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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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Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Thailand sees 17% boost in foreign investment, hitting 58.9 billion baht in 7 months
Thailand saw a 17% increase in foreign investment, reaching 58.9 billion baht in the first seven months of this year. The announcement was made yesterday by Rachada Dhnadirek, the deputy government spokeswoman. Investors from Japan played a major role, with 94 groups contributing 19.89 billion baht. The United States followed with 67 entities investing 3 billion baht. Singapore had 61…
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Police officer damages woman’s motorcycle, leaves note, pays for repair
A 29 year old woman named Supapan was angered when she returned home to find her motorcycle damaged but was pleasantly surprised to discover a letter of responsibility from a local police officer. His sincere gesture has drawn public praise and demonstrated a shining example of accountability within the police force. The incident occurred at a convenience store opposite the…
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PTTEP plans Middle East expansion for greater petroleum output and renewable energy
PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) announced its strategic plans to centre business operations in the Middle East to expand petroleum output and explore opportunities for innovative energy enterprises, revealed Montri Rawanchaikul, PTTEP’s Chief Executive and President. On the domestic front, the company aims to escalate gas production at the Erawan gas field to 800 million standard cubic feet…
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Spark to action: Villagers shaken by Narathiwat firework explosion ignite legal action for justice
In the aftermath of the catastrophic firework warehouse explosion that rocked a rural hamlet in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district on July 29, a contingent of the beleaguered villagers from Muno have decided to take legal recourse. The devastating incident claimed the lives of 12 and left an alarming 389 casualties, with three schools reduced to ruins and a mind-numbing 682…
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Smokin’ apology: American recreates Ghostbusters scene with cannabis fogging on Bangla Road, Phuket (video)
An American man issued an apology after he committed a legal violation by using ganja in a public place on Bangla Road in Phuket, reminiscent of a scene from Ghostbusters. The man was captured on video releasing cannabis smoke from a fogging machine. In a viral video, a man wearing a black balaclava to conceal his face and his group of friends…
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Rainfall reign: 46 provinces under threat as TMD predicts deluge and Bangkok braces for flash floods
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns that increased rainfall poses a threat to 46 provinces today, forecasting heavy rainfall in 70% of the areas while Bangkok is also at risk, with an abrupt flash floods warning issued due to tormenting forest runoffs. The TMD claims that a tropical storm flowing over the northern and upper northeastern regions of the country,…
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Thai woman murdered on street outside restaurant in Germany
Local police officers are hunting for a suspect who murdered a 61 year old Thai restaurant owner on Kantstrasse Road in the city of Berlin in Germany. German police officers reported on Friday, August 18, that they discovered the dead body of a Thai woman, 61 year old Siliya Saiwongpanya on a footpath near Fuggerstrasse Road in the Schoeneberg neighbourhood…
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Teenage gang violence: Perpetrators accused of fatal schoolboy killing in Nakhon Phanom road chase
A gang of six teenagers have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in the death of a 14 year old boy, who was attacked with weapons on August 19. The teenage gang violence incident took place by the roadside of a dual carriageway in Nakhon Phanom province of northeast Thailand. News reports advancing the teenage gang violence case details reveal…
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Family dispute sparks deadly manhunt in Chachoengsao over dog conflict
In an escalating family dispute, a man stormed into his relatives’ residence shooting dead one and injuring another yesterday, before fleeing the scene. Police have since launched an investigation to find the suspect, who had left with his partner and child. In the quiet suburbs of Chachoengsao, a family dispute yesterday took a tragic turn when 43 year old Kamol…
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EV sales in Thailand to hit 50,000 despite auto loan regulations
The Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI) anticipates a surge in electric vehicle (EV) sales to 50,000 units this year. This comes despite challenges such as diminishing purchasing power, rampant household debt, and the implementation of stricter auto loan regulations by banks. Last year, local EV sales in Thailand saw approximately 20,000 units sold. The popularity of EVs in the country can…
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Awaiting arrest, ex-Prime Minister Thaksin returns to Thailand amidst political unrest
As Thailand anticipates the arrival of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, fresh from a self-imposed exile, arrest warrants are ready for viewing and inevitable jail time awaits him. His expected return is scheduled for tomorrow, incidentally, coinciding with parliamentary proceedings to elect the country’s 30th leader. His daughter, Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra, a former prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu…
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Influenza infection cases triple in a year, topping 970,000 with one fatality reported
In an alarming public health update, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) noted that the annual influenza infection figures have exceeded 970,000 this year. A stark increase from last year’s number at this point, this figure is triple the magnitude, conveying the highly contagious nature of seasonal flu. A fatality has been reported among the infected individuals. The unfortunate case…
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Taxi accident: Fatal crash as vehicle plunges into Samut Prakan canal
A tragic taxi accident incident unfolded today where an ill-fated taxi plunged into a canal and burst into flames in Samut Prakan province, resulting in the death of the driver. The unidentified individual crashed the vehicle, firmly igniting a mournful atmosphere at the Bang Bo Police Station. The devastating taxi accident was reported to have occurred at the bridge over…
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Three Bangkok drug traffickers caught with 503,005 meth pills and 12 kilogrammes of ice
In a recent police operation, three drug traffickers were arrested in Khlong Sam Wa district, Bangkok. The bust saw the seizure of drugs, including 503,005 methamphetamine pills and 12 kilogrammes of crystal meth or ice. The report indicated that the trio had been involved in previous drug-related incidents. Around 9am today, directed by Colonel Sarawut Jindakam, commander of the 3rd Border…
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Student lunch budget allocated for Nakhon Ratchasima’s Kulno School
Students at Kulno School in Nakhon Ratchasima province no longer need to bring packed lunches from home. This follows a speedy allocation of school lunch funding by the Phimai Sub-district Municipality, which was confirmed in a letter to parents yesterday. Previously, a delay in allocating this budget led the school to ask parents to provide food for their children from…
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Electrician turned conman sold fake amulets online, manipulated meters
An electrician was recently nabbed for one of several illegal side hustles – conning people into buying religious amulets online. The 28 year old electrician was previously been a normal repairman who also illegally manipulated electricity meters before being picked up by police. He confessed he hadn’t anticipated the police would catch up to him. This arrest today followed Lieutenant…
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60 year old truck driver with gun nabbed after 30km police pursuit
A tense standoff between two truck drivers ignited a 30-kilometre, multi-jurisdictional police chase that ended in the capture of a 60 year old man armed with a 9mm gun. The man claimed he had brandished his weapon in self-defence during the heated exchange yesterday. Somchai Suksabay then fled with the gun and was eventually intercepted and detained near a house…
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Child seat vehicle laws go into effect in Phuket: 2,000 baht fine
Buckle up kids! The public, particularly parents, have once again been reminded about the new safety regulations regarding child seats in vehicles within Phuket. As relayed by the Phuket Info Centre today, the National Police Agency’s legislation demands the use of industry-approved child safety seats. The fledgeling law, enforced from August 17, mandates that all children below the age of…
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Stabbing: Ex-lover murders woman at hotpot over 1,000 baht
Last night, a 40 year old man reportedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in a rage. The stabbing took place in front of a grocery store near a table used for hotpot and beer, located in a residential area of Samut Sakhon, Thailand. The 37 year old woman was sitting with her friends when the brutal act was committed. Police Colonel…
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Monk goes viral for auto rubbish-collecting cart to clean temple
A monk came up with an ingenious idea borne out of necessity, giving birth to a functional, automatic rubbish collection cart. The monk, who lives in the Ayutthaya province, created a cart that can gather and collect discarded items and fallen leaves from a 14-acre temple area without the need for manual labour. Built from scraps collected around the temple…
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Exat toll hike on key expressways pauses by Ministry of Transport
The Progressive Ministry of Transport has issued a directive to the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) to maintain the current toll charges for Chalong Rat and Bang Na expressways for another six months, running through February of next year. This development will stave off the proposal by Exat to implement a 10% increase in tolls on both routes. The toll…
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Chinese resurgence transforms Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district into new Chinatown
Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district, home to a rising number of Chinese expatriates, is reinforcing its reputation as the city’s second Yaowarat or New Chinatown. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a temporary withdrawal of Chinese vendors from the district, but with the Chinese government deciding to lift border restrictions earlier this year, investors appear to be flocking back. The district’s pulse…
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Nearly extinct Eastern Sarus Crane eggs discovered in rice field
In a significant win for wildlife conservation, eggs of the Eastern Sarus Crane – also known as Thai Cranes – were found in a rice field adjacent to the Huai Talat Reservoir Non-Hunting Area in the Mueang district of Buriram, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The cranes were believed to be mostly extinct…
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Thailand aims to be top Muslim tourism destination within 5 years
Thailand is projected to emerge as a principal destination for international Muslim tourists within the next half-decade. The Deputy Government Spokesperson, Rachada Dhnadirek, put forth this intent to lure more Muslim travellers, citing their rising numbers and increased spending capacity. She noted, during her Friday announcement, that Muslim tourists comprised a major segment of Thailand’s tourism industry. An impressive surge…
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Songkhla mother alleges neighbour tricked son into drug use
A mother in the province of Songkhla has filed a complaint with the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Women and Children, claiming that her 10 year old son has recently been showing signs of drug abuse. His erratic behaviour included destructiveness, verbal abuse towards family members, and attempting to harm a cat. The distressing behavioural shift came to a head when…
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Online fraud declines as Thais embraces digital safety measures
Chaiwuti Thanakamanusorn is confident that online crime measures are effective, as statistics of online scams show a decline. The public is also increasingly aware and cautious, preventing themselves from becoming victims of online fraud. Chaiwuti, the Thai Minister of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), is urging the public to adopt measures to protect themselves from becoming victims of organized cybercriminal…
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Khai Huang international drug trafficking gang busted in Bangkok
A sophisticated cross-border drug trafficking gang named Khai Huang led by four prominent figures was busted in a luxurious house in the heart of Bangkok. The gang had been smuggling crystal methamphetamine concealed within the axle rods of trucks for international shipment. The head operatives, 34 year old Chen Yu Ning and 26year old Li Ming Zhen, were arrested today at…
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Easyrice transforms Thai rice industry with AI-powered inspection solutions
Emerging from academic research projects, Easyrice Digital Technology Co Ltd has grown into a cutting-edge tech startup focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) within the agricultural sector, specifically tailored towards bettering the rice industry in Thailand. Easyrice provides AI-powered solutions designed to simplify and enhance the systems of rice quality inspections and data management, offering faster, more precise processes. As a…
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