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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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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Call it off: Thai telecom giants reject merger offers on the line
Shareholders of Thai telecom mobile carriers, Advanced Info Service (AIS) and Thaicom, have been advised to hang up on acquisition offers from their controlling entities. The boards are urging a firm “no” to the merger plans proposed by Gulf Energy Development and Intouch Holdings. Back in July, Gulf Energy, the powerhouse investor behind Thaicom, and Intouch Holdings, which calls the…
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Father fatally stabs son in Samut Prakan after money dispute
Police officer Tosapol Yasriyai received a report of a fatal stabbing at a residential property in Phraeksa Mai, Mueang district, Samut Prakan province in the early hours of this morning. Upon arrival, officers, including Police Colonel Watchara Thepsen and forensic officers, found the body of the victim, 42 year old Parinya, at the entrance of a two-storey townhouse. He had…
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‘Stay away’ leaflets target PM’s visit in Yala slammed as fake news
Reports of ominous warning leaflets telling citizens to stay away from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during her visit to Thailand’s southern border provinces have been branded misinformation by local officials. The alleged leaflets were said to have been distributed at key locations in Yala City, including the Yala Central Mosque, Old Market’s Soi 5, and the Jaru Community near Dhamma…
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Senior police officer threatens junior with gun over alleged affair
A high-ranking police officer in the central province of Lopburi threatened to shoot a subordinate after he allegedly exposed an affair with one of his lovers to another mistress. The 24 year old police officer from Khok Salung Police Station, Police Lance Corporal John, sought help from Channel 3 after being threatened at gunpoint by 57 year old Police Captain Peerapong…
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Ex-waiter arrested for shabu restaurant theft in Ubon Ratchathani
Police in Ubon Ratchathani arrested a former head waiter accused of breaking into a shabu restaurant and stealing money. The suspect, 20 year old Natthaphon Wongko, reportedly used a stone to smash the glass of the restaurant, including one where he previously worked, to commit the theft. The incident was reported on Monday, January 13, when 30 year old Panupon…
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Thailand banks on foreign investment to power economic surge
Bangkok Bank remains bullish on a surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) into Thailand, anticipating it will turbocharge the nation’s economy in the coming years despite global uncertainties. At the 2025 ASEAN Business Forum helmed by the bank last Thursday, Bangkok Bank President Chartsiri Sophonpanich unveiled striking figures: Thailand’s investment applications soared by 35% in 2024, hitting a decade peak…
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Population decline: Thailand’s birth rate hits 75-year low
Mahidol University highlighted a significant demographic issue as Thailand recorded fewer than 500,000 births in a year for the first time in 75 years. In 2024, the country registered only 462,240 births, a marked decrease from 519,000 in 2023. Associate Professor Chalermpol Chamchan from Mahidol’s Institute for Population and Social Research noted that this is the fourth consecutive year where…
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Scammer poses as doctor to request explicit images from Thai patient
A scammer posing as a doctor contacted a Thai mother who had recently had a baby for explicit images of her post-birth wounds. Fortunately, the victim refused to share any explicit images. The incident prompted a warning from an obstetrics and gynaecology clinic, Doctor Pemika Clinic, in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima urging patients to beware of impersonators. The clinic…
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Power play: Thailand set to slash electricity bills with tariff tweak
In a shock move that could see electricity bills slashed, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is eyeing a reduction in the power tariff by 0.17 baht per kilowatt-hour. This welcome change hinges on the government trimming its budget for renewable energy promotion. At present, the power tariff stands at 4.15 baht per unit, with a chunk earmarked for renewable energy…
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Body of foreign man found in sea off Jomtien Beach
The body of a foreign man was found floating in the sea near Jomtien Beach, Pattaya yesterday afternoon. At 1.30pm, yesterday, January 16, Pattaya police officers were alerted to the presence of a foreign man’s body floating face-down in the sea near Jomtien Beach, opposite Soi Jomtien 14. Police officers, along with rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation promptly…
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Thailand video news | Chaos on Pattaya beach: Brawls spark safety concerns, Indonesia cuts rates to spur growth amid slowdown
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex covers key stories from Thailand and Asia. Highlights include rising brawls on Pattaya Beach, a British man arrested for fraud in Pattaya, and abandoned animals uncovered at Phuket Zoo. Other updates feature Bangkok’s air pollution crackdown, a Polish tourist arrested for assault, and Bangkok leading Agoda’s Chinese New Year travel list. Regional news includes…
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Chinese housekeeper suspected in 100 million baht theft in Pattaya
Police suspect a Chinese housekeeper is behind a theft at the house of a Chinese businessman in Pattaya, resulting in a loss exceeding 100 million baht. Officers from Huay Yai Police Station were called to the house in the Bang Lamung district of Pattaya at 1.30am yesterday, January 16, to investigate the theft. The two-storey luxury house is located on a…
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Tying the knot: Pattaya hosts free LGBTQ+ weddings
Royal Garden Plaza Pattaya is gearing up to host a significant event on Valentine’s Day, February 14, marking Thailand’s historic Marriage Equality Law with free wedding ceremonies for LGBTQ+ couples. Pattaya Marriage Equality Celebration 2025 honours the law’s official enactment on January 23, with support from Pattaya City and various partners. Seven LGBTQ+ couples will be chosen to have their…
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Chill factor: Thailand braces for cold, frosty spell as mercury dips
Thailand is braced for a cold, frosty spell as temperatures plunge by an additional 1-2 degrees Celsius across the nation. Frost dusts the peaks of high mountains while strong winds batter the seas, turning up the tumultuous weather conditions. As winter tightens its grip, the South sees relentless rainfall, adding to the weather woes. Forecasts from the Meteorological Department of…
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Lottery results revealed for past draws on January 17
As the date for the upcoming lottery draw approaches, Sanook News compiled a historical record of winning numbers from the same date over the past decade. Here are the notable numbers from previous draws. Year First prize three-digit front three-digit back two-digit back 2024 105979 429 and 931 196 and 635 61 2023 812519 389 and 443 564 and 849…
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Phuket man arrested for sexually exploiting young boys
The Phuket Provincial Administration Promotion Office arrested a Thai man for sexually assaulting more than 10 young boys and distributing explicit videos of the victims on X (formerly Twitter). More than 1,400 indecent videos were found in his possession. Officials received a tip-off from the non-governmental organisation Scientia that a 15 year old victim sought help from the organisation after…
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Fire in Bangkok’s Min Buri destroys warehouse and 8 vehicles
A fire broke out in Soi Rom Klao 7, Min Buri district, Bangkok, spreading to a chemical storage warehouse and destroying eight vehicles, including six cars and two motorcycles. The incident occurred at 3.05am today, January 17, when the Rama 199 Radio Centre was alerted to a grass fire in Rom Klao 7, Saen Saep subdistrict, Min Buri district. Upon…
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Thai minister demands Shinawatra family forfeit Alpine Golf land
Thai Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also leads the Bhumjaithai Party, announced yesterday that the Shinawatra family’s ownership of extensive land at Alpine Golf and Sports Club should be rescinded. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is connected to these holdings through familial ties. Anutin stated that Chamnanwit Terat, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Interior, must ensure the revocation is completed…
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Size matters: Thailand absent in global boobs size rankings
In a revealing study by the World Population Review, Thailand is noticeably absent in the rankings of countries with the largest average boobs. The Scandinavian country of Norway has the biggest boobs, the survey reported. This comprehensive report scrutinised 108 nations, unearthing intriguing correlations between body mass index (BMI) and breast size, while affirming that individual factors like genetics, diet,…
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Phuket netizens slams half-naked foreign man on red baht bus
Thai netizens criticised a foreign man after a photograph of him standing half-naked on a red baht bus in Phuket circulated on Thai social media platforms. The Phuket Times shared the images yesterday, January 16, with a caption that read, “#Patong. A foreign tourist pulled his shorts down and revealed his bottom. Doesn’t care about anyone.” The two images shared…
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Roti rebellion: Thai police rescue Burmese teenager from trafficking
In a harrowing tale of courage and justice, a Burmese teenager hailed the Government of Thailand for rescuing him from a nightmare of forced labour and trafficking. The 17 year old’s ordeal ended with the conviction of his captor in Bangkok last year, bringing a glimmer of hope to the youth as he waits to return home to Myanmar. The…
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Herd mentality: Thai activists stomp on elephant birth control plan
Conservationists gathered yesterday to oppose the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s proposal to administer birth control injections to wild elephants. The Soo Phua Chang Network, advocating for elephants, convened at the ministry, urging a delay in the plan until comprehensive studies and reviews of the contraceptive injections are completed. They presented their petition to Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, and Naraphat…
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Plane stupid! Australian man’s flight crash threat lands him in jail
A disgruntled Australian man found himself behind bars after making a chilling threat to kill everyone at 35,000 feet. His off-the-cuff remark about crashing a plane left airport officials with no choice but to take him seriously. Marli Curtis Philip Moncrieff embarked on what he thought would be a dream holiday from Perth to the sunny shores of Phuket with…
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British explorer uncovers shocking truth at abandoned Phuket Zoo (video)
A British explorer got more than he bargained for during a visit to Thailand’s abandoned Phuket Zoo, uncovering a hidden and haunting secret that left him and his viewers stunned. British content creator Sean King, known for exploring deserted attractions on his YouTube channel @SeanKing5150, ventured into the defunct zoo. What he found was both extraordinary and deeply troubling. “I…
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Bangkok steals top spot for Chinese New Year celebrations
Bangkok has emerged as the top destination for Thai and foreign tourists planning to celebrate Chinese New Year in Thailand, according to data from the digital travel platform Agoda. The vibrant capital outshone other popular spots, with accommodation searches surging ahead of the festivities starting January 29. Agoda revealed yesterday, January 15, that Bangkok topped the list for Thai tourists,…
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Bangkok cracks down on smoky buses amid pollution crisis
To tackle Bangkok’s escalating air pollution, city officials inspected public buses for black smoke emissions at the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority’s (BMTA) Sathuphradit Depot on Tuesday, January 14. The initiative, led by Phonprom Wikitset, Advisor to the Governor of Bangkok, and Prapat Luangsirinapa, Director of the Environmental Office, aimed to address the city’s fine particulate matter (PM2.5) crisis. The inspections…
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PM perfects ‘Salaam’ greeting on helicopter to Muslim south
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra prepared for a visit to Thailand’s southern Muslim-majority provinces by practising the universal Islamic greeting, “as-salaam alaykum” (peace be upon you), aboard an air force helicopter. Assisted by Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, the PM repeated the greeting several times to perfect her pronunciation. “I practised this earlier too, but I want to get it just right.”…
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Rawai woman busted in 36 million baht fake investment scam
A 36 year old woman in Rawai has been arrested for her alleged role in a massive investment scam that defrauded victims of over 36 million baht. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), in collaboration with the Highway Police Division, apprehended the suspect, identified as Wipha, at a residence in Soi Samakee 2 following a detailed investigation. Wipha faces multiple charges,…
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Thai OnlyFans star quits adult content, citing mental health effects
A famous Thai OnlyFans content creator announced her retirement from the industry, citing the effects of her work and netizens’ comments on her mental health. The 29 year old OnlyFans star, Arisa “Kwang” Siangluecha, better known as Deerlong, is one of Thailand’s most popular creators of adult content. She typically collaborated with her boyfriend, Earth, to produce sexually explicit material…
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South Thailand unrest: Defence chief demands strategy overhaul
Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Minister of Defence Phumtham Wechayachai called for a bold rethink of Thailand’s southern border strategy following a recent motorcycle bomb attack in Pattani that left defence volunteers and civilians injured. In a scathing critique of current measures, Phumtham urged the National Security Council (NSC) to replace the ineffective cycle of lifting and reinstating emergency decrees with a more…
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