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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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Chiang Rai cops needle out 126kg heroin in Mae Sai drug bust
A significant drug bust occurred in Chiang Rai yesterday where police seized over 126 kilogrammes of heroin following a confrontation between a task force and a drug smuggling group near the Mae Sai border. Police Colonel Anuwat Panyanant, Commander of the Task Force Thap Chao Tak, Pha Mueang Force, announced the details of the operation during a press conference. The…
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Cash ‘n’ climb: Thailand GDP rises but 2026 could be a steep drop
Thailand’s GDP forecast has been upgraded for this year and next to 2.8% and 3%, respectively, due to the government’s cash handout boosting the economy. However, analysts warn of an economic cliff in 2026 if no new growth engines are introduced. Kiatnakin Phatra Research (KKP) and BofA Global Research have both raised their Thai GDP outlooks for 2024 from 2.6%…
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Thailand’s industrial confidence dips as floods hit economy
Thailand’s Industrial Confidence Index dropped to 87.1 in September, down from 87.7 in August, announced Nava Chantanasurakon, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The decline is primarily due to severe flooding across northern, northeastern, and central regions, impacting homes, agricultural areas, industries, and tourism, with economic losses estimated between 30 and 50 billion baht. The widespread flooding…
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Over 830 tonnes of drug precursor seized in northern Thailand
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) officers seized more than 830 tonnes of drug precursors at a warehouse in the Mae Sot district, in the northern province of Tak, owned by Chinese nationals. Officers from the ONCB, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), local police, and administrative authorities raided a warehouse on Mae Sot Road in the Mae…
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No tipple time: Thailand toasts sobriety with 24-hour booze ban
Thailand raised a glass to sobriety with a 24-hour alcohol ban that started from midnight last night in observance of Wan Org Pansa, marking the conclusion of the three-month Rains Retreat, widely known as Buddhist Lent. The prohibition on alcohol sales will last until midnight tonight. The National Office of Buddhism highlighted that Wan Org Pansa, also known as Pavarana…
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Roll the dice: Casino bill feedback to be reviewed by Thai Cabinet
A public hearing on the proposed casino-entertainment complex bill wrapped up with feedback set to be submitted to the Cabinet, announced the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) at the Ministry of Finance. The FPO, alongside the Digital Government Development Agency, collected public opinions on the bill via their websites over two weeks. The bill aims to establish entertainment complexes with legally…
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2 Thai cops suspended after South Korean livestreams from cell (video)
Two Thai police officers in Chon Buri province are under investigation after a South Korean drug suspect livestreamed himself during his detention, claiming he had special privileges because he paid the officers. The alleged corruption at Bang Lamung Police Station in Chon Buri was exposed after South Korean news agency Maeil Business Newspaper reported the incident on Tuesday, October 15.…
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Thailand video news | Thailand extends suspension of TM6 form to boost tourism, Malaysia arrests hundreds over child abuse and trafficking allegations
In Thailand video news, Alex covers news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia countries. The stories include the Thai government has extended the suspension of the TM6 arrival form to streamline travel processes and boost tourism until April 2025. On the financial front, the Bank of Thailand has cut interest rates for the first time in four years to…
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Phuket Airport ramps up for 18 million passengers by 2025
Phuket International Airport is gearing up for a major overhaul as it plans to handle a whopping 18 million passengers by 2025. Airports of Thailand (AoT) is fast-tracking Phase 2 of its expansion, boosting flight capacity from 20 to 25 flights per hour to keep up with the influx of tourists. Airport director Monchai Tanod revealed that the airport currently…
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Powering on: Thailand energy plan sparks a 2.9 trillion baht boost
Thailand’s new National Energy Plan (NEP) aims to drive significant investment and promote clean energy, with a projected 2.9 trillion baht in capital spending over the next 13 years. Central to this initiative is the emphasis on solar energy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The NEP 2024, scheduled for implementation from this year until 2037, integrates a comprehensive power development…
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Researchers discover four new plant species in northern Thailand
Researchers have identified four new plant species in northern Thailand, showcasing the nation’s rich biodiversity. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) announced the findings, which were made by the department’s researchers in collaboration with botanists from Kasetsart University and Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. Attapol Charoenchansa, the department’s chief, stated that the discoveries were part of…
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Thailand invites China to build satellite launch base
Thailand extended an invitation to China to build a satellite launch base to provide 6G technology, marking a significant step in enhancing economic cooperation as both nations gear up to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations next year. In addition to technological collaboration, China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to Thailand as goodwill ambassadors for the…
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Sky’s the limit: TC Space Connect orbits to victory in satellite bid
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has selected TC Space Connect, a subsidiary of Thaicom, as the winning bidder for the two remaining satellite orbit packages. This decision follows an extensive review by the bid selection committee, which concluded that TC Space Connect was the sole contender for the licences. NBTC’s timeline was slated yesterday, October 16, for finalising…
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California doctor claims spicy Thai dish left her with chemical burns
A California neurologist is suing a Thai restaurant, claiming she suffered permanent injuries after eating a spicy dish that she described as “unfit for human consumption.” Harjasleen Walia, a San Jose-based doctor, is demanding over US$35,000 (approximately 1.16 million baht) in damages after an order of Dragon Balls at Los Gatos’ Coup de Thai allegedly left her with chemical burns.…
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iCon-venient truth: Cops swoop to arrest 18 in fraud bust scandal
Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) dramatically swooped to arrest 18 key members of iCon Group, including its CEO, three well-known celebrities, and other key suspects over allegations of fraud. Shocking revelations from multiple victims and former members have exposed iCon Group Group’s dodgy business model, which appears to mirror a Ponzi scheme. Many investors lost their life savings,…
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Police chief orders swift arrest after fatal hit-and-run in Bangkok
A dramatic incident involving a motorcyclist killed in a hit-and-run occurred yesterday in Bangkok prompting immediate intervention from the national police chief. The event took place around 5.10pm, yesterday, October 16, as Chief Kittirat Panpet was on his way to a religious ceremony at Wat Thepsirin. While travelling to the ceremony following an inspection of police riot control units at…
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Chiang Mai shuts flood centre, locals claim aid unmet
Chiang Mai has shut down its flood relief centre, sparking discontent among locals who claim they have not received the promised aid. Deputy Governor Tosapol Phuanudom announced the closure yesterday, October 16, stating that the centre had completed its mission. The centre was established in response to the severe flooding that hit Chiang Mai between October 5 and 14. Despite…
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Chaiyaphum man wins 12 million baht in lottery
A Chaiyaphum man has won first prize in the latest lottery draw, taking home a staggering 12 million baht. Relatives, overwhelmed with joy, rushed to the local police station to officially record the win. Atisak, a 58 year old man, along with his family, visited the Khon Sawan Police Station in Chaiyaphum province to register his win with Police Lieutenant…
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Leopard spotted in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi
A leopard made a rare daytime appearance in Kaeng Krachan National Park, located in the Kaeng Krachan district of Phetchaburi. Mongkol Chaipakdee, head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, confirmed that a tourist captured detailed photos of the leopard lounging on a road inside the park on Tuesday, October 15. Mongkol noted that leopard sightings have become more frequent recently, indicating…
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Monsoon brings heavy rain to central, eastern, southern Thailand
Weather conditions for today see a monsoon trough passing through central, eastern, and southern regions, including Bangkok, bringing rain to 60% of the area with heavy showers in some places. Mariners are advised to navigate cautiously due to high waves. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts that for the next 24 hours, the monsoon trough will move across the upper…
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Knife-wielding gang on the run after Patong attack horror
Patong’s popular Bangla Road turned into a crime scene early this morning as police launched a manhunt for a gang behind a brutal knife attack. Chaos erupted today, October 16, in Soi Sea Dragon when a 33 year old man, Sarawut Booniai, was chased down and stabbed by a group of unidentified assailants. Two brave bystanders, who stepped in to…
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Fourth wife fatally shoots husband’s fifth wife over jealousy
A Thai woman yesterday admitted to fatally shooting her husband’s fifth wife near her home in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Officers from Ron Phibun Police Station and rescuers rushed to a house in a plantation in the Ron Phibun district of Nakhon Si Thammarat on Monday, October 15, after receiving a report of the shooting. Upon arrival,…
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Bank of Thailand slashes interest rates after four-year freeze
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has stunned financial markets by slashing its key interest rate for the first time in four years, buckling under mounting pressure from the government to revive the sluggish economy. The unexpected move saw the one-day repurchase rate trimmed by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 2.25% from its 10-year high of 2.50%. This decision…
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Don Mueang Tollway projects revenue boost amid rising traffic
Don Mueang Tollway Public Company Limited (DMT) forecasts a bright performance for the third quarter of this year heading into the High Season of Q4. The surge in tourism, both foreign and domestic, is expected to boost passenger numbers and traffic on the elevated tollway. Sakda Phanwai, the Managing Director, expressed optimism as Thai AirAsia X relocated its flights back…
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Chinese woman perches kids on 23rd-floor air con amid argument
A shocking video has emerged from Luoyang, central China, showing a Chinese woman putting her two young children in terrifying danger—all to spite her husband. The viral clip, viewed over 55 million times on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, shows the children perched on an air conditioning unit outside their flat on the 23rd floor, as their mother argues…
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Foreign man’s tattoo blunder: ‘Love, peace, and curry’
A foreign man sparked a social media frenzy after showing off his new Thai tattoo, only for eagle-eyed netizens to point out a major mix-up. The man shared the inked message on the Reddit platform last week, using the handle thirstyfridays, claiming it said “love, peace, and harmony.” But, in a twist of culinary confusion, the Thai words “แกงเขียวหวานเผ็ดไก่” (Kaeng Khiao Wan…
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Mae Ya Krathong Shrine draws crowds for lucky lottery numbers
Residents flocked to the Mae Ya Krathong Shrine, a century-old sacred site, to seek lucky lottery numbers using the innocent touch of children to draw numbers from an urn. This time, the numbers drawn coincidentally matched popular ones, sparking hope for big wins. The Mae Ya Krathong Shrine, located under the shade of an ancient Krathong tree at the foot…
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Sedan driver trapped after high-speed horror in Pattaya
Chaos erupted on Siam Country Club Road in East Pattaya on Monday, October 14, when a sedan lost control, smashing into an electric pole and careening into the wall of a substation. Pattaya’s Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Center swiftly responded to the alarming report of the accident, dispatching teams armed with cutting tools to the scene. Upon arrival, rescuers discovered…
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Chon Buri: Late-night beach vandalism caught on camera
In a shocking display of vandalism, a man was caught on video smashing a padlock at Yinyom Beach with a hammer, leaving residents in disbelief. The incident occurred late last night, October 15, in the Jomtien area off Thappraya Road, and was captured by a vigilant resident. Pattaya City officers responded swiftly to the scene, finding minimal damage to the…
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Thailand Cabinet hits the right note with concert campaign
In a major bid to turn up the volume on tourism, the Thai Cabinet has launched a sensational music campaign aimed at luring world-famous artists to rock out in Thailand! With the goal of boosting both tourism and investment, it’s time for the Kingdom of Thailand to take centre stage. At a press conference yesterday, October 15, Prime Minister’s Office…
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