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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  • Minimum wage decision delayed after employer reps’ no-show

    Minimum wage decision delayed after employer reps’ no-show

    The Wage Committee’s scheduled meeting was abruptly cancelled due to the absence of employer representatives, postponing the decision to raise the minimum wage to 400 baht set to take effect on October 1. Government and employee committee members were left waiting at the Ministry of Labour yesterday. Pairote Chotikasathien, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Chairman of the…

  • Watermelon carving of Thai hippo Moo Deng captivates the nation

    Watermelon carving of Thai hippo Moo Deng captivates the nation

    Baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng isn’t the only sensation to hit Thailand’s social media this week. A watermelon carved to resemble the adorable hippo by a Thai food vendor has also caused a social media storm in the Land of Smiles. Yesterday, September 16, Visanu Somjaiwong shared images on Facebook of an intricately carved miniature hippo from a whole watermelon, impressing…

  • Thailand and Myanmar to expand catchment areas amid flood crisis

    Thailand and Myanmar to expand catchment areas amid flood crisis

    Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa is negotiating with Myanmar officials to find collaborative solutions to the regional flood crisis. Discussions focus on expanding catchment areas to alleviate the flooding impact. Myanmar faces severe flooding due to storms and water flowing from the highlands into the Salween River. The Thai embassy in Myanmar is facilitating discussions between agencies from both nations…

  • Ex-British PM Tony Blair joins Bangkok’s AI revolution

    Ex-British PM Tony Blair joins Bangkok’s AI revolution

    In a high-stakes meeting at Bangkok City Hall, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair sat down with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) could revolutionise public management. The duo’s discussions centred on one burning question: Can AI make Bangkok a more liveable city? Blair, executive chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), shared…

  • Muay Thai instructor dies after Si Racha canal motorcycle plunge

    Muay Thai instructor dies after Si Racha canal motorcycle plunge

    A Muay Thai instructor from Pattaya met a tragic end after his motorcycle accidentally plunged into a canal in the Si Racha district. Nong Kham police were alerted yesterday, September 16, to the discovery of a body in a public canal along Highway 331, in front of the Caltex gas station in the Nong Kham subdistrict of Si Racha, Chon…

  • Boat with four people vanishes en route to Sukorn Island

    Boat with four people vanishes en route to Sukorn Island

    A passenger boat named Pornthavee, carrying four individuals, including the driver, disappeared amidst a storm while en route to Sukorn Island. Despite extensive search efforts, the boat remains missing. The boat, captained by Supit Khaodee, who is also known as Bang Poo, departed from Khlong Palian in Trang province heading towards Sukorn Island. Alongside Supit were three passengers: Fak Khaodee,…

  • Police raid Jomtien bar for illegal laughing gas balloon sales

    Police raid Jomtien bar for illegal laughing gas balloon sales

    Pattaya police executed a raid on a Jomtien bar yesterday for the illegal sale of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) balloons. Officers targeted See You Beach Bar on Jomtien Soi 11, Nong Prue subdistrict in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province at 3.36am yesterday, September 16. During the operation, police confiscated two nitrous oxide tanks, three balloons filled with nitrous oxide…

  • Suphan Buri bar raided for selling alcohol to underage patrons

    Suphan Buri bar raided for selling alcohol to underage patrons

    Police in Suphan Buri swooped on a bar illegally selling alcohol to underage patrons, causing a group of teenagers to flee the scene in panic. The operation was conducted yesterday, September 16, by Chatchatch Jesadapakorn, Deputy District Chief of Mueang Suphan Buri, and Narong Krueyoo, Police Captain of Mueang Suphan Buri Police Station, along with over 20 officers from the…

  • Lopburi police conduct drug tests on public transport drivers

    Lopburi police conduct drug tests on public transport drivers

    Lopburi’s Tourist Police, along with other relevant agencies, conducted drug tests on public transport drivers yesterday. The operation, led by Saksila Phueak-am and other senior officers, aimed to ensure road safety for tourists and commuters. Police and health officials from Lopburi, along with transport and municipal officers, collaborated to test the physical fitness of public transport drivers in the area.…

  • Ukrainian woman reports motorcycle rental scam in Pattaya

    Ukrainian woman reports motorcycle rental scam in Pattaya

    A Ukrainian woman and her friend have reported a motorcycle rental scam in Pattaya after discovering that their rental bikes were stolen and taken across Thailand’s border. Kateryna, a Ukrainian national, and her unidentified friend presented surveillance camera footage from their motorbike rental shop and filed a complaint with Pattaya police. The duo claimed that customers who rented their motorcycles…

  • Digital wallet scheme falls short of 45 million target, saves 100 billion baht

    Digital wallet scheme falls short of 45 million target, saves 100 billion baht

    Online registrations for the government’s digital wallet handout scheme have recently closed, with only 36 million people signing up, falling short of the 45 million target. The Finance Ministry reported that this shortfall has resulted in a saving of 100 billion baht (US$3 billion) from the project’s budget. When asked whether the lower registration numbers indicated a lack of public…

  • Thai nationals arrested for smuggling wildlife from Indonesia

    Thai nationals arrested for smuggling wildlife from Indonesia

    Thai police apprehended two men yesterday for smuggling wildlife from Indonesia into Thailand. The Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED), working with various agencies, detained the two suspects in Lam Thap district, Krabi. The suspects, 28 year old Thosaphon and 30 year old Somporn were found with 10 yellow tortoises, 11 Moluccan cockatoos, and other wildlife species. A…

  • Squid fishing boat sinks near Koh Chun near Pattaya, two rescued

    Squid fishing boat sinks near Koh Chun near Pattaya, two rescued

    Two men survived a perilous experience at sea after their boat sank during a squid fishing trip near Koh Chun in Na Kluea, Pattaya. The incident unfolded in the evening, with a distress call received at 10.06pm on Sunday, September 15, reporting tourists adrift. Marine rescue teams, including the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya Rescue Team and Pattaya Special Affairs Officers,…

  • Thailand video news | Employee’s tragic death at Samut Prakan Industrial Estate sparks outrage, Haunted bed for sale in Bangkok goes viral with eerie tales

    Thailand video news | Employee’s tragic death at Samut Prakan Industrial Estate sparks outrage, Haunted bed for sale in Bangkok goes viral with eerie tales

    In Thailand video news, Jay covered the stories from across Thailand. Outrage grows following the tragic death of an employee at Samut Prakan Industrial Estate, raising concerns over workplace safety. In Bangkok, a haunted bed for sale goes viral, captivating the public with ghostly tales. Meanwhile, a hospital faces scrutiny after a shocking newborn swap, with the affected father demanding…

  • Dogs cause motorcycle crash, owner denies responsibility

    Dogs cause motorcycle crash, owner denies responsibility

    Two dogs chasing each other caused a motorcycle accident, leading to injuries and damage to a pickup truck. The owner of the dogs denies responsibility, despite CCTV footage showing the dogs leaving and returning to the house. On September 16, 38 year old Kritsanapon Sukcharoen, who works at a law office in Nang Rong district, Buriram province, and 43 year…

  • Chon Buri police crack down on illegal workers on fishing boats

    Chon Buri police crack down on illegal workers on fishing boats

    Police in Na Kluea, Pattaya undertook a comprehensive inspection of foreign workers on fishing boats yesterday, responding to concerns about illegal labour in local waters. Police Lieutenant Colonel Wirachai Thinkamut, Chief of the Immigration Bureau in Chon Buri, led the operation involving over 50 officers. Officers dispersed throughout the area, from Saphan Yao Na Kluea to Soi Sam Yaek Thammada,…

  • Ruling party loyalist set to chair Bank of Thailand amid rate dispute

    Ruling party loyalist set to chair Bank of Thailand amid rate dispute

    A ruling party loyalist and critic of the central bank governor is set to be nominated as the chair of the Bank of Thailand (BoT), as the government seeks to assert influence over the institution amid ongoing disputes over interest rates. The Pheu Thai Party-led government plans to back 66 year old former deputy premier and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na…

  • Severe storm hits Phatthalung, leaving homes roofless

    Severe storm hits Phatthalung, leaving homes roofless

    A severe storm hit Phatthalung, causing significant damage to homes and property. Strong winds, referred to as a Lom Hua Duan by locals, and heavy rain devastated the area, leaving at least 14 homes roofless and five homes completely destroyed. Yesterday evening, strong gusts of wind combined with heavy rainfall struck the Khuan Sawaeng village in Khok Sai subdistrict, Pa…

  • Phichit Hospital seeks blood donors for injured rescue volunteers

    Phichit Hospital seeks blood donors for injured rescue volunteers

    Phichit Hospital has urgently appealed for blood donations to aid four rescue volunteers injured in a road accident while returning to Nonthaburi after assisting flood victims in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand. The hospital reported receiving three bags of donor blood delivered by helicopter from Chiang Rai yesterday, September 16. Two of the bags were used immediately, and the third was…

  • Police raid underground lotteries in Chiang Mai and Lamphun

    Police raid underground lotteries in Chiang Mai and Lamphun

    Police recently conducted a raid on underground lottery operations in Chiang Mai and Lamphun, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of illegal lottery tickets and other evidence. Yesterday, September 16, the Commander of Provincial Police Region 5, Kritthaphon Yisakhon, directed the regional investigation team to crack down on underground lotteries. Led by Vorapong Khamlue, the Deputy Commander of Provincial…

  • Two students drown in boat accident near Phichit temple

    Two students drown in boat accident near Phichit temple

    Two 15 year old male students drowned while playing in a boat near a temple in Phichit province after it capsized unexpectedly. They called for help but it was too late to save them. Deputy Inspector Pichai Nilsingh from Mueang Phichit Police Station was notified of the incident yesterday, September 16. The tragic event occurred in front of Klong Khu…

  • Thai doctor faces probe over private practice while on state pay

    Thai doctor faces probe over private practice while on state pay

    Thailand’s Public Health Ministry launched an investigation into allegations concerning a doctor at a state-run hospital, who is reportedly practising at multiple private hospitals despite receiving extra pay for signing a non-competition clause in his contract. Dr Sawat Apiwachaneewong, the Public Health Ministry inspector at Participatory Health Region 12, confirmed that the Yala Provincial Public Health Office had set up…

  • Senior judge suspended after molestation allegations on train

    Senior judge suspended after molestation allegations on train

    A senior judge has been suspended following allegations of molesting a female court worker during a journey in June. The Judicial Commission decided to suspend the judge with a 14-1 vote after an inquiry panel determined that he had committed a severe disciplinary violation. In July, a female court stenographer filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), accusing…

  • Thailand raises alarm on online child sexual harassment surge

    Thailand raises alarm on online child sexual harassment surge

    Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) raised alarms about the severe impact of sexual harassment on social media on children and young people. A recent social outlook report from the NESDC, released yesterday, indicates that victims of such harassment risk developing a range of social, emotional, and mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. In some cases, these…

  • Phuket on 24-hour alert as rainstorms, flash flood warnings issued

    Phuket on 24-hour alert as rainstorms, flash flood warnings issued

    Phuket has been placed on 24-hour alert as heavy rainstorms drenched the island today. Officials urged residents to stay vigilant for potential flash floods, mudslides, and strong winds. On September 15, the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket) issued a notice, authorised by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, advising the public to brace for severe weather conditions. The notice…

  • Phatthalung unveils 71 billion baht airport plan to boost tourism

    Phatthalung unveils 71 billion baht airport plan to boost tourism

    A plot of land spanning 1,496 rai near Songkhla Lake in Phatthalung has been earmarked for constructing a new airport, aimed at boosting tourism and transport in the southern province and its neighbours. Anticipated to become a central hub for Phatthalung, Songkhla, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, the land in Khuan Maphrao subdistrict, Mueang district is owned by the Department of…

  • Thailand to revive 300-baht tourism tax to boost revenue

    Thailand to revive 300-baht tourism tax to boost revenue

    Tourism Minister Sorawong Thienthong reignited plans for a 300-baht tourism tax, which was put on ice by former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The move is set to help rake in a whopping 3 trillion baht in tourism revenue this year. Sorawong, who stepped into his role yesterday, September 16, believes the tax will be a game-changer for the industry. “This…

  • Ubon Ratchathani prepares for Mekong River flood threat

    Ubon Ratchathani prepares for Mekong River flood threat

    Ubon Ratchathani’s governor has instructed all relevant departments to prepare for the imminent overflow of the Mekong River and its tributaries, expected to inundate five districts in four days. Today, September 16, Suphasit Kochareonyot, Ubon Ratchathani governor, along with disaster prevention and mitigation officials, inspected the Khong Chiam district, where the Mekong River converges with the Mun River. The Mekong…

  • Deadly denial: No sick leave for employee leads to tragic end

    Deadly denial: No sick leave for employee leads to tragic end

    Tragedy struck a major company in Samut Prakan’s Bang Pu industrial estate, leaving an employee dead after being denied sick leave. The worker, who had never taken a day off, was pressured to keep working despite being unwell, and the heartbreaking outcome sparked outrage and calls for justice. Yesterday, September 15, the shocking story was shared on the popular Facebook…

  • Body of missing fisherman found after three days in Bueng Kan

    Body of missing fisherman found after three days in Bueng Kan

    The lifeless body of a middle-aged fisherman was discovered floating in a stream after being missing for three days in Bueng Kan. The last sighting of him was while he was casting a fishing net. Relatives found only his clothes and sandals left behind. At 10.30am today, September 15, Duangjai Putthaammat, the village head of Moo 10, Ban Saen Samran,…