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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Heavy rain and flash floods expected as storm Trami intensifies
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning about the intensifying tropical storm Trami, which is expected to bring heavy rainfall to lower northern, central, eastern, and upper southern regions, including Bangkok and its vicinity. Residents are advised to be cautious of flash floods and forest runoffs. The TMD predicts that the monsoon trough will move across the lower central,…
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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’s fast and furious: Delivery dashed in ‘brake’-neck collision
A terrifying smash involving a car and two motorcycles rocked Pattaya early this morning, leaving a food delivery rider and another motorcyclist with horrific injuries. The drama unfolded at around 3.06am today, October 22, on Soi Sukhumvit Pattaya 53, also known as Soi Noen Plub Wan. Emergency services from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre and reporters rushed to the…
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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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Pattaya mat rental operator arrested for threatening official with knife (video)
Police today arrested a mat rental operator who threatened a municipal official with a knife after being warned not to offer the service on Pattaya Beach. The municipal official, 43 year old Chalermphon, filed a complaint with Mueang Pattaya Police Station at around 12.36am today, October 21, after narrowly avoiding the knife attack by the mat rental operator, later identified…
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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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TAT outlines creative strategies to boost tourism campaigns
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is rolling out creative strategies to boost domestic tourism for the final quarter of 2024. Nithee Seeprae, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, acknowledged challenges such as economic constraints, household debt, and localised flooding, but reaffirmed their efforts to encourage travel and increase spending. The focus will be on events like the Winter Festival,…
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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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Bangkok gets a taste of Seoul: Korean food fest stirs up a culinary coup
In a culinary coup, South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy teamed up with Kotra to dish out Seoul Food in Bangkok 2024, in the nation’s biggest food extravaganza yet. This mouth-watering event isn’t just about savouring the flavours, it’s a powerhouse meeting for food bigwigs eager to cook up new business deals, starting with Bangkok before taking the…
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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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Hong Kong urged to innovate for tourist spending boost
Hong Kong businesses need to innovate to attract tourist spending, rather than focusing on the decline in visitor expenditure, a senior official has advised. Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, highlighted yesterday, October 20, that tourists are still eager to spend but have heightened expectations. “We cannot just complain about why people aren’t spending money. It’s not that…
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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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Tour bus brake failure injures 38 in multi-vehicle crash
A tour bus carrying passengers from a religious event crashed into four vehicles yesterday due to brake failure, injuring 38 people, with two in critical condition. The incident occurred on Mittraphap Road near Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima. The crash happened at approximately 1.30am, yesterday, October 20, and police and emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene. The yellow and…
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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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Drug-addict fatally assaults wife in front of daughter
A drug-addict fatally assaulted his wife in front of their 13 year old child at their home in the central province of Ang Thong yesterday, October 20. The murderer cited jealousy as his motive, claiming his wife had an affair with their neighbour. Officers from Mueang Ang Thong Police Station investigated a house in Talat Kruad sub-district, Mueang district, Ang…
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Netizens take aim at foreign woman’s slingshot antics in Chon Buri zoo
Thai netizens called for legal action against a foreign woman who was seen using a slingshot inside Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri province. A Thai TikTok user, @patcharida_36, shared a video of the incident on the platform yesterday, October 20. In the video caption, she wrote, “That’s not nice! #KhaoKheow.” The footage shows the foreign woman, dressed in…
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Cat-astrophic bill: Cat bite leads to 410,000 baht infection
A young woman from Ayutthaya nearly lost her hand after a cat bite, resulting in a severe bacterial infection and medical expenses amounting to 410,000 baht. She now warns others to seek immediate medical attention if bitten by pets. The woman, 29 year old Sansanee from Wang Noi district revealed that on September 21, she attempted to trim the nails…
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