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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Mercedes driver faces charges after road rage incident with taxi in Phuket
A road rage incident involving a Mercedes Benz driver and a taxi driver near the Darasamut Intersection in Phuket, Thailand, resulted in the former facing charges for his violent reaction. The event took place on a Saturday night in September and quickly escalated when the green plate taxi allegedly cut off the Mercedes Benz. The 38 year old taxi driver,…
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Flowing frustration: Mysterious water bill surge drowns Thai homeowner in questions
A baffling water bill totalling 2,428 baht has left 42 year old homeowner seeking answers from the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA). Despite living in a three-person household with modest water usage, homeowner Kalya Kanfeun usually pays less than 200 baht per month. A news team last night visited Kalya’s residence at 161, Moo 11, Klong Darn Subdistrict, Bang Bo District,…
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Monsoon mayhem: TMD forecasts heavy rains for 51 provinces, including Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department issued a warning for heavy rains caused by monsoons affecting 51 provinces across the country, including Bangkok, with 70% of the areas expected to be hit hard. The warning, issued today, September 18, forecasts continuous rain for the next 24 hours due to a moderate monsoon trough passing through the northern and upper northeastern regions. The…
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TasteAtlas stirs the pot: Pad kaprao sizzles to the top of global stir-fry rankings
Food guide platform TasteAtlas unveiled its list of the 50 best stir-fry dishes in the world, with Thai fast food favourite pad kaprao claiming the coveted top spot. The website added that Thai pad kaprao also stands as the fourth most frequently ordered dish by foreigners visiting Thailand. Pad kaprao scooped first place in the rankings with an impressive 4.8…
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Roadside accident: Truck splits in two after lamppost crash
A dramatic incident was recorded by a dashboard camera as a young driver lost control of his vehicle, causing it to crash into a lamppost by the roadside and split into two. The roadside accident occurred in the early hours of this morning and resulted in a head injury for the 24 year old driver. The incident happened as the…
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Trading doubts for trust: Thai Trade representative addresses past controversy
The newly designated Thai trade representative recently responded to lingering media scepticism regarding her background and qualifications. Nalinee Taveesin insisted that any past misunderstandings had been resolved. This was a reference to her blacklisting by the United States Department of the Treasury approximately ten years ago. This was due to her alleged business connections with the then-sanctioned regime of Zimbabwean president, Robert…
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Tragic twist: Slippery roads lead to double tragedy with feline fatality
A fatal road accident occurred in Nakhon Pathom in the early hours yesterday, when a car skidded off a slippery road and plunged into a canal. The driver, a 36 year old man named Tsai, and his 35 year old girlfriend Saowaphak, both drowned, while two other passengers sustained injuries. Also found deceased at the scene were two Persian cats…
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Thailand’s healthcare sector transformed by AI innovations
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming Thailand’s healthcare sector, with innovative solutions designed to enhance patient care, ease the workload of medical professionals, and address the specialist shortage. In a collaboration aimed at advancing medical treatment, public hospitals, state agencies, and local startups are joining hands to develop AI-based healthcare products and services. These advancements are expected to boost the…
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Chiang Rai’s new college to tackle Mekong region drug trafficking
The International Narcotics Control College (INCC), a newly founded institution in Chiang Rai, Thailand, is set to provide specialised training for law enforcement agents and associated organisations, with the mission of curbing drug trafficking in the Mekong subregion. Nestled within the compound of the Hall of Opium, Thailand’s opium museum, in Chiang Saen district, the INCC is the first of…
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Tablet talk: IT companies endorse education ministry’s digital vision, but call for a SMARTer plan
The plan of the Education Ministry to equip every student and teacher across the nation with a tablet has received support from several IT companies. They believe the tablet initiative is a step towards promoting equal educational opportunities. However, they recommend a well-thought-out strategy about device specifications, relevant courseware, and the necessary skills students should acquire. This tablet initiative is…
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Sexual activity aids kidney stone expulsion, suggests Thai doctor’s study
A noteworthy post was made yesterday on the Facebook page Sirianan Prasit by Doctor Sirianan Prasit. The post highlighted an intriguing revelation: Engaging in sexual activity can assist in the natural expulsion of kidney stones. Dr Sirianan shared insights from a conference he attended, where the intriguing research was presented. The study, which was conducted systematically and analysed meticulously, compared…
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Farmer’s pickling stone revealed as rare jade worth over 24 million baht
A farmer’s luck takes a surprising turn when a ‘stone’ used for pickling vegetables is valued at a staggering 5 million yuan (over 24 million baht) on a Chinese television show. The farmer, known as Li, brought the peculiar black stone to the show, where experts were astounded by its true worth. China has a history spanning more than 5,000…
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Erratic behaviour on high-speed train reveals woman’s struggle with mental health
A shocking incident unfolded on a high-speed train in China when a woman suddenly rose and began to act erratically. Her strange behaviour, which included speaking incoherently and appearing to dance as if intoxicated, alarmed fellow passengers. As the situation escalated, a concerned onlooker contacted train staff, fearing something was amiss, raising concerns about the woman’s mental health. The woman…
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Nok murder: CIB has strong evidence, 14 other officers charged
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Police Lieutenant General Jirabhop Bhuridej has unequivocally affirmed the strength of the case against the key suspect, Praween Chanklai, known as Nok, in the alleged orchestration of the shooting of two highway police officers on September 6, a crime that carries the possibility of a death sentence. The victims of the fatal shooting were Police…
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Evergrande wealth management staff detained amid ongoing debt crisis
China Evergrande Group, the world’s most heavily indebted property developer, finds itself under increased scrutiny as staff from its wealth management unit have been detained by the police in southern China. Shenzhen City Police said in a social media statement on Saturday night that public security organs took criminal compulsory measures against China Evergrande general manager Du Liang and other…
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Villa robbery in Phuket raises safety concerns for foreign family
A foreign family, currently residing in Phuket, experienced a shocking robbery of their villa in Chalong, raising serious safety concerns. The audacious theft occurred while the family of four, including two children, were present in the house, and the thief managed to escape with stolen goods worth over 50,000 baht. The family, of Russian origin, reported the invasive villa robbery…
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Srettha Thavisin to bolster Thai-Chinese tourism, bilateral ties in China visit
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is slated for a diplomatic visit to China from Oct 8-10 to negotiate on 10 pivotal issues, among which strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing Thai-Chinese tourism cooperation take precedence. The announcement came yesterday during his visit to Chiang Mai, where he also hinted at the renewal of the Thai-Chinese memorandum of understanding on the loaning of…
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Chaiya Pier 60m baht investment to boost Surat Thani tourism
A significant boost to Chaiya district’s tourism is on the horizon as provincial authorities of Surat Thani have earmarked a budget of 60 million baht for the construction of a new pier. The announcement came from Surat Thani governor, Witchawut Jinto, who confirmed that construction will commence shortly. The construction is said to be positioned near a public park in…
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Hartalika Teej: Phuket hosts Nepalese holiday, fosters love and tourism
The Nepalese community in Phuket, Thailand, recently basked in the joyous celebration of the ‘Hartalika Teej‘ festival, which marks the end of a three-day fast observed by women. Held on Friday evening, the celebration saw women being honoured and cared for by the men in their lives. The event took place at the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Chao Fah Hotel…
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Phuket tourism and property sectors propose Andaman Wellness Economic Corridor
Phuket’s tourism and property development sectors have called on Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to swiftly consider their proposal for an Andaman Wellness Economic Corridor (AWC). This initiative is intended to align with the global wellness trend, enhancing the tourism industry and related investments. This came to light during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Phuket and Phang Nga, where he…
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Weighing passengers to become standard for Bangkok Airways
Your chance to weigh in on airport and flight practices in Thailand may be coming, quite literally. Bangkok Airways is looking to join a number of international airlines that will be weighing passengers before boarding. On September 16, it became clear that airlines were getting a bit nosy about passengers’ pounds. Foreign giants like Korean Air and Air New Zealand…
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Thai citizens suspect state officials’ collusion with mafia-style figures, survey shows
A significant proportion of Thai citizens suspect some state officials, including the police, of colluding with mafia-style influential figures, according to a recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). The survey, carried out from September 12 to 14, involved telephone interviews with 1,310 participants over the age of 18, representing a diverse range of educational backgrounds,…
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Phuket marks another year without memorial for One-Two-Go flight crash victims
Phuket has seen another year pass without official memorial services to commemorate the 90 victims of the calamitous One-Two-Go flight crash that occurred 16 years ago on September 16, 2007. This absence of remembrance has become the standard practice among the local authorities. Many argue it dishonours the air disaster that stands among Thailand’s most fatal. Phuket International Airport, operated…
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Cannabis bill to be reviewed, focusing on medical use only
Cannabis will come under scrutiny as new Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew announced the formation of a committee to analyse a bill to regulate the plant. The primary objective, he insisted yesterday, is to ensure the use of cannabis remains strictly within the medical and health realm, prohibiting any recreational use. The cannabis and hemp bill, sponsored by the Bhumjaithai…
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Thailand and Laos in talks to link tourism routes and build second bridge
In a bid to boost tourism and enhance relations, Thailand and Laos initiated discussions to connect tourism routes and expedite the construction of a second Thai-Lao friendship bridge in the Pak Chom district of Loei. The talks took place yesterday between Tawee Sermpakdeekul, the governor of Loei, and Khamphan Sithidampha, the governor of Laos’ Vientiane province, during the 20th Thai-Lao…
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Thailand and China’s Guangxi discuss bolstering trade via ILSTC route
Trade discussions took place yesterday between Thailand and China‘s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, focusing on the potential use of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) to enhance trade cooperation. Guangxi Zhuang, a southern Chinese region adjacent to Vietnam, is the operational hub of the ILSTC, a trade and logistics channel. The route extends from Chongqing to the Beibu Gulf…
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Thailand Consumers Council to bolster consumer protection law with political factions
With an aim to fortify consumer rights, the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) is set to engage in discussions concerning consumer protection law with multiple political factions. This dialogue is spearheaded by TCC’s deputy secretary-general, Ittaboon Onwongsa. Born from a dire need to address consumer protection issues, the initiative is a strategic move towards ensuring that consumers are adequately shielded from…
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Alcohol consumption bans at retirement parties win praise
Two key Thai ministries, the Interior and Education, have gained recognition for their commitment to stamping out alcohol consumption during retirement parties for their staff ending their service after this month. Introduced seven years ago, this policy was brought into effect following requests made by the StopDrink Network Office, the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the Thai Health Promotion…
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Four arrested in Thailand for child sex trafficking operation
Four individuals implicated in child sex trafficking have been apprehended in Bangkok and Samut Prakan, according to a police announcement today. The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) of the police force detained the two suspects. Criminal Court arrest warrants had been issued for the pair on September 6. The suspects, 40 year old Noppadol Chanthong and 51 year old Khachaporn…
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Thailand urges US to restore GSP to give trade protection
Thailand is accelerating discussions with the United States, aiming to reinstate the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and eliminate its place on the intellectual property assets watch list. The kingdom is urging the US to expedite the restoration of the GSP programme, which concluded in 2020, to safeguard the benefits of Thai exporters and US importers and give protection to…
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