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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This Christmas, give the gift of health: essential options for expats in Thailand
The holiday season is here, bringing warmth, joy, and a chance to reflect on the year gone by. As an expat in Thailand, this Christmas is a great time to invest in something that truly matters: health. Whether for you...
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Phuket Airport ramps up for 18 million passengers by 2025
Phuket International Airport is gearing up for a major overhaul as it plans to handle a whopping 18 million passengers by 2025. Airports of Thailand (AoT) is fast-tracking Phase 2 of its expansion, boosting flight capacity from 20 to 25 flights per hour to keep up with the influx of tourists. Airport director Monchai Tanod revealed that the airport currently…
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Powering on: Thailand energy plan sparks a 2.9 trillion baht boost
Thailand’s new National Energy Plan (NEP) aims to drive significant investment and promote clean energy, with a projected 2.9 trillion baht in capital spending over the next 13 years. Central to this initiative is the emphasis on solar energy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The NEP 2024, scheduled for implementation from this year until 2037, integrates a comprehensive power development…
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Researchers discover four new plant species in northern Thailand
Researchers have identified four new plant species in northern Thailand, showcasing the nation’s rich biodiversity. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) announced the findings, which were made by the department’s researchers in collaboration with botanists from Kasetsart University and Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. Attapol Charoenchansa, the department’s chief, stated that the discoveries were part of…
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Thailand invites China to build satellite launch base
Thailand extended an invitation to China to build a satellite launch base to provide 6G technology, marking a significant step in enhancing economic cooperation as both nations gear up to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations next year. In addition to technological collaboration, China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to Thailand as goodwill ambassadors for the…
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Sky’s the limit: TC Space Connect orbits to victory in satellite bid
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has selected TC Space Connect, a subsidiary of Thaicom, as the winning bidder for the two remaining satellite orbit packages. This decision follows an extensive review by the bid selection committee, which concluded that TC Space Connect was the sole contender for the licences. NBTC’s timeline was slated yesterday, October 16, for finalising…
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California doctor claims spicy Thai dish left her with chemical burns
A California neurologist is suing a Thai restaurant, claiming she suffered permanent injuries after eating a spicy dish that she described as “unfit for human consumption.” Harjasleen Walia, a San Jose-based doctor, is demanding over US$35,000 (approximately 1.16 million baht) in damages after an order of Dragon Balls at Los Gatos’ Coup de Thai allegedly left her with chemical burns.…
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iCon-venient truth: Cops swoop to arrest 18 in fraud bust scandal
Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) dramatically swooped to arrest 18 key members of iCon Group, including its CEO, three well-known celebrities, and other key suspects over allegations of fraud. Shocking revelations from multiple victims and former members have exposed iCon Group Group’s dodgy business model, which appears to mirror a Ponzi scheme. Many investors lost their life savings,…
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Police chief orders swift arrest after fatal hit-and-run in Bangkok
A dramatic incident involving a motorcyclist killed in a hit-and-run occurred yesterday in Bangkok prompting immediate intervention from the national police chief. The event took place around 5.10pm, yesterday, October 16, as Chief Kittirat Panpet was on his way to a religious ceremony at Wat Thepsirin. While travelling to the ceremony following an inspection of police riot control units at…
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Chiang Mai shuts flood centre, locals claim aid unmet
Chiang Mai has shut down its flood relief centre, sparking discontent among locals who claim they have not received the promised aid. Deputy Governor Tosapol Phuanudom announced the closure yesterday, October 16, stating that the centre had completed its mission. The centre was established in response to the severe flooding that hit Chiang Mai between October 5 and 14. Despite…
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Chaiyaphum man wins 12 million baht in lottery
A Chaiyaphum man has won first prize in the latest lottery draw, taking home a staggering 12 million baht. Relatives, overwhelmed with joy, rushed to the local police station to officially record the win. Atisak, a 58 year old man, along with his family, visited the Khon Sawan Police Station in Chaiyaphum province to register his win with Police Lieutenant…
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Leopard spotted in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi
A leopard made a rare daytime appearance in Kaeng Krachan National Park, located in the Kaeng Krachan district of Phetchaburi. Mongkol Chaipakdee, head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, confirmed that a tourist captured detailed photos of the leopard lounging on a road inside the park on Tuesday, October 15. Mongkol noted that leopard sightings have become more frequent recently, indicating…
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Monsoon brings heavy rain to central, eastern, southern Thailand
Weather conditions for today see a monsoon trough passing through central, eastern, and southern regions, including Bangkok, bringing rain to 60% of the area with heavy showers in some places. Mariners are advised to navigate cautiously due to high waves. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts that for the next 24 hours, the monsoon trough will move across the upper…
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Fourth wife fatally shoots husband’s fifth wife over jealousy
A Thai woman yesterday admitted to fatally shooting her husband’s fifth wife near her home in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Officers from Ron Phibun Police Station and rescuers rushed to a house in a plantation in the Ron Phibun district of Nakhon Si Thammarat on Monday, October 15, after receiving a report of the shooting. Upon arrival,…
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Bank of Thailand slashes interest rates after four-year freeze
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has stunned financial markets by slashing its key interest rate for the first time in four years, buckling under mounting pressure from the government to revive the sluggish economy. The unexpected move saw the one-day repurchase rate trimmed by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 2.25% from its 10-year high of 2.50%. This decision…
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Don Mueang Tollway projects revenue boost amid rising traffic
Don Mueang Tollway Public Company Limited (DMT) forecasts a bright performance for the third quarter of this year heading into the High Season of Q4. The surge in tourism, both foreign and domestic, is expected to boost passenger numbers and traffic on the elevated tollway. Sakda Phanwai, the Managing Director, expressed optimism as Thai AirAsia X relocated its flights back…
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Nok Air takes off again: Ready to ‘baht’ back in business
Nok Air is plotting a major comeback, with a 5 billion baht cash injection on the cards for 2025. The Thai low-cost airline, which entered business rehabilitation in 2021, is now eyeing an exit in 2026, as CEO Wutthiphum Jurangkool outlines a path to financial recovery. In an interview with Bangkok Business, Wutthiphum revealed the funds will be used to…
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Foreign man’s tattoo blunder: ‘Love, peace, and curry’
A foreign man sparked a social media frenzy after showing off his new Thai tattoo, only for eagle-eyed netizens to point out a major mix-up. The man shared the inked message on the Reddit platform last week, using the handle thirstyfridays, claiming it said “love, peace, and harmony.” But, in a twist of culinary confusion, the Thai words “แกงเขียวหวานเผ็ดไก่” (Kaeng Khiao Wan…
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Mae Ya Krathong Shrine draws crowds for lucky lottery numbers
Residents flocked to the Mae Ya Krathong Shrine, a century-old sacred site, to seek lucky lottery numbers using the innocent touch of children to draw numbers from an urn. This time, the numbers drawn coincidentally matched popular ones, sparking hope for big wins. The Mae Ya Krathong Shrine, located under the shade of an ancient Krathong tree at the foot…
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Sedan driver trapped after high-speed horror in Pattaya
Chaos erupted on Siam Country Club Road in East Pattaya on Monday, October 14, when a sedan lost control, smashing into an electric pole and careening into the wall of a substation. Pattaya’s Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Center swiftly responded to the alarming report of the accident, dispatching teams armed with cutting tools to the scene. Upon arrival, rescuers discovered…
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Vocational student brawl disrupts Bangkok train commuters (video)
Panic erupted on a crowded train this morning when a group of young vocational students were involved in a wild brawl, sending Bangkok commuters scrambling for safety at Siam BTS. The chaotic scene unfolded around 8.30am, today, October 16, with Police swooping in to detain the troublemakers. Videos circulating online show more than ten boys, believed to be vocational students,…
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Thailand Cabinet hits the right note with concert campaign
In a major bid to turn up the volume on tourism, the Thai Cabinet has launched a sensational music campaign aimed at luring world-famous artists to rock out in Thailand! With the goal of boosting both tourism and investment, it’s time for the Kingdom of Thailand to take centre stage. At a press conference yesterday, October 15, Prime Minister’s Office…
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Feline fire fiasco: More than 20 injured in Samut Prakan blaze
A late-night fire in a crowded apartment building in Samut Prakan’s Mueang district left more than 20 residents nursing minor injuries from smoke inhalation. The chaos erupted around midnight yesterday, October 15, as hundreds of tenants made a frantic escape from the five-storey building on Samrong Soi 20. The fire reportedly ignited in a second-floor room, where the tenant had…
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Man robbed at knifepoint while selling iPhone 16 in Bangkok
A man was robbed at knifepoint after attempting to sell an iPhone 16 via Facebook. The incident took place early yesterday, October 15, near the entrance of Soi Phahonyothin 49 in Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok. Police are currently investigating the case to apprehend the suspect. Around 12.03am today, Bang Khen police officers were alerted to the robbery involving a weapon…
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Climate activists rally in Bangkok: No more ‘carbon’ copies of injustice
More than 200 climate activists descended on the United Nations Headquarters in Bangkok yesterday passionately demanding an end to climate change laws and carbon credit systems that favour corporate giants. The rally, titled “System Change Not Climate Crisis,” aimed to pressure the Thai government ahead of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), taking place in Azerbaijan from November…
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Nigerian returning from Thailand nabbed with massive heroin haul
In a dramatic crackdown on drug smuggling, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a Thailand returnee at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Nigeria, unmasking a heroin haul worth over 3.2 billion Nigerian nairas (approximately 65 million baht). The suspect, Oguejiofor Nnaemeka Simonpeter, a 29 year old mechanical engineering graduate, was caught red-handed attempting to…
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Motorcyclist dies in collision with 18-wheeler on Sukhumvit Road
A tragic accident occurred when a motorcyclist collided with the rear of an 18-wheeler, resulting in the motorcyclist’s death. The incident took place on Sukhumvit Road, heading towards Bangkok, opposite the entrance of Thung Krad Temple in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. At 12.06am today, October 16, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya Rescue Radio Centre received a report of a serious…
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German man found dead in Patong hotel after fever and dizziness
A German man was found dead in his hotel room in Patong today after experiencing fever and dizziness. The incident prompted police to request a medical examination to determine the cause of death. Patong police were alerted to the situation at approximately 6am, today, October 16, and arrived at the hotel on Phra Mettha Road. Upon investigation, officers found no…
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Thailand’s stock market sees a ‘baht’ of foreign interest
Foreign investors have increased their holdings of Thai shares by 1.37% in the first eight months of 2024, reaching a total of 5.18 trillion baht, based on data from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). This rise highlights the growing interest in the technology, financial, and services sectors. By August 2024, foreign investors held over 5.18 trillion baht (US$155 billion)…
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Phuket taxi driver hits foreign man on airport zebra crossing
A Thai taxi driver hit a foreign man on a zebra crossing at Phuket International Airport yesterday leaving the man with serious injuries. The Phuket Times reported the accident yesterday, October 15. “An airport taxi with a green registration plate hit a foreign tourist on a zebra crossing at Phuket Airport. The foreigner lost consciousness and had a bloody wound…
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Lottery hopefuls rush to Udon Thani as lucky numbers sell out
Crowds of lottery enthusiasts flocked to Kham Chanod in Udon Thani to buy the lucky numbers 451 and 154, derived from incense sticks at the sacrificial table of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s son, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, completely selling out the lottery stalls. Today, October 16, reports from Kham Chanod Island, located in the Naga King’s realm of Wang…
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