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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Siam Paragon and Bangkok Pride proudly celebrates Pride Month from May 31 – June 4, 2024
To mark Pride Month and Thailnd’s milestone of being the first Southeast Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage, Siam Paragon, a top-of-mind global destination, for Thais and international visitors, in collaboration with Bangkok Pride proudly supports and empowers the diversity,...
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Thai 5th grader juggles school and babysitting duties in class (video)
A heartwarming video of a Thai 5th grader bottle-feeding her younger sister has captured the hearts of millions in Thailand. The 20-second clip, now viral, features a young student nicknamed Green diligently writing in her exercise book with her right hand while cradling her one year old sister in her left arm. The adorable toddler appears content and engaged, sipping…
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PTT worker assaulted by drunk foreigner claiming to be immigration
A shocking incident unfolded at a PTT gas station in Udon Thani Province as 25 year old gas station worker was allegedly assaulted by a drunk foreigner, who claimed to be an immigration worker. The incident transpired at a PTT station on Udon Dusit Road in Mak Khaeng subdistrict, Mueang Udon Thani district, recounted the incident and provided photographic and…
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Wet & wild: Commuters caught in unexpected MRT downpour (video)
Bangkok commuters experienced a shocking surprise on Tuesday evening when their usual MRT Blue Line ride turned into an unexpected indoor waterfall. Passengers on the MRT Blue Line, travelling from Tao Poon to Tha Phra, were caught off guard around 6.35pm when water began pouring from the ceiling. The chaos unfolded shortly after the train left Bang Sue station, turning…
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New lung CT scan without the need for contrast dyes
In the realm of medical imaging, a groundbreaking development is offering hope to patients who are allergic to contrast dyes or have restrictions due to health conditions. This innovation promises to significantly enhance the speed and accuracy of lung diagnoses without the need for contrast dyes, which have traditionally been essential but problematic for some patients. This new technology, developed…
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Thai lawyers seek bail for political prisoners under lese majeste law
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) is working to secure bail for 19 political prisoners, predominantly those charged under Section 112, commonly known as the lese majeste law, to uphold their human rights. TLHR announced yesterday, May 22, that the number of political prisoners, especially those detained under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, has surged since last year. Many…
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Yingluck’s hope for a democratic revival with new charter
Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra sparked fresh hope for Thailand’s democratic future, declaring that the country will soon see a return to full democracy under the Pheu Thai Party-led government with a new people’s charter. In a poignant Facebook post marking the 10th anniversary of the coup that ousted her caretaker government on May 22, 2014, Yingluck expressed renewed optimism.…
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Returned Golden Boy statue unveiled at National Museum Bangkok
Eager crowds gathered at the National Museum Bangkok yesterday to witness the unveiling of the recently repatriated Golden Boy statue, a 900 year old artefact smuggled out of Thailand in 1975 by the infamous art dealer Douglas Latchford. The Golden Boy, along with a bronze statue of a kneeling lady, was returned to Thailand from the Metropolitan Museum of Art…
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Migrant workers take over house of Thai-Australian couple in Korat
A Thai woman and her Australian husband filed a police complaint after a group of migrant workers took over their house in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat. The Thai woman, 66 year old Somporn Rolland, told officers at Sikhio Police Station that she returned home from Australia in February to find the group of migrants…
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Thailand boosts ties with Italy, eyes Schengen visa waiver
Thailand and Italy have committed to enhance bilateral cooperation across various sectors, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced following his official visit to Italy, describing his discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as highly productive. Thailand’s prospects for obtaining a Schengen visa waiver for its ordinary passport holders have significantly improved. Meloni pledged her support for Thailand’s proposal, bolstering the…
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Bangkok Land to transform Mueang Thong Thani into smart city
Bangkok Land, a Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)-listed company, is poised to transform Mueang Thong Thani into a smart city district. This ambitious plan includes the establishment of a new seafood and fruit centre aimed at providing affordable goods to attract tourists to Nonthaburi. The development is strategically timed to coincide with the launch of the Pink Line monorail service,…
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Bangkok’s new drainage upgrade halves rainwater clearance time
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced that the newly implemented road drainage system in the Udomsuk area will significantly improve rainwater drainage efficiency. Heavy rainfall over Bangkok prompted Chadchart to visit Udomsuk Road, also known as Sukhumvit Soi 103, to assess the flood situation following The Meteorological Department of Thailand’s (TMD) declaration of the official start of the rainy season. The…
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Thailand and Bhutan start free trade talks to boost trade by 2025
Thailand and Bhutan yesterday officially began negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA), aiming to finalise the deal by next year. Deputy Commerce Minister Napintorn Srisunpang confirmed that Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has signed the terms of reference to initiate the FTA discussions. Both nations see this agreement as a crucial step to enhance bilateral trade and investment, dismantle…
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Tired & tuk tuk: Thai woman drives sleepy taxi driver from Pattaya to airport
A Thai woman in Pattaya attracted significant attention on TikTok after sharing an amusing encounter with a sleepy taxi driver. In a video posted today, the woman, whose identity remains unknown, described how she ended up driving the taxi herself for most of the journey from Pattaya to Don Mueang International Airport. The woman had initially called the taxi at…
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Bangkok piano teacher arrested for child assault crimes
A piano teacher in Bangkok’s Watthana district has been arrested for allegedly indecently assaulting a 10 year old girl at his music school in the Phra Khanong Nua area. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) detained Veeranan Lerdpanyaroj, 43, known as Khru Ju, at his music school, 77 Musical, located on Soi Sukhumvit 77. An MPB chief investigator, Police…
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Tipco Asphalt profits plummet 99% due to delays
Tipco Asphalt Plc (Tasco), listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), faced a challenging first quarter with reduced earnings and profits due to delays in state budget spending and low global asphalt prices. Despite this, the company remains optimistic about returning to normal growth levels within the year. The company reported a significant revenue drop of 37%, falling to…
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Foreign business as usual: Thailand schools diplomats on investment
The Department of Business Development in Thailand hosted a briefing for diplomats and international organisation representatives to clarify the Foreign Business Act (FBA) of 1999. The objective was to educate foreign investors on the law to ensure compliance and proper investment practices in Thailand. The Director-General of the Department, Auramon Supthaweethum, stated that the meeting aimed to help foreign investors…
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Thai PM to attend Bangkok Pride 2024 amid security concerns
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will attend the Bangkok Pride Festival 2024, becoming the first Thai premier to join the event. This decision comes despite security concerns highlighted by a recent warning from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). On May 10, both organisations issued a joint release warning that foreign terrorist organisations…
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Thailand targets 465 billion baht in central region tourism revenue
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is set to promote the central region with new flight connections to the south and northeast, aiming to generate 465 billion baht in tourism revenue this year. Following a mobile cabinet meeting in Phetchaburi province, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed TAT to boost tourism in Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, and Phetchaburi. The initiative will…
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Thailand taskforce seizes 130 million illegal pills in six months
Thailand’s northern border has seen the most significant progress in combating narcotics trafficking, with the Narcotic Drug and Chemical Substance Control Command Unit (Taskforce 35) seizing nearly 130 million illegal pills over the past six months. In this period, a specialised task force named Taskforce 35 conducted 74 operations targeting narcotic activities, 30 of which escalated to gunfights, according to…
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Defence minister considers law review after southern violence
Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang intends to reassess the special laws currently enforced in Thailand’s Deep South, aiming to address the surge in violence in the region. Sutin revealed his plan to visit the southernmost provinces soon, following recent outbreaks of violence. This announcement came after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin shared on his social media channels that he would also be…
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Court shakes up Senate race: Judge advises removal of EC regs
A judge at the Administrative Court has advised the removal of certain Election Commission (EC) regulations that govern how Senate election candidates introduce themselves, following complaints from petitioners. Activists and candidates filed a petition against the EC regulations, arguing that they overly restrict candidates’ use of social media and mass media to introduce themselves to the public. The court held…
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Phuket jet ski tragedy casts shadow over British man’s holiday
A British man’s paradise holiday in Phuket tragically turned to gloom for his family when he lost his life in a jet ski crash earlier this month. Jonathan Greene, from Stoke-on-Trent, met a tragic end during his holiday in the sun-soaked paradise of Phuket earlier this month. The 37 year old, of Church Avenue in Baddeley Green, was soaking up the…
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Thailand’s hydrogen hype: Fuelling a cleaner future
Thailand is gearing up to construct a hydrogen economy, motivated by both state and business initiatives to advance hydrogen fuel ventures and foster cleaner energy usage. The nation’s potential for a low carbon-driven economy is gaining traction following a joint announcement by PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC), the largest petrochemical producer in Thailand, and Bangkok Industrial Gas, the country’s leading industrial…
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Thonburi Healthcare to invest 1.5 billion baht in cancer centres
Thonburi Healthcare Group Plc (THG) will invest 1-1.5 billion baht to establish three cancer centres in Thailand, aligning with the trend of specialised hospitals and expanding its operations in Myanmar and Vietnam. According to the Chief Executive, Dr. Tanatip Suppradit, the company aims to meet the increasing demand for hospital beds in Myanmar and enhance its wellness business in Vietnam.…
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Cassava crunch: Thai exports take a dip with 16.4% drop in Q1
Thai exports of cassava and cassava products fell by 16.4% year-on-year in the first quarter, largely due to a reduction in cassava chip output. The Director-General of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, reported that the export value of cassava and cassava products reached 33.2 billion baht for the first three months of this year, marking a 16.4%…
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Bleak reefs: Coral bleaching hits Mooh Koh Surin & Phi Phi Island
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DMCR) revealed seven coral bleaching sites have been identified in Moo Koh Surin National Park in Phang Nga, with up to 70% of coral fields around Krabi’s Phi Phi Island also affected. An investigation into the bleaching situation, conducted over two days, revealed that seven coral reef sites in Moo Koh Surin…
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NBTC rings changes: Task force to dial down online banking scams
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has established a working group to enforce a new policy aimed at preventing online scams targeting mobile banking users. This policy mandates that the name used to register a mobile phone SIM card must match the name of the bank account holder connected to the internet via that SIM card. This policy had…
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Passengers recount chaos on ill-fated Singapore Airlines flight (video)
Passengers aboard the ill-fated Singapore Airlines flight recounted harrowing scenes during an emergency landing in Bangkok yesterday, after a 73 year old British man, Geoff Kitchen, succumbed to a suspected heart attack triggered by severe turbulence that wreaked havoc in the cabin. The turbulence, which struck as a meal service was underway, left more than 30 passengers injured and plunged…
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PM Srettha scrambles to address economic woes
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has called an urgent meeting with his economic ministers next Monday in a bid to tackle Thailand’s sluggish economic growth. This move comes after a dismal first-quarter GDP report, which has sent shockwaves through the government and the public alike. In a Twitter post last night, the 62 year old Thai prime minister announced that…
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TAT’s grand plan to attract 39 million tourists to Thailand
The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) called for a major budget increase to boost tourism revenue to a staggering 3.5 trillion baht in 2024, attracting more tourists. The Thai government is aiming high, with an ambitious goal to lure no fewer than 39 million international tourists to its stunning shores throughout 2024. To achieve this, the TAT is pushing for…
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