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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Tourists arrested for refusing to pay for beach chairs in Pattaya
Two tourists were arrested by Pattaya police yesterday, January 18, for refusing to pay for beach chairs. According to eyewitnesses, the drama unfolded when the two men, one sporting a shirtless bravado and described as aggressive, attempted to commandeer beach chairs without paying. The eagle-eyed owners promptly reminded them that the coveted chairs came at a cost, igniting a fiery…
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Thai retail investors now unrestricted in real estate, infrastructure-backed ICOs
Retail investors in Thailand will no longer face restrictions on investment in real estate and infrastructure-backed initial coin offerings (ICOs), according to an announcement by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The change, effective from January 16, was made to encourage technology use for fundraising and to support sustainable capital market growth and the digital economy’s development. The SEC’s role,…
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Frenchman arrested in Chiang Mai for selling fake ID cards
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers arrested a Frenchman in the northern province of Chiang Mai for making and selling fake identification (ID) cards of French citizens. Unfortunately, another French suspect managed to evade the arrest. The French authorities discovered the sale of counterfeit ID cards on the dark web. These fake identities were used to commit several crimes in…
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Reef-rescue ripples: Marine department dives deep to tackle 338kg ghost net near Rin Island
In a splash of environmental heroism, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, along with volunteer divers, dove into action to tackle a colossal problem near Rin Island in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district. On Wednesday, January 17, the team embarked on a mission to untangle a whopping 338kg ghost net that had ensnared a coral reef. Prompted by concerned divers,…
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Prosthetic police probe: Thai man accuses hopalong cop of wife’s murder confession coercion
A Thai man accused a hopalong cop with a prosthetic leg at Aranyaprathet Police Station in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo of torture and forcing him into confessing to the murder of his wife. Buaphan Tansu was brutally assaulted and murdered by a group of five teenagers, who are now in police custody. Initially, the police wrongly arrested 54…
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Thai activist Arnon Nampa sentenced to four years in prison for royal defamation
Activist and lawyer Arnon Nampa has been given a four-year prison sentence by the Criminal Court. Arnon was charged with violating the lèse-majesté law under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the Computer Crime Act. This decision comes after 39 year old Arnon was found guilty of defaming the monarchy, a crime carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years.…
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Thai PM tweets from the top: Srettha’s Swiss summit scoop at Davos World Economic Forum
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin took to his Twitter account to keep his compatriots in the loop about his diplomatic encounters in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum (WEF). The 61 year old Thai prime minister spared no detail in sharing snippets of his discussions with a constellation of influential figures at the WEF. From rubbing shoulders with executives of…
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Phuket’s Cafe Del Mar faces police action over noise pollution
Phuket’s much-loved entertainment hotspot Cafe Del Mar had a brush with the Kamala police recently over an issue of noise pollution disturbing residents. This internationally known beach club found itself in hot water when the Kamala police declared that the volume of their music was exceeding acceptable levels. This was causing considerable disruption to the peaceful existence of the locals…
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Police general takes flight: Aims to soar Suvarnabhumi Airport into global top 50 in 2 years
The new chairman of Airports of Thailand (AoT), Police General Visanu Prasattongosoth, announced an ambitious plan to elevate Suvarnabhumi International Airport into the top 50 global airports within two years. The strategy, revealed yesterday, January 18, is part of AoT’s broader initiative to upgrade and increase the capacities of six airports under its jurisdiction, in response to the anticipated global…
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Police rescues Thai man clinging to wife’s car for 15 kilometres
A police officer rescued a Thai man clinging to his wife’s car for 15 kilometres on the Asian Highway in the central province of Ayutthaya following a dispute fuelled by jealousy. The Police Lance Corporal of Phrain Racha Police Station, Tiwa Puttakawee, came across the incident while driving home on Wednesday, January 17. Tiwa saw a Thai man, later identified…
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Construction worker killed in crane accident on Rama II, Bangkok
A construction worker was killed on the under-construction elevated road near Soi 72, heading towards Kanchanaphisek Road in the Samae Dam area, Bang Khun Thian District, Bangkok, at precisely 1.27pm today, January 18. A sling snapped, sending the crane’s suspended basket hurtling to the ground on Rama II Road in Bang Khunthian district. Rescue workers, racing against time, revealed that one…
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Thailand unearths lithium and sodium, amps up as EV battery hub
Thailand discovered two significant deposits of lithium and sodium, key ingredients for electric vehicle (EV) battery production, marking the country’s stride towards becoming a central and primary production base in the region. Radklao Inthawong Suwankiri, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed that the Ministry of Industry’s expedited exploration led to the discovery of the lithium mines, known…
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Thai man faces record 50-year sentence for royal defamation
A Thai man from Chiang Rai faces an unprecedented 50 year imprisonment sentence for royal defamation. This comes after the Court of Appeal added to his existing convictions, according to a report by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) released on today. The sentence, delivered to 30 year old Mongkol Busbas Thirakot, is reportedly the longest ever served for offences…
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Thai boy’s cane music tribute to late grandfather strikes a chord on TikTok
A Thai boy’s tribute to his late grandfather captivated many on TikTok. The clip, shared by TikTok user @somchutiya today shows the young lad playing a traditional Thai instrument, the cane, in front of his grandfather’s memorial, alongside a trophy he won in a recent competition. The young musician is seen kneeling before the bone repository of his beloved grandfather,…
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Suspects arrested for murder of Chumphon orchard owner
The Thai Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) apprehended two suspects in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, following the murder of a durian orchard owner in Chumphon last December. The durian orchard owner was identified as 54 year old Thawat (no surname given). The perpetrators were identified as 62 year old Pramote (surname withheld) and 59 year old Niyom. A police investigation found that…
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Vietjet Air and Trip.com join hands for better travel service
Vietjet Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with global travel giant Trip.com Group to provide a more convenient experience for travellers worldwide. Passengers are in for a treat as Vietjet Air’s official website will soon serve as a one-stop-shop for a plethora of travel offerings from Trip.com Group. From hotels to airport transfers, attractions, and activities, travellers can effortlessly…
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Thailand uncovers human trafficking operation worth over 117 million baht
A year-long investigation into human trafficking led by Thailand’s National Police Office, under the command of Police Lieutenant General Torsak Sukwimon and Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn resulted in the arrest of a man from Bangladesh. The suspect, 46 years old Asraf, has been involved in a clandestine human trafficking network, charging each individual between 100,000 and 150,000…
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Bangladeshi nationals arrested at Phuket Airport over counterfeit visas
Five Bangladeshi nationals found themselves on the wrong side of the law at Phuket International Airport, after a failed attempt to breach Thailand’s borders with counterfeit visas. The arrests were made yesterday, around 11.30am by vigilant Phuket Immigration Department officers. The incident came to light late that night, with the airport’s immigration officers providing a detailed account. The alleged perpetrators,…
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RTA sergeant questioned over double murder at Nakhon Phanom petrol station
A Royal Thai Army (RTA) sergeant is now under intense interrogation in connection with the chilling double murder of two petrol station workers last month. Police Major General Thawatchai Thungpao, Nakhon Phanom police chief, led the operation yesterday afternoon, January 17, alongside crack investigators from Nakhon Phanom’s Muang station and Provincial Police Region 4. The suspect, still awaiting identification, is…
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Thai Airways unveils new route to India’s Kochi
Thai Airways (THAI) made its intentions known to operate flights to Southwest India, by applying to India’s civil aviation authorities to introduce a brand-new route from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to Kochi in Kerala. Scheduled to take off in April, the airline plans three weekly flights. Renowned for its impeccable service, THAI is set to dispatch its A320-200, exclusively configured for…
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Phuket officials crack down on illegal vape and hookah sales
Phuket’s bustling Bangla Road was the scene of a crackdown as Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) officials swooped in last night. Seven individuals, including a foreign national working as a store manager, were apprehended for their involvement in the illicit sale of vaping devices and the provision of hookahs, referred to locally as baraku, for tourists. Patong Police, responsible for…
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Lottery vendor scoops 6 million baht lottery jackpot
A lottery vendor in Nakhon Phanom province scooped the first prize jackpot in yesterday’s lottery draw. The winning ticket, number 105979 landed a 6 million baht bounty for the vendor. The 63 year old lottery vendor, Onchan Suriyon, also known as Uan, resides at Ban Thung Mon, Village No. 8, Kham Toei Subdistrict, Mueang District, and set up her stall at…
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Vietnam cuts bank stake limits to curb market manipulation risks
Vietnam’s legislature passed a resolution to decrease the maximum stake investors can own in domestic banks. Coming into force in July, the law will limit the equity held by institutional investors, such as pension or investment funds, to 10%, down from the current 15%. The adjustment has been made in an attempt to mitigate the risk of market manipulation. This…
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Clean Air Bills passed in Thai Parliament
At the House of Representatives, lawmakers united across party lines to pass seven Clean Air bills after an exhilarating debate which concluded with an overwhelming 443 votes in favour and just one abstention. A coalition of government and opposition parties, alongside a civil society organisation, orchestrated this legislative symphony. To ensure meticulous examination, a formidable 39-member committee, comprising both government…
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Thai man arrested for stealing 3.4 million baht from 97 year old woman
Police arrested a light-fingered Thai man for stealing 3.4 million baht from a 97 year old Thai woman by transferring money to his bank account 127 times using a mobile banking application. A community leader, Jadesada Cha-onchom, accompanied the 97 year old victim, identified only as A, to file a complaint against the alleged 24 year old thief, Thanaphat Jaipeng,…
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Thai horror breaks new ground: The Cursed Land unleashes chilling Islamic spirits
Thai horror films have long captivated audiences with their spine-chilling tales rooted in local ghosts and mythology but The Cursed Land, a Thai-Malay language horror film, is being recognised at the International Film Festival Rotterdam for challenging preconceived notions and introducing audiences to a realm of demonic entities and Thai Muslim identity. The Cursed Land, directed by Panu Aree and co-directed…
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Drowsy driver crashes pickup into Ayutthaya eatery, residents in shock
A pickup truck crashed into a local eatery in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya causing shock and turmoil among the residents. The driver, a 30 year old woman, reported falling asleep at the wheel during her journey home. The event did not result in severe injuries or fatalities, thanks largely to the vehicle’s fortunate miss of an electricity pole. At around…
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Thai TikTok user strikes lottery luck after solar doll offering
A Facebook and TikTok user recently struck it rich after winning on three lottery numbers with a prize of hundreds of thousands of baht. The winning streak came after 40 year old Kongkwan Kongnan posted a video of herself offering four solar-powered dancing dolls to her local spirit house and asking for luck. The video, which Kongkwan posted on both…
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Phuket man fatally stabbed in family feud over neighbourhood disputes
A dispute between a man and his brother-in-law culminated in a fatal stabbing that left one dead and another injured in Phuket. The argument took place within their neighbouring homes, where they previously had disagreements due to proximity. The incident was reported to Phuket’s Wichit Police Station around 8.30am, prompting an immediate response. Upon their arrival, local first responders and…
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China’s population plummet, two million decline in a year
China witnessed a massive decline in population last year with a decrease of two million, marking the nation’s second consecutive annual dip, according to government reports. The aftermath of Covid-19 restrictions lifting unleashed a demographic whirlwind, unveiling unforeseen challenges for the once-populous Asian giant. The statistics bureau disclosed that deaths surged by a staggering 690,000, reaching 11.1 million – more…
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