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 How to choose the perfect family-friendly property in Phuket
Phuket has long attracted visitors from around the globe with its golden beach and lush green hills. Many come for a holiday and leave captivated, often deciding they want a piece of the island for themselves. That’s why, despite fluctuations...
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Congee con: Fraudsters target Thai restaurants with fake injury
A new scam involving a group of fraudsters threatening to sue a congee restaurant has gone viral on social media. The group claims that a piece of scouring pad was found in the congee, causing them injury, and demands 6,400 baht for medical expenses. The Facebook page à¸à¸µà¸‹à¹‰à¸à¸‚ยี้ข่าว3 recently posted a warning to restaurant owners about this new scam. They…
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Pattaya police boost Walking Street security as high season nears
Tourist Police and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) conducted a joint inspection on Walking Street in South Pattaya on Sunday evening, September 1, to increase tourist confidence as the high season approaches. The inspection began at 7.30pm, overseen by Police Lieutenant General Panurat Lakboon, Secretary-General of the ONCB, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phueak-am, Commissioner of the Tourist…
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Italian illegally detained by Burmese woman after visa dispute
An Italian man sought help from the Thai police after being detained by a Burmese woman following an argument over a visa fee in a company office on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Officers from Koh Pha Ngan Police Station and the Tourist Police rushed to the company office on the island after…
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6 year old girl drowns after being thrown into pond by grandfather
A six year old girl tragically drowned after being thrown into a pond by her grandfather in Bueng Kan. Police are investigating the incident which occurred yesterday, September 2. Officers from Pong Hai Police Station in Bueng Kan province responded to a report of a young girl’s body found drowned in Bung Chaiwan pond, located in Ban Nong Teen Phuak, Nam…
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Eighth death in Bangkok methanol poisoning crisis
The eighth victim of the deadly methanol poisoning cluster has died, with five others still on ventilators. This latest casualty was in critical condition from the moment of hospitalisation yesterday, September 2. The situation was reported by the Department of Medical Services and the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, revealing a total of 44 patients affected by…
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Major British drug dealer arrested in Phuket restaurant
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested a major British drug dealer at a restaurant in Phuket yesterday after he escaped a life imprisonment sentence in the UK and fled to Phuket to live a life of luxury. The UK’s National Crime Agency requested cooperation from the Thai authorities in the arrest of the fugitive drug suspect, a 28 year old man…
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Bangkok taxi driver returns tourist’s lost bag with 75,100 baht
A taxi driver in Bangkok made headlines yesterday after returning a significant amount of foreign currency to an Israeli tourist. The taxi driver, 54 year old Wirat Soi-udom from Roi Et province, discovered a black handbag in his taxi, containing foreign currencies and documents. The bag belonged to Nathanel Avinoam, an Israeli national. Wirat had picked up Avinoam from Thanon…
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Thai police suspend eight officers over online gambling probe
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) chief has signed an order to temporarily remove eight close aides of former Police General Surachate Hakparn, better known as Big Joke, from their positions, pending a serious disciplinary investigation related to an online gambling case. National Police Chief Police General Torsak Sukwimol issued the directive yesterday, September 2, appointing an investigation committee to look into…
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Thai chamber warns flood damages may exceed 10 billion baht
The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) raised alarms over the economic repercussions of the ongoing floods in northern Thailand. Should the flooding persist for another month, financial damage could surpass 10 billion baht, officials warn. Estimates from the TCC and the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce reveal that if conditions improve within the next two weeks, the current…
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Thai man walks over 200km to hospital for daughter’s treatment
A Thai man walked over 200 kilometres to take his one year old daughter, who suffers from heart disease and a severe lung infection, to a hospital in Chiang Mai‘s city centre. A rescue team came to his aid after observing him weeping by the roadside. The rescuer from the Nopparat Rescue Foundation in Chiang Mai offered a free ride…
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Four routes under consideration for Koh Chang Bridge
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) has initiated a series of public hearings regarding the proposed bridge connecting the mainland to Koh Chang Island, a popular destination in Trat province. The first hearing, held today, September 2, in Mueang district, garnered widespread support from locals and business owners. Participants expressed a strong preference for the bridge to guide travellers through…
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Crackdown on financial crimes suspends 34,000 bank accounts
The Thai Bankers Association (TBA) announced a significant crackdown on financial crimes, blacklisting 15,000 individuals and suspending 34,000 bank accounts linked to call centre scams. TBA Chairman Payong Srivanich revealed today, September 2, that the association’s new AI-driven system, the Cross-Reference File (CRF), uncovered over 15,000 people involved in money laundering schemes. This system, which has been analysing data from…
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Transport Minister reiterates commitment to Land Bridge Project
The Pheu Thai-led government remains dedicated to advancing the land bridge project, aiming to enhance benefits for the nation and foster sustainable economic growth, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Juangroongruangkit. In an update on the initiative, which will connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea, Suriya explained that the Office of Transport and…
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Second-hand tsunami: Used car flood drives Thai sellers to despair
A torrent of high-quality used cars flooding the market might sound like a bargain hunter’s dream but it’s turning into a nightmare for sellers. While buyers drive off with the deals, automakers in Thailand are hitting potholes trying to move new stock, and used car dealers are struggling to keep sales engines running. The second-hand car market skidded to a…
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Cambodian woman found dead with multiple stab wounds
A young Cambodian woman was found dead in her rented room with over ten stab wounds to her neck yesterday, September 1, after a brutal attack by suspected secret admirers. Her sister discovered the gruesome scene upon returning from work, finding the victim lying in a pool of blood. Police were alerted to the incident at 7.20am yesterday, by Santi…
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Game on: Thailand to level up with new Game Industry Act
Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry is set to draft the Game Industry Act, aiming to address the rapid growth of the video game sector, valued at 40 billion baht annually. The initiative also seeks to position Thailand as a key player in the regional gaming market, according to the ministry. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and Chief Executive of the Digital…
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Phuket’s road to relief: Green light at the end of the traffic tunnel
Phuket’s long-awaited new road linking Kathu and Srisoonthorn is finally getting the green light, thanks to generous land donations from three of the island’s most prominent families. Local bigwigs have confirmed the long-stalled project is now full speed ahead. The Ekwanich, Kulwanich, and Saksaktawee families have handed over the land needed for the ambitious 5.6-kilometre road, designed to ease traffic…
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TAT targets 12.2 million foreign visitors in late 2024
Thailand anticipates a surge in foreign arrivals, targeting 12.2 million visitors in the final four months of 2024. This influx is projected to elevate the annual total to nearly 36 million, generating 1.8 trillion baht in revenue, as reported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). According to TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the market’s growth is expected to benefit from…
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Phuket grease monkey scoops 30 million lottery
Phuket’s newest millionaire is none other than a humble chief mechanic at Anuphas Ford, who struck gold in the government lottery’s latest draw. Jirasak ‘Ton’ Saewun, who works at Anuphas Ford in Phuket, scooped a staggering 30 million baht after hitting the jackpot with five first-prize tickets. The winning numbers, announced by the Government Lottery Office, were 199606. Other lucky…
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Teen motorcyclist dies in head-on crash on his birthday
A 19 year old motorcyclist tragically lost his life on his birthday after colliding with a pickup truck while riding against traffic in heavy rain. The accident occurred yesterday, September 1, revealing a poignant coincidence with the motorbike’s registration plate matching his birth date. The incident took place at 11.50pm the previous night on Highway 3056, in front of Wat…
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Murky waters: Shady investors dive into Koh Chang land grab
Fresh fears are bubbling up in Koh Chang, Trat province, as sneaky investors with murky ties have started to snap up land. Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn, National Parks Office Director, raised the red flag on these shady dealings. “Private investors are buying swathes of land from locals, and we suspect sinister connections behind these transactions. The government and local officials need to…
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Police crack down on illegal residents, gambling in Samut Prakan
Immigration officers in Samut Prakan recently conducted a sweeping crackdown on illegal foreign residents and unlawful gambling activities. The operation, which took place yesterday, September 1, was led by high-ranking officials including Police Lieutenant General Itthipol Itthisarnronnachai. Police targeted the area in Samrong Nua subdistrict, Mueang Samut Prakan district. The directive for this crackdown came from Police Major General Natthakorn…
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Poh Teck Tung Foundation hosts 13.3 million baht charity event
The Poh Teck Tung Foundation organised a major charity giveaway event as part of the annual Teung Krachat festival for 2024, with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt presiding over the ceremony. The foundation revealed that this year’s budget, amounting to 13.3 million baht, was allocated to distribute goods across four provinces. Leading the foundation, Vichien Techapaiboon, the foundation’s Chairman, along with…
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Thai taxi driver attacked by passenger for overcharging (video)
A Thai taxi driver is seeking justice after a male passenger attacked him for overcharging on a roadside in the Sathorn district of Bangkok. The taxi driver, Pipol Sawangsuk, shared three videos showing him in a heated argument with the passenger on a footpath along Chan Road in Bangkok on Saturday, August 31. He later shared another video explaining the…
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Foreign wheeled-dealers busted: Koh Pha Ngan car crackdown
Police in Surat Thani nabbed two foreign nationals on Koh Pha Ngan for illegally renting out vehicles. The crackdown happened yesterday, September 1, with a 60 year old Russian man and an 18 year old Ukrainian man being detained. Tourist police and local officials swooped in on the Russian at an unregistered house in Moo 1 village, where they seized…
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Stepfather arrested in Nonthaburi for alleged year-long child abuse
Thai police apprehended a stepfather for sexually abusing his eight year old stepdaughter for nearly a year. The suspect, 36 year old Wichan, denies the allegations and challenges the evidence. Police remain sceptical of his claims. A joint operation of the Metropolitan Police and criminal investigation trainees led to the arrest at a residence in Bang Si Mueang, Nonthaburi, following…
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Drug-addict jailed for 13 years for attempted rape of Thai teacher
A drug-addict was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison for the attempted rape of a Thai teacher at a school in the northern province of Chiang Rai in January. Security camera footage of the attack on the 41 year old female teacher, Autcharaporn, at Baan Pong Kluea School in Chiang Rai, went viral, garnering attention from Thai…
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Cambodian motorcyclist killed in Chon Buri crash with Porsche
A Cambodian motorcyclist was tragically killed in a high-impact crash with a luxury Porsche in Chon Buri. The deadly collision happened at 3.06am yesterday, September 1, on Soi Chaiyapreuk 2, Huay Yai. Local police and rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rushed to the scene. The aftermath of the crash was dramatic, with tyre marks stretching over 10…
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Free rides on Bangkok’s upgraded BRT system for two months
Passengers can now enjoy free rides on Bangkok’s newly upgraded Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for the next two months, according to a transport official from the operating company. This new service, which started yesterday, September 1, features electric buses that have replaced the old ones running on natural gas for vehicles (NGV) after more than 14 years of use.…
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Pattaya eyes one-way system traffic shake-up to Soi Buakhao
Local government officials in Pattaya are considering extending their new one-way traffic system, currently operating on Soi 11 (Soi Honey) and Soi 13 (Soi Diana Inn), to Soi Buakhao. The move follows a successful trial and positive feedback from residents. Led by Anupong Phutthanavarat, the Pattaya City Council’s Committee on Administration and Public Safety recently visited these streets to evaluate…
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