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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Thai tycoon Premchai Karnasuta’s release reignites interest in Black Panther case
Premchai Karnasuta, a high-profile individual known for his involvement in the infamous Black Panther case, is set to be released from Thong Pha Phum prison today. This news has reignited interest in the case, which once shook the nation, on social media platforms. Premchai, the primary defendant in the case, is the president and managing director of Italian-Thai Development Public…
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Thai human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa bail hopes derailed again on less majeste charge
Arnon Nampa, a prominent human rights lawyer, faced a second denial for his bail request, as informed by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). The appeal court’s decision came yesterday, October 16, justifying it with the severity of the royal defamation charges against Arnon and the potential risk of him absconding if set free. Consequently, the court found no grounds…
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Chiang Mai military seize 12.2 million meth pills
Early this morning morning saw the seizure of over 12 million methamphetamine pills by military personnel in the Wiang Haeng district of Chiang Mai. The Pha Muang task force’s rangers of the Royal Thai Army discovered two suspicious pickup trucks parked in a garden along the Ban Mai Muang Jod road in the Piang Luang Tambon at around 5am, today,…
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Beachside brawl: Transgender Thai and tourist’s clash sends waves through Pattaya sand (video)
Pattaya’s beach was the backdrop of a dramatic altercation at the weekend as a Thai transgender was seen launching a vicious, physical attack on an unidentified foreign tourist. The conflict erupted after the tourist allegedly insulted her after she propositioned him. The incident, captured in a video and shared via TikTok on ghostcars001, quickly spread across Thai social media platforms,…
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Unexpected labour at Thai restaurant results in nine months of free meals for pregnant woman
A surprising incident occurred at a popular Thai restaurant when a pregnant woman dining there suddenly went into labour. The manager, Yuthaphum Kaewkhem, known as Boom, recalled the surprising event where the woman, who had been enjoying a meal, started experiencing labour pains. One of Boom’s staff, at the Moo Krata restaurant, revealed that a customer’s waters had broken and…
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Thai businesses on track to navigate energy price cuts: TDRI concerns loom
Thai businesses are assessing the implications of the government’s recent energy price cuts, amidst concerns from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) about the potential adverse long-term effects of the policy. The Srettha Thavisin-led government has decided to slash the power tariff from 4.45 baht per kilowatt-hour to 3.99 baht between September and December and cap the retail price of…
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Thai woman’s lottery luck hits the skids: Damaged tickets raise winning dilemma
A young woman’s joy of winning the lottery with five tickets was abruptly dampened when she discovered the tickets were severely damaged. This incident sparked online debate about whether she could still claim her winnings. The lottery tickets, purchased for the draw on September 1, were five in total. The first two tickets, numbered 295491, along with one ticket numbered…
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Chinese investment in Thailand gains speed amidst economic slowdown
Chinese firms have significantly increased their investment in Thailand this year, despite China’s economic slowdown, providing a much-needed boost for the Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin. The increase in investment comes as a welcome relief amid concerns about the impacts of the world’s second-largest economy’s sluggish recovery on global growth. However, Thailand continues to appeal as a crucial investment hub…
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Bangkok father arrested for incestuous rape of daughter leading to pregnancy
A shocking case of incestuous rape emerged leading to the arrest of a man who confessed to sexually abusing his 14 year old daughter, resulting in her pregnancy. Paveena Hongsakul, the Chair of the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women, today, October 17, at 11am, accompanied the victim’s mother, 34 year old Oi (pseudonym), to the Prawet Police Station…
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Phuket’s waste crisis and eco-tourism plans discussed by Pita Limjaroenrat
Pita Limjaroenrat, the former Move Forward Party (MFP) leader, yesterday paid a visit to Phuket to assess some ongoing projects in the seaside resort and discuss the key issues with the residents and officials. The respected former MFP leader was accompanied by three local MPs affiliated with the MFP, namely Somchart Techathavorncharoen, Chalermpong Saengdee and Thitikan Thitipruekthikul. The first stop…
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Songtaew standoff shakes Pattaya streets on Sunday night
Pattaya’s usually bustling streets took an unexpected turn on a recent Sunday night when a feud between two Songtaew drivers spiralled into a full-blown fight. According to the Pattaya Police, the incident occurred at around 10.30pm on the night of October 15, along Pattaya Second Road in the Nongprue sub-district of Banglamung district, Chon Buri province. The Songtaew, a popular…
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Rain doesn’t dampen spirits at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, a grand spectacle of Chinese culture, witnessed another round of street processions today. Despite the heavy downpour, the processions, featuring devotees from the Sapam Shrine and the Bang Khu Shrine, kicked off with fervour. These processions were a part of the ongoing celebrations which have taken the streets of Phuket by storm. Photographs capturing the essence…
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Money mishap:Thai woman’s 20 baht note goes ‘choo-choo’ in the frying pan
A Thai woman mistakenly fried a 20 baht banknote, resulting in a shrivelled and crispy note that sparked much mirth on social media asking whether a bank would accept it. A wave of humorous responses from netizens ensued after a Twitter user yesterday posted an image, from a life and family problems consultation group, where the woman sought advice, accompanied…
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High-end restaurants warned of new scam involving bogus wine shop and fake reservations
A new kind of scam targeting upscale restaurants has been exposed. Scammers posing as customers reserve tables, deceiving eateries into buying wine from bogus shops. The TikTok account, ambersmixedfamily, shared a video warning about this new type of con targeting high-priced restaurants. Ammy, the account owner, shared a chat conversation where a man approached the restaurant via Line, a messaging…
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Spooktacular TikTok tale: Thai mother’s ghost encounter brings lottery fortune and healing
A Thai TikTok user shared a hair-raising ghost encounter while her sick child was hospitalised which led her to win the lottery, and resulted in an astounding improvement in her child’s health. The TikTok user, aie_phanwisa, revealed the eerie ghost encounter episode that unfolded when she took her sick child for treatment at an unnamed hospital. She encountered a ghostly apparition…
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Thai court halts government’s wind power purchase scheme over selection irregularities
The Central Administrative Court‘s ruling to halt the government’s scheme to purchase 1,500 megawatts of wind power, on grounds of alleged irregularities in power plant selection, prompted the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to gear up for an appeal. The judgement came in response to Khon Kaen Wind 2 Co, a subsidiary of the SET-listed Energy Absolute (EA), who had voiced…
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End of the line: Thailand’s railway police disbands after 72 years
After 72 years of service, the Thailand Railway Police Division (RPD), colloquially known as the train marshals, are bidding farewell today. These officers have been a stalwart presence on the trains coursing through Thailand since the modern railway system was established during King Chulalongkorn’s reign. The decision to disband the railway law enforcement unit comes in the wake of the…
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Mourning monkey moment: Emotional video grips india (video)
The social media community in India has been swept up in a wave of emotion following the release of a video clip depicting a grieving monkey refusing to leave the lifeless body of a man who used to feed it. The video, which has since gone viral, offers a poignant glimpse into the profound bond shared by this interspecies duo.…
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Princess Maha’s urgent call for improved water management in Asia-Pacific
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, FAO Special Goodwill Ambassador for the Asia-Pacific, has stressed the urgency of combating water scarcity and improving water management systems throughout the region. The Princess voiced her concerns during the Asia-Pacific World Food Day Observances at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Asia-Pacific headquarters in Bangkok. Her Majesty pointed out that approximately 2.5 billion…
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Egypt unearths 3,400-year-old cemetery from New Kingdom era packed with ancient treasures
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of a 3,400-year-old ancient cemetery from the New Kingdom era at the Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in the southern Minya governorate. These burial grounds belonged to high-ranking officials and priests of ancient Egypt, according to Mostafa Waziri, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Waziri said the excavation, led by…
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Thai worker reveals his heroic hound Bright saved his life in Israel
A Thai worker in Israel posted a touching story about how his pet dog, Bright, saved his life from an ambush. The worker, identified as @now__january__1993 on TikTok, is preparing to return to Thailand and hopes to bring the dog back with him. In the posted clip, The Thai worker revealed that he raised Bright from a puppy and is…
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Thai tourism hit as gun violence prompts Chinese visitor cancellations
The Thai government has been urged to tighten gun control measures by Chiang Mai hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the aftermath of the Siam Paragon shopping mall shooting on October 3. The incident, which resulted in the death of three people, including a Chinese tourist, and injured four others, has shaken the confidence of Chinese travellers in Thailand. The fallout…
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Heavy rain warning in 32 Thailand provinces, severe flooding expected
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a heavy rain warning for 32 provinces today, with the southern region expected to receive heavy rainfall, covering 70% of the area. Residents are urged to be cautious of the accumulated rainfall, which could lead to sudden flooding. The 24-hour forecast from the TMD reveals that the high atmospheric pressure, or cold air mass,…
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Thailand’s wildlife trafficking battle: A US$20 billion trade swinging into action
The fight against wildlife trafficking in Thailand, a trade valued at approximately US$20 billion, is in full swing. Police Colonel Wanpichit Wattanasakmonta, an officer dedicated to the wildlife trafficking cause, stresses the importance of not only preserving wildlife but also protecting the environment and natural resources for a sustainable world. Thailand, a country that houses 10% of the world’s animal…
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Heartbreaking divorce: Man discovers wife’s shocking secret after six years
A shocking divorce tale has emerged from Siyang in Hubei province, China, where a man discovered his wife’s shocking secret: their child was fathered by another man. The man, known as Wang, was a poor rural worker who quit school after primary education to work on the farm. A lack of romantic prospects concerned his mother. Eventually, he was introduced…
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Middle East crisis and US inflation trigger 2% fall in Thai stocks
Escalating the Middle East conflicts and persisting high inflation in the US are contributing to a more than 2% fall in Thai stocks. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is encountering renewed selling pressure, with the index nearing a crucial resistance level of 1,400 points. Concurrently, gold prices have seen a sharp increase, reaching nearly US$1,950 (70,870 baht) per ounce…
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Thai visa extension for Russians sparks mixed industry reactions
The Thai Cabinet’s decision to extend the stay period for Russian tourists under the visa extension to 90 days, from the previous 30 days, has sparked mixed reactions. While some tourism operators fear an increase in illegal work activity, others in the south see potential for a boost in spending. The new policy, announced on Monday, aims to stimulate the…
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Thai ‘super app’ set to launch with 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme
The completion of a multi-purpose mobile application, or super app, is on track for early next year, coinciding with the launch of the 10,000-baht digital wallet initiative, as announced by Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. The mobile app is designed as a comprehensive solution, with developers assuring its readiness for the digital wallet scheme’s rollout, expected between February and March…
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Joyous scenes at Suvarnabhumi Airport as 244 Thai workers return from Israel conflict zone
It was a scene of jubilation at Suvarnabhumi Airport as relatives gathered to welcome 244 Thai workers returning from Israel. Among them were 30 students from Princess of Naradhiwas University. The arrival was at 10pm yesterday, October 16. The welcoming committee consisted of Bunyawee Khwaiphan, Deputy Director of the Department of Employment, Sombat Phothiwat, Director of the Central Employment and…
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Nonthaburi hospital under scrutiny after TikTok video sparks debate about medical ethics
A heated confrontation between a patient and a doctor has led to an investigation by a hospital in Nonthaburi. The incident, which took place yesterday, was brought to light through a video shared on the social media platform TikTok by a user named Lamduanbah. The video, captioned Ethics is hard to find these days, has sparked a debate about professional ethics…
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