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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Travel insurance vs digital nomad insurance: What’s the difference?
Travel insurance and digital nomad insurance protect travellers but cater to different needs. Travel insurance is for short trips, like vacations or business trips. It covers things like medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost bags. It works best for people...
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Thailand grapples with severe heatwave and storm warnings
Thailand is currently experiencing a widespread heatwave, with temperatures soaring to scorching highs and a warning issued for potential thunderstorms across 25 provinces. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), in its latest forecast, indicated that a low-pressure area caused by intense heat covers most of the country, leading to generally hot to very hot weather conditions, with thunderstorms expected in some…
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Thai-Lao project conducts heart surgeries on 30 children
A collaborative medical project between Thailand and Laos has successfully conducted heart surgeries on 30 children, illustrating a significant step towards combating heart-related diseases in young individuals. This initiative, aptly named Saving Young’s Heart Crossing Mekong River, is a combined effort involving the Thai Red Cross, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Foundation, the Thai…
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Thai Labour Minister aims to boost Social Security Fund
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the Labour Minister, announced plans to improve the profitability of the Social Security Fund by investing in international private firms, including some in Japan. The effort is aimed at increasing the fund’s revenue to 2.7 trillion baht and achieving a growth rate of 5% in the coming year. During a trip from April 5 to April 13, ministry…
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PM Srettha visits Phuket Airport
PM Srettha paid a visit to Phuket International Airport, spearheading a mission to revolutionise the region’s infrastructure. The Thai premier inspected the second phase of the airport’s expansion and a novel solution to traffic woes. Srettha pledged prosperity without the pain for locals. A meticulous strategy, executed with precision by all agencies, has already yielded impressive results in just six…
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Thai woman found dead at Phuket’s Kalim seaside
A tragic event unfolded in Phuket yesterday afternoon as a 23 year old Thai woman from the Isaan region lost her life by drowning. The unfortunate incident took place on the seaside rocks in Kalim, a northernmost part of Patong. The Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation of Patong branch received a call at around 5.40pm. The foundation’s rescue workers promptly responded, rushing…
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Dip in Pattaya hotel occupancy despite Songkran festivities
Pattaya’s hotels and those in neighbouring provinces have seen a dip in occupancy rates during the Wan Lai Songkran festival. This downturn has prompted hoteliers to critique the promotional strategy for the extended 21-day Songkran celebration. Morrakot Kuldilok, head of the eastern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), projected that the occupancy rate in Pattaya would touch 70% over…
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Himalayan giant honey bees spotted in Chiang Mai
Himalayan giant honey bees have been spotted in Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, Chiang Mai province, a first-time occurrence, evidencing that the nation’s ecological system is ideal for unique species. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, together with a team of biology researchers from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Sciences, made the announcement yesterday. The unexpected discovery…
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Senators’ lavish overseas jaunts spark outrage
Former Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi has launched a scathing attack on a cohort of senators set to embark on overseas study trips, labelling their plans a disgrace to their dignity. In a fiery Facebook post today, Plodprasop condemned the European excursions planned by several Senate committees, whose terms are set to conclude on May 10, citing the hefty 81…
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Vietnamese tourist reunited with lost iPhone in Pattaya
A Vietnamese tourist was recently reunited with her misplaced iPhone, thanks to the concerted efforts of local police officers and a kind-hearted local. The tourist was about to return to Bangkok when she discovered her iPhone missing. Without losing any time, she promptly took the matter to Pattaya police. The officers embarked on a thorough search of the vehicle that…
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Songkran: Lost young girl reunited with family
A four year old girl found herself lost amidst the lively Songkran celebrations in Na Kluea on Thursday. Thanks to the swift and compassionate action of Pattaya police and local volunteers, she was safely reunited with her family. The bustling festivities around the Pattaya-Na Kluea Road proved to be too much for the young girl, who lost sight of her…
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Thailand’s tumble: Is the British love affair fading?
In 2011, Thailand witnessed the zenith of British affection, with nearly 900,000 entries logged by British passport holders, as per Thai immigration data. Yet, this figure might have swelled by accounting re-entries, diluting the actual count. Sadly, the Thai immigration bureau has ceased its detailed country-specific data release, leaving a void. Meanwhile, the UK government’s once sensational annual report, British…
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Thai woman arrested for pickpocketing on Pattaya Walking Street
Pattaya Tourist Police arrested a pickpocket suspect on Pattaya’s Walking Street yesterday. The suspect, Sumalee Kima-rae, a 59 year old woman hailing from Phetchaboon province, was apprehended following the identification by a Chinese tourist couple. The suspect was caught for pickpocketing from the tourists who were engrossed in the festivities. Pattaya Tourist Police Inspector, Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyapong Ensan, detailed…
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Bangkok e-cigarette raid seizes 10,000 products
Thai authorities have swooped on five e-cigarette outlets in the vicinity of Bangkok’s universities and residential properties, confiscating 10,000 e-cigarette products valued at 3 million baht. The operation was headed by Puangpet Chunlaiad, a minister from the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday in collaboration with the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) and officers of Lat Phrao Police Station. The…
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Thai woman finds brother-in-law dead in Pathum Thani home
A tragic discovery occurred yesterday evening at a residence in Pathum Thani when a woman, returning from the market, found her brother-in-law lifeless on the floor, his body surrounded by a pool of blood, with a notable amount having come out of his ears. Police Lieutenant Colonel Surachai Pothiphanrach, an investigative officer from the Klong 5 Police Station, was alerted…
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Elderly rice farmer dies in field blaze in Udon Thani
A tragic incident occurred yesterday in Udon Thani province where a 73 year old rice farmer perished in a blaze that swept through his field. Police Deputy Inspector Niwat Jaengkrathok of Huai Luang Police Station, alongside medical personnel from Udon Thani Hospital Center and the Sawang Metha Tham rescue team, responded to the distress call at Ban Naklong, in the…
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ASEANNOW joins The Thaiger in strategic acquisition to expand digital reach in Thailand
ASEANNOW, Thailand’s largest English language forum and a major English language news publisher, has been acquired by The Thaiger from Choice Group Asia Co., Ltd. This acquisition aligns with The Thaiger’s strategic initiative to broaden its influence and capabilities in English-language digital publishing across Thailand. ASEANNOW, renowned for its robust community and significant presence in the digital news realm, will…
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Shaping traditions: Sand sculptors carve out cultural magic in Pattaya
In celebration of Thai cultural heritage, Wat Prachum Khongkha in Bang Lamung District held a sand sculpture competition, showcasing creativity and craftsmanship. Organised into two categories, beauty and creativity, the grand sand pagoda construction competition aimed to honour the time-honoured tradition synonymous with the festive spirit of the Songkran Festival. Under the Beauty Category, participants showcased their prowess in sand…
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Children fall ill after Songkran foam party in Suphan Buri
A sudden outbreak of illness following a Songkran foam party in Suphan Buri has left around 50 children with symptoms of vomiting and nausea, necessitating their immediate hospitalisation. The incident occurred at a water tunnel and foam party held at the Suphan Buri Banana Conservation Center. Following the event, parents rushed their children to the Chao Phraya Yommarat Hospital and…
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Man turns himself in after fatal family feud shooting in Phatthalung
A 43 year old Thai man fatally shot his brother in law at his home in Phatthalung province yesterday. The perpetrator turned himself in to the authorities, while his wife attempted to delete CCTV footage of the crime. Phatthalung Police were alerted to a fatal shooting at a residence in the 11th precinct of Khok Sai district at 9.40pm yesterday.…
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Thai Cyber Police bust major online gambling ring in Chanthaburi
The Thai Cyber Police dismantled a prominent online gambling ring operating under the name texas147, with an estimated turnover of 300 million baht. The raid involved searches at two locations in the Khlong district of Chanthaburi province, resulting in the seizure of computers and luxury vehicles. The operation, led by high-ranking officers from the Cyber Police and Immigration Bureau, along…
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Asian shares plunge over 2% amid rising Middle East tensions
Asian shares experienced a significant plunge of over 2% as tensions rose in the Middle East, according to MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares. This was in response to reported Israeli missile attacks on Iranian sites, which also caused US stock futures to drop by 1.3%. The escalation in hostilities has driven the bond yields to tumble, with US long-term…
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Thai-Chinese high-speed railway agreements near completion
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) anticipates the closure of the final chapters in the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway’s first phase, reveals Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote. Spanning 251 kilometres and boasting a staggering budget of 179.4 billion baht, the ambitious project links the bustling heart of Bangkok to the vibrant cityscape of Nakhon Ratchasima. Divided into 14 meticulously crafted contracts,…
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Japan’s visitor count hits record high with Thai tourists in the mix
Japan experienced a surge in foreign visitors in March, surpassing the three million mark for the first time in a single month. Thai tourists to Japan ranked sixth, contributing to the notable increase in visitors. South Korea topped the list with 663,100 visitors marking a 13.2% rise from 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Taiwan and China followed with 484,400 and 452,400 visitors…
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Yala police officer critically wounded in midnight ambush
A police officer was critically injured in a late-night ambush while on patrol in Banang Sata, Yala province. The incident occurred around midnight close to a 7-Eleven store adjacent to Krung Thai Bank in Banang Sata sub-district. The officer, identified as Wacharaphong Chaiyaphan from the Banang Sata Police Station, was shot by an unidentified gunman and suffered a gunshot wound…
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French national apprehended in Bangkok on kidnap charge
Bangkok’s Metropolitan Police Bureau apprehended a 45 year old French national at a hotel in the Silom area of Bang Rak district. The arrest, which took place around 10pm yesterday concerned allegations of a planned kidnapping of the young daughter of a renowned businesswoman, with a demand for a 200 million baht ransom. The arrest warrant for Sandra Christina Marie Diersten,…
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BYD electric bus charges Thong Lo roads in Bangkok
In a move towards eco-friendly commuting, BYD, the leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer from China, has unleashed its electric bus onto the bustling streets of Bangkok. Offering complimentary rides to commuters in the vibrant Thong Lo area until April 30, this trial run marks a pivotal moment in Thailand’s transportation landscape. Under the auspices of Rever Commercial Vehicles Ltd, the…
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Thai man allegedly fakes adultery story to extort money from couple
A Thai man allegedly faked an adultery story to extort 5,000 baht from a couple in the central province of Ayutthaya. He even pretended to be a death threat victim and sought help from a Thai news agency. A 42 year old Thai man named New told Channel 7 that he worked at a rice harvester garage in the central…
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Fatal Ducati motorbike crash adds to Phuket road fatalities
A fatal accident involving a Ducati motorbike and a roadside barrier claimed the life of a 29 year old man yesterday in Kalim, north of Patong on the scenic Phuket coastal road. The unnamed victim, a resident of Moo 7, Mai Khao, suffered catastrophic head trauma in the collision, leading to his untimely demise. The crash was reported to Police…
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Chiang Mai duo nabbed for 76 million baht home theft
Chiang Mai police apprehended two suspects in a brazen theft that saw 76 million baht stolen from a home. Police recovered nearly 40 million baht in cash, revealing that the culprits were known associates of the victim, motivated by a dispute over incomplete payment for work done. Other stolen assets were discarded in black bags. The incident, which occurred on…
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Dead Burmese man found in water tank of Bangkok condo
The change in colour and odour of the tap water at a condominium in the Min Buri district of Bangkok led to the discovery of a dead Burmese man in a rooftop water tank early this morning. Residents alerted the condo’s owner about the slow flow of tap water, noting an unpleasant odour and a shift in its colour. The…
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