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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Severe storms hammer Uttaradit and Phrae medical facilities
Unexpected severe storms hammered medical facilities in Uttaradit and neighbouring Phrae on May 3, signalling the imminent arrival of the rainy season, according to the Public Health Ministry. Uttaradit Hospital, located in Mueang district’s city centre, bore the brunt of the storm, with intense wind gusts causing extensive damage, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin reported yesterday. Four surgery and internal…
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Chinese interpreter linked to notorious gang arrested in Thailand
A 36 year old Chinese-language interpreter was apprehended on May 3 due to his ties with a criminal gang notorious for kidnapping Chinese nationals. The arrest took place in the Din Daeng district following an abduction incident on April 25, as reported by Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Noppasin Poonsawat. Theerachai Chaloemwanpen was apprehended by the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) alongside…
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Tourist boat capsizes in Trang Sea, one dead and several injured
A tragic incident unfolded yesterday at 4.30pm when a longtail tourist boat capsized near the Pak Meng Bridge in the Trang Sea, leaving 14 individuals adrift, including a 68 year old woman who sadly drowned. The accident took place approximately 2 kilometres from the pier at Pom Jatukham area, Mai Fat Subdistrict, Sikao District, Trang Province. The boat, carrying 11…
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Thai hailstorm causes 3 million baht damage, kills 21,000 chickens
A devastating hailstorm, with stones as large as chicken eggs, wreaked havoc in Chaiyaphum, causing widespread damage, including significant losses for a local poultry farm where power outages led to a tragic number of chicken deaths. The storm, which occurred yesterday, May 4, also resulted in damaged homes and infrastructure, with preliminary estimates placing the cost at over 3 million…
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Thai man arrested in Pattaya for threatening girlfriend with gun
A Thai man was apprehended by Pattaya City police in the early hours of yesterday, May 4, following allegations of threatening his girlfriend with a firearm and discharging it into the air at Pattaya Beach on March 13. The unsettling event caused quite a stir among foreign and local beachgoers, given that the area was still bustling with activity when…
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Government employee found dead in rural Uthai Thani
A local government employee tragically lost his life in a harrowing nighttime incident in Uthai Thani Province, which has left the community in shock. The 57 year old man was found dead beside an electric pole on a concrete road connecting the villages of Nong Yang and Nong Chang last night. Notably, the incident occurred at 10.30pm, when the area’s deputy…
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Woman leaves date after man denies loud fart, sparks online debate
A woman walked out of a dinner date after her male companion loudly passed gas and vehemently denied it, causing a scene despite her assurances that it was right. This unusual incident spurred the woman to seek opinions from netizens on whether her reaction was excessive. The woman had been looking forward to the date after conversing online for two…
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Saraburi explosion prompts health checks for chemical risks
The health implications of a fireworks factory explosion in Saraburi province are under rigorous scrutiny following orders from the Public Health Minister. The incident, which resulted in one fatality, has prompted immediate investigations to ensure the safety of the local environment and public health. Today, May 4, the Public Health Minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, addressed the fireworks factory explosion in Saraburi…
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French tourists arrested in Phuket for damaging police chain
Phuket police recently apprehended two French tourists in Patong, Loma Circle, who were caught damaging a police chain used to secure their illegally parked motorbike. The arrest took place on May 2 and was publicised by Patong Police Station only two days after the launch of the You Cut, I Catch campaign by Phuket City Police Chief, Pratuang Pholmana. The…
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Phuket police crack down on illegal fireworks trade at Patong Beach
Patong Beach in Phuket has seen a boost in police activity in recent days, aiming to put an end to the unlawful trade and use of fireworks. The initiative, which began on May 1, has already led to the arrest of three individuals, including a citizen of New Zealand. Patong Police have been systematically carrying out inspections along the beach…
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Phuket man narrowly escapes as electric motorcycle bursts into flames
A 28 year old man, Wichuthat Chotchuang, narrowly avoided harm when his electric motorcycle ignited into flames mid-ride on Thepkrasattri Road, Phuket, yesterday afternoon, May 3. Wichuthat, a resident of Moo 1, Thepkrasattri, was headed north on Thepkrasattri Road at around 5.20pm when he observed smoke emanating from his motorcycle. Acting quickly, he managed to pull over near the entrance…
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Maybank drops Thailand’s GDP growth forecast amid export and manufacturing slump
Maybank IBG Research has revised downwards its GDP growth forecast for Thailand, for both the current year and 2025. The downgraded estimates are due to a combination of factors, including a faltering export outlook, a deepening manufacturing slump, an uneven recovery in tourism, and limited chances of interest rate cuts by the Bank of Thailand this year. For this year,…
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Man fatally stabbed in Pathum Thani underpass confrontation
In a tragic turn of events, a 33 year old man met his demise after being brutally attacked and stabbed beneath a motorway bridge in Pathum Thani province. The victim from Lat Phrao district, Bangkok, had arranged to meet his girlfriend to retrieve his mobile phone, a meeting that culminated in his death. The incident occurred last night when Theerawut…
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Deadly motorcycle race on Kanjanapisek Motorway claims teen lives
A tragic event unfolded early this morning on the Kanjanapisek Motorway, where a high-speed motorcycle race turned deadly, claiming the lives of two teenagers and leaving another injured. The incident occurred near the 46+600 kilometre marker, heading towards Bang Pa-In. Two young lives were cut short when a motorcycle race went horribly wrong on the Kanjanapisek Motorway. At approximately 2.40am…
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Thailand’s central bank halts proposed 1% fee on credit cardholders
The Bank of Thailand has stalled the proposed introduction of an additional 1% fee on local credit cardholders, necessitating card issuers to consider other alternatives. This decision was taken after several credit card issuers declared that they would be waiving the 1% fee for payments made in baht to overseas registered merchants and online shopping platforms. Earlier in March, these…
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Gulf Energy signs agreement for 25 solar farms in Thailand
Gulf Energy Development Plc, a leading private power producer, has announced the completion of power purchase agreements for the construction of 25 solar farms with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat). This initiative is expected to aid the government in managing electricity prices, potentially reducing power bills for consumers. The 25-year agreements mark a strategic shift in Thailand’s power…
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Two dead, three injured in Kamphaeng Phet road crash
A tragic accident on Phaholyothin Road in Kamphaeng Phet province claimed the lives of two individuals and left three others injured when a pickup truck swerved to avoid a taxi that was making an illegal U-turn and crashed into a tree. The incident occurred yesterday at 6.20pm and involved a white Isuzu pickup with a Bangkok registration. Police Lieutenant Ek…
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Thai government’s digital wallet scheme under scrutiny
The Thai government’s digital wallet policy, specifically the planned usage of funds from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) to support the initiative, will continue to be scrutinised by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The agency has previously raised concerns about potential corruption and legal risks linked to the 10,000 baht distribution scheme and will observe the government’s…
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Thailand’s headline CPI rises unexpectedly in April, ends slump.
Commerce Ministry officials in Thailand announced today that the country’s headline consumer price index (CPI) experienced a year-on-year increase of 0.19% this April. This is a notable shift from the previous month’s 0.47% year-on-year decrease and considerably exceeds the 0.25% fall projected by a Reuters poll. Such a rise in inflation after a seven-month negative streak indicates a significant change in…
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Thai Chamber of Commerce highlights 10 top tourist provinces
The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) set in motion plans to promote 10 provinces within the country as first-tier tourist destinations. The selected provinces of Phrae, Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Phanom, Sisaket, Chanthaburi, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Trang, and Nakhon Si Thammarat will soon be under the international spotlight as they prepare to welcome an influx of tourists. This initiative is part…
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Thai energy business reports 2.6% decline in Q1 fuel consumption
The Department of Energy Business (DOEB) reported a 2.6% decline in fuel consumption in the first quarter of the year, amounting to 156.7 million litres per day. This decrease is attributed to the expiration of the capped price policy. The Director General of DOEB, Sarawut Kaewtathip, noted a rise in the daily average volume of jet fuel and liquefied petroleum…
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Chinese student rescued from scam gang kidnapping attempt
A young Chinese student was deceived by a call centre scam gang in a kidnapping attempt, demanding a ransom of 7 million baht, has been rescued in Chiang Mai. Initially lured from Australia, she faced threats of visa revocation for non-compliance. Thai police successfully located her today at 11am, following coordination with Samut Prakan police. The rescue operation led by…
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Pattaya restaurant under fire for excessive pricing of food dish
A restaurant in Pattaya, Chon Buri Province, has come under scrutiny for reportedly charging an excessive 70 baht for a basic dish of rice with two fried eggs. Following this, the Department of Internal Trade ordered provincial commerce officials to conduct inspections of made-to-order food outlets in the region. The restaurant’s alleged high pricing and lack of clear price signage…
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Bangkok taxi meter scam outcry after 1,800 baht airport fare
A recent social media post sparked an outcry over alleged taxi meter fraud in Bangkok. A passenger complaint was highlighted, claiming an overcharge for a ride from Bang Khae to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, where the fare meter read an exorbitant 1,800 baht. The incident has raised concerns about overcharging and exploitation of foreigners by taxi drivers in the city. Bangkok’s…
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Woman jumps off bridge in Phuket due to chronic depression
A 32 year old woman contending with chronic depression jumped off the Thepsrisin Bridge in Phuket early this morning. The bridge, a link between Saphan Hin and Sakdidet Road, was the location of this distressing event. The woman, who resides on Montri Road in Phuket Town, was swiftly transported to Vachira Phuket Hospital for her sustained injuries. The police were…
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Udon Thani land dispute ends in brother fatally shooting sibling
A family dispute in Udon Thani this morning ended tragically, resulting in a 62 year old man being fatally shot by his brother, who then calmly waited for the police with a bottle of alcohol. The tranquillity of a small village in Udon Thani was shattered when a 62 year old man was shot dead by his younger brother over a…
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Saudi Arabian man reunites with Thai nanny after 20 years (video)
A 33 year old Saudi Arabian man reunited with his former Thai babysitter after searching for her for over 20 years. He wished to express gratitude for her care during his childhood. Several Thai media outlets shared the story of the 33 year old Saudi Arabian man, Ali Bokhari, and his Thai babysitter, 77 year old Banyen Thongchaitanawut, after they…
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Man arrested for selling counterfeit shampoos in Nonthaburi
The Thai authorities arrested a man for producing counterfeit shampoo by refilling old bottles and distributing them at significantly lower market prices. Garnering his knowledge from YouTube tutorials, the individual’s actions have led to a coordinated crackdown by the Central Investigation Police and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), revealing that counterfeit products could pose serious risks to consumers’ eye…
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Bangkok man falls to death as utility shaft lid collapses
A tragic accident occurred today in the heart of Bangkok when a man estimated to be between 55 and 60 years old, fell to his death down a deep manhole utility shaft at the mouth of Soi Lat Phrao 49. Rescuers have retrieved his body from the shaft measuring over 20 metres deep, prompting an urgent investigation by the authorities.…
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Finance ministry secures deals for 250 billion baht investments
Following the passing of the fiscal 2024 Budget Expenditure Act, the Finance Ministry has confirmed that new financial agreements for investment projects totalling 250 billion baht have been finalised. Deputy Finance Minister Krisada Chinavicharana revealed that during the delay in the act’s signing, governmental bodies with pending investment projects initiated their procurement processes. These processes included creating terms of reference…
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