News
Stay up-to-date with the latest news from across Thailand and beyond with The Thaiger. Our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from this stunning part of the world, covering a diverse range of topics, including local politics, business, culture, and tourism. Keep yourself informed about the Kingdom’s rich history, stunning landscapes, and thriving expat communities, as well as updates on events, attractions, and transportation.
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Sponsored A healthy tomorrow starts today: Celebrate the great American Smokeout day
The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...
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MFP minister faces tough questions on foreign policy
Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Chulapong Yukate demanded that Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa reveal his vision for Thailand’s foreign policy. The call came during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs meeting, leaving the nation eager for answers. Chulapong, who serves as the deputy chairperson of the committee stated that the public wants to know in which direction the foreign minister…
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British granny’s pension nightmare in Thailand
An 87 year old British woman regrets her move to Thailand to be closer to family, as she struggles to survive on a frozen UK state pension of just ÂŁ300 (approximately 14,000 baht) a month. Christine Gloria Fox, who lives near Pattaya on Thailand’s east coast, laments her decision to relocate to what she describes as an expensive area where…
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Kazakhstan’s first direct flight lands in Surat Thani
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Scat Airlines today celebrated the inaugural direct flight from Almaty, Kazakhstan to Surat Thani. The flight carrying 212 passengers, landed at Surat Thani International Airport this morning at 7.30am. The Thai Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Chatchawan Sakornsinsuwan, accompanied the flight, along with Kazakhstani travel operators and media, receiving a warm welcome from local officials.…
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Drunk driver causes fatal motorcycle crash in Samut Songkhram
A tragic accident occurred today as a 20 year old man lost his life when his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck driven by a drunk driver in Amphawa, Samut Songkhram. The collision took place on Somdet Phra Suriyenthr Bridge Road, involving a Honda Wave motorcycle and an Isuzu D-Max pickup truck. Authorities responded promptly to the accident site, where…
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Barking mad: Real estate giant faces online backlash over free pet
A renowned real estate company suffered an online backlash after launching a campaign offering a free pet with the purchase of a luxury home. The campaign, which allows buyers to choose from five different breeds of dogs or cats, sparked widespread criticism. A Facebook user publicly addressed the company in an open letter, expressing concerns over the potential negative impacts…
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Motorbike mayhem: Pattaya’s underpass crackdown sparks debate
In a recent traffic enforcement blitz, the Pattaya City Peacekeeping Division, alongside the Pattaya City Police Traffic Division, brought the contentious issue of motorbikes using the underpass into the limelight. The crackdown, resulting in numerous prosecutions, has ignited a fiery debate among residents. Many locals have thrown their weight behind the operation. “Good deeds should be appreciated. This should be done…
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Udder chaos: Frenzied cow injures man in Chon Buri
A frenzied cow in Sattahip, Chon Buri province, injured its caretaker by ramming him against a wall, causing severe injuries and triggering a chaotic rescue attempt. Locals and rescue workers struggled to retrieve the injured man as the agitated cow continued to charge at them, forcing them to flee. The Sattahip Sawang Rojanathammasathan Rescue Foundation’s radio centre received a report…
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Fisherman discovers body in tragic canal drowning accident
A fishing trip along an irrigation canal quickly took a tragic turn when a local fisherman discovered the floating corpse of a man who had been missing since the previous night after taking a quick dip in the canal, citing excessive heat. The incident occurred yesterday when Police Lieutenant Nutthaphat Chan-narong from the Amphawa Police Station received a report of…
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Fugitive suspect arrested for killing boyfriend in Nonthaburi condo
Police today arrested a fugitive suspected of killing his boyfriend at a condominium in Nonthaburi province before fleeing to the southern province of Chumphon. Local police officers in Chumphon arrested the 27 year old Thai man, Phurinat, at a house in the Mueang district of the province at about 1pm today, May 31. He is the prime suspect in the…
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Mae Hong Son villagers reap profits from collecting mushrooms
Mae Hong Son villagers are seizing the annual opportunity to gather mushrooms known as the barometer earthstar, earning up to 2,000 baht per day. These mushrooms, known for their white flesh and sweet, crunchy taste, have become a significant economic driver in the region. Throughout the early rainy season, Mae Hong Son’s forests yield an abundance of barometer earthstar mushrooms,…
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Would you eat 10 year old rice? Activist demands court intervention
Prominent solo activist Srisuwan Janya approached the Central Administrative Court, seeking an urgent suspension of the Commerce Ministry’s plan to auction off approximately 15,000 tonnes of rice from the scandal-tainted rice pledging scheme of the Yingluck Shinawatra government. In his court petition, Srisuwan highlighted the concerns of numerous rice experts who oppose the auction. They argue that rice stored for…
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Ancient treasure chest unearthed in Laos along Mekong River
A treasure chest was unearthed along the banks of the Mekong River in Bokeo Province, Laos, revealing a trove of Buddha statues, gemstones, coloured stones, metal artefacts, and other valuable items. The discovery follows earlier findings of Buddha statues and ancient artefacts in the same area, believed to be the site of an old temple and city from the fabled…
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Thailand’s unique flower symbol for World No Tobacco Day
Every year on May 31, World No Tobacco Day is marked with ashtrays and fresh flowers symbolising the fight against tobacco. But in Thailand, a unique flower takes centre stage – the leelawadee, also known as plumeria or frangipani. Leelawadee, a delicate flowering tree often seen adorning gardens, carries profound symbolism in Thai culture. Historically known as lan thom, the…
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Rayong beach’s dark waters leave a foul odor but no fishy business
The Thai police investigated the appearance of black water at a beach in Rayong, finding a foul odour but no dead marine life. It is suspected that wastewater flowed into the sea following heavy rain over the past week. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, along with the Eastern Gulf of Thailand Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center and…
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Factory owner donates 10 million baht to Chachoengsao hospital
A factory owner has garnered significant online attention by donating 10 million baht to a temple, meticulously folding the money into floral arrangements. This generous contribution aims to support the construction of a hospital and acquire medical equipment for Wat Saman Rattanaram Hospital in Chachoengsao Province. The donation, amounting to 10 million baht, was made by Wanthanee Saeseng, the owner…
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Thai man stabbed by girlfriend’s ex, attacker flees with woman
A Thai man is seeking justice after being stabbed by his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend at a condominium in Bangkok. The attacker escaped arrest and fled to the central province of Chainart with the victim’s girlfriend. The victim, 21 year old Thanawat Phontaecha, urged non-profit organisation Saimai Survive to follow up on the complaint of the physical assault for him. Thanawat claimed…
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Lottery enthusiasts turn to Chinese lunar calendars for June 1 draw
Lottery enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the upcoming draw tomorrow, June 1, with the spotlight on numbers from Chinese lunar calendars. The excitement revolves around four versions of the Chinese calendar that are believed to hold lucky numbers for this draw. As the lottery draw date nears, fans and seasoned players alike are on the lookout for the next set of…
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Temple abbot redeems motorcycle to help struggling family (video)
A temple abbot used his personal funds to redeem a motorcycle that a woman had pawned to pay for three months of overdue electricity bills. The act was a gesture of gratitude for the family’s daily almsgiving. The abbot posted the story on his personal Facebook page, recounting the heartwarming story. “Today, I have a good story to share with…
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Golden pumpkin vine in Phayao draws villagers seeking luck
A unique golden-hued pumpkin vine has captured the attention of villagers in Phayao, prompting them to seek luck and fortune. The vine, located in the vegetable garden of Amphorn Chaithong’s home, has drawn a crowd eager to witness and worship the unusual plant. The golden pumpkin vine, planted near the fence of Amphorn Chaithong’s residence in Cham Pa Wai, Mueang…
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Taxing times: Tourism Minister stands firm with 300 baht tourist tax
In a recent press conference, Thailand’s new Tourism and Sports Minister, Sermsak Pongpanich, hinted at the impending introduction of a tourist tax, known as the Kha Yeap Pan Din, translating to a landing fee. Although no specific timeline was provided for its implementation, the newly-appointed minister emphasised the unlikelihood of abandoning the proposed tax. Sermsak, formerly the Culture Minister, assumed…
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Homeless Khon Kaen couple fined for having sex in public
Police summoned a homeless couple to pay a fine after a viral video showed them having sex in public in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen on Tuesday, May 28. The video, widely shared on Thai social media, depicted the man and woman engaging in sexual activity on a roadside wooden bench. The incident reportedly occurred around 9pm on May…
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SRT demolishes buildings in Nakhon Ratchasima for high-speed rail
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has begun demolishing buildings in a disputed area in Nakhon Ratchasima to expedite the construction of a high-speed rail project. Only one commercial unit awaits demolition due to a pending compensation claim. Demolition work started today, with machinery moving in to clear the area in the Mueang district. The SRT aims to clear this…
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LGBTQ+ community migrating Bangkok for freedom & fun’s sake
A Chinese real estate agent revealed the LGBTQ+ community is flocking to Bangkok to escape persecution and seek a new life that offers them more freedom. In 2019, 40 year old Owen Zhu’s real estate career was flourishing, with Chinese investors eagerly buying Bangkok properties, but the pandemic struck, halting travel and spending. Although Chinese buyers were slow to return, one…
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London couple ‘blown away’ by resort-like Thai airport (video)
A couple from London were utterly blown away by the stunning design of an airport in Thailand. Their video clip on TikTok via the account @dcandkd took viewers around the airport, amassing an impressive 146,900 views since its debut on March 26. Daniel, a 32 year old content creator and songwriter, and Nakita, a 27 year old content creator and…
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Toll fees waived on three expressways to honour Queen’s birthday
Toll fees will be waived on three expressways to commemorate the Queen’s birthday. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), along with Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM) and Northern Bangkok Expressway Company Limited (NECL), have announced this special exemption. The announcement, made yesterday, specifies that the toll-free access is in honour of the Queen’s birthday on June 3.…
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Northeast Thailand: Mentally ill man’s attacks leave villagers in fear
A young man suffering from mental illness has left a community in Nong Khai living in fear with his erratic and violent behaviour, after attacking several individuals. A local woman, 37 year old Jirawan Srinok, who was among the people attacked by the mentally ill man, recounted the harrowing event that occurred when she took her mother to the local…
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Thai abbot denies rape allegation by transwoman and plans lawsuit
A Thai abbot at Phra Phutthabat Pha Nam Temple in the northern province of Lamphun denied raping a transwoman and accused her of fabricating the story after a conflict over flower decoration costs. A complaint warrant was circulated on social media, detailing the alleged sexual assault of a 38 year old transgender victim by the abbot, Phra Kru Sunthorn Auttakarn,…
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Thailand leads in fresh durian exports to China, 121 tonnes by April
Thailand firmly established itself as the top exporter of fresh durians to China, with over 121,398 tonnes shipped in 2024, according to Global Trade Atlas (GTA) data. Additionally, mango exports to South Korea have surged, influenced by favourable trade agreements. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharong announced that Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce revealed new data showing the country exported fresh durians to…
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Two million meth pills seized in Chiang Rai raid, driver escapes
The authorities in Chiang Rai intensified border security in the northern region, collaborating with multiple agencies to intercept drug trafficking operations, culminating in a seizure of two million meth pills today in Ban Mae Salong Nai. Commander of the Northern Border Drug Suppression Command Unit (NBDU 35), General Narit Thawornwong announced that the government has approved expanding urgent operational areas in…
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Buddhist teacher kills neighbour over grass cutting noise
A man teaching Buddhist principles through livestreams attacked and killed his neighbour over noise complaints during a grass-cutting session. The incident occurred yesterday in the Chai Wan district of Udon Thani at 11.30am, after police received a report about a fatal assault. Police Lieutenant Phaitoon Uipako, alongside investigators and medical staff from Chai Wan Hospital, arrived at the scene, a…
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