Thailand News
Discover the most recent and relevant news from across Thailand on The Thaiger’s National News page. Covering a wide range of topics, including politics, business, crime, and lifestyle, our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
Stay informed about the latest developments in Thai society, economy, and culture, as well as updates on travel, tourism, and expat life. With The Thaiger, you’ll never miss out on the essential news that matters to you.
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Sponsored Is tap water in Thailand safe to consume?
Wondering if you can drink the tap water in Thailand? From brushing your teeth to filling up a bottle, it’s helpful to understand a few basics. Tap water safety in Thailand varies by location, and while some people use it...
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Thai hospital checks out of universal healthcare gold card scheme
Mongkutwattana Hospital slammed the brakes on accepting outpatients under Thailand’s universal healthcare scheme, famously dubbed the gold card, as financial woes grip the facility. The shock move, spearheaded by director Riengthong Nanna, took effect on Friday, December 13 with the hospital shutting its doors to gold card outpatients. The heart of the matter? Alleged unpaid dues by the National Health…
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Wild elephant attack kills man, highlights longstanding issue
A tragic incident occurred when a wild elephant from the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary fatally attacked a man near a sugarcane field adjacent to a village. This longstanding issue, persisting for four years without resolution, has become a cause for concern among locals. Police Lieutenant Thirawat Yiam-on, the deputy investigator at Kabin Buri Police Station in Prachin Buri…
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Swiss man’s peaceful Pattaya night shattered by youth attack
A peaceful evening in Pattaya turned into a night of chaos for a 66 year old Swiss man as he faced a brutal assault by local youths, leaving him injured and his car in tatters. Manoutcher Kamel Kamai, a Swiss national, yesterday, December 15, stumbled into the Pattaya City Police Station, visibly shaken and wounded, seeking justice for the unprovoked…
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Thai driver flees after crashing into old man, dragging body 10km
A Thai man claimed he fled in shock after crashing into an 84 year old man and dragging the lifeless body for 10 kilometres from the scene of the incident in the central province of Ratchaburi. Officers from Photharam Police Station were alerted to the discovery of a corpse on a road alongside a railway track in the Photharam district…
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Rain havoc: Four southern provinces swamped by floods (video)
Four southern Thai provinces are battling major flooding after a deluge that’s thrown daily life into chaos and knocked out key transport links, leaving thousands of families high and dry. Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, and Surat Thani are bearing the brunt of relentless rain, with deluges forcing a halt to many bus and train services. Pasakorn Boonyalak, Director General…
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Search for Myanmar workers underway after Koh Samui landslide
Rescue efforts are underway to locate two missing Myanmar construction workers following a landslide on Koh Samui. The incident occurred early yesterday morning, December 15 at around 4am, when a landslide engulfed part of a workers’ camp at a resort development site located on a mountain slope in Soi Hima Thong, tambon Maret. Eight workers were asleep at the time…
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Thailand video news | Grenade attack at Thailand fair leaves 3 dead, 48 injured, Remaining ‘Bali Nine’ members return to Australia after 19 years
In Thailand video news today, Alex brings viewers the latest stories from Thailand and across Asia. News stories include a tragic grenade attack at a fair in Tak province, a chaotic drunk driving incident in Pattaya, and a dramatic balcony rescue of a German man. Other key reports cover a Saudi couple’s harrowing Jet Ski ordeal, a British man arrested…
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Building trouble: Chinese workers nailed for illegal jobs in Bangkok
Bangkok police officers arrested five Chinese nationals for working illegally as construction workers. They were earning 2,200 baht per day, significantly higher than Thailand’s minimum wage and the standard pay rate for legal construction workers. Officers from Huay Kwang Police Station received a complaint about illegal Chinese workers at a construction site in the Huay Kwang neighbourhood of Bangkok on…
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Prachin Buri police raid five sites in mafia crackdown
It’s showdown time in Prachin Buri as police launch a full-scale blitz against organised crime, swooping on five locations tied to the shocking case of Soonthorn Vilawan, the alleged mastermind behind his adopted son’s murder. In a dramatic turn, over 100 police officers from the Crime Suppression Division and local forces descended upon the province yesterday, December 15, part of…
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Thai nurses save two foreign passengers on Phuket-Bangkok flight
Thai netizens praised the efforts of two Thai nurses who provided first aid to two unconscious passengers during a flight from Phuket to Bangkok on Friday, December 13. The events aboard Bangkok Airways flight PG278 came to public attention after the local news Facebook page Phuket Info Centre shared the story. The two medical professionals commended for their actions were…
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Senate to vote on divisive referendum double-majority rule
The Senate is set to convene tomorrow, December 17, to cast votes on a contentious referendum bill concerning constitutional amendments. The majority of senators are anticipated to uphold the divisive double-majority requirement, a decision that has sparked significant debate. Following a vote by a joint MP-Senate committee, the double-majority rule, necessary for passing a charter rewrite referendum, has been endorsed.…
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Crane calamity wreaks havoc on Rama IV Road, Bangkok chief probes
Panic struck Bangkok’s bustling Rama IV Road as a concrete beam came crashing down from a crane, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake and prompting an immediate suspension of demolition work at the Srifuengfung Building. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt swiftly halted all demolition activities at the site to prioritise public safety. Alongside Bangkok Deputy Governor Wissanu Sabsomphon and…
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Bangkok app-based rider steals 15,000 baht from Russian woman
Police arrested a Thai app-based motorcycle taxi rider for stealing 15,000 baht from a Russian woman in Bangkok and spending all the money on gambling. The Russian victim, 25 year old Anna Petrova Andreevna, filed a complaint at the Royal Palace Police Station on Friday, December 13, stating that she lost 15,000 baht in cash to the app-based motorcycle taxi…
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Rama II Road reopens after crane accident caused fatalities (video)
Commuters can breathe a sigh of relief as traffic resumes on Rama II Road following a harrowing crane accident that claimed six lives and injured nine, leaving a trail of disruption in its wake. The nightmare began in the small hours of November 29 when a crane buckled under the weight of a concrete beam at the Ekkachai-Ban Phaeo Intercity…
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Severe storms and flash floods threaten 12 Thai provinces
The Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning predicting severe storms in 12 provinces, with heavy rain expected to cover 70% of the area. This could lead to flash floods and severe weather conditions, with temperatures dropping. The northeast monsoon, which is currently quite strong, is affecting the Gulf of Thailand and the southern region. A low-pressure system also covers…
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Thai-ing luck: Lottery punters chase numbers for year-end jackpot
With jackpot dreams dancing in their heads, Thailand’s hopeful punters are in a tizzy, hunting for the mystical numbers set to bring them a windfall in the year’s final lottery draw today, December 16. As the Government Lottery Office gets ready to reveal the magic numbers, excitement is at an all-time high and the air is charged with predictions and…
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Curry favour: Panang Curry heats up global rankings once again
It’s official, Thailand’s famously fiery cuisine is smoking hot on the global food stage once more. The savoursome sensation, Panang Curry, clinched fifth place in the TasteAtlas list of the world’s top dishes, solidifying its spicy allure around the globe. Thai food fans have every reason to cheer as the latest rankings unveiled yesterday reveal a tasty triumph for the…
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Police arrest loan shark gang at Ministry of Culture
A dramatic arrest unfolded at the Ministry of Culture when police apprehended members of a loan shark gang accused of charging extortionate interest rates and intimidating debtors. The operation, led by Montri Teshakun, targeted 30 year old Veeraphat, and 23 year old Meentada, who were charged with operating an unauthorised personal loan business and lending money at rates exceeding legal…
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Phuket launches youth justice programme for safer communities
Phuket has taken a proactive step towards cultivating a safer community with the launch of the School of Youth Justice project, aimed at educating local youth on crime prevention. This initiative was unveiled yesterday, December 14 at Srinagarindra the Princess Mother School in Wichit, under the supervision of Governor Sophon Suwannarat. The event saw the participation of Wichian Chaisorn, Director…
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German man saved by Pattaya rescue team after balcony incident
A dramatic rescue unfolded in Pattaya when a German man, visibly distressed, was saved by local rescue workers after attempting to harm himself and leap from a hotel balcony. The incident took place yesterday, December 14 at 5.06pm when the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre was alerted to a foreign individual trying to jump from a hotel building in Soi Pattaya…
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Villagers hope for lottery luck from century-old Takian trees
Villagers in Prachinburi have once again flocked to the revered century-old twin Takian trees, hoping for another stroke of luck after a successful lottery draw. Residents of Nong Tang village, located in the Kabin Buri district, have been visiting the site to offer traditional Thai attire and other dedications to the spirit of the trees. The villagers, who previously received…
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Intoxicated driver wreaks havoc in Pattaya, crashes into sidecar
A heavily intoxicated driver caused chaos in Pattaya today when he crashed a minivan into a motorcycle sidecar selling fresh vegetables. The incident unfolded on Pattaya Beach Road, near Soi 13/3, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. An attempt to flee the scene led to further collisions with several parked vehicles, resulting in additional injuries to two individuals.…
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Landslide on Koh Samui leaves two missing amid heavy rain
Heavy rainfall over consecutive days on Koh Samui has led to a landslide that engulfed a workers’ camp, leaving two individuals missing. Police have launched a search operation, highlighting the precarious situation as the incident occurred in two separate events. Police in Koh Samui’s Surat Thani province received a distress call this morning regarding a landslide that buried a construction…
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Grenade attack at Tak fair leaves three dead and 48 injured
A grenade attack disrupted the Amazing Highland Land Fair in Umphang district, Tak province, late yesterday evening, resulting in three fatalities and 48 injuries. The explosion took place around 11.30pm near a retro dance stage where over 8,000 people were enjoying live music. As panic swept through the crowd, emergency responders rushed to aid the injured and transport them to…
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Heavy rains and strong winds expected in 19 Thai provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning, predicting heavy rains across 19 provinces with rainfall affecting 80% of the area. The Gulf of Thailand is expected to experience waves over 3 metres high, and temperatures are set to drop by 3 degrees Celsius with strong winds. The strong northeast monsoon sweeping through the Gulf of Thailand and the…
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Hua Hin Airport to gain international status by next year
The Transport Ministry announced plans to elevate Hua Hin Airport to international status by next year, marking a significant step in enhancing regional connectivity. Transport Deputy Minister Manaporn Charoensri revealed this initiative yesterday, directing the Department of Airports, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, and other relevant agencies to develop Hua Hin’s operations and secure the necessary international airport certification. Heightened passenger…
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Concrete beam falls at Bangkok site, damages vehicles, no injuries (video)
A concrete beam plummeted from a crane at a building demolition site on Rama IV Road, near the Lumpini intersection in Bangkok, damaging three vehicles but fortunately causing no injuries. The incident occurred yesterday afternoon during the dismantling of the Srifuengfung Building. Police are in discussions with the building’s owner regarding compensation for the damage to three pickup trucks. Police…
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Chinese murder suspect caught at Phuket Airport
A Chinese national, wanted in his home country for murder, was apprehended at Phuket Airport. The suspect, identified as Qian Guofeng, arrived on a flight from Shanghai to the popular Thai resort island. On the night of December 13, immigration police revealed that they received orders to intercept Qian, who became a suspect following a fatal altercation in China. Chinese…
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Myanmar boat seized in Thailand for shrimp smuggling
A Myanmar fishing boat has been seized, and its six crew members arrested for smuggling in Ranong, southern Thailand. The incident occurred after officials discovered a significant quantity of salt-fermented shrimp aboard the vessel. Thailand Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 reported that naval officers were dispatched to Waithong pier in tambon Pak Nam, Ranong, at 9pm yesterday, December 14.…
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Motorcyclist dragged 800 metres in Phuket hit-and-run
A white saloon car collided with a motorcycle in Thalang district, Phuket, early this morning, dragging the rider’s lifeless body for 800 metres before fleeing the scene. Police have identified the vehicle’s owner and are preparing to launch an investigation. A white saloon car, with an unregistered number plate, was reported to have left Bang Jo Alley and turned right…
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