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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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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4 Chinese and 22 Thai scammers arrested for operating gold scam
Officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) arrested 26 suspects, four Chinese and 22 Thai, for running a fake gold shop and luring victims to invest in counterfeit stock trading. The ECD, yesterday, October 31, launched an operation called CIB Anti-Online Scam to arrest 50 suspects involved in the investment scam run by Chinese nationals. Officers raided 21 suspicious…
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Chiang Mai club raided in Pa Cha Tek operation for serving underage drinkers
In the early hours of today, a popular club in Chang Phueak, Chiang Mai, was raided as part of the Pa Cha Tek operation. Led by Atsathit Sampantarat, Director of the Department of Provincial Administration, the operation was launched after the club was discovered to be allowing underage patrons, as young as 18, to enter and buy alcohol. The operation…
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Belgian man in Thailand hospitalised after violent road rage incident
A 70 year old Belgian expatriate found himself in a violent altercation with a Thai citizen in a recent incident that took place in Chon Buri province. The Belgian man, a long-term resident of Thailand for two decades, was allegedly attacked following a road incident sparked by a language barrier and misunderstanding. The Belgian, Danny and his 50 year old…
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La Tavola offers a slice of Italy’s coastal flavors in Bangkok
Bangkok just got a touch more dolce with the reopening of La Tavola, an authentic Italian restaurant on the 3rd floor of Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel. Celebrating all there is to love about Italian food, the restaurant serves up mouth-watering flavors of Italy’s seaside towns right here in the capital of Thailand. The essence of Italian coastal flavors Under the…
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Thai EV stocks to soar with renewed government support measures
Electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing-related stocks are predicted to gain from the upcoming renewal of EV support measures by the government next year, according to Asia Plus Securities (ASPS). The EV Policy Committee will convene today, with new support measures for electric cars and pickups being anticipated. These measures are expected to adjust the subsidy to fall between 50,000…
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Paws for concern: Unlicensed vet accused in Nonthaburi pet death scandal
A dog owner complained to a veterinary clinic in Nonthaburi, alleging that an unlicensed vet performed a sterilisation operation on his pet, which subsequently died. The 36 year old owner, Songwut Sammawutikun, has sought an investigation into whether the individual who conducted the operation was, in fact, a qualified veterinarian. Songwut Sammawutikun disclosed that his three year old Thai-breed female dog, named…
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Trade negotiations with EFTA set to boost Thai GDP
The Trade Negotiations Department of the Commerce Ministry gears up for the seventh round of trade negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), to seal the deal by mid-2024. The announcement was made by Auramon Supthaweethum, the director-general of the department, who confirmed that the negotiations will take place from November 6 to November 9 in Geneva, Switzerland. The…
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Snake catching fiasco: Man’s hilarious mistake with palm frond goes viral
A man’s humorous display of catching a snake barehanded left viewers laughing out loud. The clip, which ends up as a comedy sketch, caused viewers to gasp and burst into raucous laughter. The video, shared on social media, shows a young man walking in a resort’s walkway when he stumbles upon a cobra rearing its head menacingly. However, he remains…
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Thunderstorm warning: TMD issues alert for 30 provinces, including Bangkok
The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a thunderstorm warning in 30 provinces including Bangkok, with South Thailand being the hardest hit. Citizens are advised to be alert for potential flash floods and forest runoff. At 5am today, a 24 hour forecast reveals that high atmospheric pressure or a mass of cool air from China has spread to cover northern Thailand.…
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Nakhon Ratchasima battles major flooding after day-long downpour
The urban area of Nakhon Ratchasima was hit by a significant downpour that lasted from 2am until late in the evening yesterday. The persistent rain resulted in severe flooding that engulfed the city’s streets, public areas, and residential properties. The deluge posed considerable challenges to local inhabitants, motorists, and pedestrians alike. Inundated roads caused trouble for drivers, many of whom…
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Thai-Ghanaian football player condemns racist Thai referee
A half-Thai, half-Ghanaian Prachin Buri City football player condemned a racist Thai referee who allegedly called him a “ni**a!” The drama erupted after the match between Prachin Buri City FC and Pluakdaeng United FC on October 29. Prachin Buri City FC player Abdulkordiri Hamit, also known as Abdul, posted on his Pog Dul Facebook account what happened. “I can understand…
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Sirens sour the silence: Silom hotel’s plea ignites global social media symphony
An escalating drama unfolded as a hotel in the Silom area penned a letter to a foundation requesting the discontinuation of ambulance siren noise. The hotel cites the disturbance and nuisance caused by the loud sirens, thereby interrupting the leisure time of the guests. The revelation of this issue by the Thai press stirred up a global social media storm. The…
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Foiled in gold: Chinese-led scam gang’s Aurora of deception comes to light
A Chinese-led gang operating an elaborate gold investment scam, falsely using the name of a trusted jewellery manufacturer, Aurora Design, has been busted by Thai police. The scheme is reported to have an estimated 1.2 billion baht in circulation. Over the past week, police conducted raids on 21 locations across Bangkok, Chon Buri, and Chiang Mai, arresting 26 suspects, among…
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Dragon dance drama: Actor’s fall leaves crowd in shock and awe in Kamphaeng Phet
A shocking incident transpired during a dragon dance performance when an actor fell from a pole and hit the ground, causing immediate unconsciousness. The event occurred today, in the Nakhon Chum district of Kamphaeng Phet. The incident was captured and shared by a TikTok user, @suparatthepparos, who happened to be attending the performance. In the shared clip, an actor is…
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Thailand’s fitness deficit: Running endorsed to get the nation moving
Recent statistics from this year reveal that only 62% of the Thai population engage in sufficient physical activities, while over 38% don’t. To encourage an active lifestyle, Social Marketing Thaihealth (SMT) and its network have endorsed running as an affordable and accessible form of exercise. SMT and the Thai Health Day Run believe that running can pave the way for…
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Prescription for drama: Accused mistress denies love affair, claims she is a nurse
A Thai woman accused her husband of cheating and conspiring with his mistress to file a lawsuit against her. The accused woman denies being her husband’s lover, insisting that she is only his nurse. The 52 year old wife, Naruecha “Sida” Kamutyothin, gave an interview to Channel 3 yesterday, October 30, explaining that she married her husband, Jade, and have…
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New Thai law: Less meth tablets, more help – addicts eligible for treatment, not jail
Thailand‘s Public Health Ministry is set to roll out a new regulation, enabling individuals found with less than ten methamphetamine tablets to be seen as drug addicts, making them eligible for treatment over imprisonment, according to Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew. This significant shift in policy was revealed yesterday during a ministry meeting centred on drug suppression efforts for the fiscal year 2024.…
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Seoul-searching: South Korean authorities accused of discriminating against Thais (video)
Outraged Thai netizens called for a ban on travel to South Korea, accusing authorities of discriminating against Thai nationals, pushing the hashtag #BanTravelToSouthKorea (#แบนเที่ยวเกาหลี) to the top of Twitter (X). The Southeast Asian nation is a popular destination for Thais due to the influence of K-pop artists, fashion and South Korean drama. Thais do not need a visa to enter…
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Chinese firm faces backlash over controversial punishment video provoking online outrage
A video showing a controversial disciplinary method by a company in Sichuan, China, sparked online outrage. The footage revealed a female employee crying while pouring water on the head of an individual, with a queue of colleagues waiting their turn to do the same. The viral video stirred up a heated debate among Chinese netizens, with many criticising the act as…
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Thailand Ministry of Labour: Refund for Thai workers who paid for return from Israel
Thai workers who fled unrest in Israel and bought their return tickets can now apply for a refund, according to the Ministry of Labour‘s Secretary, Pairoj Chotikasathien. This is in response to the recent conflict in Israel that has impacted Thai workers in the country. Thai workers who have returned from Israel since October 7, can now request reimbursement for…
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Drive-by drama: Gunman targets hospital in Japanese shootout
A doctor and a patient were shot this afternoon by a gunman on a motorcycle at a Japanese hospital in Toda, Saitama Prefecture. Police reported that the suspect gunman was holed up in a post office in the neighbouring city of Warabi. The suspect gunman entered the post office at approximately 2.15pm. The police have confirmed that both victims, a…
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Thailand to lift visa requirements for Taiwanese and Indian tourists
Thailand is set to lift visa requirements for tourists from India and Taiwan starting next month, lasting until May 2024. This move aims to attract more tourist influx as the peak season is on the horizon. This move follows in the footsteps of the decision made in September to abolish visa requirements for Chinese tourists, Thailand’s leading tourism market before…
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Golden opportunity gone wrong: Burmese man arrested for gold necklace heist
Police arrested a Burmese man for stealing a gold necklace worth 65,000 baht from a Thai woman in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The 42 year old victim, surnamed Oil, filed a complaint at Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station on October 29, saying a man snatched a gold necklace she was wearing and fled at around 4am. The theft…
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Deputy Interior Minister’s whirlwind day: Prayers, fire, and fashion in Bangkok
Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaiseth started his day with religious activities, then assisted in a fire incident during the day, and ended it at a fashion show in Bangkok, showcasing his versatile persona. The deputy interior minister revealed the incident of rescuing an elderly woman from a burning building in Uthai Thani yesterday. While attending a merit-making event yesterday, he…
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Brothers’ bittersweet lift: Sons carry sick mother to hospital in bamboo basket
A heartwarming incident unfolded as two sons, a 58 year old man surnamed Chen, and 55 year old Li carried their 89 year old elderly mother to the hospital when she fell ill on October 23 in Chongqing, China. Yet, the sight of the elderly mother being carried in a large bamboo basket due to her motion sickness and headache from…
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Mystery surrounds death of Thai barista at coffee shop in Khao Yai
A Thai woman discovered the dead body of her barista boyfriend at a coffee shop on Thanarat Road in the Khao Yai neighbourhood of Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeastern Thailand. The cause of his death remains a mystery. The woman, Charinthon Phuekkoksung, reported the death of her boyfriend, 25 year old Pasathorn Chaiyakarn, at Moo Si Police Station at 9.45pm yesterday,…
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As Phuket tourism market recovers, a potential “carmageddon” infrastructure crisis looms
Phuket hotels experienced promising momentum for the first half of 2023, which has set an optimistic path for the remainder of the year. At the mid-year juncture, international and domestic flight volume was already up 75% over total flights in 2022. Russia and China led the way as the two top tourism source markets in the first six months of…
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Suicide of Wild Boar footballer sparks nationwide query into mental health support
The tragic suicide of Dom, a member of the “Wild Boar” football team, has left many with questions. As per a report by the BBC, Dom, full name Duangpetch Promthep, was one of the 13 individuals from the football team who were trapped in the Tham Luang cave and died eight months after his rescue. The cause of his death…
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Major roles for crime suppression in Thailand delegated by police chief in a reshuffle of positions
The Thai National Police Chief today issued an order to delegate responsibilities to 11 special crime suppression centres. The order, number 600/2023, dated October 28, assigned Roy Ingkaphairoj, the Deputy National Police Chief, as the head of the Anti-Money Laundering Centre of the National Police Office. Under Roy’s supervision, Ittipon Atchariyapradit, the Assistant National Police Chief, will serve as the…
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