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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Sponsored How to choose the perfect family-friendly property in Phuket
Phuket has long attracted visitors from around the globe with its golden beach and lush green hills. Many come for a holiday and leave captivated, often deciding they want a piece of the island for themselves. That’s why, despite fluctuations...
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Hakeem al-Araibi: Free to return to Australia
Hakeem al-Araibi is free to leave Thailand tonight. A Thai court has ruled that the extradition case against Melbourne-based footballer and refugee, Hakeem al-Araibi, has been dropped. • Hakeem al-Araibi was detained after flying to Bangkok in November • Jjailed over allegations he vandalised a police station in Bahrain during the Arab Spring protests in 2011 The Government has confirmed…
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Illegal foreign cigarettes flooding in as new local tobacco taxes loom
Growers of tobacco in Thailand, and those selling cigarettes and tobacco products, are feeling the pinch as illegal foreign cigarettes flood the local market. Sanook reports that the Thai Tobacco Monopoly says changes to excise regulations means a packet of the cheapest Thai cigarettes would rise from 60 to 90 baht per pack from October this year. A tobacco retailer…
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Weather for February 11
Bangkok Morning thunderstorms. High 32ºC. Winds S at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 60%. Phuket Generally clear. High 34ºC. Winds E at 25 to 40 km/h. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 35ºC. Winds SE and variable. Pattaya Hua Hin Morning thunderstorms. High 31ºC. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 60%. Ko…
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Sightings of pink dolphins off coast of Nakhon Si Thammarat
A pink dolphin has made our Sunday better with these photos in the Gulf of Thailand. The breed is quite famous for the Gulf waters off Khanom in Nakhon Si Thammarat, near Koh Samui. According to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation, there are around 60 dolphins living in the area. They can swim as fast as 37…
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Thai AirAsia X flies to Brisbane June 2019. Thai Airways cut services to Australia.
PHOTO: Airbus Today Brisbane Airport announced that the low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia X would start operating from the Queensland capital flying to Bangkok four times a week from June 2019. This will be Thai AirAsia X’s first Australian destination and would be using the Airbus A330-300’s which have 12 premium seats available in a 2-2-2 layout, and 365 economy seats…
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Can the Princess be PM?
Analysis The Princess was nominated. Her brother, HM Thai King, objected. Thai Raksa Chart postponed their campaign launch on Saturday morning. The PM and Election Commission have stayed silent. With the weekend allowing cooler heads to sift through yesterday’s events, next week it is hoped some clarity will emerge about the Princess’ nomination as a prime ministerial candidate that threw…
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“I wish you all good luck and happiness” – Princess Ubolratana posts on Instagram
PHOTO: The four children of King Bhumibol, Rama 9 Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, elder sister to the Thai King, has posted a message on her Instagram account this morning thanking Thais for their love and support. The sister of His Majesty the King posted the message shortly after 6am. His Majesty prohibited her from standing in the upcoming election…
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Two headless bodies found on Rayong beaches near Pattaya
PHOTOS: Sanook Two headless bodies have been found on Mae Rampueang Beach and PMY Beach in Rayong. The area the bodies were found is about 40 kilometres from Pattaya. The first one was a naked male headless body. Cut wounds were found on his neck. On his wrist police found found a distinguishing tattoo written in English alphabet. Police believe…
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HM The King says sister’s candidacy ‘inappropriate’ and ‘unconstitutional’
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn says his elder sister’s candidacy for prime minister in the March 24 election is “inappropriate” and “unconstitutional”. A strongly worded statement was issued around 11pm last night. It was the second time in less than 24 hours when the Palace had stepped into the murky realm of Thai politics. Earlier yesterday it was announced by the…
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“Princess cannot run for office” – King of Thailand
After a dramatic day in Thai politics yesterday, where the Thai Raksa Chart Party dropped a bombshell into the election campaign by nominating Princess Ubolratana, the King’s eldest sister, as a prime ministerial candidate, the drama continued last night with a statement from HM The King. The Thai monarch issued a strongly-worded statement around 11pm, prohibiting his older sister Princess Ubolratana…
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Election 2019: A challenge to the Princess’ nomination
PHOTO: The announcement this morning by the Thai Raksa Chart Party threw a political bombshell into the campaign – The Nation A leader of the People’s Reform Party has put in an urgent request for the Election Commission to rule whether the nomination of His Majesty the King’s eldest sister as a candidate for prime minister in the forthcoming election…
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Thai tourists abandoned at Suvarnabhumi after buying dodgy tour to South Korea
PHOTOS: The Tourist Police Bureau A Thai man has been arrested over the operation of an non-existent tour. He has abandoned five Thai tourists who had bought a tour to South Korea at Suvarnabhumi Airport this week. The Tourist Police report that 32 year old Thai man Puwanart Prakam was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport. He has failed to present a…
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Princess Ubolratana running for the March 24 Thai election
The Thai Raksa Chart Party has thrown Thai politics into chaos after it nominated Princess Ubolratana Mahidol as its candidate as prime minister. The princess is His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s elder sister. Thai Raksa Chart Party nominated Princess Ubolratana as its candidate to be prime minister this morning. Today is the final day for political parties to announce candidates and…
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Princess Ubolratana Mahidol runs as Prime Ministerial candidate in election
PHOTOS: Instagram In a stunning political move, Princess Ubolratana Mahidol, the eldest child of the late King Bhumibol, Rama 9, has been nominated by the Thai Raksa Chart party. Her nomination as a Prime Ministerial candidate immediately places the plans of current PM and the Junta-leaning Palang Pracharat party into disarray. To paint this as an ‘upset’ move in the last day of…
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Weather for February 8
Bangkok Generally clear. High 34ºC. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket Thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 31ºC. E winds shifting to S at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 60%. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 35ºC. Winds ENE and variable. Pattaya Generally clear. High 31ºC. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 km/h. Hua Hin Generally clear.…
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Air quality for Thailand – February 8
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. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some…
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Americans are flocking to Asia. Why?
Asia is sexy. From K-Pop sensation BTS topping the Billboard charts to “Crazy Rich Asians” owning the summer box office in the US, Americans can’t get enough of Asian film, music, and of course, noodles. “It’s all a sign of the Asianisation of the world”, reports CNN. “Asia has the world’s lowest taxes. Despite having some of the world’s largest…
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Helicopter crashes in Nakhon Sawan
A helicopter from the Royal Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation Department has crash-landed while on a training flight in Nakhon Sawan, north of Bangkok, yesterday. The pilot, a co-pilot and a mechanic escaped with only minor injuries after the chopper crashed into an empty field and caught fire. Rescuers managed to extinguish the fire. Department officials said that the helicopter developed…
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Weather for February 7
Bangkok Partly cloudy. High 33ºC. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket Generally clear. High 32ºC. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 35ºC. Winds ESE and variable. Pattaya Partly cloudy. High 30ºC. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 km/h. Hua Hin Generally clear. High 32ºC. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 km/h. Ko…
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Air quality for Thailand – February 7
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. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for…
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Nakhon Ratchasima shoots himself after CNY celebrations
A Nakhon Ratchasima man has shot himself while his mother and sister were washing up in the next room following a Chinese New Year dinner in their shophouse. Police were alerted to the suicide at a house on Soi Pattana Prapa Community 2 in Nai Muang, Muang district at 6.45pm last night. They arrived to find Weerawat Phisitthapat’s body lying in…
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75 year old burned to death while fighting plantation fire in Sa Kaew
A 75 year old has been burned to death while fighting a fire in Sa Kaew’s Aranyaprathet district last night. Sa Kaew is east of Bangkok on the Cambodian border. The incident happened in a eucalyptus plantation. District police received an alert at 8.30pm that the man, Boonsee Thamungmee, was killed at the plantation in Moo 6 village in Tambon…
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Air quality for Thailand – February 6
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. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…
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Weather for February 6
Bangkok Partly cloudy. High 32ºC. Winds S at 15 to 25 km/h. Phuket Partly cloudy. High 31ºC. E winds shifting to SSW at 15 to 25 km/h. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 35ºC. Winds SE and variable. Pattaya Scattered thunderstorms. High 30ºC. Winds SSW at 15 to 30 km/h. Chance of rain 80%. Hua Hin Morning thunderstorms. High 31ºC. Winds…
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Hakeem Al-Araibi hobbles into court in leg irons – raises questions about his treatment in Thailand
The Corrections Department says they are permitted by law to place leg irons on former-Bahraini-footballer-turned-Australian-refugee Hakeem Al-Araibi. Al-Araibi, a resident of Australia where he holds also refugee status, appeared at the Criminal Court yesterday with his legs cuffed. He is fighting an extradition request from his former home country. The sight of Al-Araibi in leg irons drew a lot of…
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Facemasks on sacred statues gets BKK photographer into hot water
PHOTOS: Facebook/Chub Nokkaew Thai photographer Chub Nokkaew is in trouble for defacing Wat Arun’s iconic statues with face masks. Well, not quite… But the retouched photos were done so skilfully it almost resulted in him facing a criminal charge. He was merely using the retouched pics to make a point about Bangkok’s recent air pollution woes. The artwork has received…
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Smoking rooms, and smokers, being kicked out of Thai airports
Ah yes, just finished that 11 hour flight from Europe and can’t wait to dash into the smoking room for a quick cigarette. In Thailand that’s no longer going to be possible. The AoT (Airports of Thailand) are scrapping the anachronistic smoking zones at all their airports, effective immediately. Smokers won’t be able to smoke in the ‘Smoking Rooms’ at…
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Security guard at Nong Khae Hospital steals wallet from dead man
A daughter is alleging that her father was robbed by a security guard at the Nong Khae Hospital in Saraburi and left him for dead in the car park. It appears her father had a heart attack. Saraburi is north of Bangkok. The police are alleged to have let the thief go without punishment, and the hospital, who initially promised…
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Weather for February 5
Bangkok Lots of sunshine. High 33C. Winds S at 15 to 25 km/h. Phuket Mostly sunny early then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 31C. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 50%. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High around 35C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms…
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No more smoking in airports, and no more cheap Thai cigarettes
Thai smokers are under fire. As of Sunday, February 3, all airports operated by Airports of Thailand (AoT) have been declared no-smoking zones with fines up to 5,000 baht for any violators. AoT has now abolished all smoking rooms in both the offices and passenger buildings in all six airports which they manage. This comes in accordance with the 2017…
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