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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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,…
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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…
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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.…
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Foreign teacher to be deported after his arrest over rape in Pathum Thani
PHOTOS: Immigration Bureau / Lamlukka Police Station The male Pakistani teacher, who was charged with rape this week in Pathum Thani, is to be deported. The Immigration Bureau Office reports that Immigration chief Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn headed to Lamlukka Police Station in Pathum Thani where the Pakistani man, a teacher and psychologist, had been arrested. Read more about the case HERE.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The internet booms and print languishes in 2019 advertising spend
Thailand’s Digital advertising market spend is poised to reach 124 billion baht in 2019. That’s a growth of nearly 5%. But newspapers, magazines, Cable TV and radio are on the nose as marketers stick with terrestrial TV and ramp up their digital portfolios. “Digital media is expected to grow 20% and is will nearly equal the value of TV advertising…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Thailand advance to knockout stage of Asian Cup *Thaiger Bites
Last night saw Thailand finish with a 1-1 draw with the UAE (United Arab Emirates) to ensure their place in the knockout stages of the Asian Cup, managing to finish second in the group after a rocky start. Thailand’s equaliser goal came late in the first half, scored by midfielder Thitiphan Puangjan. Following a their first Asian Cup game where…
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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…
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Police not accepting the new smartphone driving licence yet
Great. Don’t have to carry my physical Driver’s Licence anymore! But hang on, news today from the Royal Thai Police that they won’t recognise your snazzy new App which displays your digital driver’s licence on your smart phone. Net yet anyway. Police are now saying they won’t recognise the new digital driver’s licenses until a legal amendment is in place.…
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Weather for January 15
Bangkok Phuket Chiang Mai Ko Samui Songkhla Pattaya
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Thai Electronic Driving License on smart phone App from today
From today a new App can be used where motorists will be able to show their license credentials to any law enforcement officer in Thailand. This means you no longer have to carry your physical licence. The police will be able to scan a QR code and check all details including bans or outstanding fines, on the spot. The driver’s…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 14
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 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…
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Future teaching graduates don’t need good ‘English’ levels to pass
The committee in charge of preparing a teacher qualifications framework has decided to lower the level of English needed for its graduates following pressure from its stakeholders. The committee’s chair Rathakorn Kidkan mentioned serious concerns that students may not be able to graduate if the English level was set too high. Using the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for…
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Thailand police trial mobile app to keep track of patrolling police
A new pilot project is being trialed in Bangkok by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) to potential prevent some policemen who have found ways to skip their patrol work. Real-time tracking GPS (global positioning system) technology is being implemented via a smartphone application that must be downloaded by the officers who are assigned to conduct surveillance operations or regular patrols.…
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Weather for January 14
Bangkok Partly cloudy. High 34C. Winds light and variable. Chiang Mai Partly cloudy. High 32C. Winds light and variable. Phuket Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 31C. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 50%. Udon Thani Partly cloudy. High 33C. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Songkhla Mostly sunny. High near…
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Thai Tourism chases the pink dollar as one of its “new shades”
by Phatarawadee Phataranawik and The ThaigerWhile Thailand is waiting for a Life Partnership Bill to become law, and maybe a move towards full same-sex marriage down the track, advocates say they are encouraged by the country’s efforts in attracting LGBT tourists. The recent approval of the Life Partnership Bill by the Thai cabinet was a significant step – the first such move…
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Army chief claims election delay critics are “bent on creating trouble”
In a country where the Army has played such a prominent part in the politics of Thailand for so long, we shouldn’t be surprised by commentary today from the Thai Army Commander-in-Chief. General Apirat Kongsompong says that those campaigning against the election delay have a “one-track mind and bent on creating troubles”. “They are being told to think this way,…
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BOI approves new rail services, new port investment
PHOTO: Duangjai Asawachintachit, BOI secretary general The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) has laid out strategies to boost the development of rail services and the country’s cruise tourism. Duangjai Asawachintachit, BOI secretary general, says the latest BOI meeting chaired by the Prime Minister had resolved to instigate measures to attract investment in rail development and related infrastructure for continued…
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VIDEO: Woman has meltdown in Thai airport
A video posted on social media has been doing the rounds. In the video a woman is seen yelling at an Air Asia airport staff for being told her carry on must be checked in because it was 7.2 kilos over the 7 kilogram weight limit. The woman is calmly told that she will have check-in the extra luggage and…
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Thai cabinet extends visa-fee-waiver until after Songkran
Tourists from over 21 countries will continue to benefit from an extension to the visa fee waiver introduced in November last year. In a move to boost tourism, the cabinet has extended the 2,000 baht visa-on-arrival fee waiver, according to Tourism and Sport Minister, Veerasak Kowsurat this morning (Tuesday). The waiver was set to end on Sunday, January 6, 2019,…
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Social media the key in the run up to the 2019 election
“Newspapers, once the beneficiary of political advertising, will now be side-lined in favor of targeted social media in the lead up to this year’s election.” by Asina Pownwasin Your social media platforms are about to be filled with banter, arguments and lots of advertising. The topic? The forthcoming Thai election (when a date is eventually announced). For the first time…
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Medical cannabis crops to be tightly controlled
The Thai narcotic control board head says that only Thai citizens who join hands with the government will be allowed to cultivate medical cannabis. The board yesterday stressed that growers of the potentially lucrative crop must be cooperatives, community enterprises or social enterprises made up of citizens – and not private companies. Their business will be under the scrutiny of…
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Saudi refugee granted asylum, flying to Canada
18 year old Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun boarded a Korean Air flight last night, bound, ultimately for Toronto, Canada, via Seoul. She came to public attention last weekend when she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room saying she had been abused by her Saudi family. In a widely followed social media (Twitter) campaign, the plucky 18 year old explained she…
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No sign of elections, but election officials want 22 million baht of new cars
Voters were disappointed to see yesterday’s deadline for publication of the royal decree slip away, which means the intended February 24 election date is unlikely. To add salt to the wound, the election commission has now announced that its directors will be needing new cars, and the lucky tax payers will be providing them. The budget for the new fleet…
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Pabuk: Tax refunds for home and car repairs
The Thai Cabinet has approved a tax refund for people who need to repair damage to their home or car following tropical storm Pabuk hitting the southern Gulf coastline a week ago. Pinsai Surasawadi, principal adviser on strategic tax administration for Finance and Banking, who is also a spokesman for the Revenue Department, said that home repairs costing less than…
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