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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Patong police clamp down on tuk tuk misuse of public parking spaces
In a stringent move, Patong Police issued a stringent directive for all tuk tuk drivers to cease occupancy of public parking spaces, with a particular focus on the area alongside Patong Beach Road. The authorities swung into this action following an incident involving a tuk tuk driver who unlawfully utilised a public parking spot on the Beach Road, also known…
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Alcohol tax overhaul by Excise Dept planned to close loopholes
The head of the Excise Department announced plans to overhaul the excise tax structure on alcohol and beer, aiming to eliminate existing tax loopholes. Ekniti Nitithanprapas said a formal conversation is ongoing with the private sector to secure an equitable and suitable tax framework. Furthermore, many new beverage entries on the market are technically slipping through the cracks of taxation,…
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Phuket downpours wreak havoc, TMD issues repeat weather advisory
Rolling thunder and consecutive downpours continued to wreak havoc in Phuket as the Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasted heavy rain and strong wind waves in the Andaman Sea through until at least tomorrow. The Phuket downpours announcement came this morning, marking the fifth consecutive wet weather advisory. This series of soaking weather is blamed on the “quite strong” southwest monsoon…
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Bride demands refund after wedding photographer allegedly sleeps with new husband
A recent chain of events has led to a newlywed furiously demanding a refund from two contracted wedding photographers after she discovered surprising images implicating that one photographer slept with her husband shortly after their marriage ceremony. The tale unravelled when a wedding photographer sought advice on Reddit from fellow users on how to handle an unexpected situation. The photographer,…
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Travel industry girds for weak low season amid cost and weather challenges
The travel industry is bracing itself for an exceptionally weak low season, with predictions of stagnant demand, escalating operational costs at popular destinations, and the impacts of tropical storms. The president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, Charoen Wangananont highlighted that the season’s sale rate for outbound packages significantly lags behind the comparison period recorded before the pandemic. He cited hesitancy…
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Child creativity: Thai kid’s mosquito coil art mesmerizes netizens
An unusual creative spark in a child, using mosquito coils as a plaything, found its way onto social media, showcasing the child’s impressive potpourri of art creations. Netizens were stumped by the child’s ingenuity while advising parents to encourage such creativity rather than stifling it. Social media yesterday was abuzz with several photos posted on a Facebook group. The caption…
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Fake abduction ransom scams target Thailand university students
University students in Thailand have been coerced into participating in an intricate scam operation, revolving around filming fake abduction videos. The intention was for these videos to be sent to the student’s parents as a means to extort ransom money. The case emerged when a student from the Lat Krabang district was entrapped in the same scheme, resulting in a…
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Wat Don Thong attracts over a thousand people for luck-enhancing rituals
The bustling Wat Don Thong in Chon Buri Province saw over a thousand people join a queue to receive a holy water bath and face-touching ritual yesterday from Ajarn Chalermrit Kunesko, also known as Ajarn Ae. This surge in attendees follows a social media trend of sharing a TikTok video of a lucky individual who won the first prize shortly…
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Waterspout disaster: One dead, one missing as Thai tour boat sinks in Bang Ta Boon Bay
In a tragic waterspout disaster off Ban Laem district, one holidaymaker perished, while another remains unaccounted for following the fateful sinking of a tour boat amid Bang Ta Boon Bay. The calamity took place on Saturday afternoon when a waterspout, an atmospheric oddity resembling a miniature tornado, assailed their vessel. The rather unusual maritime waterspout disaster, highlighted due to its…
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Pattaya sets 1.9 billion baht budget aiming to revitalise tourism and local economy
Emphasising tourism and local economy stimulation, the city of Pattaya has delineated its budget allocation for the upcoming fiscal year. Paramet Ngampichet, the Mayor of Pattaya City, announced the conclusion with the budget set to be effective from October 1. In a recent meeting participated in by municipality executives, councillors, and local government entities, a resources allotment of 1.9 billion…
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Pink Line monorail set for trials, free rides for two months
A significant advancement in Thailand’s transportation network is poised to launch its trial operations tomorrow, adding to the city’s mass transit system. The Pink Line, under the control of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), is expected to begin trial runs following the completion of the systems test by the Northern Bangkok Monorail (NBM), the entity bestowed with…
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Russian woman falls to death from seventh floor in Thai condominium
A shocking incident unfolded in Sattahip district, Chon Buri, yesterday, when a 32 year old Russian woman reportedly plunged to her death from a seventh floor condominium, as informed by the local law enforcement agencies. The distressing discovery was made at around 7am at a condo situated on Soi Na Jomtien 4 Road in the Na Jomtien subdistrict. The lifeless…
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Bus driver in Ayutthaya’s shocking death prompts investigation
An unfortunate event occurred at a factory bus car park in Ayutthaya, Thailand when a 57 year old bus driver was found dead in his vehicle on the eve of Mother’s Day. It was an unusual death scene as he was found seated at the back of the bus. Local authorities are currently investigating this case for more concrete details.…
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Buriram United mishap sparks football field safety concerns
Some things just shouldn’t happen to you on a football pitch in the middle of a match. But in Thailand, footballer Theerathon Bunmathan of Buriram United shared how he fell into a pit whilst contending against Khon Kaen United, nearly breaking his left leg. The shocking incident happened yesterday at Khon Kaen’s administrative stadium and has since caused a stir…
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Devastating Rayong motorbike accident takes young boy’s life
A 12 year old boy’s life was cut short when his motorbike collided with a pickup truck in a violent road accident. The heart-wrenching scene transpired in the Rayong province at around 1.10am this morning, shocking the serene local township of Ban Chang. Upon arrival, police officials observed a horrific sight on Ban Chang-Phala Road. The lifeless body of the boy…
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Nightclub shooting: Man accidentally fires gun into his own leg
Most nightclub shootings involve some sort of fight or commotion with a melee of people, but not always. A sudden gunshot incident in a popular nightclub in Hat Yai left a man nursing a self-inflicted leg injury, causing considerable alarm among the hundreds of patrons. The nightclub had to cease operations today for immediate investigation. Hat Yai Police were notified…
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Wanted suspect in massive robbery captured after daylong pursuit
In Chachoengsao Province, police captured a wanted suspect after a daylong hunt. The man was wanted for his alleged involvement in a massive robbery, making off with over half a million baht. Upon his arrest, the man immediately collapsed and became incoherent, leading police to transfer him to lockup and proceed with the process of drug testing. Assistant Police Major…
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Mother’s Day cake inscription misunderstanding goes viral
Life in Thailand can be full of lost in translation moments but on Mother’s Day – celebrated in Thailand yesterday – a translation was lost between a cake order and the inscription on the cake. A Thai woman’s attempt to surprise her mother with a cake went awry when the bakery, instead of just scribing the single line, “Love you,…
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Sex worker impersonates woman to get customers in Guangdong
A standard arrest of a sex worker by law enforcement in Yangjiang, Guangdong province, in China came with a shocking twist. On closer inspection of the person they arrested on the streets close to Jong San Park, they discovered that the woman detained was in reality a man impersonating a female. The 39 year old perpetrator named Lam had a…
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Motorbike crash: Tragic accident claims man’s life in Pathum Thani
Alcohol seems to be the cause of a tragic motorbike crash that occurred earlier today. A 26 years old man lost his life while his female companion faced injuries during a big bike accident. Their vehicle collided with a bridge over Khlong Thep Kunchon, Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani province when the driver reportedly lost control of the bike. At…
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Chinese man found in pond bound, beaten, and murdered
The lifeless body of a Chinese man has been discovered in a pond in Rayong, sending shockwaves through the community. The unsettling murder presented a grim scene, with the victim, identified as 26 year old Chinese national Tang Zongfei, exhibiting visible head injuries and being covered by a black cloth. Furthermore, the Chinese man’s limbs were ensnared by wires, heightening…
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Missing Thai man sought after Phetchaburi boat accident sparks online appeal
A man has appealed for information on social media about his missing 25 year old brother following a boat accident in the central province of Phetchaburi. He lost contact with his brother’s partner, who was accompanying him on the trip. The incident happened on August 12, and the search is ongoing. In a frantic Facebook post dated August 12, a…
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Two tourists missing as waterspout capsizes boat in Phetchaburi province
In an unfortunate incident in Phetchaburi province, two tourists have gone missing when their tourist boat was capsized by a waterspout while sailing across Bang Ta Boon Bay near the Ban Laem district. The dreadful event occurred on a Saturday afternoon, around 5pm and was reported to the police on emergency number 191. The boat, carrying seven tourists, was in…
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Wild elephant captured after 22 days of disruption
Perhaps only in Thailand can an elephant be avoiding a court order for disturbing the peace. After 22 days on the lam, a wild elephant has been successfully captured in the Nop Phi Tham district of the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The “elephant arrest” was made to comply with a court order issued to relocate it due to…
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Pheu Thai Party solidifies coalition agreement with PPRP and UTN
In a significant political development, the Pheu Thai Party has successfully solidified a coalition agreement with the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party. According to a reliable source, this pact involves a reciprocal arrangement where both the PPRP and UTN have committed to supporting Srettha Thavisin, a prominent figure within Pheu Thai, and the anticipated…
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Chinese woman’s ex-boyfriend engaged to her mother
In an occurrence that rivals even soap opera plot twists, a woman returned home after three years of studying abroad only to find her former boyfriend set to become her stepfather. In her absence, the ex-boyfriend had started dating her mother and then proposed in front of her. The incident was reported by CTWANT, featuring a young woman from China. She…
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Missing boy’s body found in Kraw River after motorbike collision
A tragic end has come to the story of a 14 year old boy who has been missing since a motorcycle accident on a bridge flung him into the river below. After searches were hampered by strong currents and the darkness of night, at around 11.30am, the boy was found. After a relentless search by divers and locals, Yodsapon’s body…
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National Mother’s Day weekend anticipates 2.6 million trips boosting Thai tourism revenue
Anticipation is building up in the kingdom of Thailand as the upcoming long weekend for National Mother’s Day approaches, strategically set from August 12 through August 14. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the weekend is estimated to see a surge of 2.6 million local travels yielding total revenue of approximately 8.76 billion baht (US$249 million). This flurry…
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Bangkok crackdown nabs nine foreigners at drug party
A group of nine foreign expats were remanded into custody on Friday when a police crackdown stormed a posh residence in the Saphan Sung district of Bangkok, where they discovered an ongoing drug-fuelled party. The crackdown was carried out under the leadership of the commanding officer of Bang Chan, Pol Col Siwat Sriwichai. The officer in charge and his brigade…
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Online romance scam netted 36 million baht, 1 arrest
Law enforcement officials arrested an accomplice in a large-scale online romance scam that swindled more than 36 million baht from victims. A 26 year old man from Uthai Thani province had opened a bank account for someone else, allegedly unaware it would be used in fraudulent activities. In an operation led by Pol Lt Gen Warawut Watnakornbuncha, Investigation Bureau Chief,…
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