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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Infinito helps hotels in Thailand with revenue management
Maximising revenue and profit–isn’t that the ultimate goal for every business in the hospitality industry? If you run a hotel, you might have heard that revenue management is an effective way to boost your top-line revenue. It involves using data...
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Hua Hin Health Park revolutionises healthcare with grand opening
Hua Hin Health Park celebrated its grand opening yesterday, January 19, ushering in a new era of comprehensive wellness. The ceremony witnessed the presence of Hua Hin Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul who conveyed his heartfelt congratulations and actively participated in the inaugural festivities. A star-studded gathering included notable figures like Cheep Suksee from the Municipal Council, representatives from the Hua Hin/Cha-am…
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SUV inferno leaves two women seriously injured
A speeding SUV spiralled out of control, crashing into a streetlight post and erupting into flames on the Mab Eiang-Laem Chabang Road on January 17. The aftermath left two women injured and the vehicle reduced to ruins after the inferno. Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing sequence of events, with the SUV hurtling down the road before the catastrophic collision. One of the…
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Thai man arrested in South Pattaya for selling meth and firearms
A team of investigators arrested a Thai man for illegal trading of methamphetamine and unauthorised firearms in South Pattaya on January 18. The suspect, 35 year old Rueangrit (surname withheld) was found residing in an abandoned Soi Batman building. In an operation led by Bang Lamung Police Chief Police Colonel Navin Sinthurat, officers observed Rueangrit’s suspicious activities before initiating a search.…
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Thai PM pushes for minimum wage raise
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared yesterday that Thailand must abandon its reliance on low labour costs to entice foreign investments, pushing for a raise in the country’s minimum wage. Addressing a panel discussion titled Learning from ASEAN at the World Economic Forum in Davos, PM Srettha emphasised a paradigm shift in priorities. “Low labour cost should not be the attracting…
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Naked British man found dead in luxury Chon Buri condominium
The owner of a luxury condominium in the Sriracha district of Chon Buri today found the dead body of a naked British man inside the room. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed. The juristic person of the condo told Channel 7 that the British man, 57 year old Matthew, usually bought products from a convenience store on…
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Actress Ava Six Scenes clears up 150 million baht credit card rumour
A video that has been creating a buzz on social media recently features Ava Pawornwan Verapuchong, a millionaire actress. The video shows Ava pulling a credit card from her wallet, causing viewers to focus on the card. It is a THE WISDOM (Visa Infinite) card from Kasikorn Thai Bank, which is exclusively for those with deposits and investments starting at…
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Bangkok braces for severe outbreak of three diseases
Bangkok’s health office predicts a severe outbreak of three diseases, with high infection rates, and plans to increase monitoring for an additional 12 diseases. Preparations are underway to care for patients, protect against infections, and secure treatment drugs and vaccines. The Health Department of Bangkok predicted a significant outbreak of three diseases in 2024. The illnesses include the Omicron variant…
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Thonburi Healthcare Group unveils plan to tackle decline in Thai doctors
Thonburi Healthcare Group Plc (THG), which manages Thonburi Hospital, is teaming up with Assumption University to combat Thailand‘s chronic doctor shortage. An international medicine programme is set to launch in 2025, in collaboration with the prestigious St Luke School of Medicine. THG CEO Tanatip Suppradit explains that the programme plans to admit 60 students annually, attracting talent not just from…
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Northern Thailand experiences temperature drop as smog levels rise
The northern region of Thailand is currently experiencing a decrease in temperature of 1-3 degrees Celsius due to a moderate high-pressure system covering the northeast and the South China Sea. Concurrently, weak westerly winds in the upper regions blanket the north, resulting in cool to cold weather with morning fog. Meanwhile, areas in the northeast, central, east and upper south…
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Thai government tests new lottery system with tickets as low as 20 baht
The Government Lottery Office (GLO) plans to experiment with the sale of three-digit and two-digit lotteries within a sandbox system mid-year this year. The test will involve one million numbers, both direct and permutation, to combat underground lottery operations. The cost per ticket is expected to range between 20 to 50 baht. The director of GLO revealed that the initial…
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Thai university student escapes attempted rape in dormitory
A Thai university student narrowly escaped an attempted rape in her dormitory in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen thanks to the help of her roommate. The victim, a 19 year old woman named Wirakarn, told Channel 7 that the incident happened at around 9pm on Monday, January 15. She was waiting for the lift to go to her room…
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Phuket’s seven-colour lobster eyes official recognition as Thai GI treasure
Phuket‘s renowned seven-colour lobster is poised to attain official recognition as one of Thailand’s geographical indication (GI) treasures, according to the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP). Departing from the norm, Department Director-General Vuttikrai Leewiraphan disclosed that officials recently started an investigation to delve into the intricacies of seven-colour lobster farming and glean insights from the local entrepreneurs who have turned…
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Pad Haggis sparks fusion frenzy at Edinburgh’s Ting Thai restaurant
Popular Edinburgh eatery Ting Thai is set to redefine Burns Night celebrations with its daring culinary creation, the Pad Haggis. This limited edition dish, born from the success of Ting Thai’s trendsetting Pad Thai, promises a fiery twist to the traditional Scottish supper. Exclusively available through the Deliveroo app from January 23, the Pad Haggis is poised to add an…
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STARLUX Airlines to launch LA and San Francisco to Chiang Mai flights
Taiwanese airline, STARLUX Airlines, is launching new routes from Los Angeles and San Francisco to the northern province of Chiang Mai. The launch event, held at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on January 16 showcased the distinct traditions of Chiang Mai while underscoring TAT’s unwavering commitment to enhancing US-Thailand travel. As a warm Chiang Mai welcome, passengers on the inaugural…
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US Embassy sets up passport renewal service in Hua Hin
In a bid to make life easier for American citizens in Hua Hin and its environs, the US Embassy’s Citizen Services Unit is bringing its consular outreach programme to the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort on January 25 from 8am to 11am. This exclusive event boasts a trio of services, featuring passport renewals for adults via DS-82 forms, passport issuance for…
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Police officer arrested for using and selling Yaba from police station
Officers of Nong Pling Police Station in the central province of Nakhon Sawan arrested a colleague for selling methamphetamine, also known as Yaba, on the police premises. Nong Pling Police Station‘s narcotics suppression unit discovered 55 year old Police Sub-lieutenant Suttirat Ampasawet offering drugs to addicts in the province. Officers then posed as customers and ordered 50 tablets of Yaba…
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13 year old Thai volunteer rescuer dies in drunk driving accident
A 13 year old Thai volunteer rescuer tragically died on duty in a multi-vehicle accident, the result of a collision caused by a drunk driver in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok. The teenage Thai rescuer, Weerayut Jindadaeng, was pronounced dead at the accident scene on the road under the Ngam Wong Wan Toll in Nonthaburi province. He suffered serious head injuries from…
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Thai Consular introduces electronic documents services including e-passports
Thailand‘s Department of Consular Affairs has introduced biometric e-passports and AI-powered consular applications. Below is a list of the e-services that the Department of Consular Affairs have launched: E-passports. The star of the show is the e-passport, boasting biometrics galore – facial images, fingerprints, and iris scans, all in line with international standards. E-visa. With an online system already rocking…
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Bangkok cops swoop to arrest notorious Sex Creator in human trafficking operation
Amid a crackdown on child exploitation, a special operation by the Department of Administrative Services, and Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, successfully targeted four locations in Bangkok and Pathum Thani, arresting a notorious human trafficking operation known as “Sex Creator.” The group is accused of exploiting a 16 year old girl by filming explicit content for sale on global online platforms,…
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NZ pilot strips naked at airport security check after argument
Every frequent flyer knows the drill: the seemingly endless choreography of removing liquids, laptops, belts, and shoes at airport security, but one senior pilot for Air New Zealand decided to go one step further and strip naked at Queenstown International Airport (ZQN). Neil Abbott, described by his colleagues as a “bit of a character,” was set to fly to Auckland Airport…
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Thai health chief champions surrogacy for same-sex couples
In a move anticipating the impending legalisation of same-sex marriage in Thailand, the nation‘s Health Department Director-General Atchara Nithiapinyasakul is pushing for a revision of the Surrogacy Act. The aim is to open the doors for homosexual couples to adopt a baby through a surrogate mother, addressing not just personal desires but also a national crisis. As Thailand grapples with…
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PM Srettha discusses direct flights from Brussels to Bangkok at WEF
At the 54th World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to discuss stronger ties between the two nations at the Congress Centre on January 17. Coming out of the high-profile meeting, the prime minister-cum-finance minister pledged to explore the prospect of direct flights between Brussels and Bangkok with the involvement of…
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Thai-German man arrested for sexually assaulting daughter and distributing child porn
Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested a half Thai half German man in northeastern Thailand on January 14 for sexually assaulting his seven year old daughter and distributing child porn online. The Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany, Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), handed over information and evidence on the Thai-German suspect, identified only as Tony, to the DSI on…
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Thai trio arrested for fraud and coercion in job scam
Three Thais were arrested yesterday for fraud and coercion by tricking victims into a job scam and by forcing them to open mule accounts in the eastern region and West Thailand. Police Major General Saruti, Sopha District, Commander of the Provincial Crime Suppression Division, Pol. Col. Pattanaphong Sriphinphao, Superintendent of Region 2, Provincial Crime Suppression Division, Pol. Lt. Col. Narong…
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Frenchman arrested in Chiang Mai for selling fake ID cards
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers arrested a Frenchman in the northern province of Chiang Mai for making and selling fake identification (ID) cards of French citizens. Unfortunately, another French suspect managed to evade the arrest. The French authorities discovered the sale of counterfeit ID cards on the dark web. These fake identities were used to commit several crimes in…
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Reef-rescue ripples: Marine department dives deep to tackle 338kg ghost net near Rin Island
In a splash of environmental heroism, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, along with volunteer divers, dove into action to tackle a colossal problem near Rin Island in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district. On Wednesday, January 17, the team embarked on a mission to untangle a whopping 338kg ghost net that had ensnared a coral reef. Prompted by concerned divers,…
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Heavy-duty: Thai police to crackdown on overloaded trucks
The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has been empowered to crack down on trucks exceeding legal weight limits. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul inked the amendment to the ministerial order, marking a significant shift in highway law enforcement, disclosed ministry spokesperson Trisulee Trisaranakul yesterday, January 18. Before this regulatory facelift, only local highway officials, primarily from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), wielded…
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Prosthetic police probe: Thai man accuses hopalong cop of wife’s murder confession coercion
A Thai man accused a hopalong cop with a prosthetic leg at Aranyaprathet Police Station in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo of torture and forcing him into confessing to the murder of his wife. Buaphan Tansu was brutally assaulted and murdered by a group of five teenagers, who are now in police custody. Initially, the police wrongly arrested 54…
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Thai PM tweets from the top: Srettha’s Swiss summit scoop at Davos World Economic Forum
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin took to his Twitter account to keep his compatriots in the loop about his diplomatic encounters in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum (WEF). The 61 year old Thai prime minister spared no detail in sharing snippets of his discussions with a constellation of influential figures at the WEF. From rubbing shoulders with executives of…
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Phuket’s Cafe Del Mar faces police action over noise pollution
Phuket’s much-loved entertainment hotspot Cafe Del Mar had a brush with the Kamala police recently over an issue of noise pollution disturbing residents. This internationally known beach club found itself in hot water when the Kamala police declared that the volume of their music was exceeding acceptable levels. This was causing considerable disruption to the peaceful existence of the locals…
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