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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Flash flood destroys bridge in Phayao, disrupting districts and leaving locals missing
Last night’s severe rainfall in Phayao province resulted in a flash flood that destroyed a bridge, disrupting connectivity between the districts of Chiang Muan and Dok Khamtai. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, swept away two vehicles and left several individuals missing. Authorities are currently mobilising efforts to locate the missing persons from the Nong…
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Convenience store’s refusal to accept taped banknotes sparks online controversy
A recent online controversy erupted over a convenience store’s refusal to accept old banknotes, aggravating customers and sparking heated debate among netizens who pointed out that such notes remain legally valid unless damaged. The main reason for the refusal was due to the banknotes being heavily taped. Today, a social media post was shared by a member of the พวกเราคือผู้บริโภค…
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Mythical Naga statue in Chon Buri temple draws crowds after lucky shadow sighting (video)
An intriguing video clip sparked a flood of visitors seeking good fortune from a statue of the mythical serpent Naga, affectionately known as Por Pu Naga, at the Woraprot Sangkawat temple in Bang Nang, Panthong, Chon Buri. The clip, shared on Facebook by a user named Rong, showed what appeared to be the shadowy outline of Naga within a simulated…
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The EU and ASEAN marked the start of Green Diplomacy Weeks 2023 through a fun run, walk, and cycling event in Jakarta
Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to ASEAN, H.E. Sujiro Seam, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community H.E. Ekkaphab Phanthavong and the Ambassador/Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN, H.E. Hjayceelyn Mancenido Quintana, officially launched the start of the EU-ASEAN Green Diplomacy Weeks 2023 today in Jakarta, Indonesia. Over 300 people, representing officials from ASEAN,…
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Third group of Thai workers return from Israel, escaping Gaza conflict
A group of Thai workers, comprising 88 males and two females, arrived back home from Israel this morning, marking the third group to return. This repatriation was orchestrated by the Thai government. The workers’ journey home began in Israel yesterday, where they boarded Fly Dubai Flight FZ1550 at 11am local time and travelled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Their journey…
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Public concern over 10,000 baht digital wallet policy, NIDA poll reveals
The National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), has revealed public concern that the government’s policy of distributing 10,000 baht in digital wallets may not be beneficial for the country. The survey suggests that the policy should be adjusted to match current circumstances. Between October 9 to October 11, the survey was conducted among individuals aged 18 and above, spread across…
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Thai workers recount perilous experiences amid Gaza conflict
Recently returned Thai workers from conflict-hit Israel conveyed their harrowing experiences, raising questions about the government’s decision to send workers to the conflict-ridden zones, notably areas near the Gaza Strip. The first batch of 41 Thai workers landed in Thailand last Thursday on Israel Airlines flight LY 083, with 15 sponsored by the Thai government and the remaining 26 funding…
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Thai activist Niwat Roykaew wins Asia Foundation’s frontline leader award
Niwat Roykaew, also known as Kru Thi, has been acknowledged as the first Thai recipient of the Leader on the Frontlines Award by the Asia Foundation, a San Francisco-based international development organisation. Niwat, the 64 year old chairperson of the Chiang Khong Conservation Group and the director of Mekong School’s Institute of Local Knowledge has been recognised for his community…
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Thai restaurant’s job ad goes viral for unique qualifications and high salary
A Thai restaurant, Xin Rong, has announced several job vacancies, offering a salary range of 70,000 to 90,000 baht. The positions available include clean-up crew, customer service staff, and kitchen staff. The announcement became a viral sensation on social media due to the high starting salary. However, the job listings also come with a peculiar list of qualifications. The restaurant…
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Thai PM defends Corrections Department over ex-PM Shinawatra’s controversial hospital stay
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stood up for the Corrections Department amidst backlash over the alleged special treatment of Thaksin Shinawatra, the imprisoned ex-prime minister. PM Srettha confirmed that all inmates are treated equally, addressing a controversial photograph that surfaced on social media. The picture, which sparked the debate, featured a person resembling Thaksin on a gurney, donning a patient gown…
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Thai government denies plans to slash digital wallet initiative budget, aimed at boosting economy
The Thai government has refuted rumours of cutting funds for the digital wallet initiative from 560 billion baht (US$ 15,426,997,600) to 400 billion baht (US$ 11,019,284,000), stating that the project is not just for the underprivileged but aimed at stimulating the economy more broadly. The government is keen on weeding out the wealthy from benefiting from the scheme, which is…
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Chiang Mai lottery fervour spikes as fortune tellers offer lucky numbers amid Vegetarian Festival
The lottery buzz is in full swing in Chiang Mai as fortune tellers provide lucky numbers and warn of double digits. Among the popular figures are ones associated with the Vegetarian Festival and the Chinese calendar. Today, the lottery stalls in Chiang Mai are buzzing with people searching for their lucky numbers. Despite the continuous rainfall, hopeful buyers flocked to…
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Massachusetts teen dies after attempting world’s spiciest chip challenge
Tragic news involving a viral challenge has surfaced in the United States, as a 14 year old boy residing in Massachusetts succumbed to intense abdominal pain, eventually losing consciousness and passing away after attempting the popular One Chip Challenge. The globally trending challenge involved consuming the world’s spiciest potato chip. Harris Wolobah, the unfortunate youngster, had tasted the spicy chip…
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Two wild elephants electrocuted by durian orchard owner’s fence in Thailand
Two wild elephants, roughly aged between 20 and 25 and 30 and 35 years, met a tragic end due to electrocution in Surat Thani province. The elephants fell victim to an electric fence positioned by a local durian orchard farmer in Tai Rom Yen National Park located within Kanchanadit, a district in southern Thailand. The incident occurred on October 12,…
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Israel-Palestine conflict: Thai death toll rises, government hastens evacuation
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has claimed three more Thai lives, bringing the Thai death toll to 24, as reported by the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin also reported on Saturday that 16 Thais have been injured and an equal number abducted in the escalating conflict. Addressing the press before his departure to Phitsanulok province,…
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Bangkok father’s repeated sexual assault on daughter leads to pregnancy: Ongoing police investigation
A 14 year old girl was repeatedly sexually assaulted by her biological father until she fell pregnant, as revealed by the local police in Bangkok. The girl had been living with her grandparents in Buriram province following her parents’ separation in 2011. She moved to the capital in April to attend school. Her 34 year old mother currently resides in…
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Significant rise in Thai gold prices: ornaments now at 33,500 baht per baht weight
The Gold Traders Association (GTA) announced this morning a significant increase in gold prices compared to the previous day. The increase was reported to be 550 baht (US$15), with the price of gold ornaments set at 33,500 baht per baht weight. This is a marked jump from yesterday’s closing price of 32,305.96 baht per baht weight. The report released today…
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Thai worker pays 50,000 baht for flight home amid conflict zone chaos
A Thai worker who paid for his own flight back home to Thailand revealed the dire situation in a conflict-ridden zone. He disclosed that several of his friends who lost their lives could not be repatriated due to ongoing identity verification. He decided to take matters into his own hands, spending over 50,000 baht (US$1,377) on his journey home. According…
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Tropical depression triggers heavy rain warnings for 47 Thai provinces, including Bangkok
Today, 47 provinces of Thailand, including Bangkok, brace for heavy rainfall due to a tropical depression covering the Gulf of Thailand. The public has been warned to be cautious of flash floods and forest runoff, especially in hillside areas and low-lying regions. The sea waves are expected to reach a height of 2 metres in areas affected by thunderstorms. The…
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Vietnamese man pays for wife’s motorcycle with two years’ worth of saved change
A 36 year old man from Ho Chi Minh City created a stir on Vietnam’s social networks recently. He brought a backpack filled with a meticulously arranged stack of banknotes to a motorcycle shop. The backpack weighed a hefty 11 kilograms and contained approximately 32,769,000 Vietnamese Dong (approximately 48,000 baht) (US$ 1,322) that he had saved over two years. This…
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Malaysian family steals 600 dishes from restaurant: a 1,250 baht hotpot heist exposed on social media
A Malaysian restaurant owner took to social media to express his dismay after a family of five ordered and subsequently stole over 600 dishes from his establishment. The incident, which took place on October 8, was discovered after the owner reviewed CCTV footage, revealing the family’s unusual behaviour. The owner of a hotpot restaurant in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia, posted on…
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Bang Na mall escalator accident injures child, prompts safety protocol questions
A four year old girl suffered injuries after her foot got stuck in the escalator at a shopping mall in Bang Na. Despite the swift response of the mall’s personnel, the rescue operation was delayed due to confusion about which part of the escalator to dismantle. The incident occurred yesterday evening and resulted in medical costs exceeding 7,000 baht for…
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Wealthy Thai heiress discovers she’s biologically unrelated to parents after DNA test
A privileged young woman, born to a wealthy family, has discovered she is not biologically related to her parents. Despite growing up in a loving household, she was often told by friends and neighbours that she bore no resemblance to her parents. This eventually led her to undertake a DNA test, which confirmed that she was not their biological child.…
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Phuket car accident: Retired officer’s wife crashes into vegetarian festival stalls
A severe car accident in Phuket’s Talat Nuea district left one person dead and eight others injured. The incident involved a Mercedes Benz, driven by the wife of a retired senior police officer, who claimed she experienced dizziness and a blackout and mistook the accelerator for the brake, leading to the fatal crash. The Phuket car accident occurred on Ranong…
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Health screening results reveal stress and physical injuries among Thai workers returning from Israel conflict
The Emergency Medical and Public Health Centre of the Ministry of Public Health unveiled the health screening results of 15 Thai workers who returned from Israel yesterday. Among the workers, two individuals showed signs of stress, seven reported sleep disturbances and two needed psychiatric consultation. In addition, a person who was shot in the leg required ongoing treatment. Having fled…
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Hygiene concerns over ice cream scoops spark online debate
The self-service ice cream scoop at buffet restaurants has recently become a subject of heated online discussion. A Chinese netizen declared in the Facebook group ●【爆怨公社】● that the water in which the ice cream scoop is kept at many hot pot restaurants is never replaced, leaving a residue of ice cream floating on top. This sparked a debate on whether…
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Siam Paragon shooting claims third victim, music fan loses fight for life
The tragic shooting at the Siam Paragon shopping mall, where a 14 year old boy opened fire on the public, claimed its third victim. Penpivan, a 14 year old girl and a devoted fan of famous singers Nont Thanont and GOT7, succumbed to her injuries after a ten-day battle. During the shocking event, she sustained critical gunshot wounds to her…
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Flash Express denies allegations of staff exodus and warehouse crisis
Flash Express, a prominent delivery firm, has refuted allegations of widespread employee resignations and troubling working conditions. The company confirms it’s addressing issues of package backlogs in some branches, but denies an overall warehouse crisis. Flash Express clarifies that any staff resignations are isolated incidents and not a nationwide phenomenon. Today, Flash Express issued a formal statement in response to…
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Vietnamese restaurant’s eating challenge sparks outrage as owner gripes over girl’s win
A restaurant’s promotional eating challenge in Vietnam has sparked controversy on social media. The challenge involved consuming two trays of fried chicken within 90 minutes, with the reward being five million dong. However, the owner’s reaction to a young girl completing the challenge has ignited criticism from netizens. Restaurants often create promotions or games to attract customers, setting various rules…
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US fisherman discovers snake latched onto catch in bizarre incident
A US fisherman was left exasperated after a stubborn snake latched onto his catch. It took a knife to separate the two, after which both were released back into the water. The fishing incident, captured in a video clip titled “Fishing for a bonus snake,” occurred in Harris County, northwest of Houston, USA. The footage shows a snake tightly coiled around…
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