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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  • Thailand Video News | Cold Front Chills North & More

    Thailand Video News | Cold Front Chills North & More

    Thailand’s New 99-Year Land Lease Policy Opens Doors for Foreign Investors Thailand has introduced a new policy that extends land lease terms for foreign investors to 99 years. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira presented the plan at the 2024 CEO Econmas Awards. The policy raises lease terms from the former 30-year limit, offering foreign investors enhanced security.…

  • Indonesian woman abandoned in Thai mangrove forest by German friend

    Indonesian woman abandoned in Thai mangrove forest by German friend

    An Indonesian woman sought help from Thai officials after her German male friend abandoned her in a mangrove forest in Samut Sakhon Province, near Bangkok, following an argument he had with his wife on the phone. Highway Police officers coordinated with Samut Sakhon Provincial Police after the Indonesian woman, whose name was not disclosed, requested assistance, stating that she was…

  • Bangkok aims to turn Chatuchak Market into soft power paradise

    Bangkok aims to turn Chatuchak Market into soft power paradise

    Thailand is setting its sights on transforming the iconic Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok into a hub for soft power, with an ambitious two-year plan spearheaded by the National Committee on Soft Power Development. This initiative aims to capitalise on the market’s popularity and diverse offerings to bolster Thailand’s global cultural influence. Surapong Suebwonglee, chair of the National Committee on…

  • Bus-ting with green energy: Phuket’s smart bus takes fresh direction

    Bus-ting with green energy: Phuket’s smart bus takes fresh direction

    All aboard the eco-friendly Phuket Smart Bus express. Phuket’s transport scene is getting a high-voltage makeover with the launch of the spanking new Phuket Smart Bus service, and it’s already steering the island’s travel scene in a new direction. Connecting Phuket Town and Patong with ease and style, this service is run by Phuket City Development Co Ltd (PKCD) and…

  • Thai man assaults transwoman in Buriram for pulling ‘funny face’

    Thai man assaults transwoman in Buriram for pulling ‘funny face’

    A Thai man physically assaulted a Thai transwoman during a traditional boat racing festival in the Isaan province of Buriram, following his girlfriend’s order after they argued on social media. The news Facebook page เจ๊มอย v+ (Jmoi V+) shared the story of the 19 year old transgender victim yesterday, November 3, after the victim approached the page to seek justice. The…

  • RTN chief assures Thailand’s waters are in good hands on Koh Kut

    RTN chief assures Thailand’s waters are in good hands on Koh Kut

    Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Chief Jirapol Wongwit touched down on the picturesque island of Koh Kut, Trat province, bringing with him a message of unwavering commitment: Thailand’s national interests and sovereign waters are in safe hands. His mission? To boost the morale of the RTN’s brave men and women posted at the nation’s eastern maritime frontier. Jirapol laid it out…

  • Thailand seeks more jobs for workers in Singapore shipyards

    Thailand seeks more jobs for workers in Singapore shipyards

    The Labour Ministry is actively pursuing opportunities to send more of Thailand’s workers to Singapore, particularly targeting the shipyard sector. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, alongside the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Boonsong Thapchaiyuth, visited Singapore over the weekend. They engaged with officials from the Labour Office in Singapore, local businessmen, and Ureerat Chareontoh, the ambassador of Thailand to Singapore, to discuss expanding…

  • Thai ESG fund rockets to top spot with impressive returns

    Thai ESG fund rockets to top spot with impressive returns

    One Equity Thailand ESG Fund (ONE-THAIESG) is stealing the spotlight in the Thai ESG fund scene, boasting a whopping 8.53% return this year, as proudly announced by One Asset Management (ONEAM). What’s behind this stellar performance? A one-two punch of a policy rate cut by the US Federal Reserve and Thailand’s very own economic comeback. TESG funds are the latest…

  • Heavy rain and flash flood warnings for southern Thailand

    Heavy rain and flash flood warnings for southern Thailand

    Heavy rain is set to lash the southern regions of Thailand, prompting the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) to issue warnings of flash floods and overflowing mountain streams in ten provinces. Meanwhile, the northern areas will experience a drop in temperatures. The TMD forecasted weather conditions for the next 24 hours, highlighting that a high-pressure system from China is extending over…

  • Auto boom: Thailand revving up as global car parts powerhouse

    Auto boom: Thailand revving up as global car parts powerhouse

    Thailand is racing ahead in the fast lane of auto parts manufacturing in the Asia-Pacific region, speeding towards becoming a crucial export hub for Germany’s esteemed Schaeffler Group. Spotlighting both traditional internal combustion engines (ICE) and the rapidly accelerating electric vehicle (EV) industry, Schaeffler is gearing up for an automotive revolution. Micah Shepard, Schaeffler’s head honcho for vehicle lifetime solutions…

  • Poll position: US election could rattle global markets, says ASPS

    Poll position: US election could rattle global markets, says ASPS

    Asia Plus Securities (ASPS) is urging investors to pay close attention to the forthcoming US election, predicting it is set to send shockwaves through global markets. With expectations of heightened volatility, ASPS has delivered a stern warning: it’s time to back stocks boasting low volatility and stellar third-quarter performances for 2024. Insider tips from ASPS suggest the starched-collar bigwigs at…

  • Labour pains: Committee demands rethink on export strategy

    Labour pains: Committee demands rethink on export strategy

    The House Committee on Foreign Affairs slammed the Ministry of Labour, demanding an urgent rethink of its labour export strategy. The committee is calling for a shift away from conflict-ridden hotspots like Israel, in light of last week’s heartbreaking events where a Hezbollah rocket attack claimed the lives of four Thai workers and left another injured. Chonticha Jangrew, a prominent…

  • M16 rifle linked to over 25 deaths in southern Thailand

    M16 rifle linked to over 25 deaths in southern Thailand

    A deadly weapon, an M16 rifle, used in the fatal shooting of former police officer Phu-at Rasaming, has been linked to over 25 deaths in a series of violent incidents in southern Thailand. The Supreme Court sentenced Amir Dotae to 35 years and 13 months in prison for related terrorism charges. The tragic event unfolded when Phu-at Rasaming, the imam…

  • Phuket motorcycle taxi driver arrested after clash with tourists

    Phuket motorcycle taxi driver arrested after clash with tourists

    Patong police in Phuket apprehended a motorcycle taxi driver following a heated altercation between tourists and a local taxi driver. The incident unfolded on October 31 at the intersection near the football field on Thawiwong Road, leading to several charges being filed against the motorcycle driver. Around 5.30pm, two tourists had just boarded an electric vehicle (EV) taxi they had…

  • Toddler tragically found in pond at Chachoengsao worker camp

    Toddler tragically found in pond at Chachoengsao worker camp

    A tragic accident unfolded when a one year old boy was found unconscious after falling into a pond behind a worker’s camp in Bang Nam Priao, Chachoengsao. Yesterday, November 2, the boy’s mother, a Myanmar national, discovered him missing after she had fallen asleep. Desperately searching for her child, she followed a black dog, known to play with the boy,…

  • Young driver drowns after crashing into tree in Ubon Ratchathani

    Young driver drowns after crashing into tree in Ubon Ratchathani

    A tragic accident occurred when a young man driving a pickup truck fell asleep and lost control, crashing into a tree and being thrown into a nearby pond where he drowned. At approximately 4.30am today, November 3, Somporn Akkabut, a police officer at the Buntharik Police Station, received a report of a pickup truck colliding with a tree along the…

  • Cold air from China brings chill to Thailand’s north

    Cold air from China brings chill to Thailand’s north

    Thailand is experiencing a significant weather shift as strong cold air masses from China are causing temperatures to drop across the northern and upper southern regions. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued warnings regarding heavy rainfall in the south, urging residents to be cautious of potential flash floods and landslides. The current weather forecast predicts that the cold air mass…

  • Fire at Indian Restaurant near Pattaya Beach swiftly contained

    Fire at Indian Restaurant near Pattaya Beach swiftly contained

    A fire broke out early yesterday, November 2, at the Sultan Indian Restaurant, a four-story establishment located near Pattaya Beach Road. The incident, which occurred at approximately 12.10am, led to the swift evacuation of both Thai and international tourists from the building. The fire originated on the ground floor of a seven-unit commercial building, rapidly filling the upper floors with…

  • Bangkok MRT Orange Line construction to disrupt traffic this month

    Bangkok MRT Orange Line construction to disrupt traffic this month

    Construction on the western segment of Bangkok’s MRT Orange Line is set to bring some disruptions, as announced by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). The project, which aims to enhance the city’s transit network, will necessitate the closure of a traffic lane along the initial five stops of the light rail line, stretching from Bang Khun Non…

  • Thailand protests after rocket attack kills four Thai workers in Israel

    Thailand protests after rocket attack kills four Thai workers in Israel

    The recent tragedy in Israel has prompted the Thai government to take swift action, sending a formal protest to Israel following a rocket attack that resulted in the death of four Thai workers and left another injured. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasised the importance of halting the deployment of Thai workers to high-risk areas, cautioning citizens against non-essential…

  • German tourist crashes, injures cop at Pattaya checkpoint

    German tourist crashes, injures cop at Pattaya checkpoint

    A startling incident unfolded in Pattaya when a German tourist was arrested following a dramatic crash at a police checkpoint on Jomtien Road, Bang Lamung district, early yesterday. The crash left a traffic policeman seriously injured and prompted an extensive police pursuit. The incident occurred at 2.20am yesterday, November 2, when 30 year old Christopher Maximilian Walther, riding a Honda CB…

  • Cattle herder murder: Body found in Nakhon Phanom forest

    Cattle herder murder: Body found in Nakhon Phanom forest

    A man who had gone to tend to his cattle was found dead in a forest in Nakhon Phanom province with multiple stab wounds. Police were alerted to the scene, uncovering a brutal murder that left the family devastated. The incident came to light around 8.30pm yesterday, November 1, when police were informed about a body found in the forest…

  • Chiang Mai resident hits 6 million baht lottery jackpot

    Chiang Mai resident hits 6 million baht lottery jackpot

    A resident of Lao Pao subdistrict, Doi Lo district, Chiang Mai, recently struck it lucky by winning the first prize in the government lottery, securing a 6 million baht reward. The first prize-winning number for yesterday’s draw was 536044, and it marked a life-changing moment for the local winner. The draw also included other results such as the three-digit front…

  • Thai police arrest suspect in 2.7 million baht footballer scam

    Thai police arrest suspect in 2.7 million baht footballer scam

    Thai police have apprehended a suspect involved in an online loan scam that swindled a prominent national footballer out of nearly 2.7 million baht. The suspect, identified as 45 year old Wanchai, confessed to managing mule accounts for the criminal gang. The crackdown, led by Police Major General Jirawat Payoongtham, took place today, November 2, when cybercrime officers, directed by…

  • Pathum Thani vegetable vendor wins 12 million baht lottery prize

    Pathum Thani vegetable vendor wins 12 million baht lottery prize

    A vegetable vendor from Simummuang Market in Khu Khot, Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani province, has struck gold by winning the first prize in the lottery, pocketing 12 million baht. The winning ticket, numbered 536044, was part of the draw held yesterday, November 1, and the news quickly spread as congratulations poured in for the lucky winner. The buzz…

  • Sea turtle found tangled and lifeless on Phuket beach

    Sea turtle found tangled and lifeless on Phuket beach

    In a heartbreaking discovery, a young olive ridley sea turtle was found dead, entangled in fishing debris on Phuket’s Pak Phra Beach. Officials from Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) were alerted to the tragedy on Tuesday, October 29, by the Marine National Park Operations Centre 2. The juvenile turtle, weighing only 3 kilogrammes, was identified by DMCR’s…

  • Hundreds of Phuket families await relief as flood damage mounts

    Hundreds of Phuket families await relief as flood damage mounts

    Phuket’s flood-stricken families are still waiting for disaster relief funds, as officials gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall on Thursday, October 31 to address pending disbursements. The meeting, chaired by Vice Governor Adul Chuthong and attended by Sopon Thongsai, head of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket), reviewed the island’s slow-moving relief fund process. The gathering united…

  • Heroic dad rescues family in Pattaya condo blaze

    Heroic dad rescues family in Pattaya condo blaze

    A dramatic blaze at a Pattaya condominium left three people injured and raised questions about emergency response times after one resident took it upon himself to rescue his family from the flames. The fire erupted just before 3am yesterday, November 1, at the seven-storey View Talay Residence 5, sending panic through the condominium. Emergency services rushed to the scene, with…

  • Thailand boosts climate resilience in coastal areas with UN grant

    Thailand boosts climate resilience in coastal areas with UN grant

    Thailand is actively enhancing its capacity to tackle the escalating threat of climate change, particularly in its marine and coastal areas. This initiative, a collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is titled Increasing Resilience to Climate Change Impacts in Marine and Coastal Areas along the Gulf of Thailand, and is supported by a US$3 million (101.2 million baht)…

  • Thai schools to allow regular attire for scout events

    Thai schools to allow regular attire for scout events

    Thailand’s Education Ministry is set to introduce a new regulation allowing children to wear regular school attire instead of traditional scout uniforms during scout events. This change aims to offer more flexibility and reduce the burden on both teachers and students, according to Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob. Permpoon revealed that the National Scout Executive Committee is in the process of…