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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Tragedy strikes over land dispute as neighbour takes own life
Shock reverberated through the community as news broke that a neighbour involved in a land dispute tragically ended their life. The sudden turn of events in this ongoing property conflict has sparked a wave of reactions, including from the renowned lawyer Decha Kittiwittayanan, who represents Sun, the nephew of the landowner known as Agu and Agu himself. Decha took to…
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Thailand optimises on Kazakhstan’s tourism and trade potential
Deputy Foreign Minister of Thailand, Jakkapong Sangmanee, emphasised the government’s optimism about enhanced tourism and trade between Thailand and Kazakhstan. This follows the forthcoming signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in April. Sangmanee, accompanied by the Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, led a delegation of Thai investors to Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, and its largest city, Almaty. During their…
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Retired district chief drowns as SUV plunges into Mae Klong River
An unfortunate accident on the Thana Rach Bridge over the Mae Klong River resulted in a tragic loss of life yesterday evening at around 6.30pm. The incident involved a collision between a sports car and an SUV, which led to the latter vehicle plunging into the river, taking with it a retired district chief and his wife, both of whom…
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Family seeks refuge from loan shark at Nonthaburi bus stop
A family in Nonthaburi province found refuge at a bus stop after fleeing their home due to threats from a loan shark who demanded daily interest payments. The incident took place yesterday at 8pm, on February 25, when the family, lacking the funds to meet the exorbitant interest demands, feared for their safety. Nontranut Promjan, the chairman of the Nonthaburi…
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Thailand’s NIA plans new strategy to boost local startups
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) outlined a new strategy to bolster local startups and align them with global innovation demand. The strategy, Create the Dot — Connect the Dot — Value Creation, aims to increase the number of innovation-based enterprises (IBEs) and propel Thailand into the top 30 leading innovation nations by 2030. NIA executive director Krithpaka Boonfueng highlighted the…
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Thaksin Shinawatra’s return stirs interest in Thailand’s economic policy
Former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra is back in the political limelight following his release on parole. His return to his Ban Chan Song La residence in Bangkok, which previously served as his command centre during his time in office, has sparked interest from the business sector. They are keen to understand the potential implications this could have on…
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Cobra Gold military exercise introduces Muay Thai training
Cobra Gold, the annual joint military exercise, kicks off today, and for the first time, it will feature Muay Thai training as an essential component. The decision is an integral part of the government’s strategy to elevate the Thai martial arts as a symbol of the nation’s soft power. The Defence Ministry announced that the 43rd iteration of Cobra Gold…
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New agricultural land reform policy to implement buffer zones
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow is set to propose a new agricultural land reform policy tomorrow. The policy seeks to establish a buffer zone between forest reserves and agricultural land, with the explicit specification that this zone will not be allocated to individual farmers. This comes in the wake of an ongoing dispute between the Agricultural Land Reform Office…
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Buddha sculpture found in Thai-US navy salvage operation of sunken HTMS Sukhothai
The collaborative salvage operation between the Royal Thai Navy and the United States Navy unearthed a Buddha sculpture and several documents from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai on its third day. This information was relayed by Royal Admiral Veerudom Muangjin, a spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy, who shared that these items were found by a combined diving team near the…
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Bangkok breathes easier as PM2.5 levels fall but north faces rise
The upcoming week brings a breath of fresh air for Bangkok locals as levels of harmful PM2.5 pollutants, ultra-fine particulars, are expected to decrease. However, residents in the north and northeast are being warned of an imminent rise in air pollution due to prevalent wildfires in these regions. Sunday morning data from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) air quality monitoring…
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PM Srettha orders immigration control improvement at Suvarnabhumi
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered improvements to the immigration control services at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, citing concerns over long queues and excessive waiting times. PM Srettha conducted an unexpected inspection of the airport on Saturday evening, his second unannounced visit since February 5. The prime minister revealed that he had personally timed the duration of various procedures from the…
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Brake failure causes deadly crash at Yala wedding procession
A tragic accident occurred yesterday at noon when a chartered bus, part of a wedding procession, suffered brake failure and crashed into a house, killing one person and injuring 22 others, four critically, in Yala province. The incident unfolded on a road near a waterfall in Ban Haer, Tharn To district, where the bus, hired for a wedding convoy, was…
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Optical illusion on plane goes viral as passenger shares baffling photo
A passenger’s perplexing experience aboard an aeroplane, where a seemingly vigilant gaze from the seat in front turned out to be a mere optical illusion, has gone viral, captivating social media users and generating widespread amusement. Kisha Kitchen, while travelling by plane, noticed something peculiar about the passenger seated ahead on the right. It appeared as though she was being…
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UK woman’s laziness turns out to be rapid thyroid cancer
A 21 year old woman’s excessive lethargy led to a shocking medical discovery. Courtney Nettleton, from the United Kingdom, felt unusually tired and slept for up to 14 hours a day during the summer of 2021, sparking concerns for her well-being. Despite early signs that something was amiss with her health, her symptoms were initially dismissed as teenage laziness by…
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Songkhla’s lottery fever spikes as March 1 draw nears
Lottery enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the upcoming government lottery draw on March 1, which will be held in Songkhla province. With the event nearing, the buzz around the so-called lucky numbers and popular digits for this draw is growing, prompting many to speculate on what might bring them a fortune. The current Governor of Songkhla, Somnuek Promkheaw, who assumed office…
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Thai citizens question Department of Corrections’ parole powers
A NIDA opinion poll reveals that a significant percentage of Thai citizens are in disagreement with the Department of Corrections’ authority to sanction reductions in prison sentences and approve parole. The survey sought public opinion on the department’s power to either reduce convicts’ imprisonment tenure or grant them parole. The responses were varied, with 40% categorically opposing it, 19.47% in…
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Beggar with luxury SUV earns thousands at flea market
A beggar at a flea market was shockingly discovered to be the owner of a luxury SUV, earning more in a few hours than those who gave him money. The incident left officials astonished and opened a dialogue on the issue of beggars. During a routine check at the Sri Jaya night market in the Maran district of Pahang, Malaysia…
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Abused temple dog rescued by Thai gold heir finds care
A formerly abused temple dog has found a new lease on life after being adopted by the heir to a prominent gold shop empire. The dog, once blind due to mistreatment by a temple abbot, now enjoys the comforts of a loving home, complete with personal caretakers. The dog’s plight came to light when the abbot’s actions led to its…
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Thai businesswoman forgives debts, returns land in Chumphon
A Thai businesswoman captured hearts by forgiving debts and returning land titles to two of her debtors without demanding repayment. A 37 year old woman has demonstrated an extraordinary act of kindness in Chumphon province, amidst the financial struggles brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Onanong Kanpat, known as Nong On, who runs a business trading business in fresh kratom leaves,…
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Newborn rescued from bag in Nakhon Ratchasima cornfield
A solar panel installer made a startling discovery of an infant’s hand protruding from a bag, leading to the rescue of an abandoned newborn in a cornfield hut in Nakhon Ratchasima province. A 36 year old man was the first to find the baby boy and immediately reported the matter, which prompted a swift response from local authorities and healthcare…
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Tragic three-car crash in Chon Buri kills two, injures five
A catastrophic collision involving three vehicles in Chon Buri province claimed the lives of two individuals and left five seriously injured in the early hours of today, February 25. The accident, which saw vehicles mangled beyond recognition, occurred on the Don Hua Lo – Sattahip route near the Sony intersection in the Don Hua Lo sub-district. Authorities rushed to the…
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High-profile online gambling case sees 8 police officers reassigned
A high-profile online gambling case involving Suchanun Minnie Sucharitchinsri has led to the temporary reassignment of eight linked officers. National Police Chief Torsak Sukvimol sanctioned the move to prevent any potential interference with the ongoing investigation. A spokesman for the police, Siriwat Deepo revealed that the order for the transfer was signed by Torsak yesterday, February 24. The transferred officers…
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Thailand seeks German investment in electric vehicle industry
Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara announced on a recent official trip to Germany, the Thai government’s intention to attract German automobile manufacturers to invest in Thailand’s burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) industry. This initiative is part of the broader plans for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s official visit to Germany next month. The deputy prime minister, who also serves as the foreign…
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Police officer’s knife attack in South Thailand leaves one dead
A police officer went on a frenzied rampage in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, leaving an elderly woman fatally stabbed and another seriously injured. The incident occurred yesterday, February 24, when the officer, reportedly suffering a mental breakdown, charged out of a police flat, kicked over a motorcycle carrying two women, and attacked them with a knife. Eyewitnesses describe a scene…
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Freed baby elephant Tofu begins new life in sanctuary (video)
In a heart-wrenching tale of suffering and salvation, a baby elephant named Tofu, just 8 months old, has been plucked from a life of torment in Laos and given a fresh start. Chained and mistreated, his plight symbolises the ongoing battle against exploitation in the tourism industry across Asia. Planting Peace, a stalwart organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of captive…
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Krabi national park makes astonishing revenue in tourism boom
In less than four months, Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi has become a gold mine, pulling in nearly 300,000,000 baht in entry fees from over 126,000 tourists. This meteoric rise in revenue dwarfs the previous fiscal year’s earnings, ringing in at 276 million baht. National park chief Yutthaphong Damsrisuk noted that the park has witnessed…
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Indonesian Embassy’s cash reminder for entry into Thailand
The Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok issued a reminder to citizens planning a trip to Thailand to arm themselves with a substantial amount of cash to avoid the risk of being denied entry. Minister Counsellor of the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, Dewi Lestari, revealed Thailand’s stringent entry requirements in an exclusive interview with the Indonesian network RRI. Lestari clarified that regardless…
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Police Chief’s directive to protect Royal Thai Police’s reputation
National Police Chief Police General Torsak Sukvimol has issued a stern order to all police officers, commanding them to refrain from divulging any information to the press that could tarnish the image or operational integrity of the Royal Thai Police (RTP). Moreover, officers have been explicitly warned against actions that could potentially serve their personal interests, sparking a firestorm of…
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Chinese nationals caught with illegal firearms in Pattaya
Pattaya and Chon Buri police teamed up for a targeted operation on Wednesday, February 21, leading to the apprehension of two Chinese nationals for possession of illegal firearms. The duo, 28 year old Cai Qingqing and Lei Chen, also 28, were caught red-handed with a cache of weapons including a 9-milimetre semi-automatic pistol, two magazines, handcuffs, ammunition, and a mysterious…
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Drunken argument leads to violence on Pattaya Beach
A domestic argument between a couple turned violent on the Pattaya beachfront, shocking onlookers on Wednesday evening, February 21. Responding promptly to distress signals, authorities and rescue teams discovered a 53 year old Thai man, Sommai, gravely injured and bleeding profusely near a trash receptacle, the aftermath of a fiery altercation with his spouse. Concerned bystanders had congregated around him,…
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