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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Bangkok man caught stealing 1,100-litre water tank
A man was caught attempting to steal a 1,100-litre stainless steel water tank in Taling Chan, Bangkok, with plans to sell it to a junk shop. Police received a report about the incident early yesterday morning, December 15, leading to the arrest of 62 year old Prasert Jitthamphong, who was found with the stolen tank and a blue tricycle cart…
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Holy smokes! Runaway monks in love go from robes to rogues
Police arrested two former monks fleeing from a temple in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen to the central province of Ratchaburi after their secret relationship was exposed and were implicated in operating an embezzlement scheme and a mule account. Locals in the Ban Haet district of Khon Kaen contacted highway police and reported that two monks, 24 year old…
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Fire engulfs Bangkok factory, emergency services contain blaze
A massive fire broke out at a large plastic bag manufacturing factory in Bangkok, causing chaos as firefighters rushed to control the blaze. The incident occurred yesterday, December 15, at 1.50pm in the Samdam area, Bang Khun Thian district. Bangkok police and fire services were promptly dispatched to the scene after being alerted by Prasert Phunkaew, an investigator at Samdam…
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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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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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New alcohol bill to limit sales hours, boost safety measures
The Ministry of Public Health will present the Alcoholic Beverage Control Bill to Parliament next month, marking a significant step in the legislative process. Nipon Chinanonwait, who directs the ministry’s Office of Alcohol Control Committee, shared updates regarding the bill yesterday, December 15. According to him, the revised Alcohol Beverage Control Act is slated for its second and third readings…
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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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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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Paetongtarn Shinawatra 29th on Forbes’ 2024 Power Women list
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been named among Forbes Magazine’s 100 World’s Most Powerful Women 2024, securing the 29th position globally and ranking third in Asia. This prestigious recognition places her among influential figures such as Sandy Ran Xu, CEO of China’s JD.com, and Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, who hold the 27th and 28th positions,…
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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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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’s Purple Line extension nears halfway mark
The construction of the Purple Line’s southern extension, a crucial link between Tao Poon in the Bang Sue district and Rat Burana in southern Bangkok, is making significant progress. The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) reported that the project is nearly halfway finished. During an inspection conducted yesterday, December 15, Montri Dechasakulsom, alongside board members and executives, assessed…
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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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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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Thai and mighty: Tourism takes off with a Bangkok load of visitors
Thailand’s back on the world’s travel map with a record-breaking wave of tourists flooding its shores, boosting the nation’s coffers and setting sights on even sunnier outcomes. In a spectacular show of popularity, more than 37.72 million globe-trotters have flocked to the Land of Smiles between January 1 and December 8 this year, according to Government Spokesperson Jirayu Huangsap. This…
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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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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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Police Region 5 seizes 6.8 million meth pills in major bust
Police Region 5 coordinated with various agencies to announce a major drug bust, seizing 6.8 million methamphetamine pills from a drug trafficking network along the border. The operation, aiming to curb drug distribution within the country, was highlighted in a press conference held yesterday at the Police Region 5 headquarters. Key figures including Police Lieutenant General Kritthapol Yeesakhorn, the Commissioner…
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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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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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Saudi couple rescued after Jet Ski capsizes off Jomtien Beach
A Saudi Arabian couple experienced a harrowing ordeal when their jet ski overturned a few kilometres off Jomtien Beach near Pattaya. Rescue workers were alerted to the situation shortly after midnight yesterday, December 14, when 26 year old Alamri Abdulrahman Mahdi, reached Jomtien Beach. Exhausted and wearing a life vest, he asked for assistance for his wife, who was still…
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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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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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