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.

  • Sponsored

    The 5 best luxury villa rentals in Koh Samui by The Luxury Signature

    Koh Samui has long been known as one of the world’s finest luxury travel destinations. Its pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and crystal-clear waters create an idyllic setting that attracts travellers seeking an escape from the everyday grind. And opting to...

  • Weather for January 22

    Weather for January 22

    Bangkok Partly cloudy. High 33C. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 km/h. Phuket Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 31C. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High near 30C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya A good deal of sunshine. High 32C. Winds N at 15 to 25 km/h.…

  • Air quality for Thailand – January 22

    Air quality for Thailand – January 22

    Northern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Central Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…

  • Incentive travel the fastest growing segment in Asia Pacific events business

    Incentive travel the fastest growing segment in Asia Pacific events business

    PHOTOS: ttrweekly.com Responding to a study that says incentive travel is the fastest growing segment in Asia-Pacific’s events business, the Thailand Conventions & Exhibitions Bureau is adapting its game plan to tap into this lucrative market. Last week, TCEB hosted the premier event, SITE’s 2019 Global Conference in Bangkok, a worldwide association dedicated exclusively to growing incentive travel. SITE’s most…

  • Why Thailand’s election will be a win for the military – International coverage

    Why Thailand’s election will be a win for the military – International coverage

    “When Thailand officials hinted that scheduled elections to end military rule would be postponed for the fifth time in almost as many years, anger and frustration rippled through the country.” The story of Thailand’s election stumbles and rumbles is making headlines around the world, especially since the February 24 election date, mooted as THE date for most of 2018, has…

  • Thai Airways charges British passenger 80,000 baht for extra luggage

    Thai Airways charges British passenger 80,000 baht for extra luggage

    PHOTO: Thai Airways A British expat has been charged a whopping 79,825.13 baht by Thai Airways for extra luggage on a flight to London from Bangkok. The report was posted by Thai Visa. The incident occurred when the man in question (who is not named) was on the Thai Airways website purchasing 20kg extra luggage each way, and was quoted…

  • Air quality for Thailand – January 21

    Air quality for Thailand – January 21

    Northern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Central Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…

  • Weather for January 21

    Weather for January 21

    Bangkok Partly cloudy. High 33C. Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to cloudy skies and rain during the afternoon. High 32C. Winds N at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 70%. Chiang Mai Sunny. High 32C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Sun and clouds mixed. High 32C. Winds NNW…

  • Marine endangered species injured or killed from sea garbage every 68 hours

    Marine endangered species injured or killed from sea garbage every 68 hours

    PHOTO: Thai Whales Over the past year, 129 marine endangered species in Thailand have been injured or killed from sea garbage, which means every 68 hours one of them has been tortured or died from ingesting our rubbish. Marine specialist Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat says that, based on data from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources over the past year,…

  • New 500 baht fine for drunk cycling

    New 500 baht fine for drunk cycling

    Up to now drink-driving cyclists have not been included in the laws governing drunk drivers of other vehicles in Thailand. But with the rising popularity of cycling as a fitness trend, that’s about to change with a new 500 baht fine if bought drunk in control of a bike. Drunk bicyclists who are currently immune to litigation because there is…

  • Thailand’s War Elephants aiming for an upset over China – Asian Cup

    Thailand’s War Elephants aiming for an upset over China – Asian Cup

    PHOTO: Chanathip Songkrasin (First from the left) getting ready for tonight’s game with his fellow teammates Make sure dinner is wrapped up and the kids are in bed by 9pm because it’s Asian Cup round-of-sixteen time with China lining up against Thailand. J-League star Chanathip Songkrasin says he’s determined to spearhead Thailand to an upset over the powerful China team…

  • Thailand pledges to soften harsh refugee policies

    Thailand pledges to soften harsh refugee policies

    PHOTO: Toronto Star Thailand’s immigration chief is pledging an upgrade of the country’s draconian treatment of refugees following the intense international media coverage of the young Saudi woman’s attempt to seek asylum. Rahaf Mohammed became the biggest international story across the world for a week after being intercepted during a transit stopover in Bangkok, on her way to Australia, and…

  • Australian woman deported for overstaying visa by over 100 days

    Australian woman deported for overstaying visa by over 100 days

    PHOTOS: Facebook/Claire Johnson An Australian woman, who was caught overstaying her visa by 111 days, will be released from detention and deported by Thai authorities tonight. She came to the media’s attention on Monday after sending urgent messages to a friend saying that she was being taken to a detention centre and that “they are taking my phone”. 46 year…

  • Japanese family asks Thai authorities to raise reward for murder of daughter in 2007

    Japanese family asks Thai authorities to raise reward for murder of daughter in 2007

    PHOTO: SBS News Eleven years have passed since the murder of a Japanese woman in Sukhothai province (central Thailand) in 2007 and, with no developments, an existing cash reward for any information leading to an arrest is expected to be raised from 1.6 million to 2 million baht. In 2007, 27 year old Tomoko Kawashita arrived in Thailand alone and headed to…

  • Pick a date, any date – Thai election

    Pick a date, any date – Thai election

    February 24, then March 10, then ‘sometime before May 7’, now March 24. The only thing we can be reasonably sure about is that it will be on a Sunday (Thai elections are always held on Sundays). Yesterday, Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam hinted that the election could now be held on March 24. He painted March 24 as the “most…

  • New Thai E-Driving licences are 95% complete

    New Thai E-Driving licences are 95% complete

    Thailand law makers are looking to amend the 1979 Land Transport act to bring together databases from the Road Transport and policing departments as registrations and enforcement combine to make a digital traffic violation ticketing system. The National Legislative Assembly held a reading of the new bill yesterday (Thursday), which requires the Royal Thai Police and the Land Transport Department…

  • Air quality for Thailand – January 18

    Air quality for Thailand – January 18

    Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Southern Thailand Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution…

  • Thai monk caught 11 years later for sex with a minor

    Thai monk caught 11 years later for sex with a minor

    A monk accused of sexually abusing a 14 year old girl eleven years ago has finally been apprehended by the Crime Suppression Division police. He was arrested in his living quarters in Wat Srang Mai in the centre of Thailand. The 61 year old monk, Sorasak Siripattho, was wanted on an arrest warrant issued on February 11, 2008 on charges…

  • Exemption of visa on arrival fees to boost Chinese New Year

    Exemption of visa on arrival fees to boost Chinese New Year

    The exemption of fees for visa on arrival is expected is expected to boost Chinese arrivals during the Chinese New Year festival. The National News Bureau of Thailand is reporting that visitors from 21 countries are getting their visa on arrival fee waived until April 30, 2019. Those 21 countries are Andora, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Taiwan, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Kazakhstan,…

  • Up to 10K baht paid to Thai women for marriage license

    Up to 10K baht paid to Thai women for marriage license

    PHOTO: Immigration Bureau Indian men have been paying up to 10,000 Baht to Thai women for a marriage license. Thairath is reporting that Immigration chief Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn says, “Many Thai women have been paid to get married with Indian men without any intention of a physical relationship.” “Indian men are using the marriage license as a means to apply…

  • Burmese man shot after allegedly attacking policeman with knife

    Burmese man shot after allegedly attacking policeman with knife

    A Burmese man has been shot and injured after allegedly attacking a policeman with a knife yesterday afternoon. Police claim 45 year old Saw Luimia attacked a policeman at a road checkpoint in Tambon Mae Ngow of Mae Hong Son’s Khun Yuam district at about 2.20pm. Mae Hong Son is in the far north west of Thailand on the Myanmar border.…

  • Air quality for Thailand – January 17

    Air quality for Thailand – January 17

    Northern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Central Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects Southern Thailand Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution…

  • Weather for January 17

    Weather for January 17

    Bangkok Generally clear. High 33ºC. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 km/h. Phuket Thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 31ºC. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 100%. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 30ºC. Winds SE and variable. Pattaya City Partly cloudy. High 32ºC. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 km/h. Ko Samui Thunderstorms. High 24ºC. Winds…

  • Election 2019: Put it in your calendar – March 10

    Election 2019: Put it in your calendar – March 10

    PHOTO: Protesters in Bangkok demanding the Thai Government announce election dates Bets are on for a March 10 election date as the Prime Minister has, for the first time, admitted that the election can no longer be held on February 24. But nothing official has yet been announced. Under the constitution, the general election must be completed within 150 days…

  • PM Prayut kicks the election can down the road

    PM Prayut kicks the election can down the road

    PHOTO: The Nation February 24? No. March? April? Maybe May? PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has reaffirmed today that election will definitely be held by May 9 but gave no indication when exactly it will take place. It’s the first time he’s ever uttered an actual date. He says that under the new Thai Constitution, May 9 is the final date election…

  • Weather for January 16

    Weather for January 16

    Bangkok Morning clouds followed by afternoon sun. High 33ºC. Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 30ºC. Winds ESE and variable. Phuket Afternoon showers. High 31ºC. Winds NNE and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Ko Samui Thundershowers. High 25ºC. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 40%. Pattaya Partly cloudy. High 32ºC.…

  • Thai ‘hijacking’ elephants get GPS collar trackers

    Thai ‘hijacking’ elephants get GPS collar trackers

    PHOTO: WWF A new project has been launched in the restricted forest areas of eastern Thailand where wildlife officials are putting tracking collars on elephants to help mitigate potential conflict with farmers and local villagers. The first three collars were placed on three elephants in Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary. The collars were imported from South Africa with aid…

  • Man arrested after killing five family members in Uttaradit

    Man arrested after killing five family members in Uttaradit

    PHOTO: Khaosod A man who shot his pregnant wife, parents-in-law and two other relatives to death, is now in custody. Khaosod is reporting that 37 year old Teeraphol Pin-amon, who allegedly shot five people to death in their home in Uttaradit province last Sunday, has now been apprehended while he was hiding in a forest in Ranong today. Uttaradit is…

  • Thai woman arrested for killing German husband in 10 million baht insurance scam

    Thai woman arrested for killing German husband in 10 million baht insurance scam

    A Thai woman has been arrested by the Crime Suppression Division for allegedly having planned and murdered her husband with the aid of her Thai lover, to get their hands on a 10 million baht insurance compensation claim back in 2006, 13 years ago. CSD Commander Pol Maj-General Jirapol Phuridej said Angkhana Moshammer (not official spelling) was arrested in front…

  • Air quality for Thailand – January 15

    Air quality for Thailand – January 15

    Northern Thailand Mostly air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Central Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air…

  • Foreign teacher charged with rape in Pathum Thani

    Foreign teacher charged with rape in Pathum Thani

    PHOTOS: Immigration Bureau / Lamlukka Police Station A male Pakistani teacher has been charged with rape in Pathum Thani, just north of Bangkok. The Immigration Bureau Office reports that Immigration chief Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn headed to Lamlukka Police Station in Pathum Thani where a Pakistani man, a teacher and psychologist, had been arrested yesterday. “The suspect is a private teacher who…