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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Thailand central bank raises policy rate, reduces 2023 GDP forecast
Following the Bank of Thailand‘s decision to increase its policy rate and reduce the GDP forecast for 2023, the bank’s governor, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, will meet Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Sethaput did not disclose the specifics of the meeting’s agenda, scheduled for Monday, but assured readiness to address any queries. Contrary to circulating rumours, the 61 year old prime minister, who…
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Thai universities shine in Times Higher Education World Rankings
Nineteen universities in Thailand have made their mark on the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024, drawing commendations from Thailand’s Minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation, Supamas Isarabhakdi. This year’s list included 1,904 universities from 108 countries and regions, with THE evaluating more than 134 million citations from over 16.5 million research publications and survey responses…
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Chiang Mai airport’s 24/7 operation boosts hopes for tourism rebound
The tourism sector is gearing up for an influx of foreign visitors as Chiang Mai Airport prepares to operate round-the-clock from November. This move is expected to open up the northern region to more international tourists arriving on direct flights. Sittipong Wongsomboon, general manager of Northern Smile Travel, stated that the average hotel occupancy rate for September had dipped to…
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Experience a ‘Holistic High’ at the second Phuket Cannabis Cup
Welcome to the second Phuket Cannabis Cup, where the worlds of holistic health and cannabis under the theme “Holistic Health, Holistic High” are united. Join a transformative experience that celebrates the intersection of wellness and cannabis culture, fostering a deeper connection between mind, body, spirit and nature. Get ready to explore a harmonious blend of wellness practices, conscious consumption, and…
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Acid attack survivor scammed out of motorbike by brutal loan shark
In a recent incident, a 26 year old woman from the Ban Ngang district of Buriram province found herself victimised twice over. Initially, the woman, Wunpen, suffered facial disfigurement and blindness from an acid attack by her ex-husband in 2020. Recently, she has been defrauded by a loan shark who refused to return her mortgaged motorbike, allegedly selling it to…
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LINE to LY-nk with Yahoo Japan: App’s big transformation creates a buzz
Starting from Sunday, the widely-used application LINE is set to undergo a significant transformation as it merges with Yahoo Japan, resulting in a name change to LY. The announcement of these substantial changes has generated quite a buzz among users. In light of this merger, LINE will integrate into Yahoo Japan and adopt the new identity of LY Corporation. As…
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Five dead, 15 injured in collision ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival
A tragic multi-vehicle collision on an expressway in Guangxi’s autonomous region, in the city of Wuzhou, China, resulted in the unfortunate death of five individuals, with a further 15 sustaining injuries. The incident occurred in the early hours of September 27, local time, as reported by local law enforcement. The authorities are currently conducting a swift investigation to determine the…
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Rainy rampage: Flash floods turn northern Thailand province upside down
Heavy rain and flash floods have wreaked havoc in two districts, five sub-districts and 31 villages in Phrae Province, Thailand. Rampu Chantapatu, the Assistant Head of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office in Phrae, reported that the torrential downpour caused flash floods, inundating local homes and agricultural areas. However, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. Affected areas in Wang…
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Purr-fectly unexpected: Cat-astrophe as nail tech invades cat café
In a fur-midable twist, ‘a Daily‘ cats café found itself in a bit of a ‘purr-dicament’ when a customer decided to ‘pam-purr’ themselves with nail services right alongside the resident feline friends. The café, typically a meow-sterpiece of tranquillity, suddenly found itself with nail equipment ‘paws-ing’ for attention and tables ‘claw-sing’ a bit of chaos.” The owners expressed concern for…
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‘I’m lovin’ it: Couple’s McWedding fast-food feast goes viral (video)
A wedding reception featuring fast food as the main course stirred an online debate, with the bride quickly explaining the reason behind this unconventional choice. The video of the event, featuring 27 year old groom Thomas and 25 year old bride Ophelia serving McDonald’s to their guests, has garnered over 2.3 million views on TikTok. The video shows Ophelia picking…
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Bangkok Governor warns residents near Chao Phraya River of potential floods due to unexpected storm
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt issued an alert for communities living near the Chao Phraya River to be on guard against high water levels due to the storm surge effect at around 7pm today. The 57 year old city chief revealed at Bangkok City Hall that the volume of seawater was significantly higher than forecasted, leading to a 30% surge in…
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Thailand’s Purple Line: Ticket to ride gets a price plummet
The board of The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) voted yesterday to reduce the fare for the Purple Line electric train service to no more than 20 baht. Initially, this fare rate applies only to those paying with standard EMV credit or debit cards, identifiable by their four overlapping curved lines symbol, similar to a WiFi symbol. However,…
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Beggar’s sordid secret: Elderly pervert exposed in online scandal
A 70 year old professional beggar in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, became a hot topic in the Chinese online world after he was exposed as a pervert. The deviant appeared in the top searches on social media following a woman’s expose of his indecent photography of women. Residents explained that the man, regardless of whether he is unable to work due…
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Teen’s heartrending showdown: Schoolgirl stabbed in heroic act (video)
A 15 year old British schoolgirl was tragically stabbed as she tried to intervene in a fight between a friend and her ex-boyfriend on the way to school on Wednesday. Eliyanna, a student at the Old Palace of John Whitgift School in Croydon, met with a devastating fate as she was fatally stabbed on her way to school in a…
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Plastic fantastic: UK scientists serve up world’s first ice cream from plastic waste
Scientists in the UK have innovated the world’s first food made from plastic waste, specifically vanilla ice cream, to highlight global environmental issues and raise awareness about the potential future of food and overflowing plastic waste. The so-called ice cream is actually an art installation named Guilty Flavours by 27 year old Elena Ortolani, aimed at prompting the public to…
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Undercover operation hits Jackpot: 50 busted in illegal gambling den in northern Thailand
A high-stakes illegal gambling den, operating for nearly two months in the heart of Rom Klao’s bustling Kriangkrai Market, was stormed by a special operation team from the Department of Provincial Administration (DPA) yesterday. The crackdown at about 5pm yesterday, September 28, resulted in the arrest of 50 gamblers and 17 gambling organisers. The fallout from the illegal gambling den…
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Rotterdam shooting spree: Erasmus student storms hospital resulting in three fatalities (video)
A shocking incident unfolded in Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second-largest city, as a 32 year old man carried out a shooting spree. The assailant targeted a home, setting it alight, before storming Erasmus Medical Center, a university-affiliated hospital where he had been a student. The tragic events, which took place yesterday, resulted in at least three fatalities, including a 39 year…
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Fishy business: Tyre blowout flips lorry in east Thailand
A lorry transporting fish suffered a tyre explosion in Rayong, causing the vehicle to flip and crash into a tree, seriously damaging the entire vehicle. The driver, 29 year old Sunthorn Yotdam, sustained injuries, while the fish, primarily tilapia numbering in the thousands, were scattered across the road, resulting in an estimated loss of no less than 100,000 baht. Police…
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Monk’s mysterious death unveils temple ‘whodunit’ in central Thailand
The mysterious death of a 57 year old monk in a temple in Ang Thong province sparked a police investigation. The body was found in a monk’s hut, lying on the floor surrounded by a foul smell, with blood and yellow liquid on the ground. A lottery ticket for the October 1 draw was discovered in the hut, which drew…
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Mun River’s flood tide brings venomous twist to northern Thailand
The continuous rise of the Mun River has resulted in severe flooding, submerging nine districts in Ubon Ratchathani, northern Thailand. Inhabitants scramble to evacuate while also dealing with venomous animals, including snakes and scorpions, that have been displaced by the floodwaters. Agricultural damage is extensive, with an estimated 46,000 acres of farmland affected. The flooding has also impacted tens of…
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Thai economy loses steam: UTCC’s growth forecast trims to 3%
With an anticipated dip in exports and a delay in state budget preparation, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) revised its economic growth forecast for the current year to 3%, a decline from the previously estimated 3.6% in December last year. The revised growth forecast is reflective of new government measures aimed at lowering the cost of…
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Severe flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima sparks fears of 1980 disaster repeat
Torrential rains triggered severe flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima causing residents to hastily evacuate their homes. The situation has raised concerns of a repeat of the devastating floods of 1980. The Thai authorities are closely monitoring the situation, especially in the Lam Takhong area. Khao Yai National Park Head, Chaiya Huay Hongs Thong, reported that the depression storm has led to…
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TV host left scarred after beauty treatment botch-up at popular Thai clinic
A beauty clinic client shared her traumatic experience after a beauty procedure went wrong, resulting in severe burns on her face. The beauty treatment was carried out by a new employee who apparently adjusted the equipment incorrectly. The client, named only as Am, works as a TV show host. She has been left in agony, unable to work, and facing…
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Sakol Energy revises 2023 revenue forecast due to RDF delays
Sakol Energy (SKE), a firm involved in the trade of compressed natural gas and the operation of biomass power plants, adjusted its revenue expectations for 2023 owing to a delay in commencing operations at a new refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production facility. The publicly traded company had earlier predicted a revenue leap to nearly 1 billion baht in 2023, a significant…
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TikTok user uncovers valuable antiques in hidden fireplace safe in new home
A TikTok user discovered a hidden safe in her newly purchased house, a revelation that has received almost 100 million views. On her first day of moving in, the TikToker, @fireplacesafe, noticed something concealed behind the fireplace. According to the New York Post, before receiving the house keys, the woman had an intuition that there was something behind the wooden plank…
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Taxi turmoil on Pattaya Beach Road: Bangkok driver’s threatening encounter
In the early hours yesterday, Pattaya City Police received a complaint from a Bangkok taxi driver alleging that he was threatened by an unidentified man he believed to be a Pattaya taxi driver. The incident took place on Pattaya Beach Road, where Chanai Waisuwan was trapped in a traffic jam while heading back to Bangkok after dropping off a passenger…
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Thai-dal wave: 80% of Thailand soaked as intense rainfall reigns
Intense rainfall is expected to continue across 49 provinces in Thailand, with a staggering 80% of the area predicted to be affected, including the capital, Bangkok. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued this warning today, urging citizens to be cautious of potential flash floods and landslides, particularly in open areas and under large trees. A powerful monsoon trough is forecasted…
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Phuket set for 148 billion baht infrastructure boost to uplift tourism
The renowned resort island of Phuket is set to undergo a significant infrastructural facelift, courtesy of a proposed budget of 148 billion baht by the Transport Ministry. The ambitious Phuket infrastructure upgrade plan includes the addition of a second airport on the island, a move aimed at transforming Phuket into a prime regional tourism hub. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit disclosed the…
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Mother Kali ceremony: Devotees flock to Kamphaeng Phet hoping for luck
Hundreds of devotees today gathered at the residence of Mother Kali, a famous spiritual medium in Kamphaeng Phet, to participate in a sacred ceremony. Believers consider Mother Kali, a Hindu deity, as a transformation of the terrifying goddess Uma Devi. Despite her fearsome appearance, Kali is believed to be compassionate and benevolent, helping those who pray with sincerity to achieve…
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Lotus’s go pet-friendly shopping paw-tnership in 100 stores in Thailand
Popular supermarket chain Lotus’s announced the trial of a pet-friendly mall model allowing customers to shop alongside their beloved pets in 100 stores across the country. The global trend of pet humanisation is growing, driven by pet owners who view their furry companions as family members or see themselves as their pets’ parents. These devoted pet parents spare no effort, both…
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