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 Thailand vs. the West: What expats save on healthcare each year
Healthcare in Thailand is much cheaper than in Western countries, making it a great choice for expatriates looking for affordable medical care. Both public and private healthcare options offer high-quality services, with savings of up to 80% on procedures like...
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Scam targets Thai overseas workers’ financial data amid Israel-Palestine conflict
The Thai Department of Employment raised the alarm on a new scam targeting the financial data of overseas workers amidst the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict. The scam involves tricking victims into downloading a fraudulent money transfer app on their mobile devices. Sompong Kaewwandee, the head of the Chiang Rai Provincial Employment Office, issued a public warning on Thursday, cautioning people against…
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Prehistoric alligator’s undercover mission: 230,000 years submerged in Thailand
Alligators’ ability to remain submerged for several hours is common knowledge among herpetologists but it came as a surprise to some that one in Thailand had managed to remain buried for 230,000 years. The astonishing archaeological discovery was announced by Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which reported the unearthing of fossilised remains belonging to an extinct alligator species,…
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Monk’s divine intervention calms drunk Russian man causing chaos in Pattaya
A Thai monk used divine intervention to control a drunk, out-of-control Russian man causing chaos on a street in Soi Chalerm Prakiat 19 in Pattaya by tapping the lid of his alms bowl on the foreign man’s head. The monk said the lid tapping was his way to encourage people to remain calm. The 26 year old Russian man, Rusten…
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Thailand’s future so bright, it’s gotta rock Ray-Bans
The future’s looking so bright for Thailand that it’s gotta wear shades, and not just any old shades, preferably Ray–Ban sunglasses. Fortunately, for residents in the Land of Smiles, EssilorLuxottica, the renowned creator of Ray-Ban sunglasses, has recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art factory in eastern Thailand, poised to serve as a prominent production centre for the Asia-Pacific region. Located in Rayong…
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Pickup truck accident leads to woman’s canal rescue in Kanchanaburi
An accident involving a pickup truck teetering on the edge of an irrigation canal alarmed local residents in Thamuang district, Kanchanaburi province. Emergency services were swiftly notified and upon arrival, discovered the empty vehicle poised precariously on the embankment. A search ensued, and 400 metres downstream, a woman was found floating in the water. She was swiftly rescued by locals…
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Tragic accident: Bangkok Police Deputy Superintendent dies in motorbike crash
A tragic accident claimed the life of a deputy superintendent today who was returning home from his shift. In the early hours of the morning around 2am, 41 year old Thongplaew Hanpaiboon was riding his Yamaha Nmax motorcycle when he collided with a barrier on an elevated bridge near Makasan Pond in the Ratchathewi district of Bangkok. The accident scene, a…
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Ghost hunt in Lopburi village creates chaos as million baht reward retracted
News of a ghostly “Krasue” haunting a village in Ban Berk, Tha Wung district, Lopburi province, has caused widespread fear among locals. A subsequent offer of a million baht reward for capturing the Krasue, a nocturnal female spirit of Southeast Asian folklore, by a resort owner in Saraburi province has escalated the hunt for the spectre. However, it is reported…
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Landslide in Chaiyaphum province prompts dramatic rescue
A landslide incident near the floodgate of the Chi River in Chaiyaphum province led to a dramatic rescue. Five locals yesterday narrowly escaped death as the ground gave way, causing multiple motorcycles to fall into the river. The unexpected event occurred at Bueng Lahan (Yai Kaew canal), Nong Bua Ban sub-district, Chatturat district. Volunteers from the Nong Bua Ban Subdistrict…
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Bangkok airport protest leaders face bankruptcy over 522 million baht compensation order
The Central Bankruptcy Court has dealt a decisive blow to 11 pivotal figures of the dissolved People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) by issuing an absolute receivership order against them. This verdict relates to their involvement in protests that resulted in the closure of Bangkok’s two primary airports. The court order, made public via the Royal Gazette, gives an assigned receiver…
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Bangkok taxi driver accused of kicking out female passenger
Police summoned a Thai taxi driver caught on a viral video kicking out a female passenger on a road in Bangkok for making a phone call in his cab. The victim, Ploy, shared the video with local news site Red Skull as she got into a heated argument with the taxi driver on the street. In the video, Ploy and…
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Thai education embraces UK programmes to boost English language proficiency
Thailand has officially embraced programmes initiated by the United Kingdom, designed to boost English language proficiency among Thai students and teachers. The Education Minister of Thailand, Police General Permpoon Chidchob, held a conversation with the UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, to discuss this educational collaboration. The British ambassador, Mark Gooding, was also present at the discussion…
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Indonesian woman deceived into marrying transgender man: A 20-year ordeal unveiled
A 58 year old woman from Indonesia recently shared her harrowing experience 20 years ago of being deceived into marrying a transgender man. In 2000, Ida was introduced to a man named Nardinata Marchioni by a friend during a trip to Europe. The two kept in touch via expensive international phone calls until Nardinata returned to Indonesia. Ida was impressed…
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Sky skirmish looms: Low-cost airlines face turbulence from price-dumping giants
The survival of emerging low-cost carriers in Southeast Asia could be threatened as dominant airlines may resort to price-dumping strategies to safeguard their market share. The airline industry’s seat recovery is also projected to take a decade to fully bounce back. Really Cool Airlines’ Chief Executive, Patee Sarasin, previously the chief executive of Nok Air, expects to obtain the Air…
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Rubber’s forest fury: Southeast Asia’s deforestation problem worse than thought
The rampant deforestation caused by rubber production in Southeast Asia could be much higher than anticipated, potentially two to three times the current estimates. This alarming discovery is a significant concern for importers who are under increasing pressure to source sustainable supplies, as revealed in a recent research study. Global demand for rubber is on the rise, leading to an…
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Phuket tourism industry generates 370 billion baht in eight months
Over the past eight months, the tourism industry in Phuket has managed to amass a substantial revenue of nearly 370 billion baht, as reported by the President of the Phuket Tourism Association. This encouraging development signals a significant rebound from the adverse effects of Covid-19, with the present surge in tourist numbers representing a remarkable 40% year-on-year rise when compared…
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Debt dodger’s fake ‘theft’ tale backfires: Thai woman faces charges for false report
A Thai woman is facing charges after faking a theft and filing a fake police report to escape a 48,000 baht debt. The 45 year old woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, made the complaint to officers at Mueang Trat Police Station by phone yesterday, October 18. She explained that four thieves in a pickup with no number plate cut off…
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Black bear caught after stealing food from local in central Thailand (video)
Royal Forestry Department authorities have successfully captured an Asian black bear that was stealing food from a local kitchen in Prachantakarm district in the central province of Prachin Buri. The 62 year old homeowner, Wimon Ngammeesri, reached out to the authorities after the black bear repeatedly stole food from her refrigerator and food cupboard. Wimon explained that her house is…
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Phuket authorities warn against rising LINE app and Facebook scams
A criminal group has been flagged for attempting to scam people by posing as the Thai Red Cross Society, on LINE and Facebook according to a warning issued by Phuket’s Public Relations Department (PR Phuket). The scam involves an OpenChat group on LINE, a popular Thai messaging app, where members are invited to donate money under the guise of the…
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Phuket to introduce ‘baht bus’ style transport service in tourist hotspot
Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) is currently accepting applications from operators to establish a circular ‘baht bus’ style public transportation system in Phuket’s busiest tourist area. The announcement was made on the PLTO’s official Facebook page yesterday, with three separate notices for potential operators to provide bus transport services within Patong. Two of these notices outlined two circular routes, while…
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Yala temple’s amusing rules for resident spirits capture netizens’ attention
An intriguing set of rules has emerged from a renowned temple in Yala, aimed at the spirits residing within the temple’s vicinity. The rules, designed to foster harmony among the monks, villagers, and spirits, have gone viral, sparking amusement among netizens. This unusual story began gaining traction when a vinyl signboard with the rules was posted within the famous Yala…
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Toddler locked in car for hours in southern Thailand after accidental self-locking
A two year old toddler was locked in a car for hours after her mother left her alone to go shopping. The incident, which took place at a convenience store on Niphat Uthit Road behind the Florida Hotel in downtown Hat Yai, Songkhla province, occurred at 10am today. The girl had accidentally hit the lock button, trapping herself inside the…
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Fatal twist of fate in northeast Thailand leaves motorcyclist dead and family grieving
A tragic accident on the bypass at the Don Khee intersection in the Nong Bua Lamphu town area left a 37 year old motorcyclist dead. The incident occurred late at night just 1 kilometre from his home. The motorcyclist was returning home when he collided with a black Ford Ranger pickup, leaving family members devastated. Police Captain Kamplaeng Chaiyarin, an…
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Homeward bound: Fallen heroes return as Thai workers’ remains arrive from Israel
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the remains of the eight Thai workers, who tragically lost their lives in Israel, are set to arrive back in their homeland on Friday morning. This announcement came to light yesterday, following the receipt of a green light from an Israeli forensic institute allowing an Israeli funeral service company to transport the bodies.…
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Drug-fuelled son assaults father in Muktahan: Officials intervene
A disturbing incident unfolded in Muktahan as a drug-fuelled, armed with a sharp-edged knife, assaulted his father, inflicting deep wounds on him. The incident was reported today, to the local security officials of Nikhom Kham Soi district, Mukdahan province, by alarmed locals who witnessed the man muttering incoherently and behaving erratically, accusing his father of conspiring to murder him. Security…
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Nigeria sentences five to prison for exhuming skull in wealth ritual
In a shocking development, Nigeria has sentenced five men to 12 years in prison each for the crime of exhuming a human skull. The suspects, aged between 18 to 28 years, intended to deliver the skull to a traditional healer who claimed it was vital for rituals promising to make them wealthy. The convicted men were found guilty of unearthing…
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Thai worker returns safely from conflict-ridden Israel, brother remains to support family
A Thai labourer has safely returned home amidst the conflict between Israel and Hamas. A construction worker in various farms in the southern region of Israel was about 2 to 3 kilometres away from the Gaza Strip. The Thai labourer, Phollawat Kanphai, had been working in Israel for four years out of a five-year and three-month contract, earning a salary…
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Man allegedly steals winning lottery tickets valued 40,000 baht friend in northern Thailand
Police have issued a warrant for the summoning of a Thai man accused of stealing two winning lottery tickets valued at 40,000 baht from a victim. The victim, a 64 year old man named Klai, lodged a complaint against his friend, a 50 year old Thai man named Kwan, at Taluk Doo Police Station in the Udon Thani province of…
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Burmese man shot dead by Thai police in Prachuap Khiri Khan after knife attack
A tragic incident unfolded today in the Kui Buri district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province when a 30 year old Burmese man was shot dead by local police. The man, reportedly suffering from a mental breakdown, had threatened villagers with a knife, leading to a police intervention that resulted in his death. Upon receiving the report of Ao Ko’s erratic…
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Thai man fights for justice after losing job due to police error in central Thailand
A Thai man is seeking justice after officers at Bang Pa-in Police Station in the central province of Ayutthaya mistakenly made an error and registered him as a criminal. The mistake led to the man being fired from his job. The 48 year old Thai man, Panya Boonnarong, urged Channel 7 to spread his story and help him seek justice.…
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World’s spiciest chilli, Pepper X, trumps Carolina Reaper with 2.6 million Scoville units (video)
Pepper X has been officially recognised as the world’s spiciest chilli by Guinness World Records, scoring a scorching 2.693 million on the Scoville Heat Units scale, a measure of chilli heat. This chilli outshines its predecessor, the Carolina Reaper, with a spice rating of 1.64 million Scoville units. Pepper X is the creation of Ed Currie, founder of PuckerButt Pepper…
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