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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Chiang Mai cleans up: Sweeping success after the flood
Local government officials in Chiang Mai are shouting from the rooftops about their stellar post-flood recovery, claiming they’ve already swept through 90% of the streets and cleared 40% of the waste. Governor Nirat Pongsitthithaworn couldn’t be prouder, crediting a dynamic duo effort between the public and private sectors for tackling the flooded chaos with gusto. With the bustling high season…
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64 year old Thai man in Phuket arrested for abducting young girl
Police yesterday arrested a 64 year old Thai man in Phuket for abducting a 12 year old girl, missing from her home in Phang Nga province for 16 days. The family of the 12 year old Poonyanut “Sompoy” Kayankhai turned to social media platforms to search for her after she disappeared from her home in Phang Nga on October 5. The…
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Murder investigation launched after suspicious death in Cha-am
A significant murder investigation has been launched in Cha-am, Phetchaburi, after the sudden and suspicious death of a 69 year old woman. Initially thought to have died from underlying health conditions, new evidence suggests foul play. Pranee was found dead inside her home in Bang Kao, Cha-am on October 17. She was the wife of the former village head, 70…
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PM Paetongtarn’s political shrug: Dodging EC probe bombshell
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra shrugged off the Election Commission’s (EC) bombshell probe into allegations that could see her Pheu Thai Party and five political allies dissolved. Accusations are flying that the parties let an outsider pull the strings, and that outsider is none other than former PM, and Paetongtarn’s kin, Thaksin Shinawatra. The drama kicked off when key figures from…
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Thai man confesses to killing Laotian lover in fear of affair revelations
A Thai man confessed to killing his Laotian lover in a fit of rage and dumping her body near a cassava farm in the central province of Uthai Thani after she attempted to reveal their affair to his wife. Locals in the Lansak district of Uthai Thani discovered the body of the unidentified woman with red hair by the roadside…
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Thailand’s smog showdown: Clearing the air with a bold 30% cut
In a bid to wipe the smog off the map, Thailand’s Pollution Control Department (PCD) is gearing up for a 2024 blitz on air pollution, aiming to slash hotspots by a daring 30%. PCD Chief Preeyaporn Suwanaked held court at a buzzing press conference, revealing the National Environment Board’s stamp of approval on an ambitious blueprint to combat haze. This…
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Thailand’s visa vision: Six countries, one ticket to paradise
Cambodia has endorsed Thailand’s initiative to simplify cross-border travel for tourists from six countries via a unified visa policy known as 6 Countries, 1 Destination, aiming to establish Thailand as a hub for regional tourism, according to a Government House source. Following discussions in Phnom Penh, Cambodian Minister of Tourism Huot Hak, along with Dusit Manapan and Chayika Wongnapachant, advisors…
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Pattaya Beach cops crack down on nighttime mischief
In a dramatic crackdown on mischief by moonlight, a battalion of law enforcement officers swept Pattaya Beach last night. This bold move came hot on the heels of a shocking knife incident involving a rebellious beach chair vendor who went rogue on a city official after being slapped with a warning for peddling booze and kratom juice on the sands…
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Thai man killed after losing consciousness at wheel, wife injured
A Thai man today lost consciousness while driving crashing his pickup into a house by the roadside on Phraeksa Road in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. The driver died at the scene while his wife was injured. The owner of the damaged house, 47 year old Suriyan, called officers from Bangpu Police Station and rescuers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation to…
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Sisaket beauty sets Facebook afire with search for Mr Right criteria
An open audition for love has captivated the virtual world as one Sisaket beauty took to Facebook Live, laying down eight non-negotiable criteria in her hunt for Mr Right. Despite overwhelming social media buzz, Sayamon Unkam, known affectionately as Alice, is resolutely sticking to her structured love list, having learned the lessons of heartbreak by simply following her heart. Gone…
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Gold fever prices gleam with a 200 baht boost in Bangkok bonanza
In a dazzling display of gold rush fever, prices have shot up today, with gold ornaments trading at a sparkling 43,250 baht per baht weight—a 200 baht leap from yesterday’s close. The Gold Traders Association (GTA) dropped these glittering gems earlier, underscoring a trend that’s got both investors and consumers on high alert. As of the morning’s sparkle update at…
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Police arrest woman for call centre scam and money laundering
Thai police arrested a 50 year old woman involved in a call centre scam and money laundering scheme after she served time in a foreign prison. The woman, Laksamee, was apprehended in Bangkok upon her return to Thailand. Laksamee was arrested following a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on June 11, 2018, for charges including attempted fraud, being part…
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Rural Roads demands BMA pave the way with late 197.9m baht fee
The Rural Roads Department urged the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to settle an outstanding payment of 197.9 million baht in land lease fees. These fees cover the use of three specific areas, including a portion of Ratchaphruek Road, and for the construction of two electric railway lines. Pichit Hoonsiri, the department’s deputy director-general, mentioned that the department sent a formal…
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Thai SMEs boxed in by debt and dwindling demand
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand are on the ropes, grappling with crippling debt and plummeting sales as the country’s economic engine sputters, warns the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The financial plight of these crucial businesses is worsening, says the FTI, with government support measures arriving too little, too late. Yet, the federation, the voice of Thailand’s SMEs,…
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Illegal migrants in Pattaya soliciting money to be deported
Chon Buri immigration officers recently intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal migrants in Pattaya following reports of foreign nationals soliciting money from customers at a local restaurant at the weekend. The crackdown was initiated after the owner of an Arab restaurant on Soi 17 in South Pattaya raised concerns about a group of men, believed to be from Myanmar,…
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2 Thai men wanted for staging accident, assaulting victim for cash (video)
Police are searching for two Thai men who allegedly staged a road accident in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok before brutally assaulting a food delivery rider and stealing 1,500 baht in cash from him. A Thai netizen came forward seeking justice for the rider, 64 year old Chaiyaporn Poonmode. A female netizen shared a picture of Chaiyaporn with a bloody wound…
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Banking stocks set to cash in as BoT preps for another cut
Stock market sleuths are buzzing as banking stocks look set to surge with global interest rates on the slide. All eyes are on the Bank of Thailand (BoT), expected to slash its policy rate again this December. Last week’s unexpected chop of 25 basis points to 2.25% marked the first cut in more than four years, echoing similar moves by…
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Thailand Book Expo closes chapter with record-breaking 1.4 million visitors
The 29th Annual Thailand Book Expo in Bangkok concluded yesterday, October 20, with resounding acclaim, having drawn an unprecedented 1.4 million visitors and amassed over 438 million baht in sales during its fortnight-long run. This spectacular turnout in Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre shattered previous records, showcasing the Thai populace’s enduring love affair with literature. This year’s expo exceeded all…
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Police seek 2 suspects for dumping woman’s body near cassava farm
Police are searching for two suspects, one women and one man, who dumped the corpse of an unidentified woman near a cassava farm in the central province of Uthai Thani yesterday. Officers from Lansak Police Station were alerted to the discovery of the dead body at around 3pm yesterday, October 20. The body was found on the side of the…
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Travel subsidy scheme said to boost post-flood tourism in the north
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is considering increasing the budget for its tourism subsidy scheme to help tourism firms in the northern region recover from recent flood damage. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong announced the plans following a meeting with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to discuss economic and tourism stimulus measures. The meeting followed Sorawong’s visit to flood-hit Chiang…
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Thousands miss 10,000 baht digital payout due to outdated IDs
The Ministry of Finance, through the Comptroller General’s Department, has initiated the disbursement of 10,000 baht digital money payout to targeted groups under the 2024 economic stimulus programme. This effort includes those with state welfare cards and persons with disabilities. The payout, which took place on September 25, 26, 27, and 30, reached a significant number of beneficiaries. According to…
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Thai woman surrenders to police after slitting debtor’s throat
A Thai woman turned herself in after slitting the throat of a female debtor during a funeral at a temple in the southern province of Songkhla yesterday. The shocking attack occurred in front of many locals attending the funeral at Jating Phra Temple in the Sathing Phra district of Songkhla at about 12.15am on Sunday, October 20. The victim was…
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Thai Finance Ministry to tighten state welfare card criteria
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance is set to review the criteria for the State Welfare Card registration, aiming to exclude ineligible individuals after finding some recipients receiving as much as 10,000 baht per month in benefits. Deputy Finance Minister Chulapan Amornvivat announced a forthcoming meeting to discuss the progress of the new round of State Welfare Card registration. This comes following…
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Time’s up: House Speaker warns of ticking tensions in Tak Bai turmoil
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha sounded the alarm over the simmering unrest in Thailand’s volatile Deep South. With the clock ticking down to the looming deadline for the 2004 Tak Bai massacre case, police are under pressure to seize suspects or risk letting them slip away forever. Wan Muhamad has thrown down the gauntlet, insisting security forces must snag…
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Royal Forest Department investigates land nibbling in Chiang Rai
The Royal Forest Department zeroed in on the Cherntawan International Meditation Centre, amidst claims that they’ve illegally nibbled away at prime forest land in Chiang Rai’s Mueang district. The centre, helmed by the famed Phra Maha Vudhijaya Vajiramedhi, is under scrutiny for reportedly occupying more land than legally allowed. The Royal Forest boss, Surachai Achalaboon, stormed into action, directing the…
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From grill to gold: Chicken vendor ruffles feathers in heist near Bangkok
Police arrested a Thai grilled chicken vendor for a robbery at a gold shop in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok on Saturday and confiscated two stolen gold necklaces worth approximately 87,000 baht. Officers from Bang Yai Police Station investigated the robbery, which occurred at the Golden 99 Gold Shop in The Bang Yai City Market at around 8pm, on October 19.…
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Knife-wielding gamer turns arsonist, torches cars, attacks cop in Bangkok
Police captured a knife-welding gamer, turned arsonist, after he caused chaos by setting fire to three vehicles and injuring a police officer. The 44 year old suspect, Panthap, whose full name is withheld, was apprehended at his residence in Bangkok following a dramatic police operation in which he blamed his actions on a mobile game addiction. The incident that led to…
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Autopsy seeks to unravel mysterious death of Chinese man
The lifeless body of a Chinese man remains under autopsy after he died mysteriously at his home in the northern province of Chiang Rai on Saturday. Thai national Jiraphap Saewang discovered the body of his Chinese neighbour, 54 year old Fong, at around 11pm on Saturday, October 19. Fong was found lying on a wooden sofa, hugging a pillow, in…
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Scam cable: Mukdahan officials cut off illegal Internet link to Laos
Mukdahan officials have blown the lid off a daring cross-border scam operation, dismantling illegal Internet cables stretching from Thailand into Laos across the Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. In a move straight out of a thriller, these covert cables, buried around 5 kilometres deep into Laos, were reportedly fuelling deceitful scam rings, making Thai victims believe they were dealing with local…
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Bangkok-Vientiane rail adds carriage to match 13,000+ passengers
More than 13,000 passengers have utilised the cross-border service of the Bangkok-Vientiane rail route since its inauguration on July 19, leading the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to add another passenger carriage to meet the increased demand. Governor of the SRT, Veeris Ammarapala announced yesterday, October 20, that he had recently met with Daochinda Siharat, Lao National Railway State Enterprise…
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