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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Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Here’s your health checklist before the move
Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Thailand is a popular choice for retirees because of its beautiful landscapes, warm climate, and affordable living. Cities like Chiang Mai and coastal areas offer a relaxed lifestyle with friendly communities. The country also...
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Up in flames: Bangkok house fire claims life of 50 year old man
A devastating house fire claimed the life of a 50 year old man in Bangkok when flames engulfed his home and spread to neighboring properties. The incident occurred yesterday, November 29 at 3.28pm, sparking panic and a swift response from local fire services. The blaze broke out in a two-story, semi-concrete and wooden house located in Soi Bang Waek 104,…
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Villagers in Uthai Thani flock to banyan tree for lucky numbers
Excitement builds as villagers gather around the near century-old banyan tree near a crematorium in Uthai Thani, hoping for a lucky lottery number. Reports indicate that on the evening before a lottery draw, people flock to this tree at Wat Hadsainngam in Village 8, Rabam subdistrict, Lan Sak district. The locals are drawn by the belief that a long-haired woman…
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Towering wave sweeps Russian woman into sea on Koh Samui
A towering wave measuring 5 to 6 metres swept a Russian woman off the rocks at a Koh Samui viewpoint and into the sea, where she vanished. Efforts to rescue her proved futile due to the intense sea conditions. The Bo Phut Police Station communication centre in Surat Thani province received an urgent report about a tourist being pulled into…
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Thai woman stabbed in Pattaya, foreign suspect still at large
A Thai woman, between 30 and 40 years old, was reportedly stabbed in the neck by a foreign man in Jomtien, Pattaya. The incident occurred on Thursday, November 28, on the fourth floor of a building located in Soi Welcome. Police are actively pursuing the suspect, who managed to flee the scene before their arrival. Pattaya police were informed of…
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Sedan-motorbike hit-and-run in Nonthaburi leaves contractor dead
A hit-and-run occurred when a black sedan struck a motorcycle, resulting in the death of a 68 year old contractor. The sedan driver fled the scene without checking on the victim. The event was captured on a dashboard camera on a bridge over the Mueang Thong Thani intersection in Nonthaburi. Officers from Pak Kret Police Station, along with rescue personnel…
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Body of missing five year old boy found in Chiang Mai canal
Thai police have confirmed the tragic discovery of a five year old boy who had been missing for three days. His lifeless body was found in a canal near his school yesterday, November 29 at 5pm. The search had been ongoing since his disappearance on Wednesday, November 27 from Tri Mit Witthaya School, a special education centre in Thung Ruang…
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Belgian motorcyclist dies in Pattaya crash near village gate
A Belgian national tragically died following a motorcycle collision in Pattaya. Nong Prue police were alerted to an accident involving a motorcycle at the entrance gate of a village on Khao Talo Road yesterday, November 29 at approximately 5.36am. Police, along with rescue personnel and local reporters, promptly arrived at the scene. Upon arrival, a yellow-black Yamaha Aerox motorcycle was…
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Thai Cabinet extends 20-baht train fare with 400m baht budget
The Thai Cabinet has sanctioned a budget of 400 million baht to extend the 20-baht flat fare for the Red and Purple electric train lines for an additional year. This decision aims to provide continued financial relief to commuters using these lines. The extension pertains to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Red lines, which include the Nakhon Withi Line…
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Australian ambassador visits Phuket to discuss tourist safety
Australian Ambassador to Thailand Angela McDonald visited Phuket on Thursday, November 28, to engage in discussions with Vice Governor Ronnarong Thipsiri. The meeting focused on strengthening economic, political, and safety ties between Australia and Phuket, underscoring the importance of maintaining robust bilateral relations. During the meeting, held at the Phuket Provincial Governor’s Reception Room, McDonald, along with key officials, explored…
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Thai Cabinet approves civil service salary increase proposal
The Thai Cabinet has acknowledged a proposal to adjust the starting salaries for new civil service recruits, with a bachelor’s degree holder earning no less than 18,000 baht and a vocational certificate holder receiving a minimum of 11,000 baht. This adjustment is expected to utilise a budget of 2.67 billion baht. A meeting took place at Chiang Mai Rajabhat University,…
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Taxi driver brandishes knife in Siam Square altercation (video)
A heated altercation between an elderly taxi driver and a motorcycle rider nearly turned violent in the bustling area of Siam Square, Bangkok, as captured and shared on TikTok by user @lianhua_.7u. The confrontation, which took place in the early hours of the morning, involved the taxi driver brandishing a knife, reportedly following a dispute that escalated after the taxi…
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‘Wife for hire’: Inside Thailand’s shocking rental marriage trend
Thailand’s notorious “rental wife” trend is turning heads and sparking heated debates. Dubbed the “black pearl” phenomenon, this controversial practice is thriving in Pattaya’s red-light districts, offering foreign tourists a temporary taste of companionship for a fee. The practice, often called “temporary marriage,” sees women from impoverished rural areas become companions to tourists, offering services ranging from casual companionship to…
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Rabies scare in Bangkok: Residents warned to avoid Soi Onnut 86
Bangkokians have been put on high alert after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) confirmed a rabies outbreak near a garbage treatment centre in Soi Onnut 86, Prawet district. Stray dogs in the area have tested positive for the deadly virus, sparking swift action from health officials. In a Facebook post today, November 29, the BMA Health Department revealed it had…
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Thaksin hits the road to boost Pheu Thai’s PAO hopes
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is back in the political spotlight, gearing up to help Pheu Thai candidates in key Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) races. After a triumphant showing in Udon Thani, the party is looking to capitalise on its momentum with Thaksin as its secret weapon. A party insider revealed the 74 year old former PM will visit…
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Thai man jumps from reversing pickup as it crashes into 27 vehicles
A Thai delivery driver lost control of his company pickup, causing it to reverse and crash into 27 vehicles parked at the Baan Ua-Athorn Hathairat community in the Khlong Samwa district of Bangkok yesterday, November 28. Victims of the accident shared footage of the crash and the damaged vehicles on the TikTok app. A Thai woman posted a video on…
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Drowning in chaos: Pattani floods shut down hospitals
Four hospitals in the southern province of Pattani have been forced to close their doors as relentless floodwaters swamp their compounds, leaving patients to be evacuated to emergency field hospitals. The disaster, which has engulfed Nong Chik, Yaring, Thung Yang Daeng, and Mae Lan hospitals, is wreaking havoc in this southern border province. Dr Anurak Saraparb, chief of the Pattani…
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Rice and shine: Parboiled prices soar as global markets heat up
Global rice markets are heating up as prices for parboiled rice surged this week, driven by robust demand in major export hubs India and Thailand. After three weeks of stability, Indian and Thai exporters are now cashing in on renewed interest, while Vietnamese traders grapple with stagnant sales. India, the world’s largest rice exporter, saw its 5% broken parboiled rice…
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Thai man loses 1.8 million baht in online scam
A Thai man who works as a production manager has fallen victim to an online scam that has cost him just over 1.8 million baht. His family, worried about the financial losses, took him to file a police report yesterday, November 28, after he was convinced by fraudsters that he would be refunded the next day. The scam began when…
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Old friends, new deals: Singapore PM makes visit to Thailand
In a historic first, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong touched down in Thailand yesterday, November 28, to meet Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Marking his first official visit since taking office in May, Wong is the first foreign leader the 38 year old Thai PM has hosted, setting the stage for a high-stakes dialogue on diplomacy and development. The visit coincides…
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Phuket sands turn to gold as Sansiri digs deep for economic jewel
The sandy shores of Phuket are set for a glamorous makeover as real estate mogul Sansiri Plc zeroes in on the island’s potential to become Thailand’s crown jewel for economic growth. With its eyes firmly fixed on this tropical paradise, Sansiri is revving up its plans, leveraging Phuket’s strategic importance to drive a real estate renaissance. Thanks to Thailand’s revised…
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Thailand to host 2025 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games with 2 billion baht budget
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced yesterday that Thailand will host the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and ASEAN Para Games with a budget of over 2 billion baht. Thailand is set to host the 33rd SEA Games, which will take place in three main provinces: Bangkok, Chon Buri, and Songkhla, from December 9 to 20, 2025. The…
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Illegal labour scandal: Over 50 foreign workers nabbed in Pattaya
Pattaya’s bustling markets and entertainment zones were rocked by a dramatic crackdown on illegal foreign workers as Chon Buri provincial police launched a large-scale operation yesterday, November 28. The raid, involving over 100 officers, targeted individuals working unlawfully in jobs reserved for Thai nationals. The sweep uncovered a significant number of violations at the Rattanakorn Thepprasit Market. Many foreign workers…
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Arip turbocharging TechXPro marketing to ignite gadget craze
In an audacious move to spark excitement in the gadget-hungry crowds, Arip has turbocharged its marketing budget for the Commart TechXPro event, aiming to fire up demand for cutting-edge IT products as the year wraps up. This tech extravaganza, which kicked off yesterday, November 28, at Bitec and runs until December 1, has seen its marketing purse swell from a…
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Saphan Hin: Woman’s body washes ashore, sparking investigation
Early morning fitness enthusiasts at Phuket’s Saphan Hin Public Park were met with a grim sight today as the body of a woman was discovered washed ashore at the tip of Saphan Hin Cape. Police were called to the scene at 6.30am, today, November 29, where they found a small crowd gathered around the deceased. The woman, believed to be…
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KEX Express delivers change: Shifting gears to new markets (video)
KEX Express (Thailand) Plc, formerly known as Kerry Express, is embarking on a dramatic overhaul. The delivery giant is set to close several branches and trim down its workforce as it shifts gears towards the business-to-business (B2B) and customer-to-customer (C2C) sectors. This bold pivot comes straight from the top, confirmed by company insiders keen to reposition KEX away from traditional…
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Hat Yai on high alert: Red zone declared amid flood threat
Hat Yai has been declared a red zone as the risk of severe flooding looms, with local officials urging residents to brace for potential evacuations. Hat Yai Mayor Sakhon Thongmunee announced the warning this morning, citing a surge of water flowing into the U-Tapao and Wa canals, which cut through Songkhla’s bustling district. “Overflows from these canals could inundate downtown…
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Songkhla floods wash away bookings in Hat Fai wipeout (video)
Flood chaos in Songkhla and the wider Deep South has left the Malaysian market in tatters, forcing a total wipeout of hotel and tour bookings in Hat Yai for the next two weekends. The relentless downpours have thrown travel plans into disarray, causing a domino effect on local tourism, just as things were heating up. Songchai Mungprasithichai, the head chief…
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Thai man rapes 10 year old girl on boat and sells her explicit videos
Police arrested a Thai man on a boat near Koh Si Chang, an island in Chon Buri province yesterday after explicit videos of him raping a 10 year old girl were sold online. Cyber police officers yesterday, November 28, rushed to Koh Si Chang by helicopter to arrest the 23 year old rapist, Settawut, who was on a boat named…
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Thailand’s economy shifts into gear but auto industry hits a bump
Thailand’s economy is on a cautious upswing, buoyed by a surge in exports, a bustling tourism sector, and healthier private consumption. Yet, the road ahead isn’t entirely smooth, with the automotive industry hitting a bump. The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has laid bare the mixed fortunes in its recent October economic report, painting a picture of resilience tinged with challenges.…
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Baaa-d news for smugglers: 90 goats herded to safety by Thai cops
Thai border police seized over 90 goats that were smuggled from Myanmar into Thailand after the smugglers abandoned them and fled. It is believed these goats were meant for delivery to investors before being sold to Malaysia. Natthaphon Ploythuam, commander of the Border Patrol Police 146, received intelligence about illegal livestock smuggling into the kingdom. Natthaphon immediately dispatched Settachok Phacharatanaphisan,…
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