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.

  • Brothel bust: Thai asylum seeker facing seven years behind bars in UK

    Brothel bust: Thai asylum seeker facing seven years behind bars in UK

    A Thai national faces seven years in prison and a severe fine for brazenly establishing an illicit brothel and escort agency right under the noses of the British Home Office as he sought asylum from his home country. The audacious endeavour came to light last night, revealing that Saranwee Kwanpetch managed about 50 girls across multiple locations in London, all…

  • Thai government plans six flagship AI projects in national strategy

    Thai government plans six flagship AI projects in national strategy

    Six flagship projects, including the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) workforce and the Thai large language model (ThaiLLM), are on the cards for the second phase of the national AI strategy and action plan. The initiation of these projects is pending approval from a new National AI Committee, appointed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. An estimated budget of 1.5…

  • Thai retail sector struggles despite tax incentives and tourist spending

    Thai retail sector struggles despite tax incentives and tourist spending

    Despite increased spending by tourists and tax incentives to encourage buying, Thailand’s retail sector is under strain. The sector, facing the challenges of a surge of substandard goods from China, is burdening local entrepreneurs. Thai Retailers Association Vice President Chatchai Tuongratanaphan predicts a growth of only 1-2% in the retail sector for the first half of the year. This is…

  • Paetongtarn Shinawatra: Thailand’s political sector’s rising star

    Paetongtarn Shinawatra: Thailand’s political sector’s rising star

    Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the dynamic youngest daughter of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is making waves in the nation’s political sector. As the current leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, she brings a combination of academic prowess and political lineage to the table. Holding degrees in Sociology and Anthropology from Chulalongkorn University and in International Hotel Management from the…

  • Bangkok’s Klong Ong Ang Canal neglected despite tourism appeal

    Bangkok’s Klong Ong Ang Canal neglected despite tourism appeal

    The controversy around the neglected state of the Klong Ong Ang Canal area, once touted as a tourist hotspot by the previous government, has prompted officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to come forward in defence. Images revealing the dilapidated condition of the area, including parked vehicles on a freshly paved footpath, abandoned artistic graffiti installations, and homeless individuals…

  • Thai navy’s frigate procurement plan gets House Committee’s nod

    Thai navy’s frigate procurement plan gets House Committee’s nod

    The Royal Thai Navy‘s (RTN) plans for procuring a new frigate received an endorsement from the House of Representatives Committee on the Armed Forces. This move is expected to pave the way for more job opportunities for local labour. The RTN’s frigate procurement strategy recently encountered a setback when its budget request of 17 billion baht (US$480 million) for the…

  • Thailand and France collaborate to upgrade Thai aviation industry

    Thailand and France collaborate to upgrade Thai aviation industry

    Thailand’s aviation industry is set to undergo a significant upgrade, in collaboration with France, as announced by Thai Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. The partnership, conceived during a recent official visit to France, is intended to ready Thailand for future aviation demands. The minister held discussions with Damien Caze, the head of France’s Directorate-General for Civil Aviation, in the French capital.…

  • Thailand’s Kantharalak district to reopen Preah Vihear temple

    Thailand’s Kantharalak district to reopen Preah Vihear temple

    The district of Kantharalak in Sisaket, Thailand, is buzzing with anticipation as it prepares to reopen access to the Preah Vihear temple after 16 years. The decision to establish a temporary checkpoint for entry into the Cambodian temple followed Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s recent visit to the province. The move has sparked excitement among the locals, who view it as…

  • Water assault over 200,000 baht debt injures elderly in Nonthaburi

    Water assault over 200,000 baht debt injures elderly in Nonthaburi

    A high-pressure water assault on a wheelchair-bound woman and her 82 year old mother has led to a heated dispute over unpaid debt in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Yesterday, a 41 year old woman, Jittrathiwat, reported being attacked by Jeab, the sister of debtor Duangkamol, during a confrontation at a beauty salon the previous evening. Jittrathiwat recounted that she had been pushing…

  • Bangkok bans parking under BTS stations to ease traffic

    Bangkok bans parking under BTS stations to ease traffic

    Bangkok’s traffic management authorities have implemented a new regulation prohibiting parking in the indented areas of central road islands beneath BTS Skytrain stations. The regulation, which took effect immediately, aims to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce accidents caused by illegal parking. The Royal Gazette announced a traffic regulation for Bangkok, effective today, which forbids parking in the indents of central…

  • Udon Thani college guard finds corpse in shocking discovery

    Udon Thani college guard finds corpse in shocking discovery

    A startling discovery at a prominent technical college in Udon Thani province shook the local community when a security guard stumbled upon the body of a man dressed in black, lying beneath a bridge near the college. The guard, initially mistaking the figure for a rubber doll, was horrified to find it was a corpse, setting off a police investigation…

  • Buriram shooting: Teenagers injured in revenge attack

    Buriram shooting: Teenagers injured in revenge attack

    A violent encounter last night left two high school students injured after being shot by a younger peer. The incident, which took place near a petrol station in Buriram province, was reportedly an act of revenge on behalf of a friend. The two victims, both Grade 9 students, were attacked as they rode their motorcycle in the vicinity of Nong…

  • Chulalongkorn Uni pressured to reveal fraudulent thesis results

    Chulalongkorn Uni pressured to reveal fraudulent thesis results

    Chulalongkorn University is currently under pressure from an alumni group, Network of Universities Reform, to reveal the findings of an investigation into an alleged fraudulent doctoral research paper. The contentious thesis, penned by Nattapon Jaijin, has been under scrutiny for three years, a fact that has sparked frustration within the group. The group’s leader, Wirangrong Dabbaransi, has taken to Facebook…

  • Severe summer storms to lash Thailand’s upper regions

    Severe summer storms to lash Thailand’s upper regions

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its final advisory warning of severe summer storms striking the upper regions of Thailand. The alert, issued today, March 10, highlights the danger of thunderstorms, and strong winds, and cautions the public of the risks posed by these weather conditions. A high-pressure system from the east is dominating the northeastern part of Thailand and…

  • Thai govt enhances medical accessibility for HIV/Aids patients

    Thai govt enhances medical accessibility for HIV/Aids patients

    The Thai government, represented by the Public Health Ministry, has green-lit a plan to enhance medical accessibility for individuals living with HIV/Aids. This decision follows a multi-agency meeting headed by Minister Cholnan Srikaew. The dialogue, held on Friday, included representation from the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/Aids (TNP+), the Aids Access Foundation, the Institute of HIV Research and…

  • Anthrax outbreak in Laos prompts raw meat warning in Thailand

    Anthrax outbreak in Laos prompts raw meat warning in Thailand

    Kenika Ounjit, a deputy government spokesperson, yesterday revealed a public health warning from the Department of Livestock Development. The warning urged the public to refrain from consuming raw meat. This follows a report of an anthrax outbreak in Laos, published on the World Forum Facebook page on Wednesday. According to the report, three cases of anthrax were identified on March…

  • Thai Health Ministry under scrutiny for drug user-dealer regulation

    Thai Health Ministry under scrutiny for drug user-dealer regulation

    The Public Health Ministry faces a 30-day deadline to substantiate its regulation that categorises individuals holding five methamphetamine pills or 10mg of crystal meth or less as mere drug users, not dealers. This demand comes from the Office of the Ombudsman, which is considering cancelling the ministry regulation. The secretary-general of the Office of the Ombudsman, Police Lieutenant Colonel Keirov…

  • AI-driven project launched to tackle Bangkok’s traffic congestion

    AI-driven project launched to tackle Bangkok’s traffic congestion

    An artificial intelligence (AI) technology-driven project, the Ratchaprasong Model, has been launched by the government to combat excessive traffic congestion in the bustling business district of Ratchaprasong. This area is also recognised as a tourist hotspot in the capital. The inauguration of the project was presided over by the Prime Minister’s Office Minister, Puangpet Chunlaiad, and vice minister Warawut Yanjareon,…

  • Thailand to host prestigious Formula E electric-car championship

    Thailand to host prestigious Formula E electric-car championship

    The Government of Thailand is set to welcome the prestigious Formula E electric-car racing championship in the coming year. This revelation was made by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on his X account yesterday, following an engaging conversation with a senior executive of Formula E. Formula E, also known as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, has earned global recognition…

  • Desperate Thai fruit seller offers eye for sale to clear debt

    Desperate Thai fruit seller offers eye for sale to clear debt

    A poignant image of a 57 year old Thai fruit seller in Bangkok has stirred waves across the Internet after he pledged to donate one of his eyes to resolve his financial woes. The heartrending scene, initially shared by the Facebook Page Panda Lab Doctor, depicts the man selling fruits with a placard bearing the urgent message: “Eye for Sale.”…

  • Baby bodies found in glass bottles in Hong Kong flat

    Baby bodies found in glass bottles in Hong Kong flat

    In a grim and chilling revelation, Hong Kong police apprehended two individuals believed to be the parents of two infants whose bodies were uncovered in separate glass bottles within a rented flat. Chief Inspector Au Yeung Tak, heading the New Territories North unit, disclosed today that the distressing find was made around 10am yesterday by a cleaner commissioned by the…

  • BMTA set to go green with 3,390 electric buses

    BMTA set to go green with 3,390 electric buses

    Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) embarks on an initiative to replace its ageing fleet with 3,390 electric buses, announced Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri. During a recent board meeting, it was revealed that the BMTA has prioritised the urgent acquisition of new electric buses, aligning with its commitment to mitigate environmental impact across the metropolitan area. Manaporn, overseeing the BMTA,…

  • PM Srettha strikes deals in Parisian power play

    PM Srettha strikes deals in Parisian power play

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin made waves in Paris as he orchestrated a series of high-stakes meetings with France’s business elite. From fashion to automotive technology, the 62 year old Thai PM’s mission was clear: to solidify Thailand’s status as a regional powerhouse for trade and innovation. Kicking off his jam-packed schedule yesterday morning, PM Srettha delved into talks with Sébastien…

  • Revolutionary ‘Air Swipe Bag’ holds single item

    Revolutionary ‘Air Swipe Bag’ holds single item

    In a groundbreaking fusion of fashion and aerospace technology, the designer brand Coperni has stunned the world with its latest creation: the Air Swipe Bag. Dubbed the “Air Swipe Bag,” this avant-garde accessory unveiled during the 2024 Paris Fashion Week has sent shockwaves through the fashion industry. Crafted from an astonishing 99% air and 1% glass, this bag is as…

  • Pattaya: Large sea turtle found dead

    Pattaya: Large sea turtle found dead

    The tranquillity of Jomtien Beach in Pattaya was disrupted early yesterday morning when a lifeless large sea turtle was found washed ashore. The unusual sight was reported to the special operations officers of Pattaya municipal and sea rescue personnel by tourists around 12.46am. The unfortunate discovery occurred near Soi Jomtien 10, within the Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon…

  • Indian national accused of theft in Pattaya

    Indian national accused of theft in Pattaya

    An Indian national found himself in the grip of Pattaya Immigration on Thursday following an accusation of theft from his employer. The theft amounted to 100,000 baht and a tablet. The Indian man confessed that he had exhausted all the stolen funds on self-gratification. The accused Indian national, known by the family name Palliparambil (first name withheld), faced charges from…

  • Phetchabun temple’s ritual sparks lottery fever

    Phetchabun temple’s ritual sparks lottery fever

    Scores of hopefuls gathered yesterday at the Wat Pratu Dao in Phetchabun to participate in a ceremonial blessing and fortune-seeking ritual in anticipation of the lottery draw scheduled for March 16. The event took place in the temple grounds located in the In Mueang district of Phetchabun province, which was once a site for the cremation and burial of executed…

  • Northeast Thailand: Former boxer’s son kills father over farming dispute

    Northeast Thailand: Former boxer’s son kills father over farming dispute

    A former boxer’s son murdered his father yesterday in a fit of dissatisfaction over a farming dispute. The son, after finding only two plots ploughed instead of the expected complete field for vegetable farming, locked his father’s neck and used a steel rod, typically carried by oxen, to stab him multiple times in the neck and abdomen, leading to the…

  • Myanmar exchange student falls to death from Thailand dormitory

    Myanmar exchange student falls to death from Thailand dormitory

    A tragic incident unfolded when a 26 year old Myanmar exchange student fatally fell from the sixth floor of a dormitory building in Pathum Thani province. The incident, which took place around 12.30am today, has left authorities and acquaintances searching for answers. Officials from Pak Klong Rangsit Police Station, led by investigation officer Suwat Phothiree, were notified of the fatal…

  • Thai agency may include monkeys in wildlife compensation scheme

    Thai agency may include monkeys in wildlife compensation scheme

    The Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) is contemplating the inclusion of monkeys in its wildlife compensation programme. This consideration arises following an incident where a woman suffered injuries from a macaque attack, leading her to file a police complaint to secure compensation for her medical expenses. The victim, Arikanta Kanchanasinmetha, reported the incident at Tha…