SAIC Motor-CP and MG Sales (Thailand) announced their intention to produce HEVs under the MG brand in Chon Buri by next year. MG is capitalising on a burgeoning domestic market for HEVs, spurred by the Board of Investment’s…
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Pattaya rolls out the red carpet: Aiming for film-tastic UNESCO spot
The seaside resort of Pattaya is gearing up to host the Pattaya Film Festival 2024 in a bid to establish itself as a UNESCO Creative City of Film. The festival seeks to boost tourism through film-related activities and position Pattaya as a central hub in the film industry as part of its development plan for 2023-2030. A press conference was…
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Myanmar worker feared drowned in Samut Songkhram river
A young Myanmar worker disappeared while swimming with friends near the central pillar of the Somdej Phra Sri Suriyen Bridge in Samut Songkhram. Despite rescue efforts, strong currents forced a pause in the search, which will resume today. The 24 year old Myanmar worker, Hen Min Ko Ko, was enjoying a swim with three friends to cool off when he…
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Thailand launches new double-track railway, enhancing logistics
Thailand’s double-track railway on the State Railway of Thailand’s southern line, spanning from Nakhon Pathom to Chumphon, has officially started operations. The announcement was made yesterday, August 12, by the agency. The head of the SRT governor’s office, Ekarat Sri-arayanpong, stated that the new track will enhance logistical operations along the 421-kilometre route. The upgrade is set to reduce journey…
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Ringing in trouble: Bangkok thief swaps gold for cold hard cash
Police arrested a man for stealing a gold ring by posing as a customer. He swapped the real ring with a fake one while the staff were distracted and later confessed to selling the ring for money. Police yesterday, August 12, arrested 33 year old Sakda following a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on August 1. He was apprehended…
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Teenager’s stroke linked to unhealthy lifestyle in heatwave
A 19 year old university student experienced a stroke after leading an unhealthy lifestyle, with doctors identifying five risky behaviours contributing to his condition. Experts warn that even young and seemingly healthy individuals are not immune to stroke risks. The Deputy Head of the Neurology Department at Zhongshan Hospital in Zhejiang Province, China, Hu Xinping, highlighted the increasing number of…
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Don’t let Thailand’s smiles rain on your parade: Brace for floods
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecasted increased rainfall and potential flash floods over the next ten days, urging vigilance from residents in the Land of Smiles. The TMD released its updated ten-day rainfall accumulation forecast, predicting increased rainfall and potential flash floods from today to ten days ahead. This forecast, based on data from the European Centre for Medium-Range…
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New law proposed for quick tech crime recovery in Thailand
A special law to protect victims of technology crimes and expedite their recovery of losses will be introduced by the government, Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong announced yesterday. The new legislation aims to address the surge in technology-related crimes and was agreed upon during a recent committee meeting focused on suppressing and preventing these offences. The committee…
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People’s Party confirmed legal despite petition threat
The People’s Party (PP), emerging from the recently disbanded Move Forward Party (MFP), has been confirmed by the Election Commission (EC) as having established the necessary party branches legally. The announcement followed a statement by Warong Dechgitvigrom, leader of the Thai Pakdee Party, who indicated his intention to file a petition against the PP. His contention revolves around the predecessor,…
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Thai central bank to cut rates as US economy slows
The US economy is anticipated to face a cyclical slowdown from late next year into 2025, prompting the Bank of Thailand to reduce its policy rate by up to 1.5 percentage points, according to KGI Securities (Thailand). KGI analysts, Rakpong Chaisuparakul and Pragrom Pathomboorn highlight in their report that this slowdown will normalise the labour market and make US consumers…
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Thai fisherman sees South Korean discard cash, jump into river
A resident in the northern province of Chiang Mai discovered the body of a South Korean man in the Ping River after he scattered cash and jumped into the water in front of a Thai fisherman on Sunday. A fisherman alerted officers from Chang Phueak Police Station after seeing a foreigner, later identified as 44 year old South Korean man…
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Thailand’s ‘call’ for scam help at Mekong meeting
The Government of Thailand will leverage the upcoming Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) meeting to seek regional support in tackling call centre scam gangs. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin tasked Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa with addressing this issue during the meeting and exploring effective strategies to combat cross-border crimes, including these scams. The 9th MLC meeting is set for Thursday and Friday in…
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Mc Group forecasts 4 billion baht revenue, targets Gen Y and Z
The well-known creator and distributor of Mc Jeans, Mc Group Plc, anticipates its revenue to hit 4 billion baht this year, with a strategic focus on engaging Generation Y and Z to fuel its growth. The Chief Executive James Richard Amatawiwat acknowledged the competitive nature of the market this year but expressed confidence in the company’s ability to stay ahead…
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