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 This Christmas, give the gift of health: essential options for expats in Thailand
The holiday season is here, bringing warmth, joy, and a chance to reflect on the year gone by. As an expat in Thailand, this Christmas is a great time to invest in something that truly matters: health. Whether for you...
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Pattaya launches training to enhance staff’s document writing skills
Pattaya City has initiated a new training program designed to improve the skills of its employees in writing official letters and documenting meeting minutes. The project, led by the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Pattaya City, Dr Siwat Boonkerd, aims to ensure that staff members can draft accurate and effective official documents, thus enhancing communication efficiency within the city administration. Head…
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Transport Ministry execs visit Phuket to boost economic development
Senior executives from the Ministry of Transport gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, engaging in a two-day study tour aimed at boosting economic development in the region through transportation initiatives. This initiative, part of a broader training programme organised by the Ministry of Transport, targets government officials and employees from state enterprises. Running from May 27 to August 16, the…
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Civil defence volunteers in Pattaya receive disaster training
Civil defence volunteers in Pattaya underwent their annual training to enhance their support capabilities during public disasters. The programme commenced at 9.30am on Monday, July 15, in the Thappraya Room at Pattaya City Hall. Theerasak Chatupong, Head of the Pattaya City Permanent Secretary’s Office, led the opening ceremony. Charan Thiammuang, Head of the Maritime Disaster Prevention Department and Acting Director…
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Vietnamese tour guide reveals more on Bangkok hotel murder-suicide
Further questioning of a Vietnamese tour guide, who served the six Vietnamese nationals before their deaths, revealed that another tour guide, named Tiger, may have known the source of the cyanide and been able to identify others involved in the murder-suicide case. Six Vietnamese nationals died from cyanide poisoning at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Bangkok, with their bodies discovered…
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Cat-nabbed: Thai man’s purr-fect crime outside Phuket bank (video)
Police arrested a Thai man for stealing a cat from outside a bank in the Wichit district of Phuket. The man claimed he intended to pet the cat but many Thai netizens suspected he intended to eat it. The cat’s owner posted CCTV footage on social media showing the thief, identified as 32 year old Nattaphon, taking her white cat named…
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Pattaya Buddhist Lent celebration with traditional candle procession
The Nong Manao Community near Pattaya united to celebrate the upcoming Buddhist Lent with a traditional candle procession and offering ceremony. The event took place on Tuesday, July 16 at 9am, involving villagers, teachers, and students from Wat Sukri Bunyaram School in Nong Manao, Village No. 8, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. The actual dates for Buddhist Lent will take place…
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Cyber police arrest loan shark, seize over 3 million baht
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau officers (CCIB) are intensifying efforts to crack down on illegal money-lending operations. Police recently arrested a 43 year old woman for running an online lending page. She confessed to charging exorbitant interest rates of 20% per month, with evidence found at her residence revealing over 3 million baht in circulation. Police Major General Phumipat Phattharasriwongchai, chief…
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Thailand braces for heavy rainfall and flash floods in 51 provinces
The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for 51 provinces, including Bangkok, forecasting heavy rainfall and advising caution against flash floods and forest runoffs. Today, the TMD predicts strong monsoons will sweep through the upper northern and northeastern regions, impacting the pressure systems over the northern South China Sea. The monsoon’s force, covering the Andaman Sea, southern regions,…
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Police seize 240,000 meth pills after high-speed chase
A high-speed chase involving a drug trafficking gang in Mukdahan province led to the arrest of one suspect and the seizure of 240,000 methamphetamine pills, while another suspect managed to escape into the forest. Under the supervision of Chatchai, the provincial police chief, officers were instructed to intensify drug trafficking inspections. The operation, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phonchai Phuchomchit…
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Dutchman falls to death from Pattaya mansion, sparking panic
A Dutchman fell to his death from a six-storey mansion in Pattaya yesterday in a suspected suicide causing panic among tourists and locals. Police and rescue teams were called to the scene to investigate and retrieve the body. The tragic incident occurred in South Pattaya’s Soi Buakhao, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, and Chon Buri. Police Lieutenant Colonel Tanongsak Inphadung, an…
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Six-wheel truck rampage damages 20 cars on Rama II Road (video)
A chaotic scene unfolded on Rama II Road as a six-wheel truck went on a rampage, crashing into over 20 parked vehicles. Locals and police joined forces to chase the vehicle but the driver did not stop. A video clip circulated online yesterday, July 17, showing a group of motorcyclists pursuing a six-wheel truck that had caused multiple collisions and…
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Thailand to boost 2024 budget by 122 billion baht for economic lift
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin emphasised the necessity of increasing the 2024 fiscal budget by 122 billion baht to stimulate Thailand’s economy. He proposed a supplementary budget bill to the House, aiming to finance the digital wallet scheme, a core policy of the Pheu Thai Party. Opposition parties opposed the bill, citing legal concerns and potential violations of the State Fiscal…
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Byte-sized shopping: TikTok dances into ASEAN e-commerce scene
TikTok, the social media phenomenon owned by ByteDance, is now a formidable force in e-commerce. According to a recent report by Momentum Works, published in Nikkei Asia, TikTok Shop’s gross merchandise volume (GMV) soared from US$4.4 billion (around 158 billion baht) in 2022 to a staggering US$16.3 billion in 2023. This explosive growth has catapulted TikTok to second place in…
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Icelandic man mysteriously found dead in Samut Prakan hotel room
An Icelandic man was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a renowned hotel in Samut Prakan. The body showed no visible signs of injury and only beer cans were found nearby. Hotel staff revealed that the man had been staying at the hotel for nearly a month. Police Lieutenant Colonel Damrong Sukchusri, an investigator from Bang Kaew Police Station in…
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Thai student wows judges in Chinese language contest
In a spectacular display of linguistic prowess and cultural mastery, the Thailand finals of the 23rd Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students concluded with a bang on Saturday at Rangsit University in Pathum Thani. Thirty talented students from 17 universities across Thailand showcased their exceptional Chinese language skills and deep understanding of Chinese culture. Participants captivated the…
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Elderly woman forced to sell meth to support four grandchildren
Krabi Provincial Narcotics Suppression Unit, targetted a local drug hotspot in Krabi Noi subdistrict today, July 17, but a subsequent raid uncovered a drug operation run by an elderly woman, who sold methamphetamine pills to care for her grandchildren. During the investigation, a search of her residence yielded 122 methamphetamine pills hidden in her bedroom. The dealer, 64 year old…
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Floods disrupt Khon Kaen, submerging homes across two districts
Floodwaters have inundated Khon Kaen province, particularly affecting the districts of Mancha Khiri and Ban Phai, with the intense rainfall submerging homes up to their roofs. Route 2062 in Mancha Khiri, near the Suan Mon area of the Suan Mon sub-district, today, July 17, was submerged due to overflow from the Chi Rong Canal, extending for over 300 metres. Additionally,…
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Royal flush: Thai cops deal out arrests in billion-baht gambling bust
Royal Thai Police (RTP) swooped on a gambling website with over five billion baht in circulation and arrested two Thai men behind the operation. One of them, the son of a former senator, was arrested during a Dhamma retreat. Officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) launched Operation Shutdown, targeting two e-payment service…
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Severe storm sinks fishing boat off Trang, woman dies
In the midst of a severe storm, a fishing boat capsized off the coast of Trang province, resulting in the tragic death of a woman while her husband survived. The incident occurred early today, July 17, when the couple was returning to shore while navigating the high waves. At 4am, the Marine Department in Trang received reports of a capsized…
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Fast and furious food delivery rider wrecks Pattaya ATM
In a shocking act of vandalism caught on camera, a man in a green GrabFood delivery uniform went on a destructive spree, smashing an ATM at a bank in Soi Nern Plub Wan, East Pattaya. The incident, which occurred on Monday, July 15 amid heavy traffic, has left locals stunned and alarmed. Witnesses reported that the rider’s frustration escalated after…
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Bangkok’s Wat Pho climbs Asia’s top travel list
Bangkok’s Wat Phra Chetuphon, famously known as Wat Pho, clinched a coveted spot among TripAdvisor’s 25 most popular destinations in Asia for 2024. This year, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha proudly stands at 9th place, a testament to its enduring appeal since it first made the list in 2020. TripAdvisor’s glowing recommendation highlights the tranquil allure of Wat Pho,…
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Couple rescued after fishing boat capsizes in storm off Satun coast
A couple in a fishing boat that capsized in rough seas during a heavy storm was rescued by a passing tourist boat. The incident occurred off the coast of Satun, Thailand. Heavy rain and strong winds caused multiple fishing boats to capsize in the sea near the La-ngu and Mueang districts in Satun. A tourist fishing boat managed to rescue a…
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Pink motorcycle flasher causes stir in Pattaya
Residents and visitors in Pattaya were left slack-jawed when a man on a pink Honda Zoomer-X motorcycle dropped his trousers for a full view. The incident, captured on video, ignited both concern and bemused laughter throughout the community. A local 42 year old woman, Am, witnessed the startling incident in Soi Bongkot, South Pattaya on Sunday, July 14. She described…
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Beach horror: Lower body find sends shockwaves in central Thailand
A hotel employee yesterday discovered the lower part of a human body on Laem Sadet Beach in the central province of Chanthaburi. Police are struggling to identify the deceased due to the missing upper half, including the head. The 39 year old hotel worker, whose name has not been disclosed, told Matichon that he found the human remains at approximately…
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PM Srettha’s 122 billion baht budget boost to stimulate economy
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin launched the first reading of an additional budget for fiscal 2024, earmarking a whopping 122 billion baht for economic stimulus through the digital wallet scheme. Addressing the House, the Thai Premier outlined the government’s plan to disburse a 10,000-baht digital handout, aimed at enhancing the quality of life and generating job opportunities. “We cannot afford to…
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NBTC suspends SIM cards to tackle call centre scams
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) of Thailand, in partnership with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), launched a significant operation aimed at regulating mobile banking and combating call centre scams. The initiative led to the suspension of 1,096,000 phone numbers registered to users holding more than 101 SIM cards. A member of the NBTC board, Police General Nathathorn Prousoontorn,…
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Bangkok bike bungle: Drunk taxi driver’s crash leads to two injuries
A drunk Thai taxi driver crashed his car into four motorcycles in Soi Ratchadaphisek 66 in Bangkok resulting in two injuries. He initially claimed he was not drunk and that the bottles found in his car contained milk, not alcohol. Ratchadaphisek neighbourhood residents stopped the 52 year old taxi driver, Udon, on Saturday, July 13, who had fled the scene…
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Bangkok National Gallery’s 200-year Thai art history exhibition
The National Gallery in Bangkok invites you to, 200 Years Journey Through Thai Modern Art History, a spectacular exhibition running until August 31. This exhibition, held in collaboration with the Art Auction Centre, offers a rare opportunity to explore over two centuries of Thai art history. From the traditional works of Khrua In Khong, who flourished during the reigns of…
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Elderly monk found dead in Uthai Thani cell after three days
A monk in Uthai Thani was found dead after three days, emitting a strong odour in his monastic cell. The 84 year old deceased monk had been suffering from end-stage kidney disease and refused dialysis treatment. The incident was reported yesterday, July 16, to Satean Onthong, a duty officer at Khao Bang Krach Police Station, by Bongkot Dhammatipo, deputy head…
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Thai chef’s ‘roo-tiful’ flair scoops MasterChef Australia 2024
A talented Thai chef has scooped the MasterChef Australia 2024 title with her unique Aussie-Thai fusion dishes, including the viral sensation Kangaroo Larb and Scotch Egg Sausage. Her innovative culinary creations captivated both the judges and the audience. In the grand finale of MasterChef Australia 2024, Nat Thaipan competed against her fellow contestant, Pezza, in an intense showdown. Nat’s first…
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