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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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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Rayong woman mistakenly buys tickets for December 1 draw
A woman in Rayong bought lottery tickets, hoping for a windfall, only to find out they were from a previous draw. The woman had bought two tickets, numbered 747830, anticipating the excitement of the lottery results. Upon checking her tickets, she was shocked to discover they were not winners. Further inspection revealed that these tickets were for the December 1…
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Child smacking ban in Thailand gets Senate green light
In a landmark move for children’s rights, the Senate yesterday unanimously approved a draft amendment to Section 1567 of the Civil and Commercial Code, redefining the boundaries of parental discipline. The amendment, which had earlier sailed through the lower house, was deliberated and passed in all three readings in one day. It proposes a crucial update to the clause that…
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Former PM Srettha cleared in police chief appointment scandal
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) cleared former Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the Police Commission of any wrongdoing in the controversial appointment of Police General Torsak Sukvimol as National Police Chief. NACC spokesperson Saroj Phuengramphan announced the findings yesterday, December 16. “The commission found no evidence of misconduct or undue influence in the selection process.” The ruling puts to…
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Thai father battles absent mum for son’s 2 million baht insurance
A single father from Ratchaburi is embroiled in a legal battle following the tragic death of his 19 year old son. The son, who was raised solely by his father since the age of three months, died after sustaining injuries in an accident. The father is now facing a claim from the boy’s mother, who left the family shortly after…
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Love cons: Thai woman still at large after tomboy romance scams
A Thai woman remains at large after orchestrating seven romance scams, swindling money from tomboy victims. She allegedly planned to marry another victim on December 19 for financial gain. The most recent patsy, Arthit, sought help from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after losing 160,000 baht in cash and valuables to the scammer, Sunisa. The suspect tricked Arthit into an engagement…
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Ministry and LINE MAN offer free delivery for Thai SELECT dining
The Ministry of Commerce has joined forces with food delivery app LINE MAN to launch a special promotion for Thai SELECT restaurants, offering free delivery from December 16 until January 31, 2025. The initiative, announced by Oramon Supthaweetham, Director General of the Department of Business Development, aims to boost awareness and encourage locals and tourists to explore Thai SELECT certified…
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Thailand urged to cut interest rates amid low inflation concerns
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavachira has reiterated his call for a reduction in Thailand’s policy interest rate to boost inflation. He urged the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to announce another rate cut, citing the current low inflation rate as a driving factor. The Finance Ministry continues to provide economic data and engage in discussions with the Bank of Thailand, although the…
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Bangkok gets ready to get a taste of the Jurassic era
Bangkok’s iconic Asiatique night market is undergoing a jaw-dropping transformation. A massive 6,000-square-metre section of the bustling riverside hotspot will soon transport visitors back 145 million years to the Jurassic era, complete with roaring dinosaurs and thrilling attractions. Wallapa Traisorat, CEO of Asset World Corporation (AWC), revealed that The World’s Largest Immersive Experience of Its Kind will open by the second…
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Two driving minibus slowly in Pathum Thani arrested with meth pills
Two men driving a minibus at an unusually low speed were arrested by highway police in Pathum Thani after it was discovered they were using drugs on a motorway. Police officers, led by Wanchana Tipasan and Narong Pitakchanun, apprehended 31 year old Pithaya and 28 year old Ramil on charges of driving under the influence of drugs, distributing a category…
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Mysterious objects from sky leave Thai couple on cloud nine
A Thai couple in the southern province of Phatthalung claim that mysterious objects falling from the sky made them feel refreshed and healthier, both physically and mentally. The couple, Wichate Siriphuwadon and Maneerat Siriphuwadon, displayed several shiny black objects of varying sizes, with a total weight of around 20 kilogrammes, to various news agencies. They revealed that they discovered the…
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Chaiyaphum nurse wins 6 million baht in Thai lottery
A nurse from Thepsathit Hospital in Chaiyaphum province has struck gold by winning the top prize in the Thai government lottery, making her a millionaire overnight. The winning ticket number 097863, drawn yesterday, December 16, has brought the Thai nurse a prize of 6 million baht. This news spread like wildfire, capturing the attention of netizens who flocked online to…
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Chinese tourists set to keep Thailand’s travel market cruising
The outlook for the Chinese inbound market to Thailand next year is expected to remain steady, with projected arrivals hovering between seven to eight million, according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA). This forecast arises amidst China’s persistent economic difficulties and the anticipated tariff hikes from the incoming Trump administration. ATTA President Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn expressed scepticism about Thailand…
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Thai SMEs to boost exports to China via e-commerce
The International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD) plans to propose a strategic initiative to the Ministry of Commerce, focusing on cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) to aid small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in expanding their exports to the Chinese market. This move aims to provide SMEs with new opportunities to enhance their presence in China through CBEC channels. Wimon Punkong, Deputy…
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Thai AirAsia X expands Bangkok-Delhi route with 4 weekly flights
Budget travellers, rejoice! Thai AirAsia X is ramping up its services, connecting Bangkok and Delhi with four weekly flights starting January 15, 2025. The move comes as the airline capitalises on surging demand from Indian flyers, driven by visa-free travel perks and enhanced connectivity. The carrier, which operates A330 planes, marked its return to the Indian capital on Sunday, December…
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Fiery collision on Phetkasem Road leads to vehicle inferno
A dramatic accident unfolded when a pickup truck collided with the back of a container truck, triggering a chain reaction that involved three vehicles and resulted in a fiery blaze. The accident, which occurred on the outbound side of Phetkasem Road, Highway 4, near kilometre marker 311+600 in front of a petrol station in Prachuap Khiri Khan City, left vehicles…
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Catfight chaos: ‘Coconut tree girls’ brawl shocks Pattaya tourists
Tourists in Pattaya were left stunned in the early hours of yesterday as a group of women engaged in a public brawl outside the Pattaya City Police Station, just steps away from the beach. Dubbed the “Coconut tree girls” due to their notorious hangouts under the beachfront palms, these provocatively dressed women put on a shocking spectacle that police say…
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Nonthaburi man assaults girlfriend after taking mother’s medication
A young man swallowed his mother’s psychiatric medication, leading to a violent episode where he bound and assaulted his girlfriend. Police intervened to rescue the woman from their home in Nonthaburi, revealing shocking details about the incident. Sakson, an officer from the Bang Si Mueang Police Station in Nonthaburi, responded to a report yesterday, December 16 at approximately 4pm of…
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Khon Kaen man arrested for selling meth to support family
Police in Khon Kaen arrested a 31 year old man recently been released from prison just two months prior. Caught selling methamphetamine to support his family, the drug dealer, Jay Ban Phai, claimed all his legal ventures ended in failure, leaving him with no choice but to resort to illegal activities. The police are moving forward with prosecution. At around…
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Panic in Pattaya: Apartment blaze sparks late-night chaos
Chaos erupted late last night in Pattaya as a fire broke out in a four-storey apartment building, sending thick smoke billowing into the air that was seen from miles around. Despite the panic, no injuries were reported in the incident, which could have ended far worse. The Pattaya City Land Disaster Relief Department received the emergency call at 11.46pm yesterday,…
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Thai woman attacks neighbour over cigarette smoke dispute (video)
A Thai woman took to social media to share a video in which she attacked her neighbour, blaming the victim for cigarette smoke entering her home in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok. The Thai woman, 32 year old Kannika, shared a video of the altercation between herself and her neighbour, 64 year old Tuk, on Facebook yesterday, December 16. In the…
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Man drives into crowd in Phetchaburi, causes injuries and damage (video)
An alarming incident unfolded yesterday when a 58 year old man drove a green-black Toyota saloon car into a crowd, injuring several people and damaging numerous vehicles before fleeing the scene. Police are actively pursuing him to bring him to justice. The chaos erupted yesterday, December 16 at around 6.30pm when emergency services in Phetchaburi received reports of a car…
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Falling tree branch severely damages car in Nonthaburi accident
A horrifying incident unfolded when a gigantic tree branch unexpectedly crashed into a car, severely damaging the vehicle as it travelled along a road. The mishap occurred at 12.30pm yesterday, December 16, leaving the car’s roof caved in and the windshield shattered. The driver, identified as 56 year old Dan Dusit Prananon, a lecturer at King Mongkut’s University of Technology…
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Thaksin scandal: Officials probed over cushy hospital stay
A corruption storm is brewing as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) launches a probe into 12 government officials accused of giving former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra a luxurious loophole to avoid prison. NACC Secretary General Sarote Phuengramphan revealed yesterday, December 16, that the commission is investigating claims that officials from the Department of Corrections and Police General Hospital granted Thaksin…
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Phuket police pursue Uzbek man over fake US dollars exchange
Phuket police are on the hunt for an Uzbek national accused of attempting to exchange counterfeit US dollars at a currency exchange shop in Cherng Talay. The incident took place at the Ai-Tem Money Exchange kiosk near the entrance to the Laguna complex on December 14, with the report filed later that day. Shop employee Dechawanit Sama-kas recounted that three…
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Shocking drive: Fallen wire sparks trouble on Rama II Road (video)
A Thai couple shared a video on TikTok yesterday showing the moment an electric wire fell onto their car while they were driving on Rama II Road, causing a fracture on the front widescreen. The dashcam footage of the incident yesterday December 16, was uploaded to the TikTok account mayza2244, accompanied by the caption, “Why did this happen? Where did…
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Phuket driver faces charges after fatal hit-and-run incident
A driver involved in a tragic hit-and-run incident in Phuket turned himself into the police. Police confirmed that the driver will face charges for his actions following the fatal accident that occurred in the early hours of December 14. The unfortunate event took place around 3.20am along Srisoonthorn Road, near the Bang Jo Intersection in Srisoonthorn. The 22 year old…
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NHSO to keep Cancer Anywhere programme despite rising costs
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) confirmed its commitment to maintaining the Cancer Anywhere (CA) programme, which empowers patients to choose their preferred location for cancer treatment. This decision comes amidst calls from various experts to discontinue the scheme due to escalating costs. NHSO Secretary General Jadej Thammatacharee addressed concerns regarding the programme’s new guidelines, announcing the formation of a…
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Copy-paste tourism: Phuket Airport owns up to Singapore snap
Phuket International Airport today announced that the use of images of buildings from Singapore’s old town to market its own tourism were intentional and not a mistake. Phuket Airport yesterday, December 16, found itself in the eye of a social media storm after they used some pictures of Singapore to promote the popular holiday resort. Netizens took to social media…
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5 illegal Chinese real estate agents, linked to scam gangs, arrested in Chon Buri
Thai Tourist Police officers arrested five illegal Chinese real estate agents in Chon Buri. They were found managing properties rented by call centre scam gangs. Tourist Police Bureau officers raided an unnamed real estate sales office on Boon Samphan Road in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, yesterday, December 16. At the office, they encountered five Chinese nationals and one individual…
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Sisaket hospital criticised for charging patients 5 baht per spoon
Controversy erupted over public hospitals in Thailand selling spoons to patients for 5 baht each. This practice, particularly at Kantharalak Hospital in the Sisaket province, was initially introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to prevent virus spread but it has now drawn criticism. The issue gained attention when a popular online page highlighted the situation, igniting a debate about the responsibilities…
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