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 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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Missing Thai man sought after Phetchaburi boat accident sparks online appeal
A man has appealed for information on social media about his missing 25 year old brother following a boat accident in the central province of Phetchaburi. He lost contact with his brother’s partner, who was accompanying him on the trip. The incident happened on August 12, and the search is ongoing. In a frantic Facebook post dated August 12, a…
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Two tourists missing as waterspout capsizes boat in Phetchaburi province
In an unfortunate incident in Phetchaburi province, two tourists have gone missing when their tourist boat was capsized by a waterspout while sailing across Bang Ta Boon Bay near the Ban Laem district. The dreadful event occurred on a Saturday afternoon, around 5pm and was reported to the police on emergency number 191. The boat, carrying seven tourists, was in…
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Wild elephant captured after 22 days of disruption
Perhaps only in Thailand can an elephant be avoiding a court order for disturbing the peace. After 22 days on the lam, a wild elephant has been successfully captured in the Nop Phi Tham district of the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The “elephant arrest” was made to comply with a court order issued to relocate it due to…
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Chinese passenger denied flight boarding, hits police with skateboard
A Chinese passenger was captured in a viral TikTok video clip attempting to assault a Tourist Police officer at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok with a skateboard. The unruly passenger had become enraged after the captain of a flight back to China declined his boarding due to concerns about his disruptive behaviour, thus proving the captain’s point. Pol. Maj. Gen.…
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Chinese woman’s ex-boyfriend engaged to her mother
In an occurrence that rivals even soap opera plot twists, a woman returned home after three years of studying abroad only to find her former boyfriend set to become her stepfather. In her absence, the ex-boyfriend had started dating her mother and then proposed in front of her. The incident was reported by CTWANT, featuring a young woman from China. She…
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Missing boy’s body found in Kraw River after motorbike collision
A tragic end has come to the story of a 14 year old boy who has been missing since a motorcycle accident on a bridge flung him into the river below. After searches were hampered by strong currents and the darkness of night, at around 11.30am, the boy was found. After a relentless search by divers and locals, Yodsapon’s body…
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National Mother’s Day weekend anticipates 2.6 million trips boosting Thai tourism revenue
Anticipation is building up in the kingdom of Thailand as the upcoming long weekend for National Mother’s Day approaches, strategically set from August 12 through August 14. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the weekend is estimated to see a surge of 2.6 million local travels yielding total revenue of approximately 8.76 billion baht (US$249 million). This flurry…
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Pattaya police intensifies crackdown on illegal firearm possession
The sun had just started setting over the Pattaya skyline on August 12, as a team of vigilant officers from the Banglamung Police, led by Pol. Col. Nawin Sinthurat, intensified their efforts to crack down on illegal firearms. Situated along the Eastern Gulf coast of Thailand, Pattaya is a city known for its lively nightlife and stunning beaches. However, recent…
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Online romance scam netted 36 million baht, 1 arrest
Law enforcement officials arrested an accomplice in a large-scale online romance scam that swindled more than 36 million baht from victims. A 26 year old man from Uthai Thani province had opened a bank account for someone else, allegedly unaware it would be used in fraudulent activities. In an operation led by Pol Lt Gen Warawut Watnakornbuncha, Investigation Bureau Chief,…
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Policeman arrested for firing gun in hospital over boyfriend troubles
A lover’s spat at a Bangkok hospital ended with a policeman being arrested outside of the hospital where he had fired a gun during an argument with his boyfriend. The incident took place at 6.30am today. A 22 year old policeman, was taken into custody near a hospital with a semi-automatic gun. Upon his arrest, the policeman claimed he had…
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Hospital theft: loot stolen by men posing as relatives recovered from sewer
Two individuals, notorious for their thefts within hospitals, were arrested in a rented room in Trang province after trying to flush the evidence. The suspects are accused of a series of thefts carried out in various hospitals, impersonating patients’ relatives. Upon arrest today by officers from the Thung Song police station in Nakhon Si Thammarat, they were caught with some…
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Police arrest savage suspect after 17 years on the run
A man known for his ferocity, who had been on the police’s most-wanted list, was arrested yesterday after 17 years on the run from a homicide case in Satun province. The suspect, previously involved in a nasty public brawl, was detained at his residence in the province’s Lang Suan district. Today, Police Colonel Montri Theskan ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Phongoanot…
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Major post-midnight inspection conducted at Jomtien Beach
In the wake of suggestions put forth by local proprietors and representatives from the business and tourism sectors, a team of over 200 officers from Bang Lamung District conducted an inspection tour along the coastal stretch of Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, Thailand. This early morning examination of the beach vicinity started at 1.30am today. Phisit Sirisawatdinukul, the District Chief of…
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Boy, 14, vanishes in river after horrifying motorcycle accident
The search continues for a 14 year old boy who fell into the river after a severe motorcycle accident, as his distraught mother made an urgent heart-wrenching plea. The unfortunate event occurred in the middle of a bridge in Prachinburi province when the young boy’s motorcycle collided with a pickup truck. The high velocity of the impact flung him into…
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Umphang Hospital grapples with 40 million baht deficit due to Myanmar crisis
The Thai-Burmese frontier healthcare services face a financial crisis as a result of the current political turmoil in Myanmar. It has been reported that Umphang Hospital, situated in Thailand’s Tak province, has been hit by a considerable deficit of 40 million baht. The hospital has been forced to turn to the Ministry of Public Health for assistance. Umphang Hospital has…
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Police arrest Thais for alleged smuggling of Burmese refugees
In the district of Khun Yuam, in Mae Hong Son province, law enforcememyannt apprehended three Thai citizens who were allegedly facilitating the illegal smuggling of Burmese refugees from a temporary holding facility. The event unfolded on Thursday evening. Several of these migrants, comprising five children and five adults were discovered in the culprits’ vehicles when they were apprehended the following…
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Chinese tourists to Thailand may drop as tour group restrictions lift
In the wake of China’s announcement to allow tour groups to visit Japan and several other nations for the first time since 2020, Thailand’s tourism industry braces itself for a sharp fall in Chinese tourists. This drop is in part caused by ongoing visa application challenges, in spite of the government’s efforts to simplify the process. This recent development comes…
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Pheu Thai Party urges caretaker government to halt civil servants relocation
The Pheu Thai Party is calling for the caretaker government, under PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s leadership, to heed the national constitution by not relocating leading civil servants, particularly permanent secretaries, whilst the new administration is being formed. Phumtham Wechayachai, the party’s deputy leader, voiced these calls recently. Phumtham issued a statement in which he admonished the transitional approach of Prayut’s government, reminding…
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Central Retail partners with Ant Group to launch Alipay+ for Asian tourists in Thailand
For the convenience of Asian tourists from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Korea, Central Retail Corporation (CRC) has announced its partnership with Ant Group, introducing Alipay+ a comprehensive solution for international digital payments. This digital offering will enable travellers to use local digital wallets such as China’s Alipay, Hong Kong’s AlipayHK, Malaysia’s Touch ‘n Go eWallet and South Korea’s…
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Australian tourist disrupts Pattaya temple, allegedly high on cannabis
The peace of a local Buddhist temple in South Pattaya was abruptly shattered yesterday morning as a seemingly stoned Australian tourist started to wreck the sanctuary. Jason Bradley Scott snuck into the temple at dawn, allegedly high on cannabis, and did damage before injuring himself while trying to flee. Wat Chai, also known as Wat Chai Mongkol Royal Monastery, situated in…
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Revving up for flavour: World Kaphrao Thailand Grand Prix 2023 set to race Thai fast food fame worldwide
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) yesterday announced the opening of the World Kaphrao Thailand Grand Prix 2023 event to promote the popular Thai fast food dish throughout the globe. The event will take place along the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal near Hua Lamphong Train Station in Bangkok between August 25 and 27. TAT director Yuttasak Supasorn revealed that the…
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Spanish tusker-tamer’s uproarious elephant escapade sweeps online spotlight in Thailand (video)
A Spanish woman, well-versed in transforming tusker-sized tales into online sensations, couldn’t resist sharing her uproarious rendezvous with an elephant during a recent Thailand escapade. The self-deprecating woman, Julia Candela, with a penchant for furry and tusked friends alike, took to TikTok to unveil her rib-tickling tête-à-tête with an elephant in Thailand that left her momentarily nose-to-nose with the ground.…
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Online death rumours of influencer Lil Tay dispelled after Instagram hacking incident
A favoured influencer known for flaunting wealth in her content is alive despite widespread online rumours of her death. This misinformation resulted from the Instagram account of Lil Tay being hacked, which also reported false claims of the sudden passing of her 14 years old brother, Jason Tian. However, according to recent US reports, these reports are entirely false. US…
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Fabricated robbery to escape violent partner leads to justice twist for Thai woman in Chon Buri
A Thai woman who fabricated a robbery in fear of her violent boyfriend has been charged with perverting the course of justice in Ban Bueng, Chon Buri province. The distressed woman, Thanpimon, falsely reported the robbery to local police that her purse and mobile phone had been snatched by two men on a motorcycle but later admitted to fabricating the…
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Thai consumer confidence dips due to political instability and slow recovery
Reports today reveal that last month Thai consumer confidence dramatically dropped for the first time in 14 months. Evidence pointed towards the general unease of continuous political instability in the Kingdom of Thailand after the General Election took place in May, as well as a sluggishly recovering economy. The survey, helmed by the esteemed University of the Thai Chamber of…
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Construction permit withdrawal sparks caution in Thai property lending
The property developer community has been unsettled by the recent Ashton Asoke saga, wherein the construction permit was withdrawn, prompting lenders to proceed with caution when issuing debt instruments and loans to developers. AP Thailand’s chief executive, Anuphong Assavabhokhin, explained that it’s becoming increasingly challenging to secure loans as financial institutions grow wary of extending credit to real estate companies…
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Shocking outcome: Electrifying mishap on condo balcony leaves painter with First-Degree burns (video)
A painter suffered from First-Degree burns after being electrocuted while painting a condo balcony near an electricity pole in southern Thailand. According to Channel 3, the shocking incident occurred to the unnamed victim at 11am yesterday when he was painting the exterior of a third-floor balcony in the southern province of Songkhla. The man accidentally touched the high-voltage electric wire…
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Bathroom enigma swirls: Hybrid toilet-sink sparks global curiosity as social media goes down the drain
In a plot twist that has left Thai social media flushed with intrigue, a peculiar addition to the bathrooms of select European and Japanese hotels has taken centre stage. A curious traveller set the virtual world abuzz by sharing snapshots of these lavatories, complete with the usual commode and an enigmatic extra, a cross between a sink and a toilet,…
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Online fraudsters prompt Thailand’s DES Minister to call for halt on unauthorised bank transactions
Thailand’s Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES) strongly urged banks to halt unauthorised transactions following a request by their customers. This suggests an effort to mitigate the financial damages inflicted by online fraudsters on unsuspecting victims. The directive comes in light of the recent enactment of the Royal Decree on Cyber Crime Prevention and Suppression, which came into effect…
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Thai tourism embraces easier visa rules, faster approvals for Chinese tourists
In a move geared towards promoting Thai tourism, the government has implemented policy changes that lessen the rules for obtaining a tourist visa and slashes approval time for Chinese visitors. Chinese travellers emerged as the majority of international arrivals over the past week, the deputy government spokeswoman, Rachada Dhnadirek, confirmed yesterday. Statistics displayed that 95,581 visitors from China arrived in…
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