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 What’s not covered by health insurance in Thailand?
Health insurance in Thailand has important limits that everyone should know. Many policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, motorcycle accidents, extreme sports, or specific treatments. These gaps can lead to unexpected costs during emergencies. Coverage for outpatient care and hospital...
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Love con: Thai woman nabbed for 1.7 million baht romance scam
Thai authorities have successfully apprehended a 24 year old woman in connection with a sophisticated romance scam operation that swindled a victim out of 1.7 million baht under the guise of a lucrative investment in London gold shares. The arrest of the woman identified only as Saovaluck, which took place yesterday in front of a convenience store in Samrong Klang…
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Shocking surge: Thailand market sparks rise in EV loans
The Thai market is seeing a rise in loans for electric vehicles (EVs), as they are projected to lead the expansion in auto lending this year. Krungsri Auto, a prominent auto loan provider and a Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri) unit, has projected new EV sales to climb to 100,000 units this year, a significant increase from 76,000 units the previous…
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Banyan Group and Urasaya Property launch Nakhon Si Thammarat’s first luxury residence
Nestled directly on Thailand’s Gulf Coast, Banyan Tree Residences Sichon represents a pioneering project by Banyan Group, the independent global hospitality company, in partnership with Urasaya Property Co., Ltd, a pioneering real estate developer. This venture not only promises a unique living experience but also marks a significant step in the expansion and diversification of luxury living options in Thailand.…
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Thai man murders granddaughter and commits suicide
A 78 year old Thai man in the central province of Phetchabun murdered his 12 year old granddaughter and committed suicide because he allegedly had romantic feelings for her. The dead body of the girl, Natticha, was found in a pond by a roadside forest in the Nong Phai district of Phetchabu province on Saturday, March 30, after she disappeared from her…
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Foreign tourists flock to Thailand, boosting economy
Foreign tourists in Thailand reached 9.4 million in the initial quarter of this year, pouring an estimated 454.6 billion baht (US$12.4 billion) into the national economy through their expenditure, as disclosed by the Tourism and Sports Ministry. This year, the Southeast Asian nation is setting its sights on an ambitious goal of 40 million tourists, almost equal to the pre-Covid-19 pandemic…
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Thai man’s arm severed outside liquor store after smoking dispute
Two suspects embarked on a barbaric act of severing the arm of a Thai man after the victim warned the attackers against smoking cigarettes outside his liquor store in the Sriracha district of Chon Buri last night. The Sriracha Police Station received reports of the knife attack at the liquor store at around 8am yesterday, April 1. They met a…
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British backpacker murderers make fresh appeal against sentence (video)
The British backpacker murderers have made fresh appeals against their sentence claiming they are innocent of beating an English couple to death in Thailand ten years ago Two Burmese bar workers were accused of murdering British couple David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on Koh Tao Island in 2014. The bar workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, who have consistently maintained…
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True Corporation partners with TAT to boost Thailand tourism
True Corporation, in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), has rolled out the True Nationwide, For Everyone initiative, aiming to offer benefits and privileges to both Thai and international tourists throughout their travel journey. This initiative aligns with the government’s strategy to establish Thailand as a major tourism hub by 2024, aiming to generate over 3 trillion baht…
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Surat Thani ex-engineer wins 30 million baht lottery
A former municipal engineering director from Surat Thani province hit the jackpot, winning a staggering 30 million baht in the national lottery. The 61 year old, who has been living and working in Nonthaburi province since 1978, walked into a local police station today, April 2, with his family to officially record their life-changing win. Polkrit, the lucky winner, alongside…
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Isuzu revs up green initiative with PTT union for clean fuel trials
Tri Petch Isuzu, Thailand’s Isuzu vehicle distributor, is joining forces with PTT Plc to test vehicles powered by a novel clean fuel. This initiative is aimed at supporting efforts to reduce the high carbon dioxide emissions from Thailand’s transport sector. The transport and power generation sectors are the main contributors to over 60% of Thailand’s greenhouse gas emissions, as per…
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Foreigner condemned for driving car on Kamala Beach in Phuket
Phuket residents and Thai netizens condemned a foreigner for ignoring warnings from lifeguards and vendors and driving a sedan on Kamala Beach. A Thai man shared the video of a black sedan, a Toyota Camry Hybrid, on Kamala Beach on Facebook yesterday, April 1. “Foreign tourists cause trouble every day! A foreign tourist, of unidentified nationality, driving a sedan on Kamala…
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Thailand seeks more flight routes from Laos and China
The Government of Thailand has its sights set on elevating the country’s aviation industry, with plans in the pipeline to request additional flight routes from Laos and China within the next two years. The move is part of a broader “Ignite Thailand” vision, articulated by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, aiming to position Thailand as a hub in eight key sectors,…
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Thailand in talks with China to swap submarine for naval vessels
Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang is near finalising discussions with China to acquire alternative naval vessels instead of a submarine, aiming to conclude the talks by the end of this month. The negotiations began following Klungsang’s recent trip to China, where he introduced the proposal. China has shown openness to Thailand’s request to purchase two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) or a…
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Thai monk allegedly rapes woman, demands she divorces husband
A Thai man sought help from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after a monk demanded he end his relationship with his wife so he could have her. The monk had previously raped the woman making her pregnant. The 36 year old Thai man, Warut, revealed in the press conference yesterday, March 31, that he married his wife, 31 year old…
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Thai rice redemption price drops ahead of farming season
The upcoming farming season in Thailand, set to start this month, is witnessing a significant drop in the rice redemption price. This sharp decline, according to the Thai Agriculturist Association, is primarily due to market mechanisms and an oversupply of rice, particularly a Vietnamese variety. Agriculturist Association President Pramote Charoensilp noted that during the first crop season of the year,…
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Don Mueang Airport prepares for Songkran holiday travel spike
Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport gears up for an influx of approximately 625,000 passengers during the Songkran holiday period, which runs from April 11 to 17. It expects over 4,000 flights, marking a substantial 10.58% rise from the previous year’s data. Don Mueang Airport General Manager Wichit Kaewsaitiam attributed this surge to the government’s strategic policies aimed at bolstering domestic…
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Gold soars to unprecedented heights amid geopolitical tensions
As the second quarter of the year commences, gold has reached unprecedented heights, thanks to geopolitical tensions and the Federal Reserve’s impending rate cuts. The precious metal’s price soared to as high as US$2,259.69 per ounce, marking an increase of 1.3% from its value at the end of last week. The Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of core inflation, the core…
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Thai woman’s fake robbery covers ex-marital money matters
A Thai woman faked a robbery to hide from her new husband that she was previously married and was still sending money to her ex-husband and their child. The 30 year old woman, Walisa, filed a theft complaint at Pak Chong Police Station at 11.30pm yesterday, March 31. She reported that a thief stole 2,200 from her, the amount she…
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World Bank predicts 2.8% economic growth for Thailand
The World Bank predicted a modest economic growth of 2.8% for Thailand in 2024, with an acceleration of 3.0% in 2025. This forecast announced today, April 1, is underpinned by the nation’s struggling exports and a postponed budget. This projection for 2024 and 2025 marks a decrease from the previously estimated figures of 3.2% and 3.1%, respectively, set in December.…
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Northern Thailand grapples with severe global air contamination
The hazardous red-coded levels of PM2.5 shrouded most northern provinces of Thailand today, with Chiang Mai earning the unenviable title of the city with the most severe air contamination globally. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) disclosed today, April 4, at 8am that 14 provinces were grappling with red (highly detrimental) levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and…
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Isaan residents urged to avoid risky sex after 9 new Mpox cases
The Office of 9th Disease Prevention and Control Nakhon Ratchasima (ODPC 9) urged residents in the southern Isaan region to avoid engaging in any risky monkey business after nine new Mpox cases were reported between January 1 and February 13. The director of the ODPC 9, Thaweechai Wissanuyothin, said the number of Mpox cases (formerly monkeypox) in Thailand was decreasing…
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Thai woman narrowly escapes injury as demolition goes wrong
A near-miss incident involving a building demolition and a woman in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand, took centre stage yesterday afternoon. The woman, employed at an eatery, narrowly escaped injury when a building under demolition collapsed unexpectedly, part of it crashing into the eatery. The incident occurred around 2pm, yesterday, March 31, on Charoen Mueang Road in the Mueang district of the…
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Italian national arrested for drunk driving in Phuket, Thailand
A drink driving incident yesterday led to the arrest of an Italian national in Phuket, Thailand. The man’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was found to be 95mg/dL, which is significantly above the legal limit. This 50 year old Italian man was apprehended by Patong Police around 4am in the vicinity of Loma Circle at the northern end of Patong Beach.…
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Pattaya heroics: Thai man saves drowning Aussie
A Thai man performed heroics to save an Australian man from drowning in the Pattaya sea but, in the aftermath, the foreigner remains in a critical condition. Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rescuers were notified about the drowning incident near Soi Jomtien 11 in Pattaya at about 3.15am today, April 1. Upon arrival, rescuers found a group of Thais and foreigners…
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Taking off: Passenger charges soar at six major Thai airports
Passenger service charges (PSC) at six major Thai airports have seen an increase, as announced by the Airports of Thailand Plc. The charges, applicable on both domestic and international departing flights, have been raised at Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Don Mueang, Hat Yai, Phuket and Suvarnabhumi airports. For international flights, the fees have been increased from 700 to 730 baht,…
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Thailand emerges as billionaire hotspot, ranked 12th in rich list
Hurun Research Institute released its prestigious 2024 Hurun Global Rich List, revealing that Thailand ranks 12th worldwide for having the highest number of billionaires. Hurun Research Institute is a leading research, luxury publishing and events group based in Shanghai, China, that focuses on the wealth of people around the world. The Hurun Global Rich List has made the institute famous,…
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Lorry smuggling Myanmar migrants crashes in Thailand, 14 hurt
Fourteen people were injured when a lorry, smuggling Myanmar migrants illegally into Thailand, lost control and tipped over in the western province of Kanchanaburi. The incident, which occurred on Road 323 in Sangkhla Buri district shortly after midnight, saw the vehicle’s driver lose control while speeding down a hill and veer off a curve, subsequently fleeing the scene. The lorry…
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Teen gang violence escalates into shootout in Bangkok
Violence erupted on the streets of Bangkok when two rival teen gangs clashed, resulting in a dramatic shootout and the hurling of grenades along the Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. An 18 year old man was shot five times and fled to a local police station for safety in the early hours at around 3.40am on April 1. The intense confrontation was…
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Hong Kong Airlines flight’s hiccup leads to Bangkok u-turn
A technical glitch forced a Hong Kong Airlines flight to make an abrupt return to Bangkok shortly after taking off for Hong Kong. The incident occurred yesterday, March 31, and involved flight HX780, which was ferrying over 200 passengers. Flight data indicates that the Airbus A330-300 twin-jet aircraft began to circle the airspace shortly after its 2am departure. By 2.25am,…
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German and Canadian charged for illegal kung fu course (video)
Police arrested a German and a Canadian man for illegally conducting a Shaolin kung fu training course on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Pha Ngan Tourist Police and Immigration Police arrested 37 year old German man Somphet Daoheuang and a 34 year old Canadian man Arbely Natalie Rubalcava Rojo at a yoga training…
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