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 8 Pneumonia prevention tips for expat families in Thailand
With World Pneumonia Day on November 9, it’s the perfect time to consider how you can protect your family from this serious illness, especially in Thailand, where unique climate and seasonal factors come into play. Pneumonia can be especially dangerous...
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Thai transwoman fights for justice after ex’s deadly betrayal
A Thai transwoman in the central province of Uthai Thani is seeking justice after her ex-boyfriend conspired with his girlfriend to murder her by drugging. They then stole her car, mobile phone, and 15,800 baht in cash. The 54 year old transgender victim filed a complaint against her 30 year old ex-boyfriend and his girlfriend at Mueang Uthai Thani Police…
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EC clarifies Senate election vote exchange, downplays complaints
After questions arose regarding candidate vote exchange in the Senate elections, the Election Commission (EC) no longer deems wooing or exchanging votes in the Senate election as a breach. A petition challenging the initial restrictions on candidates’ election campaigning led the Administrative Court to rule against these restrictions on May 24, resulting in their repeal. EC Secretary-General Sawang Boonme addressed…
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Udon Thani karaoke bar raided for underage human trafficking
Police in Udon Thani raided a popular karaoke bar yesterday, uncovering a human trafficking operation involving underage girls. The raid, which took place at 10pm, on June 20, revealed a ledger containing customer names and a significant number of unused condoms. Governor Wanchai Kongkasem directed the operation, coordinating with Vimol Surasen, the district chief, along with police officers from Udon…
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Progressive Movement urges party unity against dissolution law
The Progressive Movement (PM) called on the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) to unite against a controversial dissolution law, urging them to resist the legislation rather than attack each other. PM Secretary-General Piyabutr Saengkanokkul posted on Facebook today, June 21, advocating for the two largest parties to find common ground. He criticised the dissolution…
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Russian man steals bag with 15,000 baht cash & phone in Phuket
A Thai woman issued a warning to locals in Phuket after a Russian man stole her bag, containing 15,000 baht in cash and a mobile phone, at a bar in the Karon neighbourhood on Wednesday. The victim shared the story with Phuket Times yesterday, June 20, stating that she worked at a bar in the Karon area of Phuket and…
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Thailand’s durian diplomacy: Cracking the chinese market wide open
Thailand is going all out to secure its crown in the lucrative Chinese durian market. The government has rolled out a series of innovative strategies, including high-tech farming enhancements and stringent quality controls, to ensure Thailand remains the top durian supplier to China. Prime Minister’s Office spokesman Chai Wacharonke announced at a press conference that Thailand has significantly bolstered its…
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Student narrowly escapes sexual assault attempt
A young female student narrowly escaped an attempted sexual assault near her residence yesterday when a man followed and tried to attack her outside her apartment. Her quick thinking and cries for help thwarted the assailant. Footage from a CCTV camera installed near a housing project on Bang Sao Thong Road in Samut Prakan captured the incident. The video showed…
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Belgian tourist dies after horrific attack by German in Hua Hin
A 64 year old Belgian tourist tragically succumbed to severe injuries following a brutal assault in Hua Hin in early April. The attack left him with a fractured skull and 10 broken bones, leading to a coma from which he never awoke. Jan Valkenborg was holidaying with his Thai girlfriend in the resort town when he was ambushed. He was smoking…
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Stormy forecast: Extreme rain and thunderstorms in 42 provinces
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued another severe weather warning for 42 provinces nationwide, forecasting heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Bangkok is expected to experience significant rain coverage at 70%, with authorities urging caution for flash floods and forest runoff. The TMD released a 24-hour weather forecast today, highlighting the strengthening southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the…
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Japanese tourist exposes corrupt Thai traffic officer in viral video
A Japanese tourist exposed a corrupt Thai traffic police officer by sharing a video of the officer in Bangkok asking him to secretly pay 500 baht to avoid a charge for driving without an international driving licence. The Japanese YouTuber shared a video with the caption, “How to deal with corrupt Thai police when you get arrested.” In the video,…
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Monk gone rogue: Novice vanishes from temple, reappears briefly
A 16 year old novice monk who went missing from a temple in Kanchanaburi, was found in Nonthaburi but has since disappeared again, leaving only his sash and a note behind. Yesterday, June 20, at Bang Bua Thong Police Station in Nonthaburi, Somchit, the abbot of Wiakakee Temple in Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi, and Wichai Saisangsin, the village headman, travelled from…
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Poker tournaments are becoming more popular in Thailand
Every day, more and more people in Thailand play live poker. A lot of expert poker players from Thailand are known all over the world. There are no specific rules against playing poker in a real-life setting, but it is against the law to bet on card games, which includes poker. The Thailand Gaming Act of 1935 says that dog…
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Purrfect: Stray cats seek forever homes at Bangkok Expo 2024
Bangkok’s Benjakitti Park is buzzing with excitement as the BKK Expo 2024 rolls into town, inviting animal lovers to consider adopting stray cats and transforming lives one purr at a time. Deputy Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Governor Tavida Kamolvej announced today, June 20, that a variety of stray cats, now vaccinated and sterilised, are being showcased at the Sua Pa…
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Defence ministry clarifies salary guidelines
To quell public outrage, the Defence Ministry unveiled comprehensive guidelines detailing what can and cannot be deducted from conscripts’ salaries. The move follows a recent scandal involving dubious salary deductions by the 22nd Logistics and Supports Battalion. The guidelines, released on the ministry’s website today, clarify the permissible deductions from the 11,000 baht monthly salary of conscripts. This announcement comes…
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Limited-edition banknotes issued to celebrate king’s birthday
The Bank of Thailand has released a stunning series of commemorative banknotes, igniting a frenzy among collectors and royal enthusiasts. These special 100-baht notes are designed to honour His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday, marking his 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary on July 28. Available from July 23, these exclusive notes are already creating waves. Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput…
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Bangkok commuters go bananas as monkey halts BTS traffic
A passenger today spotted a monkey on the railway track at Bang Wa BTS Station in Bangkok. Officers from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) announced they hope to catch the animal as soon as possible to avoid any possible accidents. The Red Skull News X account shared a video of a monkey walking along the…
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Exploitative Chinese tour operations targeted by Tourism Ministry
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports pledged decisive action against Chinese zero-sum tour operations exploiting Thai nominees to dominate the influx of Chinese tourists by offering significant price cuts, posing a severe threat to local Thai tour operators. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) raised the alarm earlier this week, noting a surge in Chinese tour groups reminiscent of…
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Temple tragedy: Friends turn foes in bizarre brawl
A brawl left two friends critically injured in a surreal spectacle opposite the serene Huai Yai Temple in East Pattaya. Two friends turned their playful banter into a shocking duel on Tuesday, June 18. One of the men, 36 year old Weerayut Chomthalak was found at the scene with a severe head injury, bleeding profusely and possibly under the influence.…
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Phuket crowned Thailand’s tech haven
Phuket has been declared Thailand’s most technologically advanced province among 23 smart provinces, while Wangchan Valley in Rayong clinched the top spot in the city category, according to a report by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA). The rankings, unveiled by DEPA’s Smart Cities Office in the Thailand Smart City Competitiveness Index (TSCCI) 2023 report, evaluated 30 smart cities across…
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Lazada denies divestment plans in Thailand amid growing rumours
Lazada Group has firmly denied any plans for divestment in Thailand, asserting that there are no ongoing discussions with investors regarding such a move. A company spokesperson addressed the circulating rumours. “Lazada Group is not considering any divestment of our business in Thailand and is not in discussion with any investors on this topic. Any rumours stating otherwise are untrue.”…
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81% of hazardous cadmium waste returned to Tak province
Nearly 81% of mishandled hazardous cadmium waste, totalling approximately 13,000 tonnes, has been returned to its source in Tak province, with the remaining waste in Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri provinces awaiting transport. The Ministry of Industry reported today that 10,507 tonnes of tailings had been delivered to Bound and Beyond Plc in Tak, accounting for 81% of the 12,948…
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Online shoppers in Thailand warned about second-hand scams
Online shopping for second-hand goods offers convenience and variety at the click of a button but it also comes with risks. Anti-Fake News Centre Thailand recently warned the public to be vigilant when purchasing second-hand items online to avoid falling victim to scams and inadvertently buying stolen goods. The rise in popularity of online shopping has attracted not only genuine…
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Vape escape: Cyber police seize e-cigarettes worth 17 million baht
Cyber police raided two key locations, dismantling a major e-cigarette network and seizing over 80,000 items worth more than 17 million baht. Two suspects were apprehended, claiming they were merely caretakers. Earlier today at the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) headquarters in Mueang Thong Thani, TCSD Commissioner, Navin Sengsomwong, alongside relevant police authorities and representatives from the National Tobacco Products…
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TAT’s plan to lure long-haul tourists with 3.5 trillion baht goal
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled an ambitious strategy to boost tourism revenue to a staggering 3.5 trillion baht by year-end, focusing on long-distance markets. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, outlined the plan yesterday, revealing that tourists from far-flung corners of the globe are crucial to hitting the government’s lofty…
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Forest fires cut Thailand tourism revenue by 400 million baht
Forest fires in Thailand have severely impacted the economy, with annual tourism revenue dropping from 2 billion baht to 1.6 billion baht. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is urgently implementing prevention plans to address these issues. Director of the National Park Office at the DNP, Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn revealed that most forest fires are human-induced, resulting…
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Thailand sobers up: Slams brakes on extended alcohol sales hours
The Government of Thailand dashed hopes of extended alcohol sales hours, citing alarming statistics on road casualties and accidents. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced the decision following a tense panel meeting at the ministry on Tuesday, asserting that public safety must take precedence. “The ministry’s alcoholic beverage control committee reviewed road accident statistics and related legal implications, recognising the…
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Brief encounter: Cobra sneaks into man’s boxers in Rayong (video)
Snake Rescue Rayong officials safely removed a cobra that slithered into the boxer shorts of a Thai man while he slept. A rescuer and an exotic pet lover shared a video and some words of the rescue operation on his Facebook account, Ner KhwaiTai, on June 8. “A little cobra with big venom. It seeks warmth in human’s boxer shorts.…
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Buriram bust-up: Minibus driver assaults woman over school run
A heated altercation occurred in Buriram yesterday when a local minibus driver assaulted a woman, who was picking up village children for school, the driver was angered by the encroachment into his minibus territory. The incident, which occurred around 7am yesterday on a village road in Prakhon Chai District, Buriram, was witnessed by several parents and schoolchildren who were left…
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Police bust cross-border vehicle theft gang in Ubon Ratchathani
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers, along with Ubon Ratchathani Highway Police, apprehended a gang involved in stealing and selling vehicles across borders. The suspects admitted to stealing three motorcycles in a single day, earning 14,000 baht for their efforts. Today, June 20, Kirati Hoemsrichat, Police Lieutenant Colonel of Highway Police Division 4, led the operation with the CIB. The officers…
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Don Mueang tollway tolls to rise by up to 10 baht
Don Mueang Tollway, the operator of the elevated Uttraphimuk Tollway, announced a toll increase of 5 to 10 baht, bringing the maximum toll fee to 170 baht, effective December 22. The announcement was made today by Don Mueang Tollway Public Company Limited, informing users about the upcoming change in toll rates based on the concession contract amendment agreement 3/2550 dated…
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