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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...

  • Online scams: Thai restaurant reservation fraud nets 140 million baht in July, warns CCIB

    Online scams: Thai restaurant reservation fraud nets 140 million baht in July, warns CCIB

    Warnings of escalating online fraud rings capitalising on the growing demand for restaurant reservations have been issued by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB). Based on emerging reports, a significant financial hit of over 140 million baht landed on consumers in July due to a proliferation of online scams. According to the latest information detailed by the CCIB spokesperson, Police…

  • Hua Hin Airport upgrade to attract tourists and boost Thai economy

    Hua Hin Airport upgrade to attract tourists and boost Thai economy

    In a move poised to encourage tourism, Hua Hin Airport, operated by the Department of Airports (DoA), is set for a vast upgrade that will escalate it to international status, as confirmed by acting director Rattapol Charoenphon recently. The Hua Hin Airport has already made significant strides towards this goal, extending its runway to reach a length of 2.1 kilometres…

  • Food safety fears triggered in China’s Shaanxi region as rat found in noodle bowl

    Food safety fears triggered in China’s Shaanxi region as rat found in noodle bowl

    A mystifying episode at a restaurant in the Shaanxi region of China sparked concerns over food safety. A customer shockingly discovered an entire rat carcass nestled in their bowl of noodles, leading to the temporary closure of the establishment for reassessment. Formally reported on August 3, the customer had ordered a large bowl of noodles at a local Shaanxi restaurant, only…

  • Transgender identity revelation: Social worker’s love for accident victim unravels a journey of self discovery

    Transgender identity revelation: Social worker’s love for accident victim unravels a journey of self discovery

    A 40 year old man met with an accident, left helpless in a hospital before he was fortunately cared for by a 63 year old woman. Their affection escalated leading to a marriage, only then he discovered she wasn’t a woman, leading to an unexpected transgender identity revelation. The story of 63 year old Kalin, a dedicated social worker frequently…

  • BREAKING: Bombshell details emerge in Koh Pha Ngan murder

    BREAKING: Bombshell details emerge in Koh Pha Ngan murder

    BREAKING NEWS: In Koh Pha Ngan, after 29 year old rising star Spanish chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo brutally murdered and carved up his alleged lover, 44 year old Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, the missing top half of his body has now been recovered. Further details of the motive have been revealed but not confirmed. The torso and head of the murdered…

  • UPDATE: Kayak found as Spanish chef admits disposing body of lover off coast

    UPDATE: Kayak found as Spanish chef admits disposing body of lover off coast

    In an update in the ongoing murder investigation, a kayak, speculated to be used by a Spanish chef to dispose of his former Colombian surgeon lover’s dismembered body parts, was discovered on Saturday off the coast of Koh Pha Ngan, stated the police. The chef, 29 year old Daniel Sancho Bronchalo is the descendant of several prominent Spanish actors, is…

  • Thai Mother’s Day long holiday weekend brings TikTok FoodFest to Pattaya

    Thai Mother’s Day long holiday weekend brings TikTok FoodFest to Pattaya

    If it feels like Thai banks and government services are closing all the time, the upcoming long holiday weekend will feel like deja vu following almost directly on the heels of the just-concluded super-long holiday weekend. Thai Mother’s Day, coinciding with the 91st birthday of the Queen Mother, will be highly celebrated on August 12, saturating the city in hues…

  • Manchester United, Buriram United top football favourites in Thai pre-season survey

    Manchester United, Buriram United top football favourites in Thai pre-season survey

    As the fervent anticipation for the 2023-24 football season begins to resonate amongst fans in Thailand, a recent survey divulges that Manchester United from the English Premier League, and Buriram United from Thai League 1, are the crowd favourites. This comes from a research study conducted by the renowned National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). The study, which ran between…

  • Phuket Blood Bank appeals to foreigners for donations amid alarming demand

    Phuket Blood Bank appeals to foreigners for donations amid alarming demand

    In a humanitarian call, the Phuket Blood Bank at the Vachira Phuket Hospital reached out to foreign residents and tourists in Phuket encouraging them to contribute to a blood donation drive on August 8 in Phuket Town, aimed at urgently replenishing the hospital’s blood reserves. The initiative comes with an alarming demand for blood from all groups seen at both…

  • Spanish chef brutally murders Colombian partner in Thai island horror

    Spanish chef brutally murders Colombian partner in Thai island horror

    On the island of Koh Pha Ngan, located in the southern province of Surat Thani, a horrifying crime unwrapped as a Spanish chef confessed to the brutal murder and dismemberment of his Colombian partner. The crime was alleged to have taken place before the culprit dumped the body fragments in trash bags discovered in a local landfill and into the…

  • Car bomb shock in Narathiwat: No casualties as police close district (video)

    Car bomb shock in Narathiwat: No casualties as police close district (video)

    In Narathiwat, a car bomb detonation led to the temporary closure of a region surrounding the location of a police base situated in Sungai Kolok district. The blast last night fortunately did not result in any injuries or deaths. The incident took place close to Orakan intersection, in proximity to both a rail route and the ad hoc police stronghold…

  • Pheu Thai Party confides challenges in forming new Thai coalition government

    Pheu Thai Party confides challenges in forming new Thai coalition government

    In an evolving political landscape where the constitution, power structures and group conflicts have become major challenges, the Pheu Thai Party acknowledged that manoeuvring the formation of a new coalition government is far from simple. According to Pheu Thai’s Deputy Leader, Phumtham Wechayachai, the party has to remain committed and steadfast in its approach to lead the nation out of…

  • Climate change threatens Thailand’s tiger conservation efforts, reveals study

    Climate change threatens Thailand’s tiger conservation efforts, reveals study

    The future conservation of tigers within Thailand’s natural habitats confronts a formidable adversary in the form of climate change, according to Jatuporn Buruspat, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Something that is significantly augmenting his concern is the forest fires that relentlessly gnaw away at the territory of these apex predators. In his remarks offered…

  • Thaksin Shinawatra delays Thailand return sourcing health check as deciding factor

    Thaksin Shinawatra delays Thailand return sourcing health check as deciding factor

    Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister of Thailand, announced yesterday that he would be delaying his return to his homeland from his current location of self-exile. Shinawatra, whose background lies in telecommunications, took to the popular social media platform Twitter to inform followers of his upcoming health checkup, which resulted in the need for him to reschedule his original plan to…

  • Thai fireworks depot owners surrender following fatal explosion investigation

    Thai fireworks depot owners surrender following fatal explosion investigation

    The owners of a recently annihilated fireworks depo in Narathiwat yesterday handed themselves over to the police. This revelation was announced by an on-scene informant who wished to remain unnamed. The owners, Sompong Napol and Piyanuch Puengwirawat, both 42, made their way back into Thai territory through the Sadao checkpoint connecting Thailand and Malaysia. This development came on the heels of…

  • Phuket drownings prompt safety measures and Australian aid

    Phuket drownings prompt safety measures and Australian aid

    Five people lost their lives in drowning incidents in Phuket just over the past week. The unfortunate victims included four international tourists and a Thai national. This troubling streak has provoked local authorities into a state of high alert, with Thai authorities even recruiting help from Australia. The drownings occurred in Phuket between July 28 and today. In the current…

  • Phuket lucky license plate auction raises 25 million for disabled road accident victims

    Phuket lucky license plate auction raises 25 million for disabled road accident victims

    Funds raised from an online auction of “lucky” vehicle registration plates by the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) were generously donated to aid nine individuals left disabled by tragic road accidents. The auction that took place on July 22 accrued over 25 million baht in proceeds. The lucky number plates auctioned flaunted the Thai alphabet’s “KorJor” set against an exquisite…

  • Whistleblower calls for inquiry into Ashton Asoke permit scandal

    Whistleblower calls for inquiry into Ashton Asoke permit scandal

    Srisuwan Janya, a prominent whistleblower, recently addressed a letter to the governor of Bangkok, seeking a comprehensive inquiry into the officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) who were entangled in the sanctioning of permits for the troubled Ashton Asoke condominium project. In his detailed communication, he shed light upon the issuance of four permits by the BMA in the…

  • CIB arrest Phuket man for online scam they’ve tracked since 2022

    CIB arrest Phuket man for online scam they’ve tracked since 2022

    Thai police have taken into custody a local man in connection with a number of online scams, the Royal Thai Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) shared in a media update. The arrest took place on Freedom Beach in Phuket, as the CIB disclosed through a post on its official Facebook page. Although the detailed report refrained from stating the family…

  • A young boy’s plea to King for rooftop repairs gets heartwarming response

    A young boy’s plea to King for rooftop repairs gets heartwarming response

    In Nakhon Si Thammarat, a young boy from a destitute family has successfully received aid to restore the dilapidated rooftop of his home after his plea to His Majesty the King was met with a positive response. Nine-year-old, Thirat Thongphet lives in a modest village within Khuntalay, a section of the Lan Saka district. The youngster penned a plea on…

  • Dramatic leap in tourism to Thailand rakes in 1.08 trillion baht

    Dramatic leap in tourism to Thailand rakes in 1.08 trillion baht

    Exceeding expectations and the grim shadow of the previous year, the tourist influx to Thailand recorded a dramatic leap in the first half of 2023. From January to the end of July, over 15 million people travelled in Thailand, marking an increase in tourism to Thailand of 384% in comparison to the same period in the prior year, according to…

  • Former Sansiri president ensnared in tax-minimising controversy

    Former Sansiri president ensnared in tax-minimising controversy

    A tax-minimising strategy, alleged by Chuvit Kamolvisit to involve Srettha Thavisin, the former President of Sansiri, a development firm listed on the SET, appears to be a common practice amongst landlords seeking to reduce tax liabilities on land sales. Property DNA’s Managing Director, Surachet Kongcheep, observed that it is typical for landowners to aim to lessen tax payments attached to…

  • Chuvit Kamolvisit continues crusade despite liver cancer

    Chuvit Kamolvisit continues crusade despite liver cancer

    Chuvit Kamolvisit has publicly disclosed the severity of his ongoing battle against stage 3 liver cancer. Despite the prognosis, he pledged to utilise his time remaining to illuminate wide-ranging societal quandaries courageously. Chuvit, a former magnate in the massage parlour industry, unveiled his grave health condition ahead of a press conference he hosted on Thursday. The conference was organised to…

  • Pattaya retains travelers’ top spot during Mother’s Day holiday

    Pattaya retains travelers’ top spot during Mother’s Day holiday

    Pattaya‘s status as a hotspot for families is once again confirmed as online booking firm Agoda discloses that the resort city holds its charm for domestic travellers anticipating their extended Mother’s Day holiday. According to data derived from Agoda, Pattaya emanates an irresistible allure to Thai vacationers planning their holiday from August 12th to the 14th in observance of National…

  • Pita highlights global democracy’s decline, urges youth involvement

    Pita highlights global democracy’s decline, urges youth involvement

    Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP), highlighted the worrying decline in global democracy during a recent talk at a Thammasat University orientation event, encouraging young learners to take a hand in shaping their country’s fate. An influential figure at the frontline of political transformation, Pita confronted the issue of democratic regression emphatically. Pita was a keynote…

  • Hit-and-run on Pattaya beach leaves young woman dead

    Hit-and-run on Pattaya beach leaves young woman dead

    A tragic occurrence marred the night in Pattaya Beach on Thursday, where an unidentified pickup truck caused the untimely demise of a woman lighting up the serene beach-side city. The bustling city was taken aback when the life of 23 years old Songkran Phadunglom was cut short after being caught in a hit-and-run incident that happened in the pure sight…

  • Mountain B nightclub fire: anniversary of Thai tragedy remembered

    Mountain B nightclub fire: anniversary of Thai tragedy remembered

    Sattahip, a picturesque coastal town in Thailand, became etched in the mind of the nation on August 5th last year when flames engulfed the lively Mountain B nightclub, metamorphosing the hub of entertainment into a scene of tragedy. The eruption of the inferno, around 1am which swiftly transformed the nightlife hot spot into a furnace, was a catastrophe that remains…

  • Prime minister fast-tracks aid for firework warehouse blast victims

    Prime minister fast-tracks aid for firework warehouse blast victims

    Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, along with Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, toured the site of a devastating fireworks warehouse explosion in Narathiwat yesterday. The visit aimed to expedite the rehabilitation process for victims and address housing issues caused by the unfortunate incident. Chan-o-cha journeyed to Muno, a village in Sungai Kolok district, to evaluate first-hand the circumstances of those affected by…

  • Korat Candle Procession 66 event upstaged by scene-stealing cat

    Korat Candle Procession 66 event upstaged by scene-stealing cat

    The grand candle parade attraction, “Korat Candle Procession 66,” recently left onlookers delighted by an unexpected scene stealer. A cat, inadvertently defying the event queue, nabbed the spotlight, prompting a wave of amused social media attention. The celebration “Korat Candle Procession 66” recently took place at the Suranaree Monument, located in Nakhon Ratchasima’s city centre, and concluded on August 1.…

  • Student abandons newborn after giving birth in petrol station during field trip

    Student abandons newborn after giving birth in petrol station during field trip

    A seventh grade student from Narathiwat gave birth in a petrol station toilet during a school outing in the southern province of Pattalung and abandoned her newborn baby girl. Officials were alerted to the case at around 9.30am today. Investigation of CCTV footage from the station led to the student being identified and located. The incident took place at a…