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 Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Bangkok woman arrested for K-pop ticket scam, accused of defrauding 7,000-8,000 baht
A 57 year old woman, known as Aunt Prayun, was arrested yesterday, for allegedly defrauding people by selling fake tickets and merchandise for popular K-pop bands. She was taken into custody from her rental home in the Phaya Thai district in Bangkok. Prayun was accused of claiming to pawn her bank account for 7,000-8,000 baht she was netting selling fraudulent…
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Gold prices see slight lift, gold ornaments trading at 32,500 baht
Gold prices surged today as the Gold Traders Association revised rates upwards. This comparison is made to the end prices of August 28, when gold ornaments were selling at 32,500 baht per baht weight. Today, the price was revised upwards by 100 baht, compared to the closing price of August 28. The price of gold ornaments moved to 32,500 baht…
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Crypto scam impersonates news anchor, swindles 20 million baht
An online scammer impersonated well-known news anchor, Arakar Jiwagit, also known as Kwang, and defrauded Thanasak, a former Bangkok Water Supply director, of nearly 20 million baht via an investment in cryptocurrency. Thanasak yesterday, accompanied by his lawyer Chidchonok Laminai, and news anchor Kwang, visited Police Colonel Chatchapund Klaikleung, Commander of Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau 1, at the Government Complex…
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Unchanged fortunes: Chinese prostitute becomes online sensation for low rates
A Chinese prostitute became an online sensation after it was revealed she maintained the same low rate for the past eight years following her arrest. The woman, from Jiangsu province in China, was arrested by the police recently. The Chinese prostitute set social media on fire after the unusual story came to light on the mainland. Upon learning her reasons,…
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Smooth ride: Phuket Airport opens doors to all ride-hailing taxi services for travellers
Phuket International Airport will begin welcoming taxis from all ride–hailing applications as of Friday, September 1, according to the Phuket Info Center managed by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior. The policy revision has been confirmed by Kirati Kitmanawat, President of Airports of Thailand (AoT). However, the new allowance comes with specific regulations and designated zones, the details…
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Rain reign: TMD’s fifth warning signals monsoon mayhem
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its fifth warning due to a strong monsoon bringing heavy rain across various regions. Flash floods and forest runoffs are anticipated, especially in mountainous and low-lying areas. People are urged to be cautious, particularly in thunderstorm-prone zones. The warning comes as a robust monsoon trough is currently passing through northern, northeastern, and upper central…
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Siam Cement delays SCGC IPO citing adverse economic climate
The initial public offering (IPO) of Siam Cement Group‘s subsidiary, SCG Chemicals Plc (SCGC), has been delayed. Citing the company’s large size and the current adverse economic and investment climate, the parent company, Siam Cement Group (SCG), did not provide a new timeline for the IPO. This announcement was made by Roongrote Rangsiyopash, the President and Chief Executive of SCG.…
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Sand and smiles: Nearly 18 million tourists make waves in Thailand this year
With the close of this year on the horizon, Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry reported that almost 18 million overseas tourists have laid a beach towel in the Land of Smiles. Thailand, which heavily leans on tourism as a significant economic pillar, is setting its sights on welcoming around 28 million visitors by the end of the year. The statistics…
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Dine, dash, and deceive: Crafty customer feasts and flees without paying the bill at Pattaya eatery
A deceitful customer dined and dashed from a local Pattaya restaurant without paying after ordering an abundance of food and three bottles of beer. The man left behind a mobile phone and cigarette, claiming he needed to pick up a friend. It was later revealed that the phone was a decoy, and the same individual had previously impersonated an assistant…
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Postal truck crash injures seven and causes traffic chaos
A postal truck en route to deliver parcels crashed into five vehicles in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region province of Pathum Thani, injuring seven. The incident occurred today at 7am. Officer Jesada Sornmuang, an investigator at Khu Khot Police Station, was notified of the multi-vehicle collision on Phaholyothin Road near the Si-Rangsit underpass in Kukot subdistrict, Lam Luk Ka district. The…
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Phuket’s international convention centre supported by new PM
Phuket’s stalled international convention centre project might see new life with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin‘s promise to revisit it for local economic stimulation. During a recent visit to Phuket and Phangnga, PM Srettha engaged local tourism representatives, acknowledging their suggestions. Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, President of the Phuket Tourist Association, is confident the prime minister and Pheu Thai Tourism committee will seriously…
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Shaken, not stirred: Thai elephant Play Pepsi survives brutal training with no serious injuries
A Thai elephant named Play Pepsi, which was recently subjected to brutal training methods is not seriously injured said examining veterinarians. The owner, who paid 1.5 million baht for the elephant, is willing to sell it to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for a fair price. The case came to light when the Watchdog Thailand Foundation…
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Human trafficking: Thai “masseuses” escaped from Maldives
A woman was arrested at Don Mueang airport on charges of human trafficking and exploiting two Thai women by promising them high-paying massage jobs in the Maldives. The women, however, were forced into prostitution upon arrival. The arrest took place yesterday, followed by a complaint by the victims who managed to escape and seek help from the Thai embassy in…
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Thai NHSO considers expanding 30-baht healthcare to include cancer treatments
The Thai National Health Security Office (NHSO) is contemplating an expansion of its benefits under the 30-baht healthcare universal package, known as the “gold card” scheme. The addition could include cancer treatment and free screenings for non-cardholders. Jadet Thammathat-Aree, secretary-general of the NHSO, made the announcement recently for the proposed expansion to include cancer treatment and screening. In the pursuit…
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Pattaya’s perfect crime: Fake cops fleece shop owners in cunning scam
The bustling city of Pattaya recently fell prey to a scam that saw numerous shop owners tricked into parting with large sums of money by a group of fraudsters, cunningly disguised as fake cops. The fake police officers coerced their unsuspecting victims in Pattaya into paying substantial amounts to avoid what was falsely presented as an impending arrest. The scammers…
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Brutal murder: Jealous rage suspected as motive behind sword attack
A horrifying incident unfolded in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region as a man armed with a sword invaded a home and committed a brutal murder. Law enforcement is now actively reviewing CCTV footage and questioning witnesses to piece together the shocking sequence of events. The incident took place around 5pm on August 28, in a single-storey house near HCK Trading and…
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Thailand’s Q2 economic recovery slows, full-year 2023 growth forecast revised
Thailand’s second quarter of 2023 saw a slowdown in economic recovery, with GDP growth falling from 2.6% year-on-year in the first quarter to 1.8%, as reported by the National Economic and Social Development Council on August 21. The figures fell significantly short of consensus estimates of 3.1% and growth projections of 2.9%. The economy’s quarter-on-quarter growth was a mere 0.2%,…
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Love turns lethal: Intoxicated man’s jealous rage ends in tragic murder of girlfriend
A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of this morning when a Thai man, intoxicated and under the influence of drugs, murdered his girlfriend in a fit of jealous rage. The fatal event transpired at approximately 3.45am today, in a residential house located in the Bang Kho Laem district of Bangkok. The victim, a 24 year old woman named Minthira…
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Thailand’s household debt soars as auto loans and cooperative debts spike
The secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) issued a warning over the steady increase in Thailand‘s household debt. The critical areas requiring stringent monitoring were identified as auto loans and debt originating from savings cooperatives. During a press conference outlining the nation’s social outlook for the second quarter of 2023, Danucha Pichayanan revealed that household debt…
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What a bummer: Chinese couple’s fertility woes due to unconventional lovemaking, doctor reveals
A Chinese couple who had been married for four years were puzzled as to why they were unable to conceive until a doctor told them they were having sex the wrong way. The couple, from Bijie City in the southwestern province of Guizhou, are both in their early twenties and reportedly in good health. The revelation by a doctor that…
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Thailand’s transit twist: Electric plans spark train fare cap talks in Bangkok
The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) in Thailand is currently considering plans to deliver on the Pheu Thai-led coalition’s promise of introducing a cap on Bangkok’s electric train fares at 20 baht per trip. This was announced by a department source on Monday, who also revealed that the findings from this investigation will be presented to the new administration once…
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Thunderstorm warning for 45 Thai provinces, including 60% of Bangkok: Heavy rain expected
The Thai Meteorological Department today issued a thunderstorm warning for 45 provinces, including 60% of Bangkok. The weather system is sweeping across the northern and northeastern regions, heading towards a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, while a moderately strong southwestern monsoon is blowing across the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand. This is causing thunderstorms and…
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Banking on change: Kasikornbank unveils shakeup with fresh faces and spin-off plans
Kasikornbank (KBank), Thailand’s second-largest lender by total assets, revealed a significant restructuring of its business operations. This includes the introduction of a new president, co-president, and a spin-off strategy. KBank notified the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) yesterday about the appointment of Chongrak Rattanapian to the position of president and executive director, effective from August 29. Chongrak, with over 20…
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Tragic injection: Medical mishap leaves young Trang boy’s life hanging by a thread
A severe incident of medical negligence occurred in Trang Province, where a four year old boy’s condition worsened and then he nearly died after allegedly receiving a wrongful adrenaline injection by a nurse. The Trang Province Public Health Office has initiated an investigation into the case, as stated by Chief Physician Sinchai Rongdech. The incident saw the light of the…
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Valorant Champions crowd demanding Elon Musk “bring Twitter’s back”
Elon Musk faced an unexpected wave of public demand to “bring Twitter back” during his recent appearance at the Valorant Champions competition today. The multibillionaire tech tycoon was greeted with shouts and chants from the crowd, turning the event for the popular first-person shooter video game into a global social media phenomenon. Jake Lucky, a well-known eSports commentator in the…
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Junkie escapes arrest after filming neighbour take a shower, also confesses to selling porn videos of wife
A junkie with a porn habit managed to escape arrest after secretly filming a neighbour in her bathroom. It was later discovered that the sex and drug addict secretly sold pornographic videos of his wife on social media for only 20 baht per video. A 52 year old woman named Sumalee filed a complaint at Kabin Buri Police Station in…
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Phuket Marine Office warns boats of upcoming harsh sea weather
Phuket’s Marine Office issued a stern warning to all boat operators due to the approaching turbulent weather, especially at sea. This advisory comes as the Thai Meteorological Department predicts strong wind, large waves and heavy rainfall in the upper Andaman Sea from tomorrow through Saturday. The forecast, delivered by Nachapong Pranit, Director of Marine Office 5 Phuket Branch, suggests that…
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Mysterious Mother Wrapped in Fig statue draws lottery hopefuls to Kamphaeng Phet
A century-old fig tree has become a sensation as villagers discovered a female statue, referred to as Mother Wrapped in Fig, entwined in its roots in Wat Charoen Suk, Klong Lan District, Kamphaeng Phet. The statue, which appears to be dressed in silk-like clothing and adorned with a crown, attracted over 60 villagers, who arrive daily to pay respects and…
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Highway havoc: Mercedes-Benz driver’s taxi riders gun threat and drug use lead to charges
Police charged a Thai Mercedes-Benz driver after he threatened motorcycle taxi riders in the Thong Lor area of Bangkok with a gun and used crystal methamphetamine. His five friends were charged with using the drug. The Thai man charged, 44 year old Chawin Chanintarawanich, crashed his Mercedes-Benz into a motorcycle taxi rider, 39 year old Kwanchai Tadee at 8.40am on Friday,…
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Revenue target for Thai government exceeds by 150 billion baht
Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) Director-General Pornchai Thiraveja has announced that the Thai government is rolling in cash. The director-general declared that the government’s revenue surpassed expectations, surpassing its target by 150 billion baht in the opening ten months of fiscal 2023. This continues a positive trend reported in May when revenue targets were surpassed by 112 billion baht. As per…
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