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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Thailand braces for severe summer storms across 46 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a severe weather warning as a summer storm is expected to hit 46 provinces, including Bangkok and its vicinity, from tomorrow February 24 to Monday, February 26. The alert made early today, warns of thunderstorms, hail, and potential lightning strikes due to a high-pressure system from China meeting with a moist easterly and southeasterly…
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Ex-MP’s nephew dies in Nakhon Phanom motorcycle crash
A tragic motorcycle crash claimed the life of a former six-term MP’s nephew in Nakhon Phanom Province, as he collided with a pickup truck on his motorcycle. The accident occurred yesterday (February 22), when the man was on his way to pick up his wife. Despite prompt medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The accident took…
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Thai doctor’s health warning on Facebook mistaken for obituary
In a case of social media misunderstanding, a well-intentioned educational post on Facebook by a Thai doctor went viral for the wrong reasons. Chulalongkorn University shared on its Facebook page an image of Dr Pawat Phuensan with a pink background and a message warning about the dangers of prawn whisker punctures leading to fatal infections. However, netizens misinterpreted the post…
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Phuket’s Kamala Beach faces murky waters as main canal turns black
Kamala Beach in Phuket found itself in a murky situation, the main canal has turned black and is producing an unpleasant smell. Visitors to the beach, some international tourists, watched in dismay as the polluted water flowed freely into the sea. The sight of the blackened water has led to numerous headshakes and raised eyebrows. A particularly concerned tourist even questioned…
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Free drive on Bangkok expressways this Saturday
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) announces toll-free passage along three key Bangkok expressways on Saturday. This Saturday, February 24 marks the Buddhist holiday, Makha Bucha Day. It is observed on the full moon of the third lunar month in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar (on the full moon of Tabaung), ranks second only to Vesak in importance. It…
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Thailand’s potash push: Prosperity or peril?
As Thailand eyes a leap into the lucrative potash market, concerns loom large over the potential environmental havoc it may unleash. Residents in the vicinity of Thailand’s solitary commercial potash mine have raised a chorus of apprehension, cautioning against Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s grand vision to catapult the nation into a leading potash producer. Their concerns centred around the likely…
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Vietnam’s rice exports soar towards 178 billion baht milestone
Vietnam’s rice sector is projected for a remarkable milestone of US$5 billion (approximately 178 billion baht) in turnover. Anticipating a rollercoaster ride in the global rice market, experts emphasise the pivotal role of innovation and adaptable export strategies in propelling Vietnam towards its ambitious growth targets. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development underscores the industry’s resilience despite a shrinking…
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American expat escapes Thai jail time for scathing hotel review
An American expat living in Thailand faced a nightmare scenario when his negative TripAdvisor review landed him in hot water with the law. Wesley Barnes found himself in a legal tussle after leaving a less-than-flattering review of Sea View Resort on Koh Chang. Barnes’ brush with the law began after he described the hotel’s staff as unfriendly and likened their…
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Landmark verdict in Kanchanaburi: 18 sentenced to death, 1 gets life in prison brawl case
Eighteen individuals today received the death penalty with one sentenced to life imprisonment in a landmark ruling at the Thong Pha Phum Provincial Court in Kanchanaburi province. The court acquitted four others in a case stemming from a deadly brawl between inmate groups from Ban Mueang Kan and Ban Bo Phloi against those from Ban Tha Maka. The incident, which…
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Thai actor demands unpaid fees from series producers
Thai actor Atagorn Sonyot bravely confronted the producers of a series he starred in over unpaid acting fees. The actor’s public outcry for justice not only resonated with fans but also highlighted the plight of actors in the entertainment industry. Atagorn, better known as Tor, took to his personal Twitter account on Tuesday to express his frustration, questioning when he…
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Thailand police fine parents in illegal racing crackdown
Police officials launched a strict crackdown on illegal street racing, specifically targeting the parents of minors involved in such activities. Following a recent incident in the Prasamutchedi district of Samut Prakan Province, police investigations led to legal actions against numerous individuals. The National Police Office’s Assistant Commissioner-General, Saram Nualma, announced that 22 people had been prosecuted following illegal road racing…
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Air Japan cancels Bangkok-Tokyo flights, stranding passengers
Passengers were left disappointed and frustrated when their Air Japan flight to Tokyo was abruptly cancelled due to technical issues. The fledgling airline, a low-cost carrier within the ANA group, found itself at the centre of controversy after it revealed that it operates with a single aircraft, which brought about a series of cancellations affecting travellers from both Thailand and…
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Thai man arrested for selling rare macaques on Facebook
A Thai man was apprehended in the Na Yong district of Trang yesterday for allegedly peddling macaques on Facebook. The operation, led by officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division, uncovered a live macaque stashed inside 26 year old Wutthichai Tunrat’s pickup truck. Wutthichai faces serious charges including trading protected wildlife without permission and illegal possession of wild…
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Thai doctor crashes sedan into 3 cars in Lampang hospital car park
A Thai doctor attributed a brake system failure as the cause of his sedan crashing into three cars in a car park at Lampang Hospital in northern Thailand. Fortunately, rescuers managed to avert a potentially hazardous situation by preventing an SUV from plummeting off the sixth floor of the parking structure. The sound of the collision and the sight of…
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Uyghur terror suspects win judge’s approval for Halal food
A judge ruled yesterday that Thailand’s corrections system must provide two Uyghur terrorism suspects with the Halal food they have been requesting for years. Adem Karadag and Yusufu Mieraili, accused in the 2015 Erawan Shrine bombing, appeared visibly emaciated and in wheelchairs, pleading for their religious rights. The duo shared their harrowing ordeal, revealing they had significantly deteriorated in health,…
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Danish man in handbag theft case makes tearful plea in Thai court
A Danish national made a tearful plea at the Samut Prakan Provincial Court, denying accusations of theft involving a high-end Celine handbag and five other items. The crime which unfolded three months after the Danish man, Jesper Jensen’s arrest at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, took a surprising turn during his first formal hearing on Monday, February 19. Jensen, appearing in court…
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Teen motorcyclist dies in Nonthaburi accident en route to school
Tragedy struck early this morning when a high school student was killed in a road accident on his way to school. The 18 year old boy lost control of his motorcycle and was subsequently run over by a passing van, leading to his immediate death. The incident occurred on the busy four-lane Ban Kluai-Sai Noi Road in the Bang Bua…
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Thai abbot loses amulets worth over 50 million baht to scammers
A Thai abbot at Pak Khlong Temple in the western province of Phetchaburi lost valuable amulets worth 50 million baht to two scammers. The 84 year old abbot, Sophiwacharachote, filed a theft report at Ban Laem Police Station on February 19 after two Thai men stole 15 Buddhist amulets, 2,500 baht in cash, and important documents from him. The stolen…
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Elderly driver’s lane switch on Bangna-Trad Road triggers multi-car crash
A three-vehicle collision on Bangna-Trad Road in Samut Prakan province injured three people, including two students, when a car driven by a 73 year old woman veered across lanes, causing a chain reaction crash. The serious traffic incident occurred today, February 22, on Bangna-Trad Road, Samut Prakan province, when a sedan driven by a 73 year old woman cut in…
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Desperate father pleads for Thai worker’s release from Hamas
A Thai father is urging the government to intervene in the release of his son, who has been detained by Hamas militants in Israel for an excruciating five months. Wilas Tanna hailing from tambon Ban Khu in Na Pho district, voiced his anguish yesterday, February 21, expressing grave concerns for the safety of his 36 year old son Pongsak following…
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Khon Kaen police bust major motorcycle theft ring
Law enforcement in Khon Kaen province, Thailand, successfully dismantled a motorcycle theft ring operated by a husband and wife team. The pair, along with their accomplices, have been stealing motorcycles and smuggling them across the Mekong River for sale in neighbouring countries, causing severe distress to locals who have lost more than 30 vehicles. Police Major General Montree Teskan, the…
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Japanese mafia scandal: Allegations of nuclear weapon trafficking
Japanese mafia Takeshi Ebisawa stands accused of attempting to peddle uranium and plutonium under the belief that they would find their way to Iran’s clandestine nuclear arsenal. Ebisawa, alongside a Thai accomplice, previously tangled with the law over charges related to arms and narcotics in April 2022. Now, facing the prospect of life behind bars if found guilty of the…
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Thailand’s future electric vehicles industry workforce
Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) is gearing up to sculpt a formidable workforce of over 150,000 individuals poised to dominate the electric vehicle (EV) industry within the next five years. This electrifying initiative forms the nucleus of the ministry’s holistic strategy aimed at supercharging Thailand’s EV ecosystem. The ministry’s blueprint, announced with much fanfare, is…
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Phuket Tourist Police arrest illegal foreign tour guides
A crackdown on illegal tour guides in Phuket led to the arrest of two foreign nationals. Police charged a 35 year old Ukrainian and a 31 year old stateless individual of highland origin, both accused of operating without proper permits. Phuket Tourist Police, under directives from the National Police Office, has intensified efforts to purge the province of unauthorised tour…
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Thai net idol accuses ex-boyfriend of releasing her explicit videos
A Thai net idol accused her ex-boyfriend of posting explicit videos of her on a social media account with more than two million followers. She contacted the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after officers from two police stations ignored her complaint. Saimai Survive team members accompanied the victim, a 30 year old Internet idol and former car racer, to the Cyber…
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Chiang Mai songthaew goes cool with air-con and PM2.5 filters
In a novel move to revolutionise local transport, a Chiang Mai songthaew driver has transformed the iconic red car into an air-conditioned oasis complete with a PM2.5 filter system. This innovative service has become a hit among both Thai and international tourists, leading to a significant booking queue. The traditional songthaew, a ubiquitous sight in Chiang Mai, has long been…
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Northern Thailand battles severe air pollution as Bangkok breathes clear
Seventeen provinces in Thailand’s northern and northeastern regions are grappling with hazardous levels of air pollution, as reported by the country’s Air Pollution Crisis Management Centre (ACMC). In stark contrast, Bangkok enjoys clear skies, free from the dangerous PM2.5 particles, offering residents the chance to breathe easily. Over the next seven days, from February 23 to February 29, the situation…
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Thai aviation set for turbulence as CAAT navigates high air fares
Transport Minister Suriya Juangruangreangkit disclosed on Wednesday that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is in active discussions with all six domestic airlines in Thailand. The aim is to increase flight frequency during holiday periods and lower the flight price ceiling, in response to the issue of excessively high fares. The CAAT convened a meeting on Tuesday with the…
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Dublin’s AerCap lends 17 aircraft to Thai Airways
Thai Airways International (THAI) and AerCap have signed agreements to lease 17 aircraft to THAI. These aircraft include four Airbus A350-900, three Boeing 787-9, and 10 Airbus A321neo airliners. THAI acquired these in 2023 as part of its short-term fleet development. Two of the four A350 aircraft have been transferred over and the other two will be sent to THAI…
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