Thailand News

Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.

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  • Late King’s granddaughter at final dress rehearsal

    Late King’s granddaughter at final dress rehearsal

    HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, granddaughter of the late King and daughter of King Rama X, led the 77-horse cavalry in the sixth procession at the final dress rehearsal for enshrining the Royal Ashes in two temples last night. The final procession sees the Royal Ashes transferred in a royal car from the Phra Sri Rattana Chedi at the Temple of…

  • HRH Princess Sirindhorn joins the final rehearsal

    HRH Princess Sirindhorn joins the final rehearsal

    A huge crowd turned out around Sanam Luang on Saturday to watch the final dress rehearsal of the historic Royal Cremation Ceremony for His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Many of them had arrived at 9pm on Friday and camped out to reserve vantage viewing positions for the dress rehearsal of the royal processions for the Royal Cremation Ceremony.…

  • French man arrested in BKK after posting nude photos of ex-Thai girlfriend

    French man arrested in BKK after posting nude photos of ex-Thai girlfriend

    File Photo A French tourist was arrested in Bangkok on Friday for allegedly posting nude photos of his Thai girlfriend to her Facebook wall without her permission. Police said 34 year old Vincent Anthony Jean Marie LeGrand was arrested at 6.25 am on Thursday upon arrival at the Suvarnabhumi Airport on Flight QR826 of Qatar Airways. Immigration police at the…

  • Scandal over new toilets at the royal Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin

    Scandal over new toilets at the royal Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin

    The Army on Thursday is defending construction of 15 billion Baht toilets and shops in the royal Rajabhakti Park, claiming that it is worth the investment and the process was sufficiently transparent to stand up to close scrutiny. “They won’t be typical toilets you can see everywhere,” said Army spokesperson Colonel Winthai Suvaree. “We believe that our donators wish everything…

  • THAIGER TODAY Friday, October 20

    THAIGER TODAY Friday, October 20

    Vegetarian Festival launched in Phuket | On-again, off-again, maybe on-again with Facebook meeting | Training in full swing for new lifesavers | Forecast looking good in BKK for October 26 | ‘Tara’ the elephant saved from canal.

  • ‘Tara’ given a 50-50 chance of surviving

    ‘Tara’ given a 50-50 chance of surviving

    A 15 year old male elephant rescued from a muddy canal in Phitsanulok province yesterday was lifted using two big backhoes, placed in a truck and taken to an elephant hospital in Lampang province where it is now receiving treatment. A veterinarian said the elephant had a 50-50 chance of survival due to its broken legs. Teams of rescuers, villagers and…

  • UPDATE: Got a drone in Thailand? Here’s what you need to know.

    UPDATE: Got a drone in Thailand? Here’s what you need to know.

    The days of you flying your drone carefree in the skies above Thailand are over. Last week, the Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) announced that all drones in Thailand need to be registered. The NBTC said the move came after only 350 drones out of an estimated 50,000 had previously been registered in Thailand. Owners have until January…

  • “Not guilty”. One judge speaks about the Yingluck Shinawatra verdict.

    “Not guilty”. One judge speaks about the Yingluck Shinawatra verdict.

    Pison Pirun, a judge in the nine-member Supreme Court panel that ruled in the case over the rice-pledging scheme against ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra case, was the only judge to rule her not guilty on the grounds that “she lacked the intention to cause loss or seek advantage she was not entitled to”. His ruling was circulated yesterday, three weeks after…

  • THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, October 18

    THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, October 18

    From Bangla Road… What’s happening with dead fish washing up on Hua Bin beach? | Mark Zuckerberg heading to BKK | Bangkok needs long-term drainage strategy | Huge half tonne haul of drugs.

  • Half a tonne of crystal methamphetamine seized – street value 1 Billion Baht

    Half a tonne of crystal methamphetamine seized – street value 1 Billion Baht

    A 30 year old Nakhon Phanom man has been arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima in possession of 508 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine or “ice”, with a reported street value of 1 billion Baht, national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda said on Tuesday. Thinnakorn Khomsing was spotted walking suspiciously with another man near a temple in Bua Yai district, where they…

  • Installation of nine-tiered umbrella atop Royal Crematorium to be broadcast live

    Installation of nine-tiered umbrella atop Royal Crematorium to be broadcast live

    Members of the public will be able to watch a live telecast of the upcoming installation of the grand nine-tiered umbrella at the top of the Royal Crematorium for His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. On Wednesday, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn will graciously preside over the royal cremation ground at Sanam Luang in the raising of the Nine-Tiered…

  • Facebook founder heading to BKK for talks with Thai PM

    Facebook founder heading to BKK for talks with Thai PM

    Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is heading to Thailand at the end of October to meet with PM Prayuth Chan-ocha. ‘Like’ that! Or maybe a ‘thumbs up’. Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak says Mark Zuckerberg intends to arrive in Bangkok on October 30 to discuss e-commerce and related Facebook issues withe the Thai PM. The Deputy PM also added that an executive…

  • King to mark completion of Royal Crematorium

    King to mark completion of Royal Crematorium

    After Sunday’s rehearsals, Princess Sirindhorn suggested adjustments of music played during processions. Meanwhile, HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn will tomorrow install the grand nine-tiered umbrella at the top of the elaborate Royal Crematorium for his late father. The umbrella will be placed at the apex of the Royal Crematorium’s principal pavilion. Following the installation of the nine-tiered umbrella, all scaffolding will…

  • Northern rains – house walls crack and roads open up

    Northern rains – house walls crack and roads open up

    Days of heavy rain have caused cracks in the land and pieces of earth have broken away in Lampang’s Mae Mo district affecting eight homes located within an eight-rai (1.3 hectares) radius early on Monday morning. Tambon Mae Mo mayor Chucheep Boonnak led disaster prevention and mitigation officials as well as local bodies and police to inspect the scene on…

  • 52 arrested in crackdown on black migrants and tourists

    52 arrested in crackdown on black migrants and tourists

    Immigration, narcotics and 191 police jointly searched 10 locations in Bangkok early on Monday and arrested 52 Nigerians, Tanzanians and Uzbekistanis on various charges. The operation was led by Pol Maj-General Surachat Hakpal, deputy commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau. The searches were jointly launched by over 200 policemen from the Immigration Bureau, the Patrol and Special Operation (191)…

  • THAIGER TODAY Monday, October 16

    THAIGER TODAY Monday, October 16

    A drowning and near-misses at Phuket beaches | Royal rehearsals in Bangkok | Crocodiles escape in Petchabun floods | Myanmar Army about to release a report about alleged atrocities.

  • Elephants stampede Rohingya refugee camp

    Elephants stampede Rohingya refugee camp

    Wild elephants have trampled sleeping Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh yesterday, killing three children and a woman in the second such incident since the arrival of hundreds of thousands of refugees from Myanmar since late August. Besides those killed, four refugees from neighbouring tents were injured and were in critical condition at Sadar Hospital in Cox’s Bazar. Meanwhile, Myanmar’s de facto…

  • “Turn your promises into action”. Diplomats urge Myanmar’s Government

    “Turn your promises into action”. Diplomats urge Myanmar’s Government

    United Nations envoys from Britain and France are calling for Burmese authorities to turn their promises into action, end violence and create a situation where the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees can start to return to their homes – the homes they were living in before the violence flared up at the end of August. “Yesterday, we heard Aung…

  • Flooding hits Bangkok and Central Thailand

    Flooding hits Bangkok and Central Thailand

    Heavy rains lashed the capital past midnight on Friday and continued into the early hours of Saturday, leading to flooding on many Bangkok roads. At around 7.30am on Saturday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Drainage Department issued a plea on its Facebook page, urging Bangkokians who have no urgent business to stay home as many roads are still inundated. At 8am,…

  • Mourning period extended to October 29

    Mourning period extended to October 29

    The mourning period for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be extended two more days up until October 29. This according to a media release from the Prime Minister’s office. The Royal Funeral is scheduled for October 25 – 29, so the Thai cabinet has extended the official mourning period. The official mourning period is now from yesterday up to…

  • New legislation: Foreigners can’t own guns

    New legislation: Foreigners can’t own guns

    The National Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed the third reading of amendments to the 1947 Weapon, Firearm, Explosive and Firework Act. The amendments were proposed to keep the legislation abreast of weapons’ technology and the changing conditions in society. Weapon silencers and electric darts will also come under the legislation. As well, the amended rules cover fireworks, Bang Fai (locally-made…

  • UPDATE: Police interview two men over assault in Pattaya

    UPDATE: Police interview two men over assault in Pattaya

    Thai Visa reports…. Not 72 years old and not Australian The ‘Australian’ pensioner who was floored by a left hook in the parking lot of a Pattaya school on Wednesday after a road rage incident is really British national 77 year old George Collins Thaivisa can reveal. Mr Collins admitted that despite living in Brisbane for many years he considers himself…

  • THAIGER TODAY Thursday, October 12

    THAIGER TODAY Thursday, October 12

    Pheu Thai and investors welcome election date confirmation | Owners with drones have 90 days to register, or else | Soi Cowboy in BKK told to close down | More flights from Thai Airways | An 84 year old academic being indicted over a famous Thai 16th century battle.

  • Poll welcomed by political parties and investors, but…

    Poll welcomed by political parties and investors, but…

    While the planned election in November next year announced by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been welcomed, politicians say controls on political activities should be relaxed and investors still view the situation as uncertain. The heads of the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) and National Legislative Assembly (NLA) have jointly echoed the junta leader’s promise and assured that organic laws would…

  • Political activities may be allowed after October

    Political activities may be allowed after October

    The junta would discuss loosening its grip on political activities after this month, once the Royal Cremation had passed, said secretary-general of the National Council for Peace and Order General Chalermchai Sitthisart. Chalermchai, also the Army Chief, said the junta would discuss to what extent politicians would be allowed to carry out political activities, given that the political party law…

  • THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, October 11

    THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, October 11

    No buts, no butts on beaches | Prayut confirms election date | Thailand’s most profitable national parks | Ofo wants its share-bikes back | Four tonne drug haul in Thai/Australian sting.

  • Reports that Yingluck has asylum status in the UK

    Reports that Yingluck has asylum status in the UK

    Just when you thought we were going to have a Shinawatra-free day, Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai says his ministry would need to verify news reports that former PM Yingluck Shinawatra had gained asylum status in the United Kingdom. Don asked people not to jump the gun and pressure the ministry to take action. He personally preferred to avoid using…

  • UPDATE: Beach butt ban

    UPDATE: Beach butt ban

    After finding a large amount of cigarettes on Patong Beach following the results of several volunteer beach cleans, the Director General of Marine and Coastal Department announced that from November onward, the department will enforce the law – Section 17 of Marine and Coastal Management Promotion Act – to prohibit smoking on the beach. “After collecting trash from Patong Beach,…

  • Banning the butt – cigarette ban on Phuket’s beaches

    Banning the butt – cigarette ban on Phuket’s beaches

    What is the most numerous item found at the many beach cleans organised by groups around the island? Plastic bottle? Straws? Flip-flops? plastic bags? No. It’s cigarette butts. People smoking on the beach and leaving their butts in the sand are a major contributor to the island’s beach rubbish problem. And it’s not just Phuket. Beaches around the kingdom have…

  • THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, October 10

    THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, October 10