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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Thai abbot loses amulets worth over 50 million baht to scammers
A Thai abbot at Pak Khlong Temple in the western province of Phetchaburi lost valuable amulets worth 50 million baht to two scammers. The 84 year old abbot, Sophiwacharachote, filed a theft report at Ban Laem Police Station on February 19 after two Thai men stole 15 Buddhist amulets, 2,500 baht in cash, and important documents from him. The stolen…
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Elderly driver’s lane switch on Bangna-Trad Road triggers multi-car crash
A three-vehicle collision on Bangna-Trad Road in Samut Prakan province injured three people, including two students, when a car driven by a 73 year old woman veered across lanes, causing a chain reaction crash. The serious traffic incident occurred today, February 22, on Bangna-Trad Road, Samut Prakan province, when a sedan driven by a 73 year old woman cut in…
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Cargo ship ploughs into bridge in Guangzhou, China (video)
Chaos erupted as a colossal cargo ship collided with a vital bridge spanning the Pearl River in Guangzhou, China. The city, located in the southern region, was rattled this morning when the vessel smashed into the Lixinsha bridge, propelling vehicles into the murky depths below. Authorities swiftly descended upon the scene, scrambling to manage traffic pandemonium while launching a full-scale…
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Move Forward Party set to announce PPAO presidential candidate
Pita Limjaroenrat, a key figure in Thai politics, is poised to make an important announcement in Phuket this weekend. The Move Forward Party (MFP), under his leadership on Saturday, February 24, will be introducing its presidential candidate for the upcoming Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) election. Pita’s arrival in Phuket was confirmed via a Facebook post by Chalermpong Saengdee, a…
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Khon Kaen police bust major motorcycle theft ring
Law enforcement in Khon Kaen province, Thailand, successfully dismantled a motorcycle theft ring operated by a husband and wife team. The pair, along with their accomplices, have been stealing motorcycles and smuggling them across the Mekong River for sale in neighbouring countries, causing severe distress to locals who have lost more than 30 vehicles. Police Major General Montree Teskan, the…
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Unexpected jellyfish invasion hits Patong Beach in Phuket
The sandy stretches of Patong Beach in Phuket have recently become the unlikely landing spot for a multitude of jellyfish. Since yesterday, February 21, these jellyfish have been making waves amongst beachgoers, washing up on the shore in an unexpected turn of events. The lifeguards stationed at Patong Beach quickly took note of this unusual occurrence. They promptly issued a…
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Japanese mafia scandal: Allegations of nuclear weapon trafficking
Japanese mafia Takeshi Ebisawa stands accused of attempting to peddle uranium and plutonium under the belief that they would find their way to Iran’s clandestine nuclear arsenal. Ebisawa, alongside a Thai accomplice, previously tangled with the law over charges related to arms and narcotics in April 2022. Now, facing the prospect of life behind bars if found guilty of the…
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Phuket police sting operation leads to major drug bust
A recent police sting operation in Phuket, Thailand, resulted in the arrest of a 26 year old woman, originally from Ao Luek in Krabi. The woman, Wichuda “Su” Aollueknoi, was apprehended in her rented room on Soi Patchanee-Bangchee Liao in Ratsada on Tuesday, with law enforcement officers seizing a haul of 700 methamphetamine pills, commonly known as Yabah. The raid…
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Landlord turns himself in after shooting gas store clerk in Songkhla
A 22 year old landlord surrendered to the police after a shocking incident where he allegedly shot an employee of a gas store with a shotgun, critically injuring the victim. The gunman’s attack occurred at the gas store on Thung Ree Road, in the municipal area of Khor Hong district, Songkhla province. In a strategic move to evade officers of…
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Phuket Tourist Police arrest illegal foreign tour guides
A crackdown on illegal tour guides in Phuket led to the arrest of two foreign nationals. Police charged a 35 year old Ukrainian and a 31 year old stateless individual of highland origin, both accused of operating without proper permits. Phuket Tourist Police, under directives from the National Police Office, has intensified efforts to purge the province of unauthorised tour…
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Thai net idol accuses ex-boyfriend of releasing her explicit videos
A Thai net idol accused her ex-boyfriend of posting explicit videos of her on a social media account with more than two million followers. She contacted the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after officers from two police stations ignored her complaint. Saimai Survive team members accompanied the victim, a 30 year old Internet idol and former car racer, to the Cyber…
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Chiang Mai songthaew goes cool with air-con and PM2.5 filters
In a novel move to revolutionise local transport, a Chiang Mai songthaew driver has transformed the iconic red car into an air-conditioned oasis complete with a PM2.5 filter system. This innovative service has become a hit among both Thai and international tourists, leading to a significant booking queue. The traditional songthaew, a ubiquitous sight in Chiang Mai, has long been…
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Northern Thailand battles severe air pollution as Bangkok breathes clear
Seventeen provinces in Thailand’s northern and northeastern regions are grappling with hazardous levels of air pollution, as reported by the country’s Air Pollution Crisis Management Centre (ACMC). In stark contrast, Bangkok enjoys clear skies, free from the dangerous PM2.5 particles, offering residents the chance to breathe easily. Over the next seven days, from February 23 to February 29, the situation…
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Thai drug addict crashes pickup, killing 2 students, injuring 13
A Thai man addicted to drugs crashed his pickup into a roadside pavilion in the Sadao district in the southern province of Songkhla yesterday, resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to 13 other pupils. Officers from Sadao Police Station were alerted to the fatal car accident at about 11am yesterday, February 21. The accident took place when…
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Thai aviation set for turbulence as CAAT navigates high air fares
Transport Minister Suriya Juangruangreangkit disclosed on Wednesday that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is in active discussions with all six domestic airlines in Thailand. The aim is to increase flight frequency during holiday periods and lower the flight price ceiling, in response to the issue of excessively high fares. The CAAT convened a meeting on Tuesday with the…
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Dublin’s AerCap lends 17 aircraft to Thai Airways
Thai Airways International (THAI) and AerCap have signed agreements to lease 17 aircraft to THAI. These aircraft include four Airbus A350-900, three Boeing 787-9, and 10 Airbus A321neo airliners. THAI acquired these in 2023 as part of its short-term fleet development. Two of the four A350 aircraft have been transferred over and the other two will be sent to THAI…
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Thai police officers face bankruptcy with debt over 300 billion baht
Police General Torsak Sukvimol has indicated that a multitude of law enforcement officers across Thailand are facing impending bankruptcy due to an accumulated debt totalling around 300 billion baht. This revelation came about during his interaction with the House committee tasked with reviewing the 2024 annual budget expenditure bill. Pol. Gen. Torsak was summoned to respond to inquiries concerning the…
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Student in critical condition after shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima
A tragic incident occurred yesterday when a student from Nakhon Ratchasima Vocational College accidentally discharged a firearm, inflicting a severe head wound on a fellow student. The incident did not take place on school grounds but rather in a dormitory situated along Suranarai Road in the Mueang District of Nakhon Ratchasima province, close to the college. At approximately 2.30pm, yesterday,…
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Teen mum caught on CCTV locking toddler in dog cage
A 17 year old mother was caught on CCTV footage physically assaulting her two year old daughter, confining her in a dog cage within a residence in Plutaluang Subdistrict, Sattahip on Monday, February 19. The distressing footage sent shockwaves across social media platforms, triggering swift action from local authorities. In response to the outcry, Plutaluang police officers, accompanied by village headman…
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Thai Cabinet rejects gender recognition bill, citing crime concerns
The Thai Cabinet yesterday rejected the proposed Act on Gender Recognition, Title, and Protection of Gender Diversity, citing concerns about false identities if people are allowed to use preferred titles. The titles of people in the LGBTQA+ community have been trending on Thai social media since a transgender model, Phacharanat “Mimi” Nobantao, questioned why Thai citizens were unable to choose their…
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Thailand promotes electric trucks and buses with new incentives
The National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee in Thailand has given the green light for incentives aimed at encouraging companies to switch their commercial fleets of large trucks and buses to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The committee has also approved cash grants for manufacturers of EV battery cells. The secretary-general of the Board of Investment and secretary of the Electric Vehicle…
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Lottery winner donates 2.4 million baht to Nonthaburi temple
A recent lottery winner has donated nearly half of their 6 million baht (US$ 167,033) prize, a sum of 2.4 million baht (US$ 66,807), to Wat Ton in Nonthaburi Province after praying for luck and winning the first prize. The donation follows a promise made to the revered Luang Phor Samret statue at the temple, which is believed to have…
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INETREIT plans 3.2 billion baht capital increase to fund cloud services expansion
INET Leasehold Real Estate Investment Trust (INETREIT) is preparing to increase its capital by up to 3.2 billion baht (US$89 million). This move is anticipated to finance its additional investment in the INET-IDC3 phase 2, managed by Internet Thailand (INET), an information and communication technology infrastructure provider. The decision aims to profit from the growing demand for cloud services in…
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Fatal argument at Nakhon Ratchasima shop ends with gunshot
A 23 year old man’s visit to a motorcycle repair shop in Nakhon Ratchasima turned deadly when an argument over motorcycle noise escalated into a fatal shooting. The confrontation began with a slap and ended with the young man returning with three friends and firearms, resulting in the death of a 27 years old man at the scene. At the…
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New EV incentives boost investment in Thai automotive sector
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the new electric vehicle (EV) incentive packages, anticipating a significant boost to investment in the automotive sector and related businesses. As Thailand strives for sustainable economic growth and enhanced competitiveness, surges in investment are vital, particularly in the targeted S-curve industries encompassing next-generation vehicles. Surapong Paisitpatanapong, the…
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Thailand braces for 38-degree heatwave with thunderstorms
Thailand faces a scorching day with temperatures peaking at 38 degrees Celsius and scattered thunderstorms in some areas, warns the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD). The latest weather forecast anticipates strong southerly and southeasterly winds affecting the northeastern, lower central, and eastern regions of the country, creating the potential for thunderstorms in these areas. In the period from February 24…
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Three distinct prehistoric animal fossils unearthed in Khon Kaen
A new discovery has surfaced in the Tambon Muang Wan region of Nam Phong district, Khon Kaen, as fossils of three different prehistoric animals have been unearthed. This comes as an addition to the previous findings in the same area. The analysis of the collected fossils is being undertaken by a team led by Sasa-On Khansubha, a palaeontologist affiliated with…
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Chon Buri couple offers 100,000 baht for their missing cat
An elderly couple from Chon Buri province is offering a substantial reward of 100,000 baht (US$2,787) for the return of their beloved missing cat, Miaow Miaow. The feline, a unique 12 year old neutered male weighing approximately 5 kilogrammes, has been part of their family since 2011 when he wandered into their home and became a cherished pet. The owners,…
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Thai businesses fear cost surge due to minimum wage hike
Businesses in Thailand are bracing for a potential increase in operating costs, following the government’s proposition to raise the daily minimum wage to 400 baht (US$11) within the year. The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has expressed its concern over the implications of this wage hike, particularly on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are currently grappling with elevated interest…
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Southern Thailand sees room revenue surge due to European visitors
Southern provinces of Thailand are experiencing a boost in room revenue in the first quarter, thanks to extended stays by European visitors. This increase has occurred despite the lesser number of tourists from China. Room rates have reached a new high, setting a record. Pongsakorn Ketprapakorn, the ex-president of the Tourism Council of Phangnga predicted the surge. “The first quarter…
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