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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Thai truck driver walks away unscathed from Sukumvit smash
A Thai truck driver miraculously emerged unscathed from a jaw-dropping accident on Sukhumvit Road in Sattahip, in a scene straight out of a disaster film. The jaw-dropping incident occurred yesterday, December 1, at the stroke of 10.25am, prompting a swift response from the intrepid team at the Sawang Rojonthammasathit Foundation. Chaos descended as rescue squads raced to the scene, discovering…
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Rama II Road congestion eased with reversible lane after collapse
Measures have been implemented to ease the traffic congestion on Rama II Road following a road collapse on November 29. An elevated road section under construction collapsed, leading the Highways Department to open a reversible lane today, December 1, to manage the outbound traffic more effectively. Efforts are underway to clear the site where precast concrete segments fell. However, the…
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Phuket governor proposes monorail to fix island’s traffic
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat has proposed constructing a monorail system as a strategic solution to combat the increasingly challenging traffic conditions across the island. During an official press conference held yesterday, November 29, at Provincial Hall, which focused on promoting tourism and associated policies, Gov. Sophon discussed the potential monorail project with several private sector organisations. The proposal comes as…
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Thai fisherman drowns, 31 detained and shot at by Myanmar navy
A Myanmar navy patrol boat recently engaged with Thai fishing vessels off the coast of Ranong province, resulting in the tragic drowning of one fisherman and the detainment of 31 crew members. The Thai Ministry of Defence reported that the altercation occurred when two out of 15 Thai fishing boats were found operating between four and 5.7 nautical miles inside…
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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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M81 motorway opens free for new year travel in Thailand
Bang Yai district in Nonthaburi and Kanchanaburi province will soon be connected by a new motorway, offering motorists a cost-free travel experience over the new year holiday period. This initiative comes as a gesture from the Department of Highways, which announced that the 96-kilometre route, designated as M81, will be open for free from December 26 to January 2. Since…
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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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Villagers in Uthai Thani flock to banyan tree for lucky numbers
Excitement builds as villagers gather around the near century-old banyan tree near a crematorium in Uthai Thani, hoping for a lucky lottery number. Reports indicate that on the evening before a lottery draw, people flock to this tree at Wat Hadsainngam in Village 8, Rabam subdistrict, Lan Sak district. The locals are drawn by the belief that a long-haired woman…
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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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Body of missing five year old boy found in Chiang Mai canal
Thai police have confirmed the tragic discovery of a five year old boy who had been missing for three days. His lifeless body was found in a canal near his school yesterday, November 29 at 5pm. The search had been ongoing since his disappearance on Wednesday, November 27 from Tri Mit Witthaya School, a special education centre in Thung Ruang…
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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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Thai Cabinet approves civil service salary increase proposal
The Thai Cabinet has acknowledged a proposal to adjust the starting salaries for new civil service recruits, with a bachelor’s degree holder earning no less than 18,000 baht and a vocational certificate holder receiving a minimum of 11,000 baht. This adjustment is expected to utilise a budget of 2.67 billion baht. A meeting took place at Chiang Mai Rajabhat University,…
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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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Thaksin hits the road to boost Pheu Thai’s PAO hopes
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is back in the political spotlight, gearing up to help Pheu Thai candidates in key Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) races. After a triumphant showing in Udon Thani, the party is looking to capitalise on its momentum with Thaksin as its secret weapon. A party insider revealed the 74 year old former PM will visit…
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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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Thai man loses 1.8 million baht in online scam
A Thai man who works as a production manager has fallen victim to an online scam that has cost him just over 1.8 million baht. His family, worried about the financial losses, took him to file a police report yesterday, November 28, after he was convinced by fraudsters that he would be refunded the next day. The scam began when…
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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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