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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  • Thailand denies bail to suspected serial killer as cyanide poisoning toll rises to 13

    Thailand denies bail to suspected serial killer as cyanide poisoning toll rises to 13

    The Criminal Court of Thailand denied bail to the suspected serial killer, Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn. The number of victims has increased from 8 to 13, with two of them luckily surviving the cyanide poisoning. The Criminal Court of Thailand denied bail and issued a detention notice against Am for 12 days from April 26 to May 7. During this time,…

  • Actress Halle Bailey faces backlash for posing with animals at controversial Bangkok zoo

    Actress Halle Bailey faces backlash for posing with animals at controversial Bangkok zoo

    Animal rights activists have criticized US actress Halle Bailey, known for her upcoming role in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, after she posed with wildlife at a controversial Bangkok zoo. Bailey and Disney were accused of promoting animal exploitation and cruelty at Safari World in Bangkok, which has been under international scrutiny for years for their treatment of animals, particularly orangutans…

  • Another Uyghur refugee dies after 9 years in Thailand detention centre

    Another Uyghur refugee dies after 9 years in Thailand detention centre

    Human rights groups are urging Thai authorities once more to end forced prolonged detention for Uyghur refugees following the death of a Uyghur man who spent nine years inside a detention centre in Bangkok, Thailand. Mettohti Matturson, a 40 year old Uyghur refugee from Xinjiang in China, died of suspected liver failure at Bangkok’s Suan Phlu Immigration Centre (IDC) on…

  • Chinese tourists return for May Day holidays, boosting international bookings

    Chinese tourists return for May Day holidays, boosting international bookings

    After a long hiatus due to travel restrictions and pandemic-related concerns, Chinese tourists are gearing up for international travel once again. According to DidaTravel, a tech-driven global travel distribution company, Chinese travellers are eager to explore the world and bookings for trips abroad are recovering fast. The upcoming May Day holiday, which runs from April 29 until May 3 and…

  • Elephant moves fallen tree blocking road in Thailand (video)

    Elephant moves fallen tree blocking road in Thailand (video)

    An elephant moved a fallen tree blocking the Lampang – Phrae Road in northern Thailand during a storm on Monday, allowing traffic to resume as normal. The moment was captured on Facebook Live. The owner of the elephant, Weerawat Triyot, said that he was on his way back to Chaiyaphum province after taking his 16 year old elephant Dan Siam…

  • Thai and German nationals arrested for smuggling drugs into Koh Pha Ngan

    Thai and German nationals arrested for smuggling drugs into Koh Pha Ngan

    Thai authorities arrested a Thai national and a German man on Monday for smuggling drugs into Koh Pha Ngan in the southern province of Surat Thani. The arrest was made after the officers found drugs hidden in scented candles delivered from Germany. The Permanent Secretary of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Wichai Chaimongkon, released details of the arrests,…

  • Laotian woman arrested in Pattaya for overstaying visa by three years

    Laotian woman arrested in Pattaya for overstaying visa by three years

    During a routine inspection at a Pattaya nightclub, local police arrested a Laotian woman who had overstayed her visa by three years. The arrest took place last night at Club Panda, a popular establishment on Walking Street. The inspection occurred around 10pm yesterday when law enforcement officials entered the establishment and found 160 patrons, both local Thais and foreign nationals.…

  • Over 800,000 Bangkok residents register for early voting in May 14 General Election

    Over 800,000 Bangkok residents register for early voting in May 14 General Election

    Some 800,000 citizens in Bangkok have registered to cast their ballots ahead of the May 14 General Election, as they intend to engage in early voting on May 7. Among the 2.35 million voters nationwide who have registered for advance voting, numerous are located in Thailand’s capital city, with 74 polling stations available. The largest number of early voters registered…

  • Child prodigy creates mesmerizing Sak Yant tattoo in Khon Kaen, Thailand

    Child prodigy creates mesmerizing Sak Yant tattoo in Khon Kaen, Thailand

    The skills of a child prodigy went viral on Thai social media after he created a traditional Thai tattoo (or Sak Yant) on a customer in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The 10 year old child prodigy, Nakrob “Puen” Sooksusi, is considered the youngest tattoo artist in Thailand. Sak Yant is a popular form of tattoo art in Thailand.…

  • Lululemon to open store in Thailand this July

    Lululemon to open store in Thailand this July

    Canadian athletic apparel, accessories, and footwear brand lululemon athletica will open a store in CentralWorld in Bangkok this July. It will be the brand’s first store in Thailand. The brand did not give an exact date in July for the store’s opening on CentralWorld’s first floor opposite H&M Home – joining the mall’s newly-opened American burger joint Shake Shack. Lululemon…

  • Thailand plans to relocate macaque monkeys from Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park

    Thailand plans to relocate macaque monkeys from Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park

    Phetchaburi authorities are currently working on a plan to relocate the large and mischievous macaque population at the Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park, better known as Khao Wang, to a place where they can live a more natural life and cause no disturbance to the peace, provincial governor Natthachai Nampoonsuksan announced on May 1. The number of monkeys in the…

  • Crafty Chiang Mai tuk tuk drivers paint pavement yellow to avoid traffic fines

    Crafty Chiang Mai tuk tuk drivers paint pavement yellow to avoid traffic fines

    Crafty Tuk Tuk drivers were caught on camera painting yellow paint over the red lines on the pavement in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand so they could park their three-wheeled vehicles next to Tha Phae Gate without getting traffic fines. Red and white means absolutely no parking, whereas yellow and white means parking there temporarily is permitted. In a short…

  • Stray dogs intimidate foreign tourists at Krabi’s Ao Nang Beach

    Stray dogs intimidate foreign tourists at Krabi’s Ao Nang Beach

    There’s been more drama involving stray dogs at Ao Nang Beach in Krabi province. A pack of stray dogs intimidated two foreign tourists on the beach, The Phuket Express reported yesterday. The couple was walking their pet dog along the beach when the pack of five to six strays aggressively barked at them. The couple tried to chase the dogs away, but…

  • Thailand welcomes new controversial Chinese-built amphibious assault ship

    Thailand welcomes new controversial Chinese-built amphibious assault ship

    Thailand yesterday welcomed a new Chinese-built amphibious assault ship to its naval fleet. The HTMS Chang, a Type 071E landing platform dock, arrived at its homeport in southern Thailand a week after its official handover at the Chinese shipyard. The ship, which left Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding’s facility in Shanghai on Tuesday, April 18, travelled through the Taiwan Strait before arriving at…

  • New Balance kicks out of Thailand

    New Balance kicks out of Thailand

    American sports footwear brand New Balance closed all of its stores in Thailand after the contract with its importer and distributor in Thailand, CRC Sports, expired. CRC Sports, a retail company under the Central Group, was established on December 26, 1996, with a registered capital of 370 million baht. It operated under the Supersports brand and offered sports products. According…

  • Girlfriend of Australian tourist found dead in Thai police custody suspects foul play

    Girlfriend of Australian tourist found dead in Thai police custody suspects foul play

    UPDATE The girlfriend of the Australian man who was found dead inside the detention room at a police station in Phuket, southern Thailand, on Monday says her boyfriend was “not suicidal” and had every intention of returning to his family. Police arrested 31 year old Matthew Michael Winder for being drunk and disorderly at around 5.45am and detained him at…

  • Woman arrested for stealing from foreigners at Bangkok airports and malls

    Woman arrested for stealing from foreigners at Bangkok airports and malls

    The Thai Tourist Police arrested a woman for stealing money and assets from foreigners at Don Mueang International Airport and shopping malls in Bangkok. The officers also discovered 293 tablets of methamphetamine and 1.26 grammes of crystal meth at her accommodation. The arrest was made after a Chinese woman reported that her designer YSL (Yves Saint Laurent) handbag worth over…

  • Suspected serial killer arrested for the deaths of 8 victims

    Suspected serial killer arrested for the deaths of 8 victims

    Suspected serial killer Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, believed to be responsible for the deaths of eight victims, was arrested by Police yesterday. The suspect, Am, denied all allegations, despite the mountain of evidence provided by the victims’ relatives. The arrest of Am was made following the death of Siriporn “Koy” Khanwong on Friday, April 14. Koy collapsed and died while releasing…

  • Thailand’s Supreme Court upholds death penalty for school director who killed 3 in gold shop robbery

    Thailand’s Supreme Court upholds death penalty for school director who killed 3 in gold shop robbery

    The Supreme Court of Thailand ruled today that the death penalty will be upheld for the former primary school director who shot dead three people – including a two year old child – and wounded another during a gold shop robbery in Lop Buri province three years ago. On January 9, 2020, then-39 year old Prasitthichai “Golf” Khaokaew entered the…

  • Thailand detects 6 new cases of Omicron XBB.1.16 subvariant and one XBB.1.16.1

    Thailand detects 6 new cases of Omicron XBB.1.16 subvariant and one XBB.1.16.1

    Thailand‘s Department of Medical Sciences announced yesterday that it has identified six new cases of the Omicron XBB.1.16 subvariant, as well as one case of the closely related XBB.1.16.1 subvariant. This brings the total number of people in the kingdom infected with the XBB.1.16 subvariant to 34. The department’s director-general, Supakit Sirilak, confirmed that XBB.1.16 is responsible for 9.8% of…

  • Two booze ban days coming up in Thailand

    Two booze ban days coming up in Thailand

    In case drunkenness influences voters to tick the wrong box in Thailand‘s upcoming elections, alcohol sales will be banned nationwide for two Saturdays next month – early voting day and Election Day. No alcohol may be sold from 6pm on May 6 until 6pm on May 7, as well as from 6pm on May 13 until 6pm on May 14.…

  • Thai man stumbles upon human skeleton near Pattaya reservoir

    Thai man stumbles upon human skeleton near Pattaya reservoir

    A Thai man stumbled upon a human skeleton at the rim of a reservoir near Pattaya yesterday morning. The man, 48 year old Praphat Namsuphat, was walking along the edge of the Chak Nok Reservoir with his child when he spotted what he at first thought was a canine skeleton. But after looking closely, Praphat was shocked to discover that…

  • Democrat Party plan to transform Hat Yai into major economic hub

    Democrat Party plan to transform Hat Yai into major economic hub

    The Democrat Party in Thailand recently revealed its intentions to rejuvenate its previous plan to turn the commercial district of Hat Yai, located in Songkhla province, into a significant economic centre. This attempt aims to attract more investors to the area. Democrat Party officials mentioned that they are considering the enactment of a special law that would promote the growth…

  • Thailand offers 11 billion baht subsidy for low-income electricity bills

    Thailand offers 11 billion baht subsidy for low-income electricity bills

    The Thai government announced plans to allocate over 11 billion baht to support low-income earners with their electricity bills over the next four months, with the subsidy set to begin in May. However, the proposal needs to be reviewed and approved by the Election Commission (EC) before it becomes official. Following yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha addressed the…

  • Bangkok’s luxury condo market is booming

    Bangkok’s luxury condo market is booming

    Bangkok’s luxury condo scene is booming with rent at some high-end condominiums now hitting 100,000 baht per month, reports BangkokBizNews. Sanchai Khu-Ekachai, Director and Head of Research and Consulting at Knight Frank Thailand Co., Ltd. said… “The condo market began to recover because of demand from foreigners affected by the Russia – Ukraine war, especially condos in Bangkok. Russian tourists stimulated…

  • US Navy aircraft carrier arrives in Pattaya, Thailand

    US Navy aircraft carrier arrives in Pattaya, Thailand

    The USS Nimitz, an aircraft carrier belonging to the US Navy, anchored at Laem Chabang Port just north of Pattaya in Thailand yesterday accompanied by the Nimitz Strike Group for a five-day visit that aims to strengthen Thai – US security relations. The Nimitz Strike Group includes the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, the guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, and guided-missile…

  • 6 Chinese men arrested for 10 million baht fake gold scam in Thailand

    6 Chinese men arrested for 10 million baht fake gold scam in Thailand

    Police arrested six Chinese men for selling fake gold to rich Thai people resulting in a profit of more than 10 million baht. The suspects were reported to be former members of a scam call centre gang based in Indonesia. The gang confessed that their criminal act was inspired by a television series about scammers. One victim, a Chinese man…

  • Thai YouTuber reveals 25 million baht online gambling loss during police questioning

    Thai YouTuber reveals 25 million baht online gambling loss during police questioning

    Today, a Thai YouTuber and celebrity Sodor Style, whose real name is Pimlada Wewvitsong, visited the Royal Thai Police’s Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) in response to a summons. She was there to give her side of the story regarding her live TikTok broadcast where she revealed her experience with online gambling. According to her account, she lost more than…

  • Injured young Brit transferred to UK for treatment after 3 months in Thailand hospital

    Injured young Brit transferred to UK for treatment after 3 months in Thailand hospital

    UPDATE 2 The young British man who sustained life-threatening injuries in a motorbike crash in Thailand in February has finally returned home to the UK after undergoing four surgeries in three months at Bangkok Hospital. The 24 year old ice hockey player from Blackburn, Josh Richardson, returned on a flight on £20,000 flight on Thursday accompanied by a doctor, two…

  • Bangkok and surrounding provinces to experience scattered summer storms, gusty winds, hail

    Bangkok and surrounding provinces to experience scattered summer storms, gusty winds, hail

    Scattered summer storms, gusty winds and hail are predicted for Bangkok and the provinces of north, northeast, east and central plains today and tomorrow. A moderate high-pressure system is expected to cover northeastern Thailand and the South China Sea during the two-day period, the local weather office announced. The upper regions are predicted to experience hot to extremely hot weather,…