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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Thief poses as courier, steals Rolex watches worth 615,000 baht
A seller of vintage goods experienced a distressing incident when a thief impersonated a courier to retrieve a package containing two Rolex watches valued at 615,000 baht. Despite reporting the crime to the police three times, they were less than helpful and the case was dismissed as a civil matter, leaving the victim without recourse. The victim, 36 year old…
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Oh, cock! Police arrest nearly 50 major cockfighting raid
Police in Nakhon Phanom arrested nearly 50 people involved in illegal cockfighting, following a tip-off about a large gathering of gamblers in a rural area. The operation, carried out by a team of over 30 officers, highlighted ongoing illegal gambling activities in the region. Officers swiftly moved to take action after receiving a complaint via the Damrongdhama Centre regarding an…
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Thailand to finalise free-trade deal with EFTA by January
Thailand is set to finalise a free-trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) by January next year, aiming to boost its export market and draw European investors. This announcement from the Ministry of Commerce emphasises a strategic step forward in Thailand’s economic expansion. Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan confirmed the completion of negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA)…
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Legal action pursued over shooting at elephants in Thailand
Kaeng Krachan National Park officials are actively pursuing legal action against people involved in a shooting incident aimed at intimidating wild elephants. The unsettling event, caught in a TikTok video, occurred yesterday evening, November 30, showing a black sedan from which four gunshots were fired as elephants roamed nearby. The car was travelling on the Nong Phlap-Huai Sat Yai road,…
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Four million young Thais hooked on online gambling, experts warn
More than four million young Thais have been lured into the world of online gambling, a growing concern that experts warn could evolve into addiction, affecting their mental and physical health. This pressing issue was brought to light by Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, director of the ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation, during the annual conference of the Centre for Gambling Studies (CGS) held recently…
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Thai Airways secures 44 billion baht in share rights offering
The Government of Thailand announced plans to increase its investment in Thai Airways International (THAI) without reinstating the airline as a state enterprise. This decision was confirmed during a Cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai, where Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira provided updates on the airline’s debt restructuring efforts. During the meeting, it was revealed that THAI anticipates raising approximately 44 billion…
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Pathum Thani: Sedan caught in fiery crash due to broken streetlight
A malfunctioning streetlight led to a dangerous accident when a car veered off the road and collided with a guardrail before catching fire. The incident unfolded yesterday, November 29 at 10.30pm, when Singhachalee, a deputy inspector from Khlong Luang Police Station in Pathum Thani, received reports of a car crash involving a sedan that burst into flames. The accident occurred…
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Up in flames: Bangkok house fire claims life of 50 year old man
A devastating house fire claimed the life of a 50 year old man in Bangkok when flames engulfed his home and spread to neighboring properties. The incident occurred yesterday, November 29 at 3.28pm, sparking panic and a swift response from local fire services. The blaze broke out in a two-story, semi-concrete and wooden house located in Soi Bang Waek 104,…
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Towering wave sweeps Russian woman into sea on Koh Samui
A towering wave measuring 5 to 6 metres swept a Russian woman off the rocks at a Koh Samui viewpoint and into the sea, where she vanished. Efforts to rescue her proved futile due to the intense sea conditions. The Bo Phut Police Station communication centre in Surat Thani province received an urgent report about a tourist being pulled into…
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Thai woman stabbed in Pattaya, foreign suspect still at large
A Thai woman, between 30 and 40 years old, was reportedly stabbed in the neck by a foreign man in Jomtien, Pattaya. The incident occurred on Thursday, November 28, on the fourth floor of a building located in Soi Welcome. Police are actively pursuing the suspect, who managed to flee the scene before their arrival. Pattaya police were informed of…
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Police in Nong Khai thwart major heroin smuggling operation
Police in the northeastern province of Nong Khai successfully intercepted a major drug smuggling operation involving two Thai women and a man from Laos, seizing 10 kilogrammes of heroin. The operation, believed to be preparing for internal distribution and eventual export, was halted yesterday, November 29. The arrest took place at 3pm at the 2104th Ranger Company. It was led…
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Sedan-motorbike hit-and-run in Nonthaburi leaves contractor dead
A hit-and-run occurred when a black sedan struck a motorcycle, resulting in the death of a 68 year old contractor. The sedan driver fled the scene without checking on the victim. The event was captured on a dashboard camera on a bridge over the Mueang Thong Thani intersection in Nonthaburi. Officers from Pak Kret Police Station, along with rescue personnel…
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Belgian motorcyclist dies in Pattaya crash near village gate
A Belgian national tragically died following a motorcycle collision in Pattaya. Nong Prue police were alerted to an accident involving a motorcycle at the entrance gate of a village on Khao Talo Road yesterday, November 29 at approximately 5.36am. Police, along with rescue personnel and local reporters, promptly arrived at the scene. Upon arrival, a yellow-black Yamaha Aerox motorcycle was…
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Thai Cabinet extends 20-baht train fare with 400m baht budget
The Thai Cabinet has sanctioned a budget of 400 million baht to extend the 20-baht flat fare for the Red and Purple electric train lines for an additional year. This decision aims to provide continued financial relief to commuters using these lines. The extension pertains to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Red lines, which include the Nakhon Withi Line…
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19 billion baht allocated for Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai flood repairs
Thailand’s government has allocated 19 billion baht for infrastructure and utility repairs in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, responding to the recent severe floods, according to Government Spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub. This announcement followed a Cabinet meeting conducted in Chiang Mai, where an economic and social development plan was approved, as proposed by the National Economic and Social Development Council. The…
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Australian ambassador visits Phuket to discuss tourist safety
Australian Ambassador to Thailand Angela McDonald visited Phuket on Thursday, November 28, to engage in discussions with Vice Governor Ronnarong Thipsiri. The meeting focused on strengthening economic, political, and safety ties between Australia and Phuket, underscoring the importance of maintaining robust bilateral relations. During the meeting, held at the Phuket Provincial Governor’s Reception Room, McDonald, along with key officials, explored…
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Taxi driver brandishes knife in Siam Square altercation (video)
A heated altercation between an elderly taxi driver and a motorcycle rider nearly turned violent in the bustling area of Siam Square, Bangkok, as captured and shared on TikTok by user @lianhua_.7u. The confrontation, which took place in the early hours of the morning, involved the taxi driver brandishing a knife, reportedly following a dispute that escalated after the taxi…
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‘Wife for hire’: Inside Thailand’s shocking rental marriage trend
Thailand’s notorious “rental wife” trend is turning heads and sparking heated debates. Dubbed the “black pearl” phenomenon, this controversial practice is thriving in Pattaya’s red-light districts, offering foreign tourists a temporary taste of companionship for a fee. The practice, often called “temporary marriage,” sees women from impoverished rural areas become companions to tourists, offering services ranging from casual companionship to…
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Port, theme park, and F1 dreams: Tycoon’s vision for Jakarta
A Formula 1 race in Jakarta? That’s just one of the audacious ideas from Sugianto Kusuma, one of Indonesia’s wealthiest tycoons, as he transforms a former slum into a multibillion-dollar metropolis. From a bustling port to luxury hotels, the ambitious project is aiming to put North Jakarta on the global map. Kusuma, better known locally as Aguan, is spearheading the…
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Rabies scare in Bangkok: Residents warned to avoid Soi Onnut 86
Bangkokians have been put on high alert after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) confirmed a rabies outbreak near a garbage treatment centre in Soi Onnut 86, Prawet district. Stray dogs in the area have tested positive for the deadly virus, sparking swift action from health officials. In a Facebook post today, November 29, the BMA Health Department revealed it had…
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Thai man jumps from reversing pickup as it crashes into 27 vehicles
A Thai delivery driver lost control of his company pickup, causing it to reverse and crash into 27 vehicles parked at the Baan Ua-Athorn Hathairat community in the Khlong Samwa district of Bangkok yesterday, November 28. Victims of the accident shared footage of the crash and the damaged vehicles on the TikTok app. A Thai woman posted a video on…
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Drowning in chaos: Pattani floods shut down hospitals
Four hospitals in the southern province of Pattani have been forced to close their doors as relentless floodwaters swamp their compounds, leaving patients to be evacuated to emergency field hospitals. The disaster, which has engulfed Nong Chik, Yaring, Thung Yang Daeng, and Mae Lan hospitals, is wreaking havoc in this southern border province. Dr Anurak Saraparb, chief of the Pattani…
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Bangkok reviews overpass closure plan amid traffic concerns
Plans for a one-year closure of the overpass connecting Rama IX Intersection, Asoke-Din Daeng Intersection, and Phang Mueang Intersection, are to be reassessed following concerns about severe traffic congestion. The Metropolitan Police Bureau advised avoiding the roads in the Din Daeng and Huai Khwang districts due to scheduled repairs from tomorrow, November 30. However, the planned closure has sparked significant…
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Rice and shine: Parboiled prices soar as global markets heat up
Global rice markets are heating up as prices for parboiled rice surged this week, driven by robust demand in major export hubs India and Thailand. After three weeks of stability, Indian and Thai exporters are now cashing in on renewed interest, while Vietnamese traders grapple with stagnant sales. India, the world’s largest rice exporter, saw its 5% broken parboiled rice…
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Old friends, new deals: Singapore PM makes visit to Thailand
In a historic first, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong touched down in Thailand yesterday, November 28, to meet Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Marking his first official visit since taking office in May, Wong is the first foreign leader the 38 year old Thai PM has hosted, setting the stage for a high-stakes dialogue on diplomacy and development. The visit coincides…
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Phuket sands turn to gold as Sansiri digs deep for economic jewel
The sandy shores of Phuket are set for a glamorous makeover as real estate mogul Sansiri Plc zeroes in on the island’s potential to become Thailand’s crown jewel for economic growth. With its eyes firmly fixed on this tropical paradise, Sansiri is revving up its plans, leveraging Phuket’s strategic importance to drive a real estate renaissance. Thanks to Thailand’s revised…
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Pattaya police smash cross-border Chinese loan shark syndicate
In a dramatic crackdown, Pattaya police arrested 17 Chinese nationals accused of running a massive cross-border loan shark operation from luxury villas in South Pattaya’s Pratumnak Hill area. The raid, executed on Wednesday, November 27, uncovered a sophisticated illegal network allegedly serving thousands of clients in China. Acting on a warrant issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court, officers stormed two…
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Thailand to host 2025 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games with 2 billion baht budget
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced yesterday that Thailand will host the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and ASEAN Para Games with a budget of over 2 billion baht. Thailand is set to host the 33rd SEA Games, which will take place in three main provinces: Bangkok, Chon Buri, and Songkhla, from December 9 to 20, 2025. The…
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Arip turbocharging TechXPro marketing to ignite gadget craze
In an audacious move to spark excitement in the gadget-hungry crowds, Arip has turbocharged its marketing budget for the Commart TechXPro event, aiming to fire up demand for cutting-edge IT products as the year wraps up. This tech extravaganza, which kicked off yesterday, November 28, at Bitec and runs until December 1, has seen its marketing purse swell from a…
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Saphan Hin: Woman’s body washes ashore, sparking investigation
Early morning fitness enthusiasts at Phuket’s Saphan Hin Public Park were met with a grim sight today as the body of a woman was discovered washed ashore at the tip of Saphan Hin Cape. Police were called to the scene at 6.30am, today, November 29, where they found a small crowd gathered around the deceased. The woman, believed to be…
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