News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Sponsored Smooth travel to Belgium and the Netherlands: Visa tips & tricks!
Make Belgium and the Netherlands your next destination with the right visa in hand. Explore the iconic tulip fields, cruise through Amsterdam’s scenic canals, or stroll through the historic streets of Bruges. Don’t forget to enjoy some authentic Belgian chocolate...
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Holiday mayhem: Govt unveils free tolls plan for New Year’s Eve
The Thai government has announced measures to ease the expected holiday travel chaos. With a staggering 34 million trips anticipated, the Ministry of Transport has unveiled a chaotic cocktail of free tolls, trial road openings, and even free camping spots in a desperate bid to keep the nation moving. Happiness Festival Everywhere in Thailand is the rather optimistic slogan for…
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Bangkok and northeast Thailand to see rain and cooler temperatures
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecasted rainfall for Bangkok and northeastern Thailand with cooler morning temperatures tomorrow. Additionally, two other regions will experience similar weather patterns, with temperatures expected to drop between December 28 and December 30 due to strong winds and heavy rain in the south. Tomorrow’s weather forecast indicates that a moderate high-pressure system is covering the…
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Young man dies in motorbike crash on Chon Buri motorway
A tragic accident claimed the life of a 24 year old man when his motorbike crashed into a streetlight pole. He was on his way to pick up his girlfriend for new year celebrations when the fatal incident occurred. At approximately 3.30am today, December 27, police officer Suchaiyos Chuaykaew received reports of a motorcycle accident along the Don Hua Lo…
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Winning numbers: Villagers seek lottery luck from Phayao anthill
Villagers in Phayao province have flocked to a revered anthill believed to bring good fortune, hoping for a lucky start to the new year. The anthill, located in Mae Ka subdistrict, Mueang district, has previously provided accurate three-digit numbers to those seeking fortune. The villagers gathered with offerings of flowers, incense, garlands, and colourful cloths, along with talcum powder, to…
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Maharaj Hospital seeks blood donations for new year prep
Maharaj Hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima is gearing up for the new year celebrations by preparing medical personnel, ambulances, and emergency vehicles for the critical Seven Dangerous Days. However, the hospital is facing a shortage of 400 units of blood and is urgently seeking donations. The deputy director of Maharaj Hospital, Jedsada Bun-Ya-Wong-Viroj, has disclosed plans to ensure readiness during this…
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Surat Thani resident uncovers 14k meth pills in fertilizer sack
A resident found a mysterious sack placed in front of their home in Surat Thani province, which, upon inspection, revealed 14,000 methamphetamine (meth) pills. The incident prompted immediate action by local police to trace the origins of the drugs. At the office of the Narcotics Control Centre within Phunphin district, Surat Thani province, officials gathered to address a significant drug-related…
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Sweet profit: Lopburi melon farm thrives with high demand
The Orapan Melon Farm in Lopburi province has become a beacon of agricultural success, with its melons in high demand and orders booked well into the next year. Located in the Suratikarn Organic Farmers Group area, the farm cultivates two melon varieties: the Sanwan melon, a Japanese-style fruit with green netted skin and sweet, fragrant flesh, and the Thaihao melon…
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SIM scandal shocker: Telecom giant hits back at call centre gangs
Thai telecom heavyweight True Corporation has firmly denied allegations of supplying SIM cards in bulk to call centre gangs, following a dramatic police raid in Bangkok. The raid, carried out on December 20, targeted a condo on Rama IX Road in Huay Kwang, uncovering a staggering cache of criminal tech: 286 SIM boxes, over 300,000 SIM cards, 636 smartphones, and 100…
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Phetchabun family’s loss turns into gift of life for four
A significant act of compassion unfolded at Phetchabun Hospital, where a family decided to donate the organs of a 42 year old programmer who was declared brain dead. This generous donation is set to benefit four individuals in need. Chawalit Iamsaad, who hailed from Bueng Sam Phan district in Phetchabun, was employed as a programmer for PTT, working remotely from…
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20th anniversary: Phuket looks back on Boxing Day tsunami
Two decades after the catastrophic Indian Ocean Tsunami, communities along Thailand’s Andaman coast, including Phuket, gathered today, Boxing Day, to honour the lives lost and reflect on the lessons learned from that fateful day in 2004. The disaster claimed an estimated 230,000 to 280,000 lives across multiple countries, with Thailand designating December 26 as National Disaster Prevention Day in its…
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South Thailand: Schoolgirl attacks senior with knife at tourist spot
A shocking incident unfolded recently at a popular tourist spot in Nakhon Si Thammarat province when a third-year secondary school girl attacked a fifth-year student with a folding knife. The incident took place at Ban Wang Yao, Thon Hong subdistrict, Phrom Khiri district, on Christmas Eve, leaving the older student injured and raising concerns about youth violence. The head of…
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Phayao: Teen loses his life as motorbike slams into power pole
A tragic accident marked the beginning of the Seven Dangerous Days in the northern province of Phayao, as a 19 year old lost his life after crashing his motorcycle into a roadside power pole. The accident occurred yesterday, December 25 on the first day of the safety campaign, aimed at reducing road accidents during the new year period. Police were…
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South Korean gambling suspect arrested in Pattaya luxury condo
A South Korean national, sought for his alleged involvement in a significant illegal gambling operation, was apprehended in a luxurious condominium in Pattaya. Thai immigration officials executed the arrest yesterday, December 25, identifying the suspect as 33 year old Jung. The arrest occurred at a high-end condo in Pattaya, where he was found with passports from South Korea and Vanuatu.…
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Aussie father fights to survive and heal after losing son to tsunami
Boxing Day 2004 started as a serene tropical morning for an Australian father, his wife, and their 16 year old son in a beachfront hotel in Phuket. But in moments, tranquillity gave way to catastrophe. “We were admiring the view, and all of a sudden, the water disappeared.” What seemed like an intriguing phenomenon – fish floundering on the exposed…
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Thai cyber police locate call centre gang in Cambodia
Cyber police in Thailand have confirmed the location of a call centre gang on the 25th floor of a building in Poipet, Cambodia, as highlighted in a recent statement by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. This revelation aligns with ongoing investigations and confessions from numerous suspects involved in related cases. At a briefing held yesterday, December 25, at the Technology…
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Rescue mission underway for lost students in Kanchanaburi forest
Rescue teams are working to assist a group of Mahidol University students and lecturers who became lost in the forest in Kanchanaburi during a geology field operation. While initial reports mentioned injuries among the group, all members are now confirmed to be safe. The incident came to light after a Facebook user, Persia Jongtawon, posted an urgent message accompanied by…
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Flood mitigation: 95 billion baht plan proposed for Bangkok
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has proposed a budget of 95 billion baht to the National Water Resources Committee (NWRC) to address flooding in Bangkok by improving the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River. The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Narumon Pinyosinwat, explained that the initiative aims to tackle drought and flooding issues as part of a larger government…
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Krabi ferry operators found drug positive suspended
Police in Krabi conducted a random drug test on ferry operators and crew members at Koh Lanta, resulting in several individuals testing positive for drugs. The operators, found with purple urine, have been suspended and will undergo rehabilitation. The joint operation involved local administrative officers from Koh Lanta district and regional marine department officials. They carried out these surprise urine…
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Thai raid exposes gorilla smuggling attempt via Turkish airport
Thai police took decisive action yesterday, December 25, raiding a trading company in Nakhon Pathom linked to an unsuccessful attempt to smuggle a gorilla into the country. The Nakhon Pathom Provincial Court authorised a search warrant for TK Farm International Trading, located in Mueang district after Turkish customs intercepted the infant gorilla at Istanbul Airport. Customs officials at Istanbul Airport…
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Thailand video news | Belgian man attacked by teens in Pattaya, British tourist dies after taking magic mushrooms in Thailand
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring you the latest stories from Thailand and across Asia. From a Belgian man attacked by teens in Pattaya and a tragic tourist death linked to magic mushrooms in Chiang Mai, to Thailand’s heightened border precautions amid a cholera outbreak in Myanmar, the updates highlight safety concerns and proactive measures in the…
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Bus carrying dance troupe collides with car in Buriram
A dramatic road incident occurred when a bus carrying the Seang Esan Mor Lam dance troupe collided with a car making a U-turn on a street in Buriram, Thailand. Three dancers sustained minor injuries, but the show will go on as planned. Yesterday, December 25, Police Lieutenant Napat Sutthithanakul from Satuek Police Station received a report of a collision between…
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Unemployed engineer arrested for theft spree in Hat Yai
Police in Hat Yai have apprehended a 26 year old unemployed engineer involved in a series of thefts across resorts, hotels, and hospital patient rooms. The arrest took place yesterday, December 25, when police raided a rented room in a nondescript building in Soi Chok Saman 4, Hat Yai Municipality, Songkhla. The suspect, identified only as Muach, originally from Narathiwat,…
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Online gambling operation busted in Hat Yai condo
Police have raided an online gambling operation, LIGAZ88, located in a luxury condominium in Hat Yai, uncovering a business with a monthly turnover of 50 million baht. The operation led to the arrest of three individuals, including a retired teacher. A crackdown by the Technology Crime Suppression Division of the Songkhla Provincial Police led to the arrest of three suspects…
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Fool’s gold: Chinese conman nabbed in Pattaya pawn shop scam
A daring con artist met his match in Pattaya, where Tourist Police arrested a 29 year old Chinese national for duping pawn shops with counterfeit gold jewellery. The dramatic bust unfolded yesterday, Christmas Day, along Pattaya Third Road in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district. Officers swooped in after the Chinese suspect, Deng Huanyou allegedly pawned a fake gold bracelet weighing 3.5…
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Phuket duo swipes 600 euros from Belgian with a fake hug
Police yesterday, December 25, arrested a Thai woman and a transwoman for pretending to greet a Belgian man with a hug and stealing 600 euros in cash (approximately 21,000 baht) from him in the Patong area of Phuket. The 58 year old Belgian victim filed a complaint with Patong Police Station officers at around 5am on December 22, reporting that…
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Chiang Mai council chairman accused of assaulting local resident
A significant altercation involving a prominent local council chairman in Chiang Mai has left a resident severely injured, sparking outrage among the community. The incident took place when the chairman allegedly insulted and physically assaulted a local during a campaign event at the home of a former Chiang Mai provincial council member. Reports from residents in a municipality area of…
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Chinese teen arrested in Bangkok for call centre scam
A significant breakthrough in the battle against call centre scams in Thailand occurred with the arrest of a Chinese teenager in Bangkok. Police conducted raids on two locations, which led to the capture of a 19 year old Chinese national suspected of involvement in a sophisticated scam operation. Metropolitan and immigration police, armed with a warrant from the Criminal Court,…
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Thai influencer dies after alcohol stunt for 30,000 baht
Bank Leicester, a well-known Thai influencer, has tragically died after being hired to consume an excessive amount of alcohol in exchange for 30,000 baht (US$880). Known for his unique approach of rapping while selling garlands to support his grandmother, Bank had gained significant popularity online. His untimely death occurred at approximately 3.40am, reportedly due to the drinking challenge. Bank, whose…
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Fiery disaster: 9 buses damaged at coach park on Bangkok road
A fire broke out at a coach parking area on Kanchanaphisek Road, Bangkok damaging nearly 10 buses but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Firefighters quickly responded to the blaze, which occurred yesterday, December 25, at a facility owned by Siam Transport Company, located along the western ring road of Bangkok in Thawi Watthana district. Police Inspector Senee Kanpawong of Bang…
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Thai serial rapist who targets elderly women remains on the run
Two elderly Thai women sought help from the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women after a rapist who sexually assaulted them in a paddy field in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima remains at large for months. The two senior victims, who are cousins, met the foundation’s founder, Pavena Hongsakul, at the foundation office in the central province of Pathum Thani…
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