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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Pheu Thai Party’s digital handout scheme could boost Thailand’s GDP by 3%
The Pheu Thai Party‘s proposed digital handout scheme, requiring around 500 billion baht, could potentially boost Thailand’s GDP growth by 3% in the next year, according to the Bank of Thailand. Sakkapop Panyanukul, the central bank‘s director of the economic and policy department, mentioned the digital handout contribution depends on the economic multiplier. The 3% GDP projection uses a cash…
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Power play: FTI cheers new government’s energy cost pledge
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) expressed its satisfaction with the newly elected government’s commitment to lowering energy costs and retail diesel prices. Newly inaugurated Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has prioritised energy price reductions as an early objective of his administration. An immediate cut in energy prices has been promised by the 61 year old Srettha and his Cabinet upon…
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Passport pretender: Chinese woman’s Phuket Airport arrest sparks legal turbulence
A Chinese woman was arrested last night for passport fraud at Phuket International Airport. The woman, identified as a 44 year old Chinese national, Jian Qi, attempted to bypass immigration control using a passport that did not belong to her, a crime that could lead to a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 baht…
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A woman looking for calm on meditation retreat finds chaos after abbot sexually harassed her
A 20 year old Thai woman announced yesterday that an abbot sexually harassed her at a temple in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat while on a meditation retreat. The abbot denied the allegations and accused the woman of blackmailing him for money. The woman recounted the incident with Channel 7 yesterday. She asserted that the abbot subjected her…
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Rice and shine: Thailand sets sights on 8 million tonnes export mark
The director-general of the Department of Foreign Trade, Ronnarong Phoolpipat, announced that Thailand’s rice exports are expected to achieve the target of 8 million tonnes this year. This forecast comes after the recorded shipments through to August 29 reached 5.29 million tonnes, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 11.9%. This upswing in rice exports aligns with the rising concerns over drought…
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Clickbait caper: 26 year old nabbed by cyber cops for online fraud
A 26 year old man was apprehended by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau and Sector 5 Royal Thai Police officials today, under allegations of cyber fraud. The man had reportedly set up a Line Group under the name Ek Pattani, a renowned Muay Thai expert, and successfully duped numerous victims into transferring money to him. The operation was led by…
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Woman with Alzheimer’s lives with husband’s dead body for 4 days
A 76 year old woman with Alzheimer’s was found in the company of her 86 year old husband who had been lying dead for four days at their house in the northeastern province of Bueng Kan. The old woman was unaware he was dead. It wasn’t until a friend took food to the couple’s house yesterday that they discovered the…
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Perverted Chiang Mai teacher arrested for producing highly explicit pornographic content featuring students
A perverted high school physical education teacher in the northern province of Chiang Mai stands accused of producing highly explicit pornographic content featuring his male students. The perverted teacher, known only as Yos, was detained today in the vicinity of a school located in the tambon Tha Sala of Muang district. Upon arrest, the police confiscated a hard drive that…
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Pardon the uproar: Thaksin’s plea adds a royal twist to political drama
A royal pardon application for Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister of Thailand, has been received, as confirmed by the outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam. Acting as the justice minister, Wissanu announced a press event at the Government House, though he refrained from disclosing whether the appeal was penned by Thaksin or his relatives. He clarified that the request was…
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Digging for justice: Mother’s anger grows after 8 year old son buried alive by uncle
A furious Thai mother sought justice for her eight year old son after the boy was buried alive by his uncle. The mother is incandescent with rage at the Royal Thai Police’s procrastination in issuing charges against the suspect despite the overwhelming evidence presented to them. The mother, Tanyong, revealed her fury on Facebook. “The incident occurred on August 26,…
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Bangkok encourages disabled citizens to join ‘Bangkok For All’ initiative
Disabled people in Bangkok are being urged to sign up for the Bangkok For All initiative via the Line app, an effort by City Hall to streamline access to social benefits. The push was highlighted by Phanumas Sukamporn, an advisor to the Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, at the Disabled Social Wellness Expo held at the Youth Centre. Bangkok For All…
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Smooth takeoff: Phuket Airport partners with Grab for app-solute taxi convenience
Phuket International Airport is leaping into the digital age, enabling passengers to hail Grab taxis directly via their mobile apps from today. This initiative is aimed at providing passengers with more transportation options. The airport’s director, Monchai Tanode, shared that four ride-hailing app developers, including Grab, Asia Cab, Hello Phuket, and Air Asia, applied for the license to operate at…
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High hopes: Public Health Minister plants seeds for ongoing medical cannabis policy success
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul strongly advocates for the continuation of the current medical cannabis policy under the incoming health ministership. He asserts that, if used correctly, cannabis provides immense benefits to users. This discussion took place at the Public Health Ministry, where he expressed confidence that the new government would not terminate the ‘cannabis for medical treatments’ policy. He…
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Thai government grins and bears it: New dental health department to tackle nation’s oral health
The Thai government is set to establish a dedicated dental health department, a move aimed at promoting oral healthcare across the nation, the Public Health Ministry announced. Permanent Secretary for Public Health, Opas Karnkawinpong, revealed to the press that the government had acknowledged the Senate Public Health Committee’s proposal to form the new department, though the plan is yet to…
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ATTA doubts efficacy of free visa plan for Chinese tourists
The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has expressed scepticism about a government proposal to offer free visas to Chinese tourists as a means of stimulating demand. ATTA cites economic difficulties and a weak currency as challenges that could render this initiative ineffectual, particularly in the face of flight and staff shortages. The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations and the…
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Phaya Bueng burrows revive lottery number tradition in Phetchabun
Villagers from Wang Sai Thong, in the Wang Pong district of Phetchabun, stumbled upon two burrows of a creature known as Phaya Bueng yesterday, while tending to their sweet tamarind orchard. The creature is widely believed to be a harbinger of luck, particularly if its burrow faces east. The discovery has sparked a flurry of traditional ceremonies requesting lucky lottery numbers…
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Bangkok man’s high-speed chase ends in arrest
A disturbing incident occurred in the heart of Bangkok yesterday when a man, claiming he was being pursued for murder, fled from the police with his wife and nine month old child. The man, 27 year old Krishna, led authorities on a high-speed chase before he was cornered at an intersection at 3.30pm. Bang Sue Police were alerted to a…
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Courier dispute in Bangkok company leads to stabbing, suspect on the run
A violent altercation between two couriers from a particular company resulted in one man being stabbed and the other fleeing the scene. The conflict arose from an ongoing dispute over job distribution. The courier dispute incident occurred today. Police Captain Pansa Amarapitak, head of Thonglor Police Station, along with the police lieutenant and the deputy head, are overseeing the investigation.…
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Chinese school call parents over suspected age-gap romance, turns out man is student’s father
A handsome young man waiting outside a school to pick up a female student sparked worries of an age-gap romance, leading the school to summon the girl’s parents. The twist came when the parents arrived. The handsome young man, aged over 40, was, in fact, the girl’s father. According to Phunuphapluat, the story unfolded in China when the man stood…
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Snout of control: Pig farm stink leaves Surin village in a smelly health predicament
Residents of Nong Kok village in Surin province have expressed their complaints regarding a nearby pig farm that has been emitting extremely unpleasant smells for over two decades. The foul-smelling situation has resulted in recurrent visits to the hospital due to health problems. Despite making numerous appeals to the appropriate authorities, no measures have been implemented, giving rise to suspicions…
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Nakhon Ratchasima school bus crash injures 16 students in rush hour chaos
A school bus carrying 40 students lost control, flipped and crashed into a traffic light pole in Kaeng Sanam Nang district, Nakhon Ratchasima, resulting in 16 students aged between 10 and 17 sustaining injuries. The incident unfolded on Niwetrat Road, as confirmed by Police Lieutenant Colonel Paphon Chaisaksri, investigation chief at Kaeng Sanam Nang Police Station, who was notified about the…
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Durian drama: Police officer pays price for nose-y altercation with vendor
A police officer agreed to pay 140,000 baht in compensation to a female durian vendor after the two engaged in a physical altercation where the cop broke the vendor’s plastic nose. The dispute was ignited by an outstanding debt of 350 baht for the durian. The durian vendor, 27 year old Tittaya Boonpamee, shared footage of the altercation from a…
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Deviant sexually assaults ladyboy, forces her to perform oral sex in Songkhla
A deviant sexually assaulted a ladyboy in her room, threatening her in front of her boyfriend before raising a knife and forcing her to perform oral sex. The incident, which occurred at 4.40am today, was reported to Anuwat Ritthichai, Deputy Chief of Hat Yai Police Station. The crime took place in a lodging house in Hat Yai municipality, Songkhla province.…
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Thai embassy issues caution to residents in US over Hurricane Idalia’s threat
The Thai Embassy in Washington DC, USA, issued a warning about the dangerous Hurricane Idalia that battered the state of Florida with high wind speeds of up to 205 kilometres per hour. Today, the embassy advised Thai residents to stay updated with news, check weather conditions and exercise caution. The National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service forecasted that Category…
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Global investors navigate high interest rates amid inflation control efforts
Amid recession concerns, inflation, and high interest rates, investors seek promising investment avenues. Stock enthusiasts believe global interest rates are close to peaking, while central banks watch inflation. The US Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate to 5.25-5.50% in July, the highest in decades. The European Central Bank increased rates by 0.25%, and the Bank of Japan hints at a…
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Strings of fate: Priceless 200 year old violin finds way back to maestro in Bangkok
A 200 year old violin valued at 18 million baht (US$ 514,580) has been returned to its esteemed owner, a celebrated Chinese violinist after he accidentally left it behind in a Bangkok taxi. A coordinated effort from Thong Lor police and JS100 traffic radio was indispensable in locating the taxi driver who had ferried the Chinese passenger from a restaurant…
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Moving ahead: MFP urges new PM to keep charter referendum promise
The Move Forward Party (MFP) called on Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to address a charter to hold a referendum in his initial Cabinet meeting, as previously promised. This follows the House of Representatives rejecting MFP’s push to expedite a full constitution rewrite, currently the 33rd item on the House’s agenda. Highlighting the urgency, list-MP Parit Wacharasindhu acknowledged the House’s decision…
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The Thaiger introduces revamped mobile app with exciting new features
Did you know that The Thaiger just launched a newly upgraded mobile application? Neatly packaged in a user-friendly format, this new app is easy to navigate for both the tech-savvy and the not-so. Now, you can get the latest updates about Thailand with even more ease through your Android or Apple devices. A wide range of news coverage and fresh…
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Grain gain: Thailand’s rice exports sprout an impressive 12% surge
The Commerce Ministry reported a significant increase in Thailand’s rice exports. Data reveals an 11.91% rise in exports from January to August 29, compared to the same duration last year. During this period, Thailand managed to export a hefty 5.29 million metric tonnes of rice. Despite the impressive rice export figures, the agricultural sector in Southeast Asia has been grappling…
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Beach warning: Venomous blue dragon sea slug spotted in Phuket
A marine scientist issued a warning to bathers to be aware of a venomous blue dragon sea slug that washed up on Karon Beach in Phuket this week due to the recent strong winds and sea weave. The Monsoongabage Thailand Facebook page shared pictures and videos of the blue dragon sea slug today and urged a marine scientist and lecturer…
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