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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    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...

  • Phuket rolls out electric buses in bold push for greener island

    Phuket rolls out electric buses in bold push for greener island

    Phuket has just taken a major leap towards modernising its public transport with the launch of electric buses, marking the beginning of a cleaner, more sustainable future for the island. The historic moment occurred yesterday, December 2 at the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), where a ceremony was held to unveil the first trial buses. Governor Sophon Suwannarat and PPAO…

  • Cannabis store HR officer slaps worker amid alleged embezzlement

    Cannabis store HR officer slaps worker amid alleged embezzlement

    Former employees of a cannabis retail chain accused managers and a human resources (HR) officer of falsely accusing them of embezzlement and extorting money. The HR officer also reportedly physically assaulted one of the workers. Two Thai men, who previously worked for the cannabis company, shared CCTV footage with the Facebook news page Social Hunter 2022. The footage shows a…

  • Paetongtarn faces backlash over flood crisis management failures

    Paetongtarn faces backlash over flood crisis management failures

    The recent devastating floods in southern Thailand have intensified pressure on Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s government, pushing the leader into the eye of a storm of criticism. With severe flooding wreaking havoc in the south, many are questioning her ability to manage a national crisis effectively. The prime minister, who initially struggled to establish her footing in the north, eventually…

  • Thailand’s PM champions disability rights on International Day

    Thailand’s PM champions disability rights on International Day

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra delivered a heartfelt message on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, reaffirming her government’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunities for all. Celebrated annually on December 3, the day marks a significant call to action for societies to dismantle barriers and ensure the dignity and rights of individuals with disabilities are respected. Equal opportunities was…

  • House dissolution: Phumtham shoots down charter row rumours

    House dissolution: Phumtham shoots down charter row rumours

    A fiery political debate over Thailand’s charter referendum sparked speculation about a potential House dissolution but Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai isn’t buying it. Brushing off claims from Pheu Thai list-MP Cherdchai Tantisirin, Phumtham insisted that tensions between the ruling Pheu Thai Party and coalition partner Bhumjaithai Party wouldn’t boil over. “Dr Cherdchai is entitled to his opinion.” Phumtham stressed that…

  • Brief encounter: Phuket woman calls out underwear pervert (video)

    Brief encounter: Phuket woman calls out underwear pervert (video)

    A Thai woman in Phuket is pleading with a pervert to stop his degenerate behaviour after he repeatedly stole her underwear for masturbation purposes before later returning them. The victim, whose name was not disclosed, shared her story with the Phuket Times, today, December 3, in the hope that the man would be shamed into stopping his actions. The page subsequently…

  • 7-Eleven joins road safety battle for tourists in Thailand

    7-Eleven joins road safety battle for tourists in Thailand

    In a groundbreaking move to tackle tourist road accidents in Thailand, 7-Eleven is stepping up its game. Yesterday, December 2, CP All CEO Yuthasak Poomsurakul announced a partnership between 7-Eleven, the Tourist Police Bureau, and the British Embassy to launch a road safety campaign aimed at international visitors. Tourists, often unaware of Thailand’s traffic laws and risky road conditions, face…

  • Rail-y slow progress: U-Tapao shifts gears on airport expansion

    Rail-y slow progress: U-Tapao shifts gears on airport expansion

    The delayed construction of the high-speed railway linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports has prompted U-Tapao International Aviation Company (UTA) to seek adjustments in the requirements for expanding U-Tapao Airport. The absence of a mass transit link could impact passenger numbers and airport revenue, according to UTA President Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth. UTA is drafting a revised proposal to present to…

  • Fire engulfs iconic, haunted boat hotel on Koh Chang (video)

    Fire engulfs iconic, haunted boat hotel on Koh Chang (video)

    A fire broke out today at the iconic, and reportedly haunted boat hotel, Koh Chang Grand Laguna, located on an island in the southeastern province of Trat. Firefighters are still struggling to control the blaze. The official Facebook page of Fire & Rescue Thailand reported that the fire began on the second floor of the landmark of Koh Chang at…

  • PTT forecasts growth amid rising energy demand, Thai recovery

    PTT forecasts growth amid rising energy demand, Thai recovery

    PTT Plc, Thailand’s state-owned oil and gas conglomerate, anticipates a stronger business outlook in 2024, buoyed by increased energy demand and an improving domestic economy, despite a forecasted dip in energy prices. The high tourism season is expected to drive up domestic oil consumption as both foreign and local travellers contribute to heightened energy usage. Factories are also projected to…

  • Chalong cops collar suspect in oil tanker heist

    Chalong cops collar suspect in oil tanker heist

    A high-stakes manhunt came to a dramatic end in Chalong as officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested a 48 year old man wanted for a string of audacious crimes, including a daring nighttime raid on an oil tanker and evidence tampering. Identified only as Nirut, the suspect was apprehended at Chalong Police Station following an intense investigation into…

  • Thai trade rises 6.18% to 1.51 trillion baht in 10 months

    Thai trade rises 6.18% to 1.51 trillion baht in 10 months

    Thailand’s border and cross-border trade surged by 6.18% in the first 10 months of 2024, reaching a total value of 1.51 trillion baht (US$43.43 billion), according to Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan. The government has set an ambitious goal of expanding this trade to 2 trillion baht (US$58 billion) annually by 2027. The export value during the period rose by 5.64%…

  • Holy brows: Monk’s DIY eyebrow hack sends Internet into frenzy

    Holy brows: Monk’s DIY eyebrow hack sends Internet into frenzy

    A monk’s innovative eyebrow solution left the Internet in stitches after photos of his welfare card verification saga went viral yesterday. The Buddhist monk, whose name was not disclosed, encountered a modern-day dilemma at a blue-flag store. The state welfare payment app couldn’t match his face to the photo on his welfare card, thanks to his bare brow: a hallmark…

  • Surprise drug test reveals one positive at Buriram meeting

    Surprise drug test reveals one positive at Buriram meeting

    In a surprising move, the district chief of Ban Mai Chaiphot, Seksan Janwongsa, ordered a sudden drug test for local officials during a meeting yesterday, December 2. The surprise urine test, part of an integrated campaign to combat drug issues, revealed one official testing positive for drugs, with five others yet to be tested. The meeting, which took place at…

  • Borderline busted: Thai police smash Tak Internet scam network

    Borderline busted: Thai police smash Tak Internet scam network

    Police in Thailand’s Tak province have uncovered a sprawling illegal Internet and telephone cable network believed to fuel cross-border call centre scams in Myanmar. The operation, hailed as the largest bust of its kind, has exposed the scale of high-tech fraud haunting the region. In a joint announcement yesterday, December 2, Police General Nathathorn Prousoontorn of the National Broadcasting and…

  • Thailand ranks 9th in global instant noodle consumption

    Thailand ranks 9th in global instant noodle consumption

    The World Instant Noodles Association (WINA) ranked Thailand as the ninth highest consumer of instant noodles globally. WINA released its rankings of the countries with the highest instant noodle consumption yesterday, December 2. The list, which includes 15 countries, placed Thailand in ninth position. Thai people reportedly consume 4 billion packets of instant noodles annually. The top spot was awarded…

  • 3D-printed corals spark underwater hope at Koh Racha Yai

    3D-printed corals spark underwater hope at Koh Racha Yai

    In a cutting-edge bid to revive the coral reefs around Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) is making waves with its annual reef restoration campaign. The initiative unveiled its latest eco-marvel: 3D-printed coral larvae islands on Saturday, November 30, designed to breathe life back into the battered seabeds. The high-profile launch event…

  • Thailand aims to become education hub with global universities

    Thailand aims to become education hub with global universities

    The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation is planning to invite renowned overseas universities to set up campuses in Thailand as part of its initiative to position the country as a regional education hub. Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi highlighted that Thailand offers significant potential for becoming a central educational destination in the region, citing factors such as affordable living…

  • Homeless Pattaya woman’s rings locked on swollen fingers

    Homeless Pattaya woman’s rings locked on swollen fingers

    A homeless woman in Thailand found herself in excruciating pain after rings became locked on her swollen fingers, leading to infected wounds. The ordeal, which had rendered her unable to communicate effectively, unfolded in Pattaya on Sunday, December 1. The woman, identified only as 45 year old A, showed up at the Pattaya Police Station desperately seeking assistance. Officers quickly…

  • Thailand urges swift release of citizens detained by Myanmar

    Thailand urges swift release of citizens detained by Myanmar

    Thailand urged Myanmar’s ambassador to urgently work for the release of four Thai citizens who are currently detained in Myanmar, following an incident in which their fishing boat was fired upon by Myanmar naval ships off the coast of Ranong last week. Piyapak Sricharoen, Director-General of the Department of East Asian Affairs, met with Myanmar’s ambassador to Thailand, U Chit…

  • Russian woman falls to death from Bangkok condo

    Russian woman falls to death from Bangkok condo

    A tragic incident unfolded in the Phaya Thai district of Bangkok when a 24 year old Russian woman, Maria, fell to her death from the 37th floor of a condominium. The heartbreaking event occurred around 3.07pm yesterday, December 2, prompting an immediate response from local police. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found the lifeless body of the Russian woman,…

  • AirAsia refund fury: Passengers affected by booking glitch

    AirAsia refund fury: Passengers affected by booking glitch

    AirAsia customers faced turbulence after a Facebook post accused the airline of a major booking scam. The post, shared on the page อีซ้อขยี้ข่าว : อีซ้อ, claimed “The scam is out! A famous airline cheats on ticket prices, opens a promotion booking system to deduct money, and in the end, they say the booking was unsuccessful and they don’t refund money.…

  • Drink driver crashes car after offering lift to intoxicated woman

    Drink driver crashes car after offering lift to intoxicated woman

    A drunk Thai man offered a lift to an equally intoxicated woman he met on a roadside in the central province of Chachoengsao but failed to get her home because he crashed his car into a traffic barrier. Three people in the vehicle suffered mild injuries. Bang Pakong Police Station officers and rescuers dashed to the accident scene at the…

  • Boy dies after fall from shopping mall in Ayutthaya

    Boy dies after fall from shopping mall in Ayutthaya

    A 12 year old boy tragically fell to his death from the rooftop of a shopping mall located along Rojana Road in Uthai district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. His death has left his family devastated, particularly his mother, who was with him just hours before the tragic incident. At around 6.30pm, yesterday, December 2, local police received a report of…

  • Daring theft: Italian tourist nabs cash from Pattaya hotel desk

    Daring theft: Italian tourist nabs cash from Pattaya hotel desk

    A brazen early-morning theft has left a Pattaya hotel owner furious after an Italian guest was caught on CCTV swiping 4,000 baht from the front desk before making a hasty exit. The suspect, identified as Andrea (surname withheld), checked into the small hotel on Soi Bua Khao on Friday, November 29 and checked out under suspicious circumstances early on Sunday…

  • Thailand video news | Foreigner swims in Bangkok canal, sparks debate, Hidden camera scandal at University sports event

    Thailand video news | Foreigner swims in Bangkok canal, sparks debate, Hidden camera scandal at University sports event

    In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring you the latest stories from Thailand and the Asia region. Key highlights include Thai AirAsia’s denial of fraud allegations linked to technical issues with its app, mounting criticism against Thailand’s Prime Minister over her flood response, and concerns over safety after an Israeli tourist was attacked in northern Thailand. Other notable…

  • Thai national football player loses 2.7 million baht to call centre scam

    Thai national football player loses 2.7 million baht to call centre scam

    Police in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok arrested one of six mule account holders linked to a call centre scam gang that defrauded 2.7 million baht from a Thai national football player. The 33 year old Thai football player, Pokklaw Anan, filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau yesterday, December 2, reporting that he lost 2.7 million baht to…

  • Thailand’s big love leap: Same-sex couples to wed starting January

    Thailand’s big love leap: Same-sex couples to wed starting January

    Thailand is rolling out the rainbow carpet as the Marriage Equality Bill is set to become law on January 22, making the nation a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ rights in Asia. Following its royal endorsement by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and publication in the Royal Gazette on September 24, the countdown to this historic milestone has officially begun.…

  • Hat Yai lecturer electrocuted closing gate in floodwater

    Hat Yai lecturer electrocuted closing gate in floodwater

    A shocking accident has left Hat Yai residents reeling as a university lecturer lost his life after being electrocuted while closing his front gate in waist-high floodwater. Police are scrambling to uncover who is to blame for the deadly oversight. Officials from the Provincial Electricity Authority’s (PEA) Hat Yai branch inspected the scene and identified a copper-exposed wire near Narun…

  • UAE and Thailand bilateral agreements to boost trade and travel

    UAE and Thailand bilateral agreements to boost trade and travel

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand are poised to deepen their partnership through a series of bilateral agreements, according to UAE ambassador to Thailand Obaid Saeed Obaid Bintaresh Aldhaheri. Speaking at a UAE National Day celebration on Thursday, November 28, Aldhaheri underscored Thailand’s importance as a strategic partner beyond traditional oil trade. “We look forward to strengthening bilateral relations…