Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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Man-made moves make Thailand flood the news, says expert (video)
Pianporn “Pai” Deetes, Southeast Asia Programme Director for International Rivers, has pointed the finger of blame at human actions as major culprits of the floods that have unleashed chaos across Thailand this year. The tragic toll includes over 50 deaths in the north of Thailand earlier this year and more than 25 recently in the south of the country. Pianporn…
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PM Paetongtarn to outline key policies in public address tomorrow
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is set to deliver a significant public address tomorrow, December 10, where she will highlight her Cabinet’s accomplishments over the past three months and underscore the importance of the government’s key policies for the upcoming year. The address, titled 2025 Empowering Thais: A Real Possibility, will commence at 10am and will be broadcast live on NBT2HD,…
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Stigma strikes: HIV shatters career dreams of two young Thai men
In a heart-wrenching tale from Thailand, two young men, driven by noble pursuits, have seen their career dreams dashed due to the crushing stigma surrounding HIV. One man hoped to step into his late father’s shoes as a police officer in the troubled southern regions while the other longed for the skies as a 27 year old flight attendant. Both…
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Monsoon system brings heavy rain to southern Thailand
A new monsoon system is set to sweep across southern Thailand, bringing heavy rainfall to nine provinces. The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) warned residents to be cautious of potential hazards due to the severe weather. Meanwhile, northern Thailand is experiencing a drop in temperature and strong winds. The latest forecast from the TMD indicates that a new cold air…
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Four nabbed after Bangkok stabbing leaves teenager dead
Four people have been apprehended following the tragic stabbing of a 19 year old boy, known only as Ratthaphum, in Bang Kae, Bangkok. The grisly incident, which went down on Saturday, December 14, kicked off a rapid police operation. Police trawled through CCTV footage to track the suspects, eventually zeroing in on a property in the Bang Kae area. Here,…
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Naked Russian man rescued by speedboat hero near Pattaya
A naked and exhausted Russian man was dramatically rescued by a heroic speedboat driver headed to Koh Lan off the coast of Pattaya. The incident, which unfolded about six kilometres from Pattaya, grabbed headlines due to the man’s dire predicament. Pracharat Satsuk, a 34 year old speedboat operator, revealed how he stumbled upon the struggling swimmer during his regular route,…
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Young engineering student stabbed to death in Bangkok attack
A young engineering student was fatally stabbed by a gang of youths on motorcycles in Bangkok yesterday. The incident took place near the entrance of Soi Phetkasem 55/2 in Bang Khae, leaving a 19 year old dead and his friend narrowly escaping harm. Police Lieutenant Yanapol Phonyiem received reports of the fatal stabbing, with officers, forensic specialists, and a medical…
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Van crash on Doi Inthanon injures several, damages vehicles
A van descending Doi Inthanon crashed into a pickup and a Pajero, causing extensive damage and injuring several people. This incident occurred today at 10am on the road descending from Doi Inthanon towards Chom Thong district in Chiang Mai, just before the entrance to the Wachirathan Waterfall. The scene was chaotic, with a white Pajero severely damaged and stationary in…
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Drunk driving tragedy claims young footballers’ lives in Thailand
A tragic incident unfolded when a celebratory return journey turned fatal for a group of young footballers. Two teenagers lost their lives, and 10 others sustained injuries after a pickup truck veered off the road and collided with an electricity pole. The accident occurred as the group was heading home from a seven-a-side football championship in Kamphaeng Phet province. The…
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Yala tackles flood crisis with dam plans and relief efforts
Yala city municipality is taking a proactive approach to combat its persistent flooding woes. The city’s mayor, Pongsak Yingchoncharoen, has put forward guidelines aimed at tackling the long-term flood issues and is revisiting plans for the construction of the Krong Pinang and Kuemeng dams as part of these efforts. Pongsak provided an update on the flood situation yesterday, December 7,…
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Thai couple arrested for job scam, duping victims for 70,000 baht
Police have apprehended a couple accused of deceiving job seekers into paying them 70,000 baht each for overseas employment arrangements, ultimately providing nothing more than counterfeit documents. Anuwat and his wife Chantima were taken into custody by officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) at a residence in the Prasert Manukit area of Bangkok. The arrest took place yesterday,…
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Thai government delays 10,000-baht handout amid election concerns
The Thai government is gearing up for the second phase of its 10,000-baht cash handout, anticipated to be rolled out by the end of February, as confirmed by government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub. This initiative aims to provide financial support to the elderly, with the proposal already submitted to the Cabinet. However, a few concerns have led to a week’s delay…
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Police seize 6.4 million meth pills in Pathum Thani drug raid
Five individuals were apprehended by police in Pathum Thani‘s Lam Luk Ka district, where a significant cache of 6.4 million methamphetamine pills was discovered, poised for distribution to southern regions. The arrest, which took place at approximately 4pm yesterday, December 7, involved four men and one woman. The operation was conducted by narcotics suppression officers at a residence within the…
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Parked car explosion in Chon Buri nearly ignites house on fire
A parked car’s unexpected explosion after sitting idle for over a week nearly set an entire house ablaze. The incident occurred yesterday, December 6 at 6.30pm in Ban Suan, Mueang Chon Buri district. The intense fire destroyed the vehicle and cracked the house’s glass windows due to the explosion’s force. Police, led by Siwakorn Chanthamenchai from the Chon Buri Police…
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Teen killed in crash, 400 meth pills found in car
A collision between a car and a motorcycle resulted in the tragic death of a teenage girl, with police discovering 400 meth pills in the car involved. The car driver, 71 year old Chanyut, denies ownership of the drugs, questioning why would he wait for the police if they were his. Police Captain Prem Tiamtua of Udon Thani City Police…
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Thailand’s VAT hike: Restaurant and hotel sectors’ suggestions
A proposed increase in the value-added tax (VAT) rate from 7% to 15% has sparked significant concern among Thailand’s restaurant and hotel industries. Although the plans for the VAT hike are now reportedly scrapped, Sorathep Rojpotjanaruch, who leads the Thai Restaurant Business Association, expressed alarm over the potential consequences this tax hike could have on the already struggling restaurant sector.…
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Fatal shooting at Udon Thani concert leaves community in shock
A tragic altercation at a Pu Pongsit concert in Udon Thani yesterday led to a shooting which ultimately led to the death of one attendee and severe injuries to another. The incident unfolded yesterday, December 6, at 1.30am, when 22 year old Suphawit and 18 year old Theeraphat attended the annual Thung Si Muang festival concert and encountered a rival…
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Pattaya’s ongoing struggle of managing railway road traffic
Traffic congestion along railway roads has become a persistent headache for Pattaya’s commuters, with years of attempted solutions failing to provide meaningful relief. The city’s struggle to manage vehicular flow has highlighted significant infrastructure challenges. Seeking to address the issue, Pattaya City administration took an innovative approach by leasing a 19-kilometre stretch of the road from the State Railway of…
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Chon Buri police officer dismissed for extortion of elderly woman
A police officer in Chon Buri has been dismissed following allegations of extorting 250,000 baht from a 70 year old woman in exchange for handling her online fraud case. The officer is now in custody, with bail opposed. The officer, a sergeant major, is affiliated with the Saensuk Police Station in Chon Buri. Following an investigation led by the provincial…
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Thailand seeks return of fishing boat seized by Myanmar
Thailand is taking steps to reclaim a fishing boat seized by Myanmar after four Thai crew members were freed on December 5. This development was confirmed by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who highlighted ongoing efforts to secure the return of the boat. The vessel, named Sor Charoenchai 8, was captured along with 31 crew members, including four Thais and 27 Myanmar nationals.…
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Justice Ministry denies parole rule tailored for Yingluck Shinawatra
The Ministry of Justice firmly dismissed claims that a regulation permitting prisoners to be released on parole and confined to house arrest was crafted to benefit any specific individual, including former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. This denial emerged during an interview yesterday, December 6, with Somboon Muangklam, an adviser to Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, alongside officials from the Department of…
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Fire destroys five cars in Nonthaburi garage blaze
A devastating fire engulfed a car repair garage, reducing five vehicles to ashes after a series of loud explosions rocked the neighbourhood. The incident occurred in the early hours yesterday, December 6, prompting a swift response from local fire services and police in Nonthaburi. The blaze erupted at approximately 12.20am at a garage known as Chang Tao Garage, located within…
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Pheu Thai Party proposes bill to limit Thai military’s power
Pheu Thai Party has introduced a legislative proposal to curb the military’s influence in Thailand by amending the Defence Ministry Administration Act. This proposed amendment seeks to transfer the authority of appointing generals from the armed forces commanders to a committee appointed by the Cabinet, thereby promoting transparency and meritocracy in military promotions. The proposed change is designed to prevent the…
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Thailand braces for cold snap and coastal thunderstorms
Thailand is experiencing a noticeable drop in temperature, with the northern regions facing chilly to cold weather as temperatures plummet by four degrees Celsius (°C). The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued warnings for strong winds, thunderstorms and high seas in the south. The TMD’s forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that a high-pressure system or cold air mass…
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Taxing times: Thai PM backtracks on VAT hike after public outcry
In a dramatic U-turn, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pulled the plug on a proposal to crank up the value-added tax (VAT) following a storm of public outrage. The PM took to X (formerly Twitter) today, December 6, decisively posting: “No VAT adjustment to 15%.” This swift decision emerged from a huddle at Government House with Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira and…
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2 Thai women arrested for tricking young virgins into prostitution
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested two Thai women for operating a child prostitution ring, tricking young virgin women into offering sex services to illegal Chinese nationals. CIB officers arrested the 21 year old Thai woman named Panida and a 22 year old woman named Nalatporn for their involvement in child prostitution. Panida was arrested at her condominium in the…
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Mile high sex: Swissair faces blowback over viral in-flight video
Swiss International Air Lines is in hot water after a woman performing oral sex on a passenger, filmed by airline staff, went viral, sparking a public uproar over privacy rights. The scandal unfolded when footage captured by Swissair CCTV emerged, showing a couple getting frisky in the first-class galley of a Bangkok to Zurich flight. Now, the airline is scrambling to…
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Bangkok faces alarming PM2.5 pollution spike, 32 districts affected
Bangkok is suffocating under a cloud of smog as PM2.5 pollution levels surge, forcing 32 districts to breach safety thresholds. Satellite data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) casts a spotlight on Nong Khaem, clocking the most dangerous levels at a staggering 61.3 microgrammes per cubic metre. Such pollution spells disaster for our lungs, with the respiratory…
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Gold rush goes bust: Prices nosedive as market loses glitter
A shockwave hit the gold market today as the Gold Traders Association (GTA) announced a startling drop in prices, sending buyers and sellers into a flurry. Gold jewellery is now going for a cool 42,950 baht per baht weight, marking a notable plunge of 350 baht from the closing figures yesterday, December 5. The early birds were the first to…
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2 year old Thai boy crashes motorcycle into glass door, injuring mum
A two year old Thai boy crashed his mother’s motorcycle into the glass door of a house in the Isaan province of Buriram on Wednesday. The boy was unharmed but his mother sustained injuries from broken glass. The Siam Ruamjai Pu-in Rescue Foundation responded to the incident at a house on Nang Rong-Lam Plai Mart Road in the Nang Rong district of…
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