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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Potential lithium reserves discovered in Phang Nga for EV industry
The Department of Primary Industries and Mines has identified potential lithium reserves in Phang Nga’s Takua Thung district, which could be instrumental in catering to the growing demands of the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Initial surveys indicate the presence of the element in the Ruangkiet area, where pegmatite, a rock from which lepidolite is derived, was discovered. Lepidolite is a…
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Gold rush con: Isaan pawnshop duo sparks heist, rakes in 170m baht bonanza
Police arrested two Thai women, who worked at a pawnshop in the Isaan province of Nong Khai, for stealing gold accessories pawned by customers and hocked them again for more than 170 million baht. A representative of the Easy Money pawnshop in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, filed a complaint at Pak Kret Police Station in October…
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Prachin Buri school reports parent for alleged 12,500 baht fee fraud
A prestigious private school in Prachin Buri reported a case of school fee payment fraud to the police. A parent allegedly used a counterfeit bank transfer slip to feign a payment of 12,500 baht for school fees, when only 1 baht was transferred. Despite not settling the outstanding payment, the parent continues to send her child to school. The parent…
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Heartless thief in Pattaya targets disabled woman’s lifeline: Stolen electric handcycle sparks outrage
A heartless thief left a disabled woman in Pattaya stranded after callously swiping her electric handcycle, her lifeline to mobility, on December 31 last year. The 20 year old victim, Alisa Umsin, now faces an uphill battle without her essential aid. The Thai woman with impairment to both her legs was left devastated when her electric handcycle, a vital hybrid…
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Thailand urged to enhance maritime security amid escalating geopolitics
Thailand has been advised to bolster its maritime security amid escalating global geopolitics, notably in Asia and the South China Sea, according to Kunihiko Miyake, president of the Foreign Policy Institute Japan. Miyake, a former Japanese diplomat, emphasised the strategic location of Thailand and its crucial role in maintaining regional stability during a recent visit to the Japanese embassy in…
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Motorcycle accident near Khuan Pao plantation ends in fatality
A motorcycle accident occurred, resulting in a fatal collision with a pickup truck near the entrance to the Khuang Pao plantation. This event took place in Pong Saen Thong, Mueang district, Lampang yesterday. January 3. Natthanant Kitpatamanont, the Deputy Investigation Officer of Khelang Nakhon Police Station in Lampang, was notified of the accident. At the scene of the accident, a…
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Democrat Jurin calls government budget plan ‘lame duck’
Jurin Laksanawisit, a Democrat party-list MP, slammed the Thai government, branding its budget a “lame duck catastrophe.” Unleashing a fiery critique, Jurin accused the ruling Pheu Thai Party of political trickery, leaving the nation teetering on an economic tightrope. Jurin took centre stage, launching an attack against the government’s budget yesterday, January 3. Describing it as a lame duck, he…
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Thai man turns himself in after setting wife on fire after heated argument
A Thai man surrendered to police on January 1 after he allegedly set his wife on fire leading to her death at their shared home in the So Phisai district in the Isaan province of Bueng Karn. Officers from the So Phisai Police Station were alerted to a house fire on December 31 and rushed to the scene. The fire was…
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Pattaya police bust illegal Kratom ring targeting tourists
Pattaya police apprehended a vendor peddling illicit Kratom concoctions to unsuspecting foreign tourists and youngsters on Pattaya Beach on the night of January 2. Responding to the outcry of concerned locals, Pattaya’s finest executed a well-coordinated sting operation to collar a Thai vendor suspected of flouting the law by selling Kratom-laden drinks under the moonlight along Pattaya Beach. In a…
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Thai elderly in yellow aprons fight homelessness on Bangkok streets
The sight of elderly individuals in yellow aprons diligently cleaning pedestrian flyovers under the pelting sun may be disturbing to many. After all, most Thais have been raised to respect the elders and ensure they are well looked after. With Jang Wan Kha, or Please Hire Us, boldly written on their aprons, these seasoned citizens are not forgotten souls left…
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Thailand braces for colder temperatures and continued southern floods
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) warns of a chilly weather front spreading across Thailand, with temperatures expected to drop a further 1-2 degrees Celsius. Bangkok experienced cool conditions in the morning, and southern regions continue to be flooded due to heavy rainfall affecting nine provinces. The 24-hour weather forecast from 5am today stated that the high-pressure system, also known…
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Bangkok bust: Two Thai men arrested after 250,000 baht stolen from Thai consul’s home
Bangkok police arrested two light-fingered Thai men for stealing assets worth more than 250,000 baht from the home of a Thai consul. An 81 year old Thai man, Sirisak Waroonsukasri, filed a complaint with Bang Phlat Police Station on December 24 revealing that thieves broke into the home of his employer, located in Soi Sirindhorn 2 in the Bang Phlat…
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Decadent Vietnamese wedding stirs online buzz
The wedding of a mining magnate’s daughter recently took the Vietnamese online world by storm due to its extravagance. The bride, named Hawii, is the daughter of a renowned coal businessman, and the groom, Tangkien, hails from an equally affluent family. The engagement and wedding took place on December 30 and 31 last year, in the city of Halong, Quang…
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Thailand’s fruit exports projected to increase by 4% in 2024
Expectation for a 4% increase in the volume of fresh and processed fruit exports this year has been projected by the Commerce Ministry, driven by a strong demand. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, after a meeting with ministry officials and fruit-related representatives, expressed optimism about fruit exports. The ministry predicts a 4% increase in both volume and value of fresh and…
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Surin motorcyclist dies in elevated bridge collision: Thai police investigate
A Surin native riding a motorcycle had a fatal accident after colliding with a barrier on an elevated bridge. The police are investigating the cause before contacting the relatives to claim the body. The incident occurred today at 2.30am. Police Lieutenant Gunsak Kongprasert, an investigating officer at Khu Khot Police Station in Pathum Thani Province, received a report on this…
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Thailand’s tourism authority faces challenge to boost foreign arrivals
With a significantly decreased budget from its 2019 benchmark, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) faces the daunting task of increasing foreign arrivals from 28 million in 2023 to 40 million in just a year. The drastic goal was deliberated on Tuesday when Chai Wacharonke, a government spokesperson, revealed potential plans to boost arrivals to this figure, spurred by new…
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Thai baht predicted to appreciate amid expected US interest rate cuts
The Thai baht is predicted to appreciate to 33 against the US dollar in the near future, as the market anticipates an early start to US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, possibly as soon as March. This expectation could trigger an inflow of funds into the Thai currency. The baht registered at 34.26 to 34.28 per US dollar yesterday, a…
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Thai government to stimulate economy with digital wallet scheme
The Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to launch the digital wallet scheme in May, a key policy of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. The scheme, financed by a 500 billion baht (US$14,518,005,000) loan, aims to inject 10,000 baht (US$290) into the digital wallet of every Thai citizen aged 16 and above as a means to stimulate the economy. The government…
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Naked Thai man arrested for breaking into woman’s home and masturbating (video)
Police arrested a perverted Thai man for breaking into a woman’s home naked in the Ramkamhaeng neighbourhood of Bangkok on January 1 and masturbating. Fortunately, the woman and her father were unharmed. The Thai woman, 34 year old Aydalin “Ai” Akkarasirasakul, shared with her social media followers on January 1 that a naked man broke into her house. She later…
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Thailand’s airports vow to eliminate carbon emissions by 2032
Airports of Thailand (AOT) is gearing up to transform the aviation landscape by pledging to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and zero carbon emissions by 2032. AOT, responsible for overseeing the nation’s major hubs, has laid out an ambitious strategy to slash a whopping 50% of its annual carbon footprint, currently standing at 300,000 tons. Keerati Kitmanawat, AOT’s dynamic CEO…
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TikTok star defends marrying older man for his wealth
The viral story of a 25 year old woman’s marriage to a 55 year old man on TikTok resulted in a flurry of comments, many accusing her of marrying for money. The woman, who shares her life with her older husband on her TikTok account, tretippayanipasriwirak, responded to the comments with candidness. The woman’s life, filled with travels, gold purchases,…
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Tokyo’s Sushiya Nohachi serves world’s smallest sushi at 1500 baht
Sushiya Nohachi, a sushi restaurant in Tokyo, is redefining the boundaries of culinary art by offering the world’s smallest sushi made with a single grain of rice. The restaurant’s chef, Hironori Ikeno, was inspired to create this unique menu in 2002 when a customer inquired how small he could make it. Ikeno responded with the creation of a single-grain sushi,…
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Buriram man eager to pay off 200,000 baht truck debt, creditor mysteriously absent
A peculiar situation has unfolded in Buriram where a debtor, 37 year old Wichai, is seeking to pay the remaining 200,000 baht owed on a ten-wheeler truck he purchased in 2022, but the creditor, 51 years old Supit, is allegedly avoiding him. Wichai took his complaints to the Damrongdhama Centre in Buriram, claiming that Supit has been refusing to accept…
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Russian upper class take over Phuket properties
Phuket has become a playground for Russia’s wealthy elite, causing property prices to skyrocket by 15 to 20%. Amidst Thailand’s tourism boom and the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, affluent Russians are making Phuket their long-term home, revealed Maetapong Upatising, president of the Phuket Real Estate Association. “Phuket’s allure lies in its world-class amenities, including an international airport, schools, golf…
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Indigo soars: Dark horse carrier claims global on-time flight victory in latest Cirium report
India‘s very own IndiGo has emerged as the dark horse, claiming the fourth spot globally in on-time performance for flights, according to the latest report from travel data analytics firm Cirium. In a surprising turn of events, Avianca Airlines of Colombia secured the top spot with an impressive 85.73% on-time performance, closely followed by Brazil’s Azul Airlines and Qatar Airways.…
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New year sees considerable drop in road accidents across Thailand
The new year holiday period witnessed a significant drop in road accidents, with 212 fatalities and 1,860 injuries, according to statistics from the Department of Land Transport. The figures indicate a considerable decrease from the previous year, with the death toll and injury count originating from 1,839 traffic mishaps that occurred from December 29 to January 2. Among the provinces,…
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Fatal shootout in Thailand: Local figures clash in a community dispute
Two notorious figures in the southern Thailand community clashed in the heart of the community, resulting in a fatal shootout. The incident took place at 10.30am today when the two men, Thew Wang Sai and Thian Kamlon, were unable to settle their differences. Police swiftly apprehended the suspect. The incident occurred on a busy street in the community. The body…
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Heartbreak as woman receives one-word response to breakup text
A Chinese woman experienced a heartbreaking end to her four-year relationship, as she was forced to break up with her boyfriend due to her parents’ disapproval. The woman, Xiao Su, spent an hour composing a nearly 300-word message to end the relationship, only to receive a one-word response: Agreed. Love is regarded as one of the most beautiful emotions in life,…
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Mysterious high-rise death in Bangkok luxury condo sparks safety concerns
A 27 year old man tragically plummeted from the 52nd floor of a luxury condominium in Silom, Bangkok. Police arrived on the scene in the early hours to investigate the incident, finding the apartment in a tidy condition, with no signs of a struggle. At approximately 12.30am today, police officer Phetamorn Krongchai and inspector Ratthanon Aekthitikulapat, along with a forensic team…
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New year’s grape eating trend goes viral in Asia
The start of 2024 has seen the emergence of a hot new trend on social media, centred around the consumption of 12 grapes under a table on New Year’s Eve. This trend originated from a Spanish custom in which it is believed that eating 12 grapes in sync with the 12 strokes of midnight will bring good luck for the…
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