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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Fake cops dial up the drama: Thai woman’s 800,000 baht loss to scam gang
A Thai woman cried foul to the Royal Thai Police (RTP) following a near loss of 800,000 baht to fake cops part of a call centre scam gang. The gang members, posing as fake cops and officials from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), threatened the grade C7 female public servant with involvement in a mass murder case…
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National artist Chalermchai Kositpipat retires to enjoy motorcycle travels
Chalermchai Kositpipat, a national artist and creator of Wat Rong Khun, announced his retirement, adding he will spend his remaining days enjoying life on his motorcycle. Born on February 15, 1955, in Rong Khun, Chiang Rai, Chalermchai is best known for his Thai mural paintings in Wat Phuttha Prateep in London, England, and his art at Wat Rong Khun. Chalermchai…
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Overqualified barista buzz: Latte lament sparks social media stir
A young man recently stirred a buzz on social media after sharing his experience of being rejected for a barista job only because he was overqualified. The incident, which unfolded through a Facebook post, left netizens discussing and sharing similar experiences. The young man had initially applied for a barista position in a coffee shop that advertised for a permanent…
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Bedazzling deceit: Thai woman accuses famous sorcerer of spiritual sex scam
A Thai woman accused a famous sorcerer of tricking her into having intercourse with him, claiming that sex was part of a process to expel evil spirits from her soul. The 26 year old woman approached non-profit organisation Saimai Survive and urged them to file a lawsuit against a 63 year old sorcerer named Harn Raksajit, also known as Novice…
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Phuket Veg Fest food frenzy turns rancid: Sacred shrines face hygiene havoc
A shocking revelation unfolded as revered Phuket Veg Fest food shrines were found in breach of food hygiene standards. This news has undoubtedly rocked the faith of the local Thai community and tourists alike who flock to these places of worship and food consumption, particularly during festivals. The local authorities are yet to comment on the situation and the measures…
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TV sequel rewrites the law: Phrom Likhit sparks interest in Thailand’s ancient laws
Thai television phenomenon Phrom Likhit, a sequel to the hit series Buppesannivas, has reignited interest in Thailand’s ancient laws. The series introduces a new character, Mae Klin, who frequently quarrels with the show’s protagonist, Mae Pudtan. These verbal exchanges have led to a renewed curiosity about how Thailand’s archaic laws would handle such disputes, including the infliction of verbal and…
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Court sentences man to 27 months for defamation against former Phuket governor
A 27-month jail term has been handed down to Aiya Phetthong by the Phuket Provincial Court, following his guilty verdict for defamation. The charges stemmed from his online posts alleging that former Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew was involved in an illegal operation smuggling Muslims into Phuket in 2021. The formal complaint against Phetthong, who is a registered resident of the…
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Bangkok condo conundrum: Thai man’s discount deal to evict stubborn mother
A Thai man put his Bangkok condo room up for sale at a low price to force his interfering mother to move out. He says he can’t personally use the condo because his mother refuses to leave. The Thai man announced the sale on a Facebook group on October 26. The condominium is situated within the HR Residence project, which is…
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High stakes eats: BBQ restaurant on hunt for sharp-dressed dine & dashers
A renowned barbecue pork restaurant is seeking ten well-dressed customers who dined and dashed, leaving a bill worth over 4,000 baht unpaid. The establishment has given a three-day deadline for the culprits to come forward before legal action is taken. This incident occurred at the famed Warehouse Seafood Grill Buffet in Ubon Ratchathani on October 30. The barbecue pork restaurant…
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Phuket City gears up for debut of Chartered Walking Street market
Phuket City Municipality issued an advisory to residents and visitors alike, informing them of the forthcoming closure of Phang Nga Road this coming Sunday, November 5. The thoroughfare will be shut down from 1pm to midnight to pave the way for the debut of the Chartered Walking Street Market. The Chartered Walking Street Market’s geographical footprint will extend along Phang…
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Pattaya: Extinct Neptune’s Cup Sponge rediscovered
A wave of enthusiasm has swept through the environmental community in Pattaya, following the exciting rediscovery of the Neptune’s Cup Sponge, a marine creature believed to have been extinct. This incredible find was announced by Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, serving as the Associate Dean for the Faculty of Fisheries at Kasetsart University, via a post on his personal Facebook page. The…
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Thai rescuer celebrates Halloween by working in devil costume
A Thai rescuer celebrated Halloween yesterday by donning a devil costume representing the Thai-style messenger of death called Yom-ma-thut. The 53 year old rescuer, Narongsak Noppasit, from the Jaturatham Pratheep Foundation in the Panthong district of Chon Buri province, shared a picture of himself in a fancy dress costume on the foundation’s official Facebook page yesterday with the caption “Ready…
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Phuket drivers protest against new baht bus service threatening livelihoods
Around 50 tuk tuk and taxi drivers swarmed the Patong Municipality offices in Phuket yesterday to express their discontent about a proposed baht bus circular service that could potentially disrupt their livelihoods. Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri, along with other officials, received the formal complaint as the officers of the Patong Police maintained order. The complaint predicted a significant impact on the…
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Sattahip: Karaoke venues police check for compliance with regulations for tourist safety
In Sattahip, a thorough check of karaoke establishments in the vicinity of Tao Than Thong Thip Market took place on October 30. The inspection was led by the Sattahip Police Station’s chief, Police Colonel Panya Damlek, following the Royal Thai Police’s guidelines to maintain order in every area. The main focus of the inspection was to ensure adherence to closing…
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Thai MPI faces contraction amid global conflicts and tourism slump
The Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) anticipates a contraction between 4% to 4.5% in the Thai Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) this year due to less-than-projected tourism growth and geopolitical conflicts impacting the global economy. In contrast, the MPI was projected to shrink by 2.8% to 3.8% in July. The OIE further predicts a contraction of 2.5% to 3% in the…
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Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel amid Gaza conflict (video)
Bolivia announced the severance of diplomatic ties with Israel, becoming the first nation globally to make such a decision following the recent flare-up of conflict in Gaza amid the brutal Israeli assault on Palestine. This declaration was made yesterday by Bolivia’s Presidential Minister, Maria Nela Prada. “Bolivia has decided to terminate diplomatic relations with the State of Israel in order…
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Taiwanese child Internet sensation Ming Ming grows up
Ming Ming, the famed Taiwanese child who once caused a global Internet sensation with her faceless ghost costume from the animation Spirited Away, has grown significantly in the seven years since that event. Now nine years old, Ming Ming is in her third year of primary school and consistently ranks within the top five of her class. Ming Ming originally…
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Cosmetics industry goes global: Thai NSTDA’s empowering touch
The Thai National Science and Technology Development (NSTDA) initiated a comprehensive service to aid cosmetics industry entrepreneurs in their global market expansion. The NSTDA director, Chukit Limpijamnong, indicated that the cosmetics industry is a key sector for the agency and possesses significant expansion potential, both domestically and internationally. Therefore, firms in this sector require robust support in innovation and technological…
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Monk’s mobile mission: Chasing down the talkative foreign scammer
A Thai monk and his older brother successfully tracked down a foreign man who tricked the monk into buying a fake mobile phone. The scammer claimed he needed help after going bankrupt over a Thai woman. The victim monk, Surasit, filed a complaint at Nong Kham Police Station in Chon Buri province on October 30 that an unidentified foreigner, believed…
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Mid-movie capture: Bangkok burglar busted on Halloween date night
A 32 year old Bangkok burglar was nabbed by police on Halloween in a cinema at a well-known shopping centre in Rama 3 district. The arrest occurred while he was taking his girlfriend to see a movie titled Death Whispering: Tee Yod. The Bangkok burglar was served with a warrant issued by the South Bangkok Criminal Court under the charge…
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Forgot to cook the rice: Family’s humorous response goes viral on TikTok
A family‘s humorous response to a common kitchen mishap, forgetting to cook the rice, has lit the blue-touch flame on social media. This light-hearted moment was shared on the popular social media platform, TikTok, where it has since been met with widespread admiration. The family’s positive reaction to the situation has sparked online discussions about the importance of maintaining a…
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Thai economy’s Q3 bounce-back: Warming up after a cool Q2
The Thai economy’s growth rate for the third quarter of this year is anticipated to surpass that of the second, according to the Bank of Thailand. This forecast comes after the nation’s economic expansion fell short of the central bank’s estimations for the preceding quarter. Chayawadee Chai-anant, the assistant governor for the corporate relations group at the central bank, reported…
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Thai and Israeli officials repatriate bodies of Thai workers lost in conflict
Today, a joint Thai and Israeli ceremony was held at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, to repatriate the bodies of 11 Thai workers who lost their lives in the Israel conflict. The solemn event, attended by diplomatic officials from both nations, underscored the close ties between Thailand and Israel as they mourned the loss together. Thai officials present at the…
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Government offers loans to Thai workers returning from Israel
The Thai government pledged to extend low-interest loans of up to 150,000 baht to each Thai worker who has been forced to return from Israel due to the ongoing war in Gaza, Palestine. The loans aim to help Thai workers settle any outstanding debts with job brokers or to fund alternative career paths. Paopoom Rojanasakul, the finance minister’s secretary, revealed…
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Thai tourists’ Korea travel ban outcry impacts agencies amid visa woes
Following a surge in posts under the hashtag #BanTravelToSouthKorea (#แบนเที่ยวเกาหลี) on the Twitter (X) platform, tourism agencies are being urged to pay heed to the concerns of Thai tourists. Over a million posts were generated during the past weekend alone, highlighting the losses suffered by both tourists and tour operators in recent years. The Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) reported that…
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Thai transwoman caught giving handjob to South Korean man on Pattaya Beach
Thai netizens called the relevant authorities to take action after a video showing a Thai transwoman giving a handjob to a South Korean man on Pattaya Beach went viral. The Facebook page, This is Beauty Queen (นางงามนะคะ), posted news of the video it found on Twitter (X) on October 29. “Just found a video of a Thai transwoman giving a…
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Thai baht hits six-week high ahead of Federal Reserve meeting
The Thai baht reached a six-week high against the US dollar yesterday morning, trading at 35.86. Analysts predict further appreciation if the Federal Reserve does not provide clear indications regarding United States interest rate trends at its upcoming meeting. As Head of Research at Kasikorn Research Centre, Kanjana Chockpisansin observed that the baht’s quick appreciation from 36.50 to the US…
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River tragedy strikes at traditional race: Young oarsman’s celebration ends in drowning
Phetchabun bore witness to a tragic incident during a traditional long boat racing event at Thung Thong Chai Temple, Lom Kao, Phetchabun on October 30. An 18 year old young oarsman tragically drowned after attempting to swim across the river in celebration of his team’s fourth-place finish. As the local media in Phetchabun reported, the incident unfolded around 4pm, Monday.…
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Pattaya suicide attempt: Thai man makes the jump after arguing with girlfriend
A 30 year old Thai man attempted to take his own life yesterday when he jumped from the second floor of a condominium in Pattaya. The Thai man, whose name is being withheld to protect his privacy, leapt after a disagreement with his girlfriend. The incident occurred at 6am at a residential complex in the Nongprue sub-district of Banglamung district,…
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Thailand’s drug policy shift: Possession of 10 or fewer meth pills no longer means jail time
A significant shift in Thailand’s approach to drug possession is underway, as the Justice Ministry and the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) are supporting an initiative by the Public Health Ministry. This initiative aims to reclassify individuals found with 10 or fewer methamphetamine pills as users rather than dealers. Somsak Thepsutin, Deputy Prime Minister and ONCB president, addressed the…
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